A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, October 4, 2008

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of October 4, 2008

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on October 4, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, beginning at 10:10AM. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Zeno Swijtink and Bob Burke were present. Diana Hines of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District was present for part of the meeting.
Financial Report. John reported that the Council has a total of $728.09 in its general account. John agreed to maintain a ledger for all items of inflow and outflow from the Council's restoration projects account held by Forests Unlimited as fiscal sponsor.

Projects for the Council. Jean circulated the list of potential projects for the Council for the upcoming year, which was discussed and revised. Jean will synthesize the input and, after Stephen has a chance to comment, will circulate the list to the Council's list serves, soliciting volunteer support for the projects. Jean will provide a list of parcel numbers for properties within the watershed to John, who will visit the PRMD to assure that the Council receives notice of permit applications affecting the watershed.

Trenching in the Atascadero. Jean reported on the critical reaction of some watershed residents to the minutes of the September board meeting, in which it was stated: "[The directors] acknowledged that, irrespective of the apparent illegality of the trenching, scientific support can be found for opposing conclusions, namely, that the trenching was good or bad for the environment. Stephen commented that neither any one of the directors alone, nor even the board as a whole, could expect to command the scientific expertise to determine conclusively whether any particular action is beneficial or detrimental to the environment. Rather, he said, our task should be to engender greater respect for the complexity of aquatic (and other) systems. [The directors agreed to] send a forward-looking letter to the District Attorney and to the RWQCB, identifying what actions the Council sees as most appropriate." The directors discussed what procedures will allow the board to obtain input from members and other watershed residents, while assuring that letters written and positions taken represent the result of deliberations by the directors acting as a board. It was agreed that Jean will meet or speak with the concerned residents, obtain their input, then draft a letter for review and approval by the board.

Water Coalition Matters. John and Zeno reported on the last Tech meetings of the Sonoma County Water Coalition, including the meeting a meeting with Grant Davis and Pam Jeane from SCWA and a meeting with Assembly Member Jared Huffman whose district, the 6th Assembly District, includes parts of the Green Valley / Atascadero Watershed. See http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a06/district.aspx for a map of the District. Huffman is the Chair of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee of the Assembly and has been appointed to chair the Assembly's Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee for the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Biological Opinion Under Endangered Species Act. Zeno reported on the recent public meeting at which the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a "Biological Opinion" relating to the water supply, flood control operations and channel maintenance conducted by the Corps of Engineers and the Sonoma County Water Agency (and other agencies) in the Russian River watershed. A copy of the Opinion can be viewed at http://www.sonomacountywater.org/projects/ As stated in the Executive Summary, the water-related activities are likely to affect coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead trout located in the Russian River watershed. The purpose of the Opinion is to "provide a determination regarding whether the Corps has insured that the proposed project is not likely to jeopardize one or more of these species or destroy or adversely modify their designated critical habitat. If a project is found to jeopardize a species or adversely modify its critical habitat, NMFS must develop a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) to the proposed project in coordination with the federal action agency and any applicant. If the project is also expected to result in the incidental take of listed species, NMFS must also provide reasonable and prudent measures (RPM's) to minimize and monitor the impact of the incidental take of listed species."

First Flush. Jean reported that she and Jo Bentz and others participated int he Russian River first flush monitoring effort on the night of October 3 at Calder Creek, a tributary of the Laguna de Santa Rosa that flows through Ives Park. "First flush" is used to describe the higher pollutant load that washes into our creeks during the first storm event of the season.

Restoration at Martinelli Ranch. John reported on the continuing work at Martinelli Ranch. John, Larry Hanson, Kimberly Burr, Richard Miller and several other volunteers work at the ranch almost every Sunday, beginning around 9AM. Anyone interested can contact Larry at larryjhanson (at) comcast.net or John at jahilltop (at) earthlink.net .

Urban Water Management Plan Litigation. Jean had attended the recent hearing in the litigation with the Sonoma County Water Agency on the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan, and reported on the same.

Gold Ridge RCD. Diana Hines, a fisheries biologist with the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, stated that the RCD had recently sent a letter to property owners in the upper Green Valley Watershed describing the upcoming assessment of the watershed, exclusive of the Atascadero, and soliciting voluntary participation in the assessment. The RCD will hold a public meeting in November or December to discuss the assessment project.

Creek Cleanup. Jean announced that the annual creek cleanup in Graton will be held on Saturday, October 25.

