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Middle San Joaquin Watershed meeting minutes and next stakeholder meeting
| Middle San Joaquin Watershed meeting minutes and next stakeholder meeting |
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Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item
Our next meeting is scheduled for March 27th, 3:00-5:00 P.M. in Merced. We will not be having a meeting in February. Our guest speaker in March will be Laura Jensen with the Nature Conservancy and she will be presenting on the San Joaquin Blueway.
The intent of the San Joaquin River Blueway is to create a mosaic of well-managed parks, wildlife refuges, and other public places that provides people with an opportunity to explore and enjoy the San Joaquin River watershed. The Blueway will help connect San Joaquin Valley residents and others to our shared natural and cultural heritage and to recreational opportunities while sustaining the area’s agricultural legacy and working landscapes. The San Joaquin Valley's economic stability rests upon agriculture, an industry reliant on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to irrigate over one million acres of farmland. Implementation of the Blueway will support working farms and ranches by encouraging schools and communities to emphasize preservation and interpretation of the Valley's agricultural heritage, and by providing opportunities for growers and entrepreneurs to highlight local foods and crop production. By promoting better management of public lands along the river, the Blueway will increase the number of people tracking river activity, creating more eyes on the river that will benefit surrounding landowners concerned about trespass on their land.
The San Joaquin River Blueway has the potential to become a nationally-significant asset. In May of 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior launched the National Blueways System. The System was established to provide a new national emphasis on the value and significance of a watershed approach to river conservation and encourage stakeholders to integrate their land and water stewardship efforts by forming watershed-based, community-led partnerships. The National Blueways System will provide a blueprint for communities to plan and manage for the health, resiliency, and connectivity of their rivers and watersheds. It supports communication, cooperation and collaboration among different stakeholders, who strive for an integrated approach to managing land and water resources.
Laura Jensen is the San Joaquin Valley Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy, based out of Sacramento, CA. Laura is responsible for developing and implementing conservation strategies that enhance habitat for migratory birds in the San Joaquin Valley. She works closely with a diverse array of partners to improve riparian and wetland habitat, and to promote the habitat value of working landscapes in the Valley. Laura has been with the Conservancy for five years. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
Final Meeting Minutes
Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder Meeting,
Wednesday, January 30th, 3:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Merced County Farm Bureau Office; 646 South Highway 59 in Merced.
Contents
Present. 1
Oksana Newman, Merced County, Henderson Park Restoration Project. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, East Merced Resource Conservation District, Save Our Parks Committee. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, River Dance Farms, Merced River Fair. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, EMRCD, Merced Watershed Workgroup. 3
Bernie Wade, Overview of Studies to Date.3
Guest Speaker, Michelle Workman, Habitat Restoration Coordinator and Fisheries Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program.. 3
Review and discussion of Visions, Purpose, Goals and Objectives. 4
Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item.. 5
Present
Cathy Weber
EMRCD
Troy Bruce
CDF&G
Scott Hall
CDF&G
Jean Kiel
Santa Fe Aggregates
Scott Ross
Santa Fe Aggregates
J.D. Wikert
USF&WS AFRP
Jill Ratzlaff
Landowner
Candace Sigmond
GEECE/GWD
Cindy Lashbrook
EMRCD/Riverdance Farms
Michelle Workman
USF&WS AFRP
Michael Brennan
City of Oakdale
Meghan Hertel
Audubon
Glenn Anderson
EMRCD
Ken Jensen
Merced
Holly Warner
Upper Merced Watershed
Ed Temple
Upper Merced Watershed
Mike Barkley
Candidate for Congress
Lynn Sullivan
Landowner
Michael Martin
Merced River Conservation River Committee
Mathew Danielczyk
Audubon
Oksana Newman
Merced County
Bernie Wade
Landowner
Daron McDaniel
Denham
Ester Ratzlaff
landowner
Chris Robinson
Landowner
Oksana Newman, Merced County, Henderson Park Restoration Project
The Henderson Park Restoration Project is a collaborative effort to develop river habitat for salmon, provide car-top boat access, a walking/running trail and interpretive/educational signs, and other recreational opportunities for the local community. Park facilities will also be upgraded. For more information about the project click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, East Merced Resource Conservation District, Save Our Parks Committee
