MINUTES

Feather River Coordinated Resource Management Group

Management Committee Meeting

 

Reasonable Accommodations: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting please contact the Feather River Coordinated Resource Management Watershed Coordinator at (530) 283-3739, ext. 106. 

 

Date:  Monday, January 8, 2007

Time:  1:00 pm

Location:  Plumas Corporation Office

Members:  Chair- John Schramel , Resigned 

            Vice Chair- Steve Nevares, Resigned 

            Project & Design Chair – Joe Hoffman, Barb Drake

            Finance Chair– Dennis Heiman

            Monitoring Chair– Kevin Pond

            Others-Todd Hillaire, Dan Martynn, John Kolb, Mark Steffek

Fraser Sime and Holly George- absent

Staff:   Jim Wilcox, Terry Benoit, Leslie Mink, Gia Martynn

Others present: John Hafen, Jim Belsher-Howe

  1. Review/Approve minutes from September 2006 meeting; Review/Approve January ‘07 Agenda

Dennis motioned to approve minutes from Sept. 06 mtg, Dan 2nd, all approved.  Agenda was reviewed and approved with the following additions: RAC and Title III update; Projects- Jordan Creek, Spanish @ Kellett’s and Vortex Sampler, Mid-Sulphur (USFS), Hosselkus; DWR monitoring update; NRCS update

 

  1. Discuss Chair and Vice Chair.  Is anyone interested in filling these positions for 2007?

Gia Martynn nominated Joe Hoffman to serve as Chair.  Joe said he would be willing to serve for the 2007 year.  Dan motioned to approve Joe as Chair for 2007, John Kolb 2nd, all approved.  Joe Hoffman nominated Todd Hillaire to serve as Vice Chair.  Todd accepted nomination for 2007.  Gia motioned to approve Todd as Vice Chair for 2007, Dennis Heiman 2nd, all approved.

 

  1. ADA Update- John Sheehan

John shared the response from Plumas Corporation to Bob Baiocchi and Baiocchi’s response back. We recognize the need to make our meeting locations accessible and will continue to ensure they meet accessibility requirements.  In addition, Plumas Corporation and the Feather River Coordinated Resource Management group is committed to accommodating individual needs when conducting tours and site visits as feasible on a case-by-case basis.  John also shared two handouts, What We Can Do and Eligibility Criteria for Tours, developed by Sierra Institute as their response in complying with ADA.  Plumas Corp and the FRCRM will be looking at these in developing similar criteria for future CRM tours.

 

  1. Committee Reports

Finance- Dennis Heiman

    1. Received Prop. 40 grant for Middle Fork projects.  –Prop 40 grant is funding the following projects: Little Last Chance, Smith, Boulder, and Long Valley.  All work must be completed by Sept. 30, 2008, and final invoice must be submitted by Oct. 30, 2008. 
    2. Did not get Prop. 50. –County has submitted comments on the selection process; there was a strong bias for projects with 90% or more match and a readiness to proceed.  Not sure if on next round the County will submit the same package or we will apply for the Last Chance Phase 2 as a stand alone project. 
    3. Staff has decided to bring on a temporary (1 year) to help with workload with funding from existing grants. (Jim) –The staff has decided to hire Jessica Albietz for a temp 1 year term starting February 12, 2007 to help with workload.  Feels she has many skills that will be an asset to the group.  She will start with work on the QAPP and PEAP’s for the Middle Fork projects and assist with field work this summer. 
    4. RAC Update- John Hafen updated us on the status of RAC.  Nothing happened in December with legislation.  Possibility of Oregon O&C lands being sold to fund RAC nationally, with Oregon getting a larger portion.  Possible new legislation will be brought forward this year, but unknown as to the likelihood of this happening.
    5. Title III Funds- John Sheehan reported that the County Board of Supervisors reserves these funds to help with Federal/ County partnership projects.  Total amount available for this upcoming round of funding is around 500K (?).  Potential work that could be funded would include Watershed Monitoring Program and developing a quantifiable carbon sequestering credit for our meadow restoration projects.  Need to develop a protocol for measuring carbon uptake for meadows; has only been quantified for forest vegetation types.  Once trees are harvested, or meadow grazed, it is captured as an emission.  Credits can only be attained if a foreseeable action is delayed (i.e. postpone harvest rotation for 10 years or defer grazing for 5 yrs, etc.).  Through the CA Climate Action Registry we could apply for credits after we have quantified the change in biomass and carbon sequestration (from sage to meadow species) before and after project completion. Credits could be a potential future funding source for the county and/or landowner (private or public).  Carbon credits are currently being traded in other areas.

