This week, I got to drive over the
new bridge at Shackleford Creek. The bridge, spanning a prime coho stream, has been
several years mired in environmental review and development. It is a relief to know that
heavy fire equipment can now safely make the trip directly down Quartz Valley Road without
having to go ‘round the long way. The Cottonwood Creek bridge in Hornbrook has also
been completed; a fish barrier removed at Kelly Gulch; and
County crews have recently done flood repair work to Copco Road, Scott River
Road and Bar Road .In my opinion, the County Road Department in my neck of the woods is
doing a great job!
Recently, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
(NCRWQCB) staff met with the County to discuss implementation of the Scott River TMDL
(Total Maximum Daily Load limits for sediment and water temperature.)
The County is required to: 1) Complete an inventory of sources for
river sediment from County Roads in Scott Valley, establish a schedule for correcting
those sources, and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to use established
best management practices for road work. 2) Develop a groundwater study plan that
considers all groundwater, evaluates transpiration by stream-side vegetation and
identifies potential solutions to mitigate any adverse impacts to beneficial uses. 3) In
addition, the County is requested to pass a grading ordinance or other “enforceable
mechanism” to address land disturbing activities.
The 5 County Coho Planning group was able to help Siskiyou County
acquire grant funding to start training personnel for the road inventory in June of 2006.
By August 31, 20 miles of inventory had already been completed. It is anticipated that all
the ground work will be completed sometime in 2008. Then a prioritized project list can be
developed. With the failure by Congress to reauthorize the Secure Schools and Communities
Act, (which gives county roads and schools federal payments in-lieu of a 25% share of
National Forest timber,) the Road Department is operating on half of its former revenue.
Actual project completion will depend upon some sort of grant or other funding to fix the
problems. County Road personnel continue to be trained in best management practices and
are operating accordingly.
Siskiyou County has retained jurisdiction over groundwater use. The
TMDL implementation plan directs that, by September 8 of 2007, Siskiyou County as lead,
with partners such as the Siskiyou RCD, Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) will create a
formal groundwater study plan that will: 1) Evaluate changes in river flows and the water
table elevations from groundwater pumping; 2) Determine the magnitude of groundwater
recharge from leaking ditches and percolation of irrigated water; 3) Determine the impacts
of water table fluctuations on riparian vegetation; and 4) Identify opportunities, such as
conjunctive use, to increase subsurface water storage. It is suggested that Siskiyou County
hire a contractor to complete the study.
There will be much additional discussion among partners concerning
the study currently in place, which measures static water levels and is modeled after Tehama
County’s plan. SRWC also has in place a “hypothesis testing” strategy
developed with input from many agencies. Discussions will explore how these might satisfy
expectations as envisioned by the NCRWQCB. Funding would also have to be acquired to
complete any study plan.
The issue of a general grading ordinance has been raised previously
and denied by the Board of Supervisors. However, at the Board’s request, the Planning
Department has completed a draft Land Development Manual for new construction which will
be first reviewed at a workshop of the Siskiyou County Planning Commission on Wednesday
November 1 at the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers in the Courthouse. The regular
meeting starts at 9 a.m.
The SRWC and RCD will
continue its work with technical support and grant funding assistance to landowners,
helping to develop grazing and other land use strategies to prevent, minimize and control
sediment and temperature impacts to rivers and streams.
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