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. 

 

Upcoming CRM Dates: Spanish TAC May 5th; Steering Committee Meeting May 20th; Spanish Creek Watershed Tour May 21st

 

Date:  Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Time:  1:00 pm

Location:  Plumas Corporation Office

Members:  Chair- Request for Nominations  

            Vice Chair- Request for Nominations  

            Project & Design Chair – Ryan Nupen

            Finance Chair– Dennis Heiman

            Monitoring Chair– Kevin Pond

            Others-Dan Martynn, John Kolb, Holly George, Mark Steffek (Holly and Mark absent)

Staff:   Jim Wilcox, Terry Benoit, Leslie Mink, Gia Martynn, Jessica Albietz, Kara Rockett

Others present: Lori Powers, John Hafen, Keith Pelfrey, Kristy Hoffman, Rob Wade, Todd Hillaire

Action items in bold

Review/Approve minutes from January 2008 meeting; Review/Approve March ‘08 Agenda; Nominate and elect new committee chairs for 2008; Todd requested a change to the minutes on item 3a-projects must be approved through the DWR engineering dept.; Agenda approved; Joe agreed to be chair for next two years, so we don’t have to revisit every year- did not need a vote; Gia suggested it would be good to have county rep on the committee; Lori nominated John K for Vice Chair, Joe 2nd, all voted in favor

 

  1. Committee Reports

Finance- Dennis Heiman

    1. Prop. 50 IRWMP status of grant agreement w/county  

Should be any day now; 3 yr project term- 15 quarters.  What will be next as far as updating IRWMP or applying for future funds?  Brian Morris has requested the BOS to fund the update of Plumas Co. IRWMP, so they can apply for funding.  Todd said the state did not allocate any money to award this fiscal year.  Jim asked though that if the updates are funded elsewhere, then there was guidance for future funds??  DWR is administering the IRWMP program- Todd will check into funding and guidelines.  State doesn’t know where this program is going or how it will be incorporated into the State Watershed Program.  There are nine IRWMP areas, the FR being one of those nine. 

SNC SOG grant applications developed for Last Chance-Meadowview/Rowland Creek and Red Clover-Dotta; submitted app for Meadow Restoration DVD; Next year possible submit for- Spanish/Greenhorn Creeks and Poplar Valley

SNC Board voting on projects March 15th.  If any funds left they will accept another round of submittals in March for review in May. Depending on SNC funding may wait to submit RC Dotta and MV/Rowland after July 1st  when a new round of funding from Prop. 84 to the Conservancy will be available.   Rose Comstock is submitting the DVD proposal for funding through the BOS.  NRCS would like to help with the Dotta and Meadowview/Rowland projects. Dotta should be eligible next year for the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant Program.  Mately’s property is in Lassen Co.  Problem with SNC is their grant program funds the enviro work and implementation separate; would be best to fund together to ensure the project gets done.  SNC competitive grant program funded mostly land acquisition and easements this year.

    1. NRCS- Conservation Innovation Grants LC Phase II not eligible
    2. Other funding updates-  Letter submitted by CRM to SWRCB regarding late payments and beauracracy of the program.  Dennis reviewed and gave input.  Do not expect a reply but at least the seed has been planted- was sent to executive director, committee chairs, etc. within the agency.  Leslie sent a letter to Barbara Evoy (SWRCB) regarding the unnecessary req of Board approval of all CEQA documents.  Leslie asked Mgt. Committee if we don’t get a reply if they were ok if we then sent a letter to our state legislators.  Dennis doesn’t know if that is going to make much difference because the CRM probably won’t be getting anymore grants from the Board as they have already gone through the available bonds and props.  The question is,  Where does this come into play after the legislation is passed?  Who do we talk to about making comments on the process?  Leslie asked Todd if he could find out within his agency. 
    3. DWR Wish List – Table until next meeting.  DWR doesn’t have budget for this year yet.

Todd gave update on Red Clover and Thompson Creeks- Ryan Martin doing WL and avian monitoring is leaving to Oroville. Dave Boegner will continue for next year, but uncertain after that.  Jim suggested we might want to wait a few years and let the project mature before doing another year of sampling, possibly in year 5.  Clarks and Red Clover are the two projects we would be interested in keeping the wildlife monitoring ongoing.  Other project priorities- Red Clover Dotta and LC Phase II.  Need to evaluate and prioritize needs and then let Todd know.

