Pit River Watershed Alliance
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Canby, CA
Present:Todd Sloat, Watershed Coordinator; Mark Steffek, NNCN RC&I) Project Coordinator; Terry Williams, Modoc County Supervisor; Dennis Heiman, Regional Water Quality Board; Dean Leventon, Pit RCD; Cliff Harvey, Central Modoc RCD; Dana Hoyer, Central Modoc RCD; Robert Shaw, Pit RCD; Robert Holscher, Feather River RCD; Mike Bacca, SPI; Curt Aarstad, BLM Alturas; Dale Kroschel, Jr, NRCS; Randall Sharp; Craig McArthur, Bobbie Schiermeyer, NCN RC&D Adm. Asst.
Todd Sloat, Watershed Coordinator, called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.
Watershed Coordinator Report — Todd Sloat
Sloat reviewed the tasks on his contract and updated the group on what has been accomplished. He advised that the Web Page pitalliance.com is up and running and the brochure is complete.
Sloat stated that the Assessment Committee had met. There was some discussion regarding writing proposals before the watershed assessment was complete. Sloat said he will coordinate the water quality assessment to ensure there would be no duplication.
Edie Asrow asked how Sloat would show product on watershed tours and when he talked with landowners. Sloat advised that this could lead to signatures on the MOU. It was suggested that the Alliance have a tour in June for those people who make the policies but are outside the watershed. Also suggested were small tours during the year for those that live within the watershed area.
Randy Sharp suggested using CALFED funds on some of the tasks Sloat has completed. Dennis Heiman reminded the group that the Alliance should be looking for funding to continue with the Watershed Coordinator.
Monitoring — Dennis Heiman
Heiman reported that the monitoring started in April. The sampling is being done on a weekly basis. They have focused on the main stem of the Pit River, and will start on the tributaries when more money is available. Heiman will bring sample results to the next Alliance meeting.
Heiman distributed material that indicated 25 tributaries chosen for monitoring. They will do temperature and flow monitoring and habitat conditions. This work will require support from landowners and RCD’s because it will be on private lands. This monitoring done by the Alliance and RCDs will provide data to show improvement on the tributaries. We need data to prepare proposals for more funding.
Mike Bacca asked for a definition of what “good enough” is, and what the Alliance goals are. It was determined that the goal is “to show improving trends”. We will show and document trends. The goals will help to prioritize for the funds we now have. The consensus of the group was to do projects that we know will be successful to be able to show a track record. We need to identity the need and the opportunity, and realize what the landowner wants to do.
Sloat will have a number of projects we could start on by the next meeting. There was discussion regarding whether the local RCD or the Alliance would pay for the project. Heiman indicated that a land project would be the RCD responsibility, and watershed projects would be the Alliance responsibility. Heiman will put together a more specific scope of work to be done.
Watershed Assessment Sub-committee — Sloat
Duties of the sub-committee are: 1) Determine what the assessment contract will contain. 2) Develop a Request for Proposal (RFP). 3) Selection Committee and Develop the Selection Criteria. RCD directors should be included on this committee. 4) Award Members will review the information and bring it for discussion to the November Alliance meeting.
Sloat asked for volunteers to work on the Selection Committee.
Juniper Removal Update — Curt Aarstad, BLM
Aarstad reported that there are two and one-half millions acres involved in the Juniper removal program. The Modoc Cattlemen’s Association has funded $5,000 to this project. It is largely a habitat restoration project because the junipers have encroached on the lands. The program should take advantage to meet habitat goals and use chips for biomass. Aarstad asked for the support of the Pit River Watershed Alliance.
In order to make specific decisions; there is a need to map the areas using ortho points. Hopefully, by the end of October, this will be contracted out using imagery. There may be a need for ground corps to pick out where the pine and the juniper interthce.
It will take approximately $800,000 for the project. Should go to non-traditional sources.
How to chip the junipers was discussed. Bacca stated that on a project he was aware of, they processed the juniperinto spaghetti like material. It not only didn’t pack well into the truck beds; it didn’t burn well at the co-gen plant. Partner Updates & General Discussion
Mark Steffek reported on the NRCS EQIP grant for private landowners with a sponsor of a local working group to do proposals. It needs a priority area to qualify. It was suggested that the Pit River Watershed could be used as the geographical area. The proposal requires practices listed, such as, grazing, fencing, water management protection, alternative water services. The Alliance could oversee the group and they would need approval from the Alliance to go ahead. They could receive up to $10,000 per year and $50,000 total for property. Some projects are to plant native trees, animal walkways that are sectioned with material to cut down sediments. It will pay up to 75% of the cost to the landowner. NRCS office determines the funding.
It was the consensus of those present that the Pit River Watershed Alliance be considered the Geographic Priority Area.
The landowner needs to be ranked to get funds. The Alliance will do the ranking. It is a 3 to 1 grant. $3 from the government and $1 from the landowner in kind.
Edie Asrow reported on the Blue Lake fire. The 50-mile fire line rehab is complete.
There is $900,000 available for 34,000 acres clean up and aerial seeding. They need to identify a team to do public involvement and salvage logging in the spring. The area will be open Saturday at 1:00 PM to the public. There will be a tour of the burn on September 21. Anyone interested in working on this clean-up program can call 230-279-6116.
Steffek advised that the Scenic Byway has hired a contractor. He also reported that the Fire Safety Council will meet and tour at Lookout on Saturday, and that the Nor Cal-Neva RC&D would hold their Fall Council meeting onSeptember 27 in McArthur.
Cliff Harvey reported that Prop 13 will be a part of CALFED on the next go-round. He also reported that the EPA
State Tribal Enhancement Grant proposal is due soon. Contact the local tribe with any ideas.
It was requested that any knowledge of anyone doing a proposal be reported to the Alliance to keep from duplicating efforts. Also, if there were any watershed monitoring workshops coming up for landowners, let the landowners know.
The next Alliance meeting will be November 15, 2001 at 3:00 PM in Canby.