The Committee has raised $64k and signed a contract for 3 years with State Parks for 50% cost share to keep McConnell and Hatfield State Parks open. The Committee will start a local stakeholder process to develop a management and development plan for the 2 parks with a local perspective. The parks are a place where local, working families can afford to get outside, camp, fish and have access to the river. The parks also harbor riparian habitat and oak woodlands. There are some problems with crime and marijuana cultivation in the parks that would likely be exacerbated by closing the gates to the parks. Cindy acknowledged all the work hours many folks have provided towards this effort including Richard Jantz and the EMRCD Board Members as well as the numerous financial contributions that came from individuals and entities in the Merced region. There was a mention of the loss of wild places for local kids to venture into and the parks are one of the last remaining for those that cannot afford to travel farther. For more information click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, River Dance Farms, Merced River Fair
The Merced River Fair at River Dance Farms, overlaps with Festival. Typically 15-20 agencies that have family/kid friendly events and booths. Show off local farming that works with the natural world and promotes local food. Events include: U-Pick Organic Blueberries, U-Pick Organic Cherries fruit sold at market wholesale price), Local, Organic and Native Food, Farm and Garden with Wildlife, Tractor Hay Rides, Live Animals; wild and farm, How-to Demos, Live Music, Storytellers, Native American Dancers, Art and Artisans, Farm and Local Craft Market, Kids’ Activities, Camping, River Kayak Trips; ~ a ‘three hour tour for $30 ($20 under 18) includes kayak, gear, guide and training. Reserve your vessel or bring your own. Cost: Saturday 10 AM till dark (and beyond for campers), $10 Adult Entry, $ 5 Kids / Students 3 to 20 and Seniors (65+). Laid Back Sunday 8 AM till 4 PM, $ 5 Adult Entry, $ 2 Kids / Students / Seniors, Saturday night Campsite $ 10. Free entry for volunteers. For more information click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, EMRCD, Merced Watershed Workgroup
Cindy suggested that the local workgroup get together soon and address the number of issues that are on the docket. She will be sending an email out to group members soon. There was discussion about river access points for the public with the concern from landownwers over liability and trash. It was suggested that the Forest Service’s ‘Leave No Trace’ program be emulated as a tool to reduce the trash problem.
Bernie Wade, Overview of Studies to Date.
There is some very relevant and important work that has been completed on the Merced River:
The Merced River Alliance Project of which the purpose “consists of joining two independent watershed management efforts to address issues collaboratively, to conduct biological assessment monitoring and to provide education and outreach to stakeholders in the upper and lower reaches of the Merced River watershed. The final report of the biological monitoring encompasses methods and results from a two-year, six season (Summer 2006 to Spring 2008) biological monitoring and assessment effort for the Merced River. The information is contained in 3 documents:
1. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume I, Project Overview, Outreach and Education.
2. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume II, Biological Monitoring and Assessment.
3. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume II, Biological Monitoring, and Assessment, APPENDICES.
Merced River Corridor Restoration Plan. This restoration Plan represents a multi-year collaboration among a broad spectrum of participants. The plan was developed through a joint project lead by the Merced County Planning and Community Development Department and Stillwater Sciences, working closely with the California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Water Resources, Merced Irrigation District, and the Merced River Stakeholder Group and Technical Advisory Committee.
Wildlife and Rare Plant Ecology of Eastern Merced County's Vernal Pool Grasslands ' by John E. Vollmar, Editor and Project Director, Vollmar Consulting, Berkeley.
Guest Speaker, Michelle Workman, Habitat Restoration Coordinator and Fisheries Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program
Michelle presented on the History of Habitat Restoration on the Anadromous Portion of the Merced River. Michelle's work focuses on anadromous fish habitat restoration on the Merced River as well as implementing fisheries studies on the San Joaquin River as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Michelle has bachelor's and master's degrees in Conservation Biology from California State University, Sacramento and has worked for the USFWS for 4 years and on salmonid management issues in regulated rivers of the Central Valley since 1993. A link to Michelle’s presentation with audio can be found here.
Review and discussion of Visions, Purpose, Goals and Objectives
Middle San Joaquin Stakeholder Visions
·Predictable/reliable water supplies for agriculture,
·Clean water for wildlife and people,
·Easier and more access to rivers,
·Habitat for spawning salmon,
·Increased and healthy riparian habitats,
·Improved flood management,
·Less trash along waterways,
·Regulations that are less laborious and burdensome for the agricultural community,
·Greater and broader understanding of and pride and support for our water supplies and river systems.