    1. Other funding updates- CRM will be applying to the Caltrans EEM program for Sulphur Creek projects this fall.  Leslie asked Keith to look into whether this program is going to be funded this year.  Needs to be reviewed and approved by the county Board of Transportation.  Caltrans is planning on replacing the culverts at Barry Creek, we would like to coordinate with our project.  Terry has been working with Chris & Steve from Caltrans for this project.

 

     3.    Project Updates-

a.       Native Plant Workshops: Feb. 19, 22-24, 26th; April 10-13, 15 & 17th; Oct. 2-5, 7 & 9th 

Leslie suggested asking the CSD to possibly help fund some of this work.  Jessica working with Lynn for newspaper articles on water conservation and native plants. 

b.      Review Period for CEQA on Boulder Creek, Long Valley Creek, & Sulphur Creek Bank Stabilization- 1/24 to 2/22/08; Spanish @ Kellett’s & Silver Creek- 1/28 to 2/26/08

c.       Letters to ACOE and SWQCB

Letter to ACOE and SHPO regarding their ability to communicate and process our applications in a timely manner.  ACOE has replied by phone and hope to work this out with the ACOE over the phone in the next week, but don’t know if SHPO will respond.  PNF arch suggested getting a programmatic agreement with SHPO so the ACOE wouldn’t have to get their concurrence on our projects. 

d.      NHI Sierra Meadows Planning Forum – Meeting  (March 12th); Workshop (April 25th)

March 12th meeting 1pm at Plumas Corp, more technical review of their meadow database; workshop in April will be a bigger picture overview.  NHI is working with CABY on their IRWMP, which may be useful for Plumas County’s IRWMP planned update. Another component was a study by Sac State on meadow water storage capacity; used Clarks Creek- work suggested that for every acre of meadow you get 2 acre feet of water storage.  The database is Sierra Nevada wide.  Their number for total number of meadow acres in the Feather River Watershed is much less than ours (250,000 ac). 

Todd mentioned that the Plumas County Water Forum is doing an independent review of the Forum program.

e.       Other project development status

Randy Westmoreland has been contacting the SVRCD regarding Carmen Creek, Dan asked if we knew anything about the project.  Need to follow up on this.  Dan has another project in Sierra Valley that he would like the CRM to review with him.  Asked about Luzco- Leslie will be contacting to get written permission to remove gravel bar; have been told they will be fencing off the creek this year.  In addition, NRCS is working with downstream landowner to fence off creek.  Spanish Creek submitting app to WCB, they want to see coord with CDFG.  When the app is submitted in the fall they will be contacting CDFG.  Also submitting app for Greenhorn. 

f.       2008 Construction Schedule  Planned dates for construction are as follows: Spanish @ Kellett’s 7/21-8/08; Silver Crk 8/11-8/22; Long Valley- August; Guidici portion of Raap/Guidici 8/25-9/5; Smith @ Longnecker’s 9/8; Boulder Crk 9/15

g.      Noxious weed removal (July 1-18th); Native grass seed collection dates (July 21-August 8); Seed spreading (late Aug.-Sept.) NRCS would like to help.  Dan mentioned to coord with RCD.

Need to watch for tall whitetop on the LLC project.  USFS is working on an EA to treat whitetop on their Ramelli Allotment. 

 

 

4.          Monitoring- Kevin Pond

a.      Set date for annual Monitoring Committee Meeting – date set for 1pm March 17th Monday; report will be on the website for review before the meeting.

b.      Assistance needed for fish surveys and fish moving for project construction (see dates listed below)

c.       Last Chance II Monitoring (pre-project 2008) will be monitoring sediment, flows, timing of flows, fish, vegetation- Leslie will be heading up and asst. project manager

 

5.          Education- Rob Wade/Kristy Hoffman

a.       CRM Watershed Education Program- background, current status, future

1.      Establish an Education Chair on Mgt. Committee (??)

Dennis feels it should include outreach and education to public; time has come to establish/recognize this part of the program with an education chair.  Dan brought up point of cost of attending meetings; other members are agency staff who get paid.  Rob and Kristy agreed to serve as co-chairs and will bring to the next WATERS meeting.

