I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

E P A N E W S

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W A T E R A S S O C I A T I O N

E E L R I V E R R E C O V E R Y

P R O J E C T

B I O A S S E S S M E N T

T R A I N I N G

3 1 9 P R O G R A M

T H P O P R O G R A M

F I R S T A I D T R A I N I N G

J O B A N N O U C M E N T

R E C Y C L I N G

Pollution Prevention in Consumer Products

Hair sprays, interior and exterior paints, foam plastic products (such as

disposable foam cups), charcoal fire starter - all are consumer products

whose production, use, or disposal can contribute to air pollution.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from the use organic compounds

(VOC) emitted from the use V of consumer products can cause or contribute

to ozone levels that violate the air quality standards EPA set for ground-level

ozone.

In 1998, EPA issued a rule limiting VOC emissions from consumer products.

It requires many United States manufacturers, importers, and distributors to

limit the VOC content of their products. EPA also issued a rule limiting

emissions from architectural coatings (exterior and interior house paints,

wood and roof coatings).

Protecting the Public from Particle Pollution

EPA is tackling particle pollution in several different ways.

EPA's health-based standards include limits for smaller-sized or "fine" particles. States are

taking actions to meet these standards

EPA's rule for Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses will result in a fleet of heavy-duty trucks and

buses that will be 95 percent cleaner than today's trucks and buses.

Visibility protection regulations are designed to reduce emissions that cause haze in our

national parks and wilderness areas. States are working together on strategies to improve

visibility in these natural areas.

ROUND VALLEY INDIAN TRIBES

TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL

DEPARTMENT

106 Program

Winter Edition 2015

Round Valley Ind ian Tribes, 77826 Covelo Rd, Covelo, CA 95428

ebr itton@rv it.org (707) 983-8204

Environmental Protection Department

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE- Eliminate waste and

protect our environment!

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

Residential wood smoke (from wood stoves, fireplaces, and outdoor wood-fired hydronic

heaters) contributes 6 percent (420,000 tons) of the total amount of fine particle pollution

(PM2.5) directly emitted in the United States each year. That contribution can be significantly

higher in some areas with increased wood burning. EPA and state and local agencies are

working on a number of fronts to help reduce residential wood smoke pollution. To learn more,

visit www.epa.gov/burnwise. If you use wood:

- replace your old wood stove or fireplace with an EPA-certified model, and get more heat and

less pollution while burning less wood;

- burn only clean, dry, "seasoned" wood;

- regularly remove ashes from your wood stove and store outside away from wood.

REMINDER

EPA OFFICE IS RECYCLING: HOLOGEN LIGHTS: PLEASE HAVE LIGHTS BOXED OR TIED TOGETHER. PRINTER INK: WE ACCEPT ALL PRINTER INK, PLEASE HAVE THEM BAGED OR BOXED. CANS/PLASTIC: WE RECYCLE, WE WILL PICK UP IF NEEDED. OFFICE BATTERIES: PLEASE PLACE IN BOX OR BAG. Let’s be Smart and Recycle!!! EPA is trying to get our offices involved in the process of recycling properly.

ILLEGAL DUMPING ON TRIBAL LANDS Illegal dumping still is an ongoing issue and is getting worse. Please be kind to our

environment and RECYCLE, REUSE, and DISPOSE of your waste correctly. If you

need any information about recycling, please don’t hesitate to call our office. (707)

983-8204 M-F 8-5PM

If you encounter anyone disposing illegally, please call our office with any information or

evidence that pertains to the situation and or call Tribal Police at (707) 983-8227 or (707) 272-

0259.

106 Water Quality Control Program The Round Valley Indian Tribes (RVIT) is a federally recognized

Tribal Government which was established in 1856. Today, the

Reservation contains numerous discontinuous parcels of land

checker boarded throughout the valley and the surrounding hillsides

and mountains and in various locations bordering the Eel River and

the North Fork Eel River. The Eel River is the principal drainage of the region and is noted for

its salmon and steelhead fisheries.

