AMERICAN RIVER WATERSHED GROUP

October 19, 2006


The meeting of the American River Watershed Group (ARWG) was called to order by Bill Templin, North Fork American River Watershed Coordinator at 10:00 a.m. at the Auburn Recreation District Canyon View Community Center located at 471 Maidu Drive, Auburn.

Present: Bill Templin, North Fork American River Watershed Coordinator; Rich Gresham, Stan MacDonald, Stewart Feldman, and Katie Maloney, Placer County Resource Conservation District ; Austin Mulder, South Fork American River Watershed Coordinator-El Dorado County RCD; Marilyn Jasper, Clover Valley Foundation and Sierra Club; Caroline Hickson, Colfax resident; Rick Weaver, Hydrologist US Forest Service (USFS); Dan Teater, Fish Biologist, USFS; Bill Cave, Auburn Lake Trails Fire Safe Council Chair; Kevin Roberts, Biologist, Sierra Pacific Industries; Dick Towle, Volunteer Fire Chief; Mal Toy, Placer County Water Agency (PCWA); Edmund Sullivan, Placer County; and Eric Peach, Protect American River Canyons (PARC).
Check-In:
Bill Templin led the “Check-In” procedure that entails telling who you are, how you are, if you have any time constraints, emergent issues, and/or individual expectations.

Review & Approval of Minutes:
No changes were requested to the September meeting minutes.

Guest Speaker: Rick Weaver, Tahoe National Forest “Ralston Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Report”

Bill introduced Rick Weaver, USFS Hydrologist and member of the Ralston Fire Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team and invited Rick to proceed with the briefing on the BAER Team’s response to the September Ralston Fire that impacted both the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests.

Rick reviewed the BAER Team members that included members with expertise in hydrology, geology, archaeology and road engineering in addition to the BAER Team Leader. The following is excerpted from the PowerPoint Rick reviewed with the Group:










Rick reviewed maps depicting the severity, perimeter, and slope steepness of the Ralston burn area gathered during rapid field reconnaissance conducted on the ground and by helicopter.
The maps reflected a mostly moderate to low intensity burn with high intensity burn areas confined to ridges. 55% of the burn area was in terrain exhibiting a 60% or greater slope. Burn severity percentages reflect 3% or 262 acres burned at high intensity, 24% or 2,031 acres experienced a moderate burn, while 6,130 acres or 73% either escaped the burn or experienced a low severity burn. Rick reviewed the statistics in greater detail via sub watershed.


Rick reviewed pictures of the fire, fire fighting efforts, and post fire conditions. It was noted that 76% of the burn area drains into Ralston Afterbay. The fire was mainly a ground fire with a few exceptions where a crown fire was evident, due to the steep terrain the fire was mostly fought by air, and has resulted in a high potential for rock fall on Mosquito Ridge Road



Rick closed the presentation by confirming the expectation of a flush of sediment and ash through the system upon the burn area experiencing a strong storm event.

Group discussion revolved around post burn operations including hazard removal and noxious weed control, the importance of pre-fire activities including fuels reduction, and the importance of public relations in terms of disseminating post fire information to the public that seems to perceive the Ralston Fire as a high intensity burn event.

Mal Toy reported PCWA is reviewing proposals for studies in the burn area to review the fire’s impacts and identity potential mitigation activities.

Bill Cave promoted the success of citizen led efforts with Auburn Lake Trails boasting a 97% fire safe compliance level due largely to the efforts of the Auburn Lake Trails Fire Safe Council.


Status Updates on Active Projects:
  1. Cosumnes-American-Bear-Yuba (CABY): Bill Templin reported the CABY Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (Plan) is now in first daft and available for review and comment. Project proposals have been submitted for consideration of inclusion in the Plan’s projects list. The website for further information is: www.cabyregion.org/
  2. Protect the American River Canyons (PARC): Bill introduced Eric Peach and thanked him for the positive press he received in the latest PARC newsletter and the posting of the ARWG meeting information. He acknowledged PARC’s efforts to continuously organize and conduct citizens based clean up efforts.
Eric Peach noted upcoming PARC events and offered Group members a PARC newsletter and invited them to visit the PARC website: www.parc-auburn.org/
  1. PCWA Middle Fork Project: Mal Toy reported the Technical Working Group is working on an understanding of what the Terms and Conditions for Re-Licensing should be. Details may be found at the website: http://relicensing.pcwa.net/
  2. Tahoe National Forest Off Road Vehicle Routes in the American River Ranger District: A meeting to discuss options will take place of October 26th in Foresthill.
  3. South Fork American River (SFAR) Watershed Update: Austin Mulder, SFAR Watershed Coordinator gave a status report of a successful eight year for the Watershed Education Summit event focused on watershed education and awareness based on scientific monitoring and data collection efforts using USFS Stream Condition Inventory protocols.
Bill voiced the desire to mirror the WES effort that will focus on the North Fork American River watershed.
  1. Sediment Dynamics Study (SDS): Bill Templin reported the Technical Advisory Committee will be meeting next month and is moving the project towards completion.
  2. Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) General Plan Progress Report: Bill reported he has made the suggestion that updates on Plan progress be posted on the ASRA website.
  3. Others? Placer County Resource Conservation (RCD) District GIS Technician: Rich Gresham reviewed the effort being jointly funded by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Placer, Nevada, and El Dorado County RCDs to hire GIS expertise in order to move forward with GIS efforts in terms of fire history and fire safety projects mapping and invasives and invasives control measures mapping.
Bill asked Austin Mulder to share his GIS information at a future meeting, perhaps December.
  1. What’s on your Mind? Stewart Feldman noted a potential opportunity to contribute to a display kiosk to be located at Oxbow Reservoir in conjunction with the CA Visitor Welcome Center.

Next Meeting and Adjournment:
The next meeting is slated for November 16th at the Canyon View Community Center. The meeting was adjourned at 12:17 p.m.

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