Rob could ask if PUSD might cover his cost for attendance; Kristy would need to charge to RAC; Gia would fill in when they can’t attend. 

2.      Future Funding: fundraising, donations, grants, map sales (price discussion)

Dennis asked if we have pursued funds through private foundations.  Staff has not.  Rob has applied to PGE Stewardship council- not as successful, funding mostly urban programs.  Grants not as sustainable, Rob would like to see a sustainable community funding stream.  Current funding RAC expires end of 2008; Title III funds Rob trying to carry some over for next year.  Dennis agrees with need to have a community supported program.  Do have some Prop. 50 education funds we could use to leverage possible funding from private foundation grants- staff will explore this avenue.  Plumas Bank mentioned as another potential funding source.

No secured funding for 2008-09 school year.  Annual funding for Watercourse Program is $5,000 per school, total $20,000 (mostly pays for transportation).  Emphasis on backyard aspect, trip to the Pacific biggest fieldtrip could be dropped if budgets limited.  Pacific trip lets kids know what happens to the water after it leaves their backyard.  Last year National Geographic photographer did a photo documentary, the program has been adopted as a model curriculum for the state’s environmental education.  Map price discussion- WATERS group feels $5 is reasonable.  If it is presented as a fundraiser for education (a donation for watershed ed) then people are willing to pay.  Hafen said it was more important to get the maps into hands of the public, and that is why the mgt committee felt a lower price was better.  Joe mentioned it would be better to charge $5 and if they don’t sell then we could lower the price.  Motioned and voted to keep price at $5.

b.      Logo Contest (Deadline: March 17th)

c.       Earth Day Event April 23rd

d.      May “Watershed Awareness Month” events- Spanish Creek Clean-Up May 10th; Storm drain Stenciling in Greenville (date TBD); Wild & Scenic Film Festival May 14th in Quincy

e.       Volunteer Recognition Canoe Outing, Bucks Lake May 16th

f.       North Fork Clean-up in Chester July 26th (tentative, coordinating w/ ABWAC)

 

6.          RCD and UC Extension Update-

a.       SVRCD Stakeholder Meeting March 5th, 12pm, Vinton Grange Hall

b.      FRRCD seed collection needs for Crescent Mill wetland mitigation site- have 20# of native seed from Caltrans; would like to partner with the CRM this summer to collect additional seed and plant in the fall.  They need to develop a Restoration mgt. plan before they can get full funding for any additional work.  Have need for additional help, administrative, weed grant, mitigation site.  DOC Watershed Coord. Grant should get award letters in March and contracts in April. 

 

7.          Other Agency / Organization Updates

a.      Trout Unlimited Meeting March 20th –John will be giving a presentation on beavers at 6:30 meeting starts at 5:00 at the Mohawk Community Center.  John will share volunteer opps with the members.  Mately fence will go back up around the first of June.  Need to get some replacement materials.  NRCS offered to help do addl reveg there. 

b.      NRCS- Dan gave CRM a “partner” sign.  Suggested the CRM get some signage for their projects.  Regional staff tour on June 25th to look at pond and plug projects and consider for incorporation into NRCS tech guides.  Also, working with Lane Labbe on wetland project.  Opportunity to work with Mill Race Irrigation District to help with maintenance of the levy, asked if David Schramel had contacted us.  County has rebuilt with flood emergency funds, but no maintenance has been done.  Nobody wants to take responsibility. 

 

8.          KVIE Viewfinder “Region At Risk” program viewing  Meeting adjourned at 4pm; Viewing will be done at next meeting.

 

 

Tentative Dates for Pre- and Post-Project Fish Surveys and Fish Moving for Construction:

·         Red Clover- mid-June (survey w/ flyfishing)

·         Spanish Creek @ Kellett’s – July 21st (if needed, move)

·         Silver Creek- August 11th (move)

·         Long Valley- August 18th (move)

·         Guidici (Sulphur Crk.) & Boulder- August 25th & 26th (move)

·         Smith Creek- Sept. 8th (move on Longnecker; survey upstream)

·         Little Last Chance- Oct.  (survey)

·         Last Chance II- late June, early July (survey)

 

 

 

*Reminders: Dennis signature on Boulder Creek LO Agreement (Need to get at next mtg.)