The purpose of our Water Quality Monitoring Program is to develop and improve a variety of

reservation wide ecosystem improvement strategies. Through the selected use and

implementation of site specific protection, preservation, restoration and enhancement activities

associated with tribal waters and their adjacent habitats and will result in improved water quality

within and beyond the Reservation boundaries. The purpose of collecting data is to support the

long-range goals of developing Tribal water quality rules, regulations, and standards, creating an

overview of the quality of Tribal Waters and those waters upstream and downstream from the

Reservation. The Tribes, 106 Clean Water Act will use its information to identify and report on

problem areas, track trends over time, identify and

document non-point source (NPS) impacts and address

Tribal health concerns. Tribal water that lies within the

perimeter of the Round Valley Indian Tribes

Reservation is an important cultural resource to the

tribe. Our concern is about the effect that present and

future land use may have on the surface and ground

waters. Since these waters are integral to the Tribe’s

cultural, health and economic life, any current or

potential future impairment of our waters need to be

identified. Surface and ground water monitoring are

needed to provide a baseline of the current conditions,

as well as, to track changes in water quality over time. The Tribe will use this monitoring data to

help develop or revise current water quality standards and other regulations and ordinances for

the Reservation. The Round Valley Indian Tribes will also monitor and evaluate the quality of

the tribes water resources, identify various non-point sources of pollutants entering tribal

watercourses, Utilize the Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to help improve and/or protect

these water resources and lastly educate tribal members, stakeholders and other interested local

residents through outreach programs on good water quality practices. The Round Valley Indian

Tribes was approved for the CWA 319 Grant on 10/3/2014 for the Fiscal Yr. 2014-2015, and we

currently have a tribally approved water ordinance that protects our water bodies. Since CWA

106 has developed and with the reporting and findings within the watershed has been noted, the

Tribe has been revising this document to further address our current situations. The Round

Valley Indian Tribe’s, 106 Department, has been working collaboratively with the Natural

Resources and with the Round Valley County Water District. The Natural Resource Department

has been doing some Riparian Habitat Restoration and some Stream Restoration, while the

Round Valley Water District test various wells throughout the valley and surrounding creeks not

on tribal lands. We have been collecting and comparing the data, looking for nonpoint source

and finding indicators that might cause long term problems within our streams that could affect

and harm our fisheries or our tribal and non-tribal member’s

health. We have been taking pictures and noting the illegal

dumping of garbage on tribal lands and around creeks. Between

our departments we have been looking into finding grants that will

help with environmental cleanup and stream restoration to help and

improve our lands and creeks. We have run into some issues in our

monitoring sites (creeks) that called for me to reach out and find

answers from other agencies. I have been in contact and

collaboration with these outside agencies with concerns of our water, Bryan McFadin, P.E.

Senior Water Resource Control Engineer with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control

Board, Patrick Higgins who is an Aquatic Ecologist out of Eureka, Ca., Bureau of Reclamation

(BOR) Patricia Riveria, Lee Marter of the Round Valley Water District, Warren Mitchell

Biologist, and Chris Adams Wildlife Inventory. This is a great team of experts who have helped

my department during the times that positive reading or findings of unknown substances in our

creeks were detected and needed to be interpreted. In addition with collaborating with other

experts and agencies I have organized community volunteers with watershed knowledge to assist

me in field work. During this last year, we have been out educating the school kids about our

ground water and our stream water. My department has been trying to reach out more to the

community and bring awareness we have set up a

booth at the local Health Center and its annual Health

Fair, also we do bi-annual meetings in which we set

up and educate our members and nonmembers and

answer any questions in regards to our department, my

department has designed a flyer and we personally

handed out to all local departments within the tribes

about recycling batteries, printer ink, halogen lights,

and recyclables. We offered to go out and pick up

used items at their offices and dispose of them

correctly. Round Valley has designed there water

bodies in accordance to their location entering into the valley floor. The North East sites are

mostly located around the Mendocino National Forest and those sites will need testing that

contains more of the toxins, rodenticides and pesticides. I have had a positive reading while

testing this year for the Chromium#6, hexavalent and Barium. Williams Creek is a concern for

these testing parameters. I ran a primary inorganics test on five of my creeks and Williams Creek

came back positive for Barium, Chromium, and Nickel. I went out and retested Williams Creek

for the Chromium#6, Hexavalent and Barium and it came back with a positive reading. As we

know that this is highly toxic to the waters, health, and aquatic life. This was an area of concern

so I contacted BOR, Patricia Riviera, and asked her if BOR could help us retest this site due to

the indications. Patricia sent the bottles for testing and we tested the first flush and sent to

Sacramento to BOR’s laboratory. After receiving the lab results it has determined that whatever

was affecting our creek has diminished with the first flush and our

lab results are good. My technique is to use the indicators and the

findings to determine the right parameters to the best of my abilities.

Parameters are hard to determine because the Mendocino National

Forest has several creeks joined together connecting to Williams’s

creek. Also, it is known for its large amount of Marijuana

eradications. The Mendocino National Forest does what it can to

thoroughly clean sites but what is not found gets washed down into

the stream from the first hard winter rain. Two miles west of

Williams Creek we have Short Creek. Short Creek was located next to an old Saw Mill Site.

Now, it turned into an illegal garbage site that is getting closer to the creek. We continue to do

our field sampling and testing on these creeks to prevent any further problems. On the North side

it is different. A lot of logging exists and still we continue to see marijuana grows as well as

man-made erosion along the hillside and through the creeks. Testing is going to be determined

by walking the creek and viewing what consists in its surroundings. Some locations can be tested

for the different toxins, rodenticides and pesticides and others have natural erosion,

contamination and disruption of salmonid migration. For instance, I have found on this side

natural erosion that consists of bubbles in creek and along banks also oily substances with

brownish red goo. I am further investigating this finding but due to funding cost I have to

minimize the testing to insure all creeks have been sampled.

Testing is costly and having partners is a nice way to work

collaboratively together. Water samples are taken to Alpha

Laboratories in Ukiah, Ca for analysis. In conclusion, our findings

this project year, we have run into some low to high readings from

all of our field sampling locations. Indicators have been noted and

human and natural erosion have been photographed and

documented in our field books. Primary Inorganics testing has

been done on some sites, with further testing being decided on. I

have mentioned above about sources of impairment that I found in some of the water sites. Some

concerns we keep in mind is the ongoing drought and will it affect future fish runs and are they

able to spawn despite low water levels. Field testing and walking the streams will be done at

least twice a month so that readings remain stabilized. We will look for diversions along creeks,

impairments from high concentrations of iron and manganese and agricultural grazing.

Impairments will occur every year and our office is aware of every creek and its origin and

monitoring statistics. We are doing our best to prevent reduction of surface flows that lead to

secondary effects, particularly elevated temperature and low dissolved oxygen levels, which are

detrimental to fish and other aquatic organisms. Our cultural development consists of ranching,

agriculture, and timber harvesting. Yet poor ranching practices, such as cattle in creeks, open

range grazing could deteriorate the waters in our creeks as timber operations could pose soil

erosion and soil contaminations. Education will be big through our 106 and our 319 program.

Our 106 Department with the assistance of the 319 Department will be the eyes, ears and voice

of the watershed, creeks, and rivers.

There is no such thing as naturally pure water. In nature, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in streams, sits in lakes, and filters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some of these substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water precisely because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain levels, minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that can make water unpalatable or even unsafe. Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other contaminants are substances discharged from factories, applied to farmlands, or used by consumers in their homes and yards. Sources of contaminants might be in your neighborhood or might be many miles away. The water systems for the Round Valley Indian Tribes are served by groundwater-wells. These wells tap into aquifers—the natural reservoirs under the earth’s surface—that may be only a few miles wide, or may span the borders of many states. As with surface water, it is important to remember that activities many miles away from you may affect the quality of ground water. Most ground water is naturally filtered as it passes through layers of the earth into underground reservoirs. Water that supplies pump from wells generally contains less organic material than surface water and does not need to go through treatment like those systems that have surface water. The Round Valley Indian Tribes Water systems and most of all individual water wells have some levels of iron and/or manganese. Unfortunately, the Tribes have only one of its five systems that have treatment for these minerals. It is, however, in the plans on getting iron and manganese treatment on most of our systems in the near future.

Hey There Eel Lovers, Hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays and the recent rain. In one of the last spates on Christmas Eve Day, Eric Stockwell invited me to join him on one of his annual spawner checks for Chinook salmon in tributaries of the lower South Fork Eel. Check out the attached slide show (use "full screen" option under View tab) that includes some fun facts on fish behavior and stream processes. Just about every appropriately sized gravel patch had fish on it, which means it is seeded to carrying capacity and ready to produce a good brood. See a video of a beautiful silver Chinook female as she builds her nest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI5EvlGOO30 Late Chinook salmon are likely spawning in streams in your neighborhood. Please check and report back (707) 223-7200) and I'll come help photo and video document. Or click some pics and send them along. Cheers, Patrick Higgins Eel River Recovery Project Volunteer Coordinator 791 Eighth Street, Suite A Arcata, CA 95521 W 707 822-9428 H 707 839-4987 C 707 223-7200

