The “5C’ or Five
Counties Conservation Program was created in response to a potential listing of steelhead
trout and a listing of coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act.
http://www.5counties.org/ The group’s members are Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino,
Trinity and Siskiyou Counties. Its mission is: “To strive to protect the economic and
social resources of Northwestern California by providing for the conservation and
restoration of salmonid populations to healthy and sustainable levels and to base
decisions on watershed rather than county boundaries." Supervisor Kobseff and I
represent Siskiyou County on the 5C Board.
Top strategies of 5C have been to eliminate salmon migration barriers
and reduce water quality impacts from County roads and bridges. Other Counties have also
chosen to implement grading ordinances and other regulatory and incentive measures to meet
conservation goals.
A salmon migration barrier study of the counties was completed
between 1998-2004. In all, 245 barriers were identified, with an estimated cost of $30-75
million to remove them over a period of between 10-50 years. A “matrix” of
priorities, (such as impact on species diversity, quantity and quality of habitat above
barrier, extent of barrier,) was created to help to surface projects with the greatest
impact. Siskiyou County has successfully removed many of its migration barriers. In some
cases, the County was able to augment FEMA funds to replace and upgrade failed structures
from the floods we have experienced. Others have been grant funded.
A “DIRT” inventory of 377 miles of roads is currently
underway for sediment sources on roads, bridges and culverts in Scott Valley and Salmon
River. (Also required under the TMDL – Total Maximum Daily Load Action Plans for
reducing sediment pollution.) Like the barrier
study, DIRT will catalogue the sources identified and a matrix of criteria will be used to
help prioritize top projects. Treatment is dependent on available funding and may include
such things as culvert replacement, surfacing, rolling dips and outsloping of roads. It is
likely that a DIRT survey will also be required for the Klamath River corridor under its
TMDL.
A “Roads Manual” of “Best Management Practices”
is in the process of being accepted under the 4-D rule of the federal Endangered Species
Act. It is hoped that in the future, projects using the practices prescribed in the manual
will have incidental take coverage without consultation through NOAA – NMFS (National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – National Marine Fisheries Service.)
5C is currently working on an expanded list of standard mitigation
measures to be considered in the land use and development permit approval process under
(CEQA) the California Environmental Quality Act. As a leader, Trinity County is trying to
advise developers of requirements early and up front so that they can incorporate
requirements when drawing up their plans.
Back in 1998, University of California Cooperative Extension reviewed
the five counties’ land use regulations for their consideration of salmonids and
their habitats. At that time, UCE recommended a “regional policy” to be
incorporated in the five General Plans – including County Habitat Conservation Plans
and Watershed Elements. The report also recommended the adoption of model ordinances
applying to riparian corridor and wetlands protection, grading, and floodplain management.
It recommended that the Counties require professional hydrologic and biological review of
development projects. This report is scheduled to be updated. However, it is now up to the
Counties whether they wish to participate.
When 5C was first formed, Siskiyou County was asked to sign an MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) agreeing to implement model ordinances. Former Supervisor
George Thackeray and I opposed agreeing to this and Siskiyou participated in 5C under its
own MOU. I am firmly against regionalization of government. The California Constitution
grants land use planning authority to County governments. Voters elect local government
representatives to legislate land use ordinances. These laws should reflect local will and
not regional or State will. This is what self-government and local control is all about. I
consider it unlawful to try and bind a local legislature through an MOU with an obligation
to pass any ordinance. |