The meeting adjourned at 12:20

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of October 4, 2008


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on October 4, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, beginning at 10:10AM. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Zeno Swijtink and Bob Burke were present. Diana Hines of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District was present for part of the meeting. Financial Report. John reported that the Council has a total of $728.09 in its general account. John agreed to maintain a ledger for all items of inflow and outflow from the Council's restoration projects account held by Forests Unlimited as fiscal sponsor. Projects for the Council. Jean circulated the list of potential projects for the Council for the upcoming year, which was discussed and revised. Jean will synthesize the input and, after Stephen has a chance to comment, will circulate the list to the Council's list serves, soliciting volunteer support for the projects. Jean will provide a list of parcel numbers for properties within the watershed to John, who will visit the PRMD to assure that the Council receives notice of permit applications affecting the watershed. Trenching in the Atascadero. Jean reported on the critical reaction of some watershed residents to the minutes of the September board meeting, in which it was stated: "[The directors] acknowledged that, irrespective of the apparent illegality of the trenching, scientific support can be found for opposing conclusions, namely, that the trenching was good or bad for the environment. Stephen commented that neither any one of the directors alone, nor even the board as a whole, could expect to command the scientific expertise to determine conclusively whether any particular action is beneficial or detrimental to the environment. Rather, he said, our task should be to engender greater respect for the complexity of aquatic (and other) systems. [The directors agreed to] send a forward-looking letter to the District Attorney and to the RWQCB, identifying what actions the Council sees as most appropriate." The directors discussed what procedures will allow the board to obtain input from members and other watershed residents, while assuring that letters written and positions taken represent the result of deliberations by the directors acting as a board. It was agreed that Jean will meet or speak with the concerned residents, obtain their input, then draft a letter for review and approval by the board. Water Coalition Matters. John and Zeno reported on the last Tech meetings of the Sonoma County Water Coalition, including the meeting a meeting with Grant Davis and Pam Jeane from SCWA and a meeting with Assembly Member Jared Huffman whose district, the 6th Assembly District, includes parts of the Green Valley / Atascadero Watershed. See http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a06/district.aspx for a map of the District. Huffman is the Chair of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee of the Assembly and has been appointed to chair the Assembly's Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee for the 2009-2010 legislative session. Biological Opinion Under Endangered Species Act. Zeno reported on the recent public meeting at which the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a "Biological Opinion" relating to the water supply, flood control operations and channel maintenance conducted by the Corps of Engineers and the Sonoma County Water Agency (and other agencies) in the Russian River watershed. A copy of the Opinion can be viewed at http://www.sonomacountywater.org/projects/ As stated in the Executive Summary, the water-related activities are likely to affect coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead trout located in the Russian River watershed. The purpose of the Opinion is to "provide a determination regarding whether the Corps has insured that the proposed project is not likely to jeopardize one or more of these species or destroy or adversely modify their designated critical habitat. If a project is found to jeopardize a species or adversely modify its critical habitat, NMFS must develop a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) to the proposed project in coordination with the federal action agency and any applicant. If the project is also expected to result in the incidental take of listed species, NMFS must also provide reasonable and prudent measures (RPM's) to minimize and monitor the impact of the incidental take of listed species." First Flush. Jean reported that she and Jo Bentz and others participated int he Russian River first flush monitoring effort on the night of October 3 at Calder Creek, a tributary of the Laguna de Santa Rosa that flows through Ives Park. "First flush" is used to describe the higher pollutant load that washes into our creeks during the first storm event of the season. Restoration at Martinelli Ranch. John reported on the continuing work at Martinelli Ranch. John, Larry Hanson, Kimberly Burr, Richard Miller and several other volunteers work at the ranch almost every Sunday, beginning around 9AM. Anyone interested can contact Larry at larryjhanson (at) comcast.net or John at jahilltop (at) earthlink.net . Urban Water Management Plan Litigation. Jean had attended the recent hearing in the litigation with the Sonoma County Water Agency on the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan, and reported on the same. Gold Ridge RCD. Diana Hines, a fisheries biologist with the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, stated that the RCD had recently sent a letter to property owners in the upper Green Valley Watershed describing the upcoming assessment of the watershed, exclusive of the Atascadero, and soliciting voluntary participation in the assessment. The RCD will hold a public meeting in November or December to discuss the assessment project. Creek Cleanup. Jean announced that the annual creek cleanup in Graton will be held on Saturday, October 25. The meeting adjourned at 12:20 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary