Water quality in Moffett Creek was
the subject of a recent informational workshop held by the Scott River Watershed Council
(SRWC.) Bryan McFadin of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB)
talked about how TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) limits on pollution could affect local
landowners.
The Moffett Creek watershed is known for its sediment issues. When
the creek runs, it is usually muddy and may send a plume of fine sediment into the Scott River
that travels down to the Klamath. This can affect the ability of fish to see its food, can
smother fish eggs and can affect algae production. McFadin acknowledged that there were
some natural sources of the sediment – particularly the type of soil in the watershed
which is easily eroded and moved during high intensity rainfall events.
There are also sources caused by man’s activities. He cautioned
that people should avoid disturbing landslides and fragile areas, try to disconnect road
run-off from the stream, avoid building on steep slopes and appropriately size culverts.
Widespread revegetation and fencing out of
livestock should be done in the unstable riparian areas.
The biggest problem appears to be the unstable riparian areas in the
valley area. McFadin explained that the natural tendency of the stream is to meander in a
snake-like pattern across the valley flood. This dissipates the energy of the stream and
slows it down so it doesn’t cut down the banks. When the Army Corps straightened the
creek, it became a hungry river, cutting down the banks and becoming wider and wider so it
could eventually re-establish a new broad flood plain in which to meander.
McFadin explained that the NCRWQCB and other agencies currently
require permits for many activities. A Section 404 Clean
Water Act Permit is currently required by the Army Corps of Engineers for any activity
that dredges or fills the “Waters of the United States,” (which includes Moffett
Creek,) and there is an accompanying Section 401 certification from the NCRWQCB. This is
in addition to the 1603 permit required by the Dept. of Fish and Game for altering a
streambed or substantially diverting any water from a streambed. (There are also permits
required for Timber Harvest Plans, sewage treatment, stormwater runoff in cities, toxics
and discharging something from a pipe.) In
exceptional cases, NCRWQCB can require a sediment discharging landowner to submit an
erosion control plan or a ranch/grazing management plan. During or immediately after a
flood, a landowner may do work to save life or property, but must contact the NCRWQCB and
DFG as soon as possible to advise on what they are doing.
The current TMDL Action Plan provides a conditional permit waiver for
other activities. The plan allows for a self-directed local community-based approach to
addressing sediment and temperature issues. Currently, this waiver lapses in 2011.
Landowners were encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to direct their own
watershed efforts with planning and technical assistance from the Resource Conservation
District (RCD,) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies.
Landowners expressed their frustration citing many past unsuccessful
efforts, some saying the system couldn’t be fixed. One landowner indicated he had
spent $20,000 on bank stabilization, carried buckets of water to establish willow plants
just to have beavers eat the willows and floods rip out the bank work. Another landowner
described the 1997 flood when water 200 feet wide rushed at incredible speed across his
field. Another man talked about how long ago the river had been channeled to go through Fort
Jones to run a water wheel at a lumber yard. Now the banks are failing and the City is
threatened by flood. Others expressed frustration at obtaining planning and project money.
Funding priorities are for fish habitat restoration and, as Moffett naturally dries up in
the summer, there are no coho or Chinook.
SRWC Chair Ric Costales encouraged the group to keep trying. McFadin
said that is all they expect.
On a personal note, folks have asked me why I wasn’t at the
rodeo parade. I am now the proud grandmother of a beautiful baby girl – Hailey
Elizabeth (Dias) Sprague. Mother, daughter and father doing well. |