 

     5.    Project Updates-

a.       Staffing and Project Schedule (Planning Table handout) –did not have enough copies of planning table, Gia will email to attendees.  Dennis talked about worst-case scenario for the program would be no funding after 2008; we have not competed well for Prop. 50 IRWM funds and Prop 84 is IRWM, with an emphasis on levees and flood control management.  May not be able to compete well for these funds.  Are going to need to be creative in the future.  Would be prudent to start a local funding source, as local watershed residents are the primary beneficiaries of the restoration work.  Need to sell the importance of the watershed and its health to locals (such as its importance in light of global climate conditions and the interest in meadows as a water source in the absence of historical snow pack levels).  If contributions from local landowners through tax assessment, ecosystem services, etc. could be established it would help to continue the viability of the program and support the local communities. 

 

b.       Middle Fork Projects- Smith, Boulder, Long Valley, Little Last Chance (Public meeting-January 11th, 5pm @ Sierra Valley Grange Hall in Vinton) Current status on each project is as follows:  Smith- Currently being reviewed by Planning Department, should be available for public review in the next two weeks.  Joe Abbott has shown an interest in this project and has requested copies of the environmental reports when completed.  Will send them when the public review period begins.  Boulder- This is two projects and includes Raap/Guidici (RAC funded).  Both were to be constructed in 2007, but due to the need for additional archaeology work on Boulder Creek (to be completed this spring), Boulder will be delayed until 2008.  Need to find funding for the addl arch work ($8500).  Long Valley- Jim will be taking on this project.  Dan noted that the NRCS does not currently have the engineering resources available to approve funding for construction work, but can fund re-veg work.  Wants to look at the bottom of the project area, as the TAC did not get the opportunity to look at this portion of the project last year.  Bid packages for environmental survey work on Long Valley will be coming out next month.  This project is scheduled for completion in 2008. Little Last Chance- This project is also two project areas, both scheduled for construction fall 2007.  The upper project area on Guidici’s property includes USFS lands.  The thirty-day NEPA scoping period will begin next week.  The CEQA document (includes both project areas) will be available for public review starting Wed., Jan. 10th.  There will be a public meeting at the Vinton Grange Hall on Thursday, Jan. 11th to explain the project proposal and hear concerns from surrounding landowners and stakeholders. Then on Friday, Jan. 19th the Last Chance Creek Water District will be holding a special meeting to review the proposed diversion of Little Last Chance creek during project construction and respond to any concerns on the potential affects this may have for irrigation downstream or flooding issues in the vicinity of Vinton. 

 

c.       Revegetation Work- Establish Re-veg Subcommittee to prioritize and develop re-vegetation efforts.  (Sites to review this upcoming summer: Red Clover, Dyrr Bank, Hosselkus, Humbug-Charles, Jordan, Dooley, Last Chance Charles) –Agreed sub-committee members: John Hafen, Trout Unlimited; Jim Belsher-Howe and Terry Miller, USFS; Dan Martynn, NRCS; include project lead on each project being addressed; Gia Martynn and Jessica Albietz, CRM staff (Jessica will head up the subcommittee and coordinate their efforts).  First meeting scheduled for March 5th, 9am at Plumas Corp office (before Management Committee meeting at 1pm). Potential funding- Dan suggested approaching the Fish and Game Commission, they will fund projects that have public access. USFS has rare plant habitat improvement targets, but the botany program does not have re-vegetation targets or budget.  John Hafen asked what process is followed for CRM projects on USFS lands and grazing.  Grazing deferment is included in the NEPA document and then incorporated into the Annual Operating Plan for the affected allotment; however, due to changes in personnel in the range program on the Plumas NF, this has not always happened.     