The group suggested changing the vision statement: “Habitat for spawning salmon,”
to “Providing a healthy environement for all components of the river ecosystem.”
The group discussed various ideas for the purpose of the Watershed Group and many goals and objectives were proposed in the discussions. They are outlined below. The term “Watershed Groups” is used with the aim of creating an overall vision for each of the tributaries in what is described as the Middle San Joaquin River Watershed that includes the: Lower Stanislaus, Lower Tuolumne, and Lower Merced Rivers. This is an ongoing discussion among the various stakeholders.
Proposed Purpose of Watershed Group(s): Foster community pride in and understanding of our water supplies and our river ecosystems.
Goal I: Greater and broader awareness and understanding of water supplies and river systems within the local communities;
Objectives:
1) Develop public relations program,
2) Increase outreach capacity to general public,
3) Develop outreach content;
Goal II: More green-belts and blue-ways along river systems;
Objectives:
1) Promote and advocate for green-belts and blue-ways;
Goal III: Greater public access to rivers;
Objectives:
1) Look for public access opportunities along river systems.
Goal IV: No trash along or in rivers;
Objectives: Address trash problem through:
1) Source reduction and education,
2) Promoting and hosting cleanup days and
3) Educating major sources of trash problem (i.e. male teens and 20 year olds);
Goal V: Greater integration and coordination of watershed group goals with other goals such as trail construction, flood attenuation, fish habitat, riparian habitat and predictable and reliable water supplies;
Objectives:
1) Facilitate communication among and outreach to the numerous entities working in the river systems and
2) Actively look for integration and coordination opportunities between the various goals.
Goal VI: Leverage and share commonalities and opportunities between the Lower Stanislaus, Lower Merced, and Lower Tuolumne River Watersheds as well as with other watershed groups;
Objectives:
1) Improve and maintain communication channels among the 3 watersheds
Of major concern in the Merced watershed is weed management, in large part because the historic dredging along the river, and may become a goal particular to the Merced and can be stated as Goal VII, reduce the population of weeds along the Merced River with the objective of develop a Weed Task Force to establish further objectives.
Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item
The group tentatively scheduled the next meeting for the end of February, dependent on availability of our guest speaker. The next available date turns out to be March 27th, 3:00-5:00 P.M. to be held in Merced. Our guest speaker will be Laura Jensen with the Nature Conservancy and she will be presenting on the San Joaquin Blueway.
The intent of the San Joaquin River Blueway is to create a mosaic of well-managed parks, wildlife refuges, and other public places that provides people with an opportunity to explore and enjoy the San Joaquin River watershed. The Blueway will help connect San Joaquin Valley residents and others to our shared natural and cultural heritage and to recreational opportunities while sustaining the area’s agricultural legacy and working landscapes. The San Joaquin Valley's economic stability rests upon agriculture, an industry reliant on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to irrigate over one million acres of farmland. Implementation of the Blueway will support working farms and ranches by encouraging schools and communities to emphasize preservation and interpretation of the Valley's agricultural heritage, and by providing opportunities for growers and entrepreneurs to highlight local foods and crop production. By promoting better management of public lands along the river, the Blueway will increase the number of people tracking river activity, creating more eyes on the river that will benefit surrounding landowners concerned about trespass on their land.
The San Joaquin River Blueway has the potential to become a nationally-significant asset. In May of 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior launched the National Blueways System. The System was established to provide a new national emphasis on the value and significance of a watershed approach to river conservation and encourage stakeholders to integrate their land and water stewardship efforts by forming watershed-based, community-led partnerships. The National Blueways System will provide a blueprint for communities to plan and manage for the health, resiliency, and connectivity of their rivers and watersheds. It supports communication, cooperation and collaboration among different stakeholders, who strive for an integrated approach to managing land and water resources.
Laura Jensen is the San Joaquin Valley Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy, based out of Sacramento, CA. Laura is responsible for developing and implementing conservation strategies that enhance habitat for migratory birds in the San Joaquin Valley. She works closely with a diverse array of partners to improve riparian and wetland habitat, and to promote the habitat value of working landscapes in the Valley. Laura has been with the Conservancy for five years. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara. |
04/27/2013
Starts at 03:00 PM
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