AMERICAN RIVER WATERSHED GROUP

July 20, 2006


The meeting of the American River Watershed Group (ARWG) was called to order by Bill Templin, North Fork American River Watershed Coordinator at 10:05 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, and Katie Maloney, Placer County Resource Conservation District (PCRCD); Marilyn Jasper, Clover Valley Foundation and Sierra Club; Dan Teater, Fish Biologist, US Forest Service (USFS)-American River Ranger District; and Austin Mulder, South Fork American River Watershed Coordinator-El Dorado RCD.
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 minutes were presented for approval.

Additions to the Agenda:
No additions were made to the agenda.

Guest Speaker: Dan Teater, Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Forest Service, American River Ranger District, Foresthill, “Lessons Learned from Pre and Post Fire Monitoring at the Gap and Star Fires”
Bill Templin introduced Dan Teater. Dan briefly reviewed his background before reviewing a map of the Star and Gap fire regions with the Group. He noted the serendipity of having conducted monitoring activities pre-fire in preparation for planned fuel load reduction/timber harvest activities and the opportunity it presented by providing pre-fire data they are now able to compare with post-fire data.
Dan reviewed USFS monitoring protocols, took the group through a typical assessment exercise, and fielded questions from the Group.
Dan noted the opportunity for volunteers to participate in annual USFS monitoring training.
Bill took the opportunity to brief Dan on Rubicon watershed monitoring efforts currently being championed by teachers and conducted by students and suggested the potential for collaboration.
Bill also noted the Granite Bay Flycasters are interested in expanding their monitoring and restoration efforts into the American River watershed.
The Group discussed several areas of potential collaboration between watershed stakeholders.
Marilyn Jasper inquired as to the any conclusions regarding the cause and effect relationship of post fire activities and/or timber harvesting highlighted by the post-fire analysis.
Dan noted data compiled from the pre and post Star Fire burn data reflects huge deposits of sediment in cross sections, some up to a meter of aggregated sediment.
Duncan Creek in the Eldorado Forest was harvested for timber within a year of the burn and analysis reflects a higher percentage of fines being flushed through the system. Dan noted in areas not harvested, succession quickly took over whereas harvested areas reflected negative impacts when compared to areas left undisturbed.
Group discussion revolved around personal in-the-field experiences, the number of variables that need to be considered in analysis and the importance of the information garnered from monitoring data. The Group also stressed the importance of having the USFS data reviewed in Placer County Water Agency’s FERC re-licensing effort.
Bill thanked Dan for his sharing the USFS information with the group.


Status Updates on Active Projects:
  1. Sediment Dynamics Study (SDS): Bill Templin noted the information just reviewed will help guide the SDS Technical Advisory Committee with their upcoming field trip in conjunction with the development of the American River Watershed Sediment Dynamics Study. Review of the GIS data layers are culminating in a tour on August 10th and he invited the Group to RSVP right away as transportation planning is underway and car pooling is strongly suggested.
  2. Cosumnes-American-Bear-Yuba (CABY): Implementation proposals are being reviewed for inclusion in the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
Bill Templin led a brainstorming session to identify projects areas of importance for CABY consideration:
  1. PCWA Middle Fork Project: PCWA’s FERC re-licensing effort has instigated many studies and includes a data gathering effort including studies by USFS and CA Fish & Game. On the http://arwg.net website there is a link to PCWA’s FERC Re-licensing link.
  2. Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) General Plan: Marilyn jasper reported the recent Public Meeting to review the draft plan was well attended. Check the ASRA website for more information including the Public Comment deadline.
  3. SEDD Wastewater Forum and Biomass Generation: Bill Templin reported serving on a technical panel in an effort to explore potential connections between the need to fund infrastructure improvement for the Colfax Waste Water Treatment Plant and the potential to defray those costs with biomass generation.
It was reported Betty Riley is moving to Oregon and relinquishing the leadership of SEDD. Sandy Sindt is currently filling in.
  1. Upper American River Foundation: Bill Templin reported the fledgling foundation is currently in the process of filing for 501(c)3 status and exploring a partnership with the Granite Bay Flycasters. The foundation is also exploring the potential of partnering with the Middle Fork Project.
  2. American River Watershed Institute (ARWI) - Colfax Fuel Reduction Project: Bill Templin reported ARWI is now working to expand the SPLAT concept of shaded fuel breaks to the other side of the canyon expanding on the recent Proposition 13 funded effort.
  3. Colfax WWTP/Fuel Reduction/Biomass Generation: See item number 5).
  4. Implementation of the North Fork American River Watershed Plan & Stewardship Strategy: Bill Templin reported he will be working to develop an implementation strategy and stressed that fact that implementation funders will be looking for consistency between local watershed and regional projects.
  5. South Fork American River (SFAR) Watershed Coordination: Bill Templin introduced Austin Mulder the new Coordinator for the SFAR effort.
Austin noted he is working to familiarize himself with stakeholders and issues.
Bill noted the need to hold a Regional Watershed Coordination Team meeting now that Austin is on board.
Next Meeting and Adjournment:
The next meeting is slated for August 17th at the Canyon View Community Center. The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

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