d.       Spanish Creek- need to set date for TAC to review priorities, work with landowners, and develop gravel mgt plan (no current funding at this time) Spanish Crk is eligible for funding through Urban Streams, who received funding from Prop. 84.  Set a Public Strategy Meeting for March 12th, Monday 5:30pm at the Quincy Library conference room.  Will send out letters to all interested stakeholders identified during the completion of the Assessment and post a Public Notice.  After completion of the Assessment/Strategy all landowners/stakeholders received a letter announcing the availability of the document on the website or by request.  We did not receive any response or request of the document. 

e.       Spanish at Kellett’s and Vortex Sampler- Public works removed the vortex sampler from Spanish Creek at Snake Lake Bridge last month.  It is currently being stored at the County yard.  Work on the Kellett’s project entails installing culverts in the bridge; however, John Manley of Public Works told Terry they may be replacing the bridge and would include the culvert work.  If the bridge replacement is approved (Terry should hear from John within the next two months) then the project would only focus on the gravel removal and bank work.  

f.        Sulphur Creek at Depaoli/Seeliger (Terry) Landowners paid for Terry’s time this past year to develop a design.  They are also working with the NRCS on fencing.  The landowner across the creek (Luczo) needs to fence the cattle out of the creek before the CRM or NRCS will pursue public funds for further work.  Dan felt the whole reach has great potential for connectivity to the Middle Fork fishery. 

g.       Sulphur @ Barry Creek (Terry) Whitehawk group has agreed to pay $20K for work on Sulphur Creek through the Whitehawk development.  Terry is hoping to be able to use some of these funds to develop a design for Barry Creek just upstream of Whitehawk.  He is also working with Barbara Drake (USFS) on Barry Creek upstream of the confluence between the loop bridges. 

h.       Willow Creek- Joe Hoffman said they would like to look at this project this summer and possibly discuss options for repair work.  Jim Wilcox noted it was a high-risk project due to the steepness of the valley (3-7% slope), soil is unconsolidated DG, and they did not have a strong enough anchor for the bottom of the project.  Three months after the project was constructed it went through the 1997 flood.  Possible treatments could be enhancing the aggradation process with woody debris jams. Will schedule a meeting this summer to look at site.

i.         Jordan Creek- Joe Hoffman and others attending the Steering Committee in November would like to review project this summer with Jim Wilcox.  Plan was for USFS to do repairs last summer; however, workloads precluded this from happening.  Jim will be working with the USFS to get repairs done this summer.  A meeting will be scheduled this summer to look at the proposed repair work.

 

6.   Monitoring- Kevin Pond

a.       No funding at this time.  Still no contract with UC Davis for data collection on Indian Creek- Contract is being held up by impasse between the State and the UC system over propriety of information collected and developed with the grant money. 

b.      DWR Monitoring Update- Todd said Eric Lester who has helped with fish monitoring in the FR watershed has been promoted and will not be available this upcoming summer.  The CRM needs to send Todd a list of priorities for 2007, so DWR can appropriate personnel and resources for assistance.  Leslie will respond.

 

7.   RCD Updates – Andrea Oiler, FRRCD/Gabe Miller, SVRCD- not present

 

8.   Other:

            Watershed Awareness Campaign- update on illustrative watershed map and landowner brochures-

             illustrative map has been reviewed and sent to graphic illustrator for completion.

 

UC Extension – Upper Feather River Watershed Irrigated Lands Program monitoring update -tabled

 

NRCS Update- Dan noted that their agency is focusing more on target acres for planning, so he will be looking for opportunities to get credits for planning on partnership projects.  A possible future partnership project is with the permittee on the Downing Allotment.  There is potential to do restoration on Little Last Chance Creek above Frenchman Lake.  Dan will be meeting with the permittee and USFS later this spring.