Meeting Minutes

Combined 3^rd General Session and Steering Committee

Wednesday, January 8, 2003 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friant Learning Academy, Town of Friant

1.      Welcome and Introductions

 Karla Fullerton, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm and welcomed everyone. Introductions were made.  New Stakeholders in attendance included Tina Williams, Tribal Administrator and their assistant for Cold Springs Racheria.  They shared information about their Tribal group.  Additionally, Melinda Marks, Executive Officer for the San Joaquin River Conservancy was in attendance.   Handouts for the meeting were provided, (see list)

2.      Agenda

 There were no changes to the Agenda

  3.      Review and Approval of Minutes

 The minutes were reviewed and approved as written.

4.      Noxious Weeds Presentation by Joanna Clines

 Joanna as Chair for the San Joaquin-Sierra Noxious Weeds Alliance gave a PowerPoint presentation on the identification of noxious weeds; their environmental and economic impacts - and eradication efforts being undertaken. She has been a Botanist with the US Forest Service since 1988 – and Chair of the NWA for 4 years.  The following are highlights of her presentation:

A.     California, relatively speaking is fairly weed-free.  The issue of noxious weeds tends to bring different viewpoints together to work towards eradication.

B.    There are 6,000 species of plants in California – of which 1,000 are non-native.  Some are okay – but, there are approximately 200 that qualify as noxious. 

C.    Joanna provided photos of the more noxious ones – including Knap weed, Arundo, Leafy Spurge and Yellow Star Thistle.  Also she brought brochures of the “Top 10” noxious weeds as hand-outs

D.    Yellow Star Thistle was introduced with alfalfa in the 1800’s.  By 1958 there were over 1 million acres in California affected by YST.  By 2002, over 15 million acres have been affected.  YST can cause Chewing Disease which can be fatal to horses.

E.     Impacts of Noxious weeds include: erosion, sediment, habitat and decreasing property values.  Leafy Spurge for example has impacted land values in Oregon by as much as 83%.  Spanish and Scotch Broom are significant fire hazards.

F.     Noxious weeds can affect new areas by 14% per year.  The Sierra Nevada is still not heavily infested.

G.    The Noxious Weed Alliance is operating under a California-wide Integrated Weed Management Program.  Funding under Senate Bill 1740 includes $5 million for management purposes.  In 1997 only 9 counties participated.  In 2001 nearly all 58 counties now have programs.

H.    The local Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), such as Sierra RCD (Eastern Fresno Co) Mariposa RCD and Coarsegold RCD (Eastern Fresno Co) have played a critical role in education and containment.

Some of the discussion raised by others during the presentation revolved around the following:

            Ÿ    What is the effectiveness of Bio-control (insects) on YST?

Ÿ    In the Friant area may be over 1,300 acres affected by Medusahead.  Neil McDougald, UCD Cooperative Extension is conducting research

Ÿ    Education is very important

Ÿ    Prevention is important – For example, heavy equipment such as Caltrans, Calif Department of Forestry and the US Forest Service has equipment in which seeds can be dropped along the way.  Equipment used for the North Fork fire of 2001 had been hosed down.  Joanna showed photos of weeds that had sprouted.

Ÿ    There’s Klamath Weed (St. Johnswort) on Road 210 in the Finegold watershed in Madera Co.

Ÿ    Terry Sandridge and Toby Host are responsible for the PAT (Prather-Auberry-Tollhouse) weed abatement program.

  5.      Noxious Weeds Presentation Evaluation Form

 Karla distributed the form to those present – and encouraged everyone to complete them.

6.      Program Accomplishments

 Karla gave an overview of the accomplishments during the last year by the Coalition which spanned from the 1^st general meeting in May, 2002, conducting a Visioning Workshop, establishing the Steering Committee, selection of leaders and other major items, (see meeting hand-out).

7.      Assessment Activities

 Karla highlighted the study area map – and pointed out the major watersheds. 

 Karla with assistance from Terry Sandridge gave a status of the Assessment Team’s activities.  It was stressed that it was very important to track our progress related to collecting data – and that progress made during the month of February will be critical to our success.  Also, the Assessment Publication’s sections were noted with responsibilities identified.

 The timeline of activities was reviewed – with Information Gathering and Evaluation activities targeted for completion by the end of July.  The preparation for publication would then proceed from there.  The publication target date for the watershed assessment is November, 2003.

 A slide was presented showing efforts made since the Steering Committee had last met on December 12, 2002.  This covered the assessment areas of water quality, erosion & soils, biodiversity, geology and ground water.  

Karla concluded by encouraging everyone to participate in the watershed program – and assessment efforts.

8.      Upcoming Activities

 Karla talked about activities scheduled over the next few months.  This included twice monthly assessment work sessions, monthly steering committee meetings

 The Coalition also plans to conduct the following:

Ÿ    Presentation by the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation group – March

Ÿ    The Next Quarterly meeting will include an educational presentation by Craig Tolmie of the California Department of Forestry on Fire Safety and Fuels Management – April

Ÿ    Millerton Lake Tour – May  

9.      Meeting Minutes

 The draft minutes for the December 12, 2002 Steering Committee meeting was approved.

10. Other Business

 Dawn Carlton provided a draft of an article that she wants to include for the Sportsmen Club’s upcoming newsletter.

11. Announcements  

Karla reminded everyone to take copies of the various hand-outs, complete the evaluation form and sign-in sheet.

 Steve announced that the Sierra Foothill Conservancy had a number of upcoming activities that may be of interest to everyone related to the watershed area’s cultural and natural history and other educational events for families.

12. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:55 pm.  The next meeting will be a Steering Committee session:

 Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Friant Learning Academy, Town of Friant

Tentative Agenda

1.      Welcome / Introductions

2.      Review Agenda

3.      Review and Approval of Minutes

4.      Ground water in fractured rock formations – Phil Desatoff, Geologist – Fresno County

5.      Assessment Activities

6.      Upcoming Activities

7.      Other Business

8.      Announcements

9.      Adjournment

Attendance – (8)

Steering Committee

§    Frank Bigelow, Board of Supervisors – Madera County

§    Phyllis Calkins – Finegold Valley Landowners Association

§    Karla Fullerton, Fresno County Property Owner

§    Steve Ottemoeller – Madera Irrigation District

§    Jeff Roberts, Millerton Lake Area Chamber

§    Terry Sandridge, Sierra Resource Conservation District

§    Alita Warner, Finegold Valley Landowners Association

§    Burke Zane, Sierra Club

Technical Advisory Committee Liaisons (1)

§    Steve Juarez, Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game

Assessment Team (1)

§    Dawn Carlton, Kings River Conservation District

Others in Attendance (4)

Hand-outs –

§    January General Meeting, Noxious Weeds Presentation and Program Status Package with Agenda – 1/8/03

§    Top 10 Noxious Weeds & Invasive Non-native Plants of Mariposa, Madera and Fresno County Brochure

§    Educational Presentation Evaluation Form