Measuring the Health of Streams and Rivers in California

College of Bioassessment – 2014-2015 Curriculum

About the College of Bioassessment

Bioassessment in water quality management involves the use of biotic

indicators and measures of physical/habitat condition to determine the health

of aquatic systems. Development of standardized techniques for measuring

the condition of California streams and rivers began in the early 1990s based

on guidelines proposed by the U.S. EPA. Over the years, there have been

considerable advancements in bioassessment techniques and tolls for

developing biotic indicators. This work, led by CDFW in cooperation with

the State and Regional Water Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring

Program (SWAMP), has provided the State Board with the framework

necessary to propose the implementation of biological objectives

(biocriteria) for wadeable streams. Water resource managers and others

concerned about protecting the health of streams and rivers need to

understand the implications of bioassessment data and how it is bein

collected and used in California. The “College of Bioassessment”, offered

through the Water Board’s Training Academy, provides students the

necessary training to become competent with administering and conducting

a bioassessment project.

About the Curriculum

The 2014-15 curriculum consists of the following four 2-day courses and a

condensed 3-day version of course of 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

Course 1- Concepts of Bioassessment and Program

Implementation.

Course 2- SWAMP Bioassessment and Program Implementation.

Course 3- Aquatic Invertebrate Laboratory Procedures and

Biological Metrics.

Course 4- Bioassessment Data Analysis and Interpretation.

Contact: Jami Ferguson at jferguson@waterboards.ca.gov

Non-Waterboard employees- send an email to

academy@waterboards.ca.gov with your contact information and the date

and location of the classes you would like to attend.

Course 1- March 3-4, 2015 Riverside

Course 2- April 21-23, 2015 Santa Rosa

Course 3- July 14-16, 2015 Santa Rosa

Hello my name is Elvis Johns Sr. and I’m the newly hired

319 Water Tech for the Round Valley Indian Tribes EPA

Department. I was hired to learn all about our creeks and

to determine the physical, chemical and biological

condition of reservation water bodies and compare them

against water quality indicators. Also, to identify non-

point source concerns for example: Sedimentation, ecoli,

nutrients (phos&nitrogen). As TEPA continues to monitor key water sampling

locations, efforts will also be made to expand upon the current regime to include

testing for a greater range of pollutants categories which pose a threat to both

surface and ground waters. TEPA efforts will focus on protecting sub-watersheds

and catchments that it has identified as potential non-point source pollutants

contributors and work to preserve the integrity of those streams. At the same time,

we will prioritize remediation, restoration, and mitigation efforts in those sub-

watersheds. During this process I will be required to update our NPS Management

Plan & Assessment Report as needed to reflect current situations and findings. My

biggest adjustment is learning to understand potential

NPS threats to water quality and

identifying threats affecting

surface waters on reservation.

After I detect and note possible

threats I will use the proper best

management practice (BMP) for

implementation. Also I will be establishing locations

for exclusionary fencing, educating the community by including them in NPS

activities, and lastly assessing and selecting roads to be abandoned. Since starting I

have been up on the hills with my 106 Department and company learning to

identify different Non Point Sources. I have found according to my notes fishing

wire in the creeks and a lot of trash along the banks, some in standing water, while

at some creeks there is erosion on the banks that have formed over the years of

storms that keep wearing away further from the stream. I have noted a spot where I

will need to fence off an area to avoid further erosion. Our EPA Department was

invited to attend and help present and educate the school age kids on Awareness.

The Salmon Feast took place on October 17, 2014 during this time I was absent I

was attending an EPA Meeting in Sacramento. Heather

Downey (EPA Secretary) went in my place. During our

visit at the school, Brian Mac

Fadden from the State Water

Board presented his slide show

on stream health and

restoration; and the life cycle of

salmon to the 6th

and 8th

grade

kids. After his presentation Justin, Eloisa, Heather

presented an edible aquifer. The purpose of the edible aquifer was to show the kids

how the aquifer was made underground and how easily it can be contaminated. We

used a lot of edible ingredients the kids loved and when the demonstration was

over they sat back and enjoyed there experiment. We are planning on another visit

to the school and we are gathering new information to present and different

activities for the kids. We want to go in and talk about salmon and its lifecycle,

also to keep them aware of how to help maintain a healthy creek for our fish

habitat.

The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) is requesting letters of interest from tribal members to serve on the THPO Advisory Committee. Must be knowledgeable and have experience in cultural resources, laws and regulations. The THPO Advisory Committee will be selected by the Tribal Council on an annual basis and their focus will be to provide cultural and historical input and recommendations to the THPO. A representative from each individual tribe will be selected for the THPO Advisory Committee. Although we identify as the Round Valley Indian Tribes, we currently recognize each Tribe’s (Wailaki, Yuki, Concow, Pit River, Nomlacki, Pomo, Little Lake) unique cultural differences in dances, seasonal traditions, songs, ceremonies, hunting and gathering areas, and campsites. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Stephanie Boggs, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, at (707) 472-8668

Recycling News

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE ACCORDING TO CURRENT METALS MARKET

(%) - Price paid depends on percentage of contamination/percentage of recovery

ROUND VALLEY RECYCING

Office: 707-983-8240 Fax: 707-983-8264

76220 Commercial Street, Covelo

Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:00am – Friday 5:00pm

Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm

Closed: Sunday and Monday

MATERIAL Clean Price (per lb) DIRTY PRICE (per lb) Auto Harness Wire .60 Auto Alternators/Generators .15 Mowers/Saw Engines .10 Electric Motors .15 Aluminum Auto Wheels .40 Aluminum Auto Bumpers .30 Aluminum Auto Engines (drained) .10 Aluminum Cylinder Heads .10 Sheet/Scrap Aluminum .30 (%) Cast Aluminum .30 (%) Auto Transmissions (drained) .08 Yellow Brass/Bronze 1.00 (%) Aluminum Auto Radiators .30 .15 Copper/Alum. Auto Radiators .80 .25 Copper/Brass Auto Radiators 1.00 .35 Copper #1 2.00 Copper #2 2.00 Stainless Steel .40 Aluminum Insulated Wire .05-.75 (%) Copper Insulated Wire .05-.75 (%) Lead Solids .25 Lead Wheel Weights .10 .15 Auto Batteries .15 Aluminum Cans 1.59/per lb #1 Plastic 1.07/ per lb #2 Plastic .60/ per lb

CRV Glass .106/ per lb NO MILK JUGS PLEASE

Recycling News

What is intended within this page is information for recycling in your home. Websites, Email addresses, and other information have been checked out by the Tribal Environmental Department.

Round Valley Indian Tribes does not endorse, promote or benefit financially from any information that is posted.

Round Valley Indian health Center

Accepts your sharps in the Biohazard infectious waste container for free. Please dispose of these sharps correctly to avoid any infectious accidents to others. If you need a container go to the RV Indian Health Center for a new one.

Pills are dangerous especially if they fall in the wrong hands or children get a hold of them, this can be fatal. Please take all of your old pills or any unknown and unused pills to the R.V. Indian Health Center they will accept and dispose of them correctly with no questions asked. For more information contact: (707) 983-6181.

Juice boxes & drink boxes (no foil pouches)

Metal jar lids & steel bottle caps (loose)

Items that are not recycled:

Plastic bags

Loose plastic caps and lids

Frozen food boxes & ice cream containers

Paper & Styrofoam to go containers

Paper & plastic cups

Plastic clamshell containers for berries, etc..

Plastic microwave trays

Hazardous Waste Hotline (707) 468-9704

M&M Feed recycles batteries. Please place in a bag or a box depending on how many. No

charge for disposal.

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE ++++++++++++++++++++ Please remember to recycle this newsletter. If you do not want to keep them toss in your paper recycling. Thank you for helping reduce solid wastes in the ground. Any questions about items to be recycled, the internet is a great place to look or you may call RV Indian Tribes EPA and we will assist you with any information

Solid Waste Services (800) MY-GARBAGE www.solidwasteservices.net csr@solidwasteservices.net 350 Franklin Ave. Willits, CA 95490 or Refuse Road Site Covelo. 1-30 Gallon Can $4.00 22.50-Per Cubic Yard Motor Oil is free for first 20 gallons a day. Refrigerators/Freezers $15.00 Stove/Washers/Dryers $10. Tires depend on size $4.00-up Batteries free disposal Cell phones and batteries free Medals $10.00 a yard Electronics free Paint latex only limited amount PAPER AND CARDBOARD

White & Pastel Office Paper

Opened Mail

Magazine & Catalogs

Newspapers & Inserts

Corrugated Cardboard, Flattened

Paper bags

File Folders

Phonebooks

Paper Egg Cartons

Blueprints

Paperback Books CONTAINERS

Empty Screw-top plastic bottles, jugs & jars

Empty plastic tubs #1-7(No lids, no# 7 PLA compostable

Glass bottles & jars (remove lids)

Aluminum, steel & tin cans (Do not crush)

Clean, balled aluminum foil 2” or larger and pie pans