Hard Work Pays Off
Happy holidays to everyone. We have good news to share. As you are probably aware, NFARA works on many different projects; some are long term, others short term. Over the past several months we have seen success on both fronts. For several years NFARA has been involved with the Headwaters Acquisition as well as the Suction Mining issue. Both of these issues have been successfully concluded. Our work, along with the work of others, has paid off. We also organized a very successful event for the 2015 Great Sierra River Cleanup. Read on for details.
American River Headwaters Acquisition by ARC
In August the American River Conservancy closed escrow on 10,000 acres of forested land at the headwaters of the North and Middle Forks of the American River. This is ARC’s largest conservation acquisition ever. The property is located just to the west of Granite Chief Wilderness Area. It extends from 5500 feet to 8500 feet in elevation, contains 1200 acres of mountain meadows andGraniteChief_Creek over 20 miles of blue ribbon trout streams. Three popular trails cross these lands including the Western States 100 Trail, the Tevis Cup Trail, and the Picayune Valley Trail. Approximately one fifth of the lands lie in the North Fork watershed.
The land was previously owned by a timber investment firm. ARC plans include forest restoration, the obliteration of 45 miles of logging roads, and restoration of mountain meadows. It is the intent of the Conservancy to manage the property for fire resiliency, water quality, wildlife habitat and trail recreation.
NFARA has been an advocate of this acquisition for several years and we contributed $1000 toward the purchase. One of our main concerns was the preservation of the Western States Trail. It appears now that the public will have access on this trail in perpetuity.
New Law to Protect Rivers, Fisheries from Suction Mining
On October 9 California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 637. This legislation will protect California’s water supplies, wildlife and cultural resources from the damaging effects of hobby gold mining. The new law requires that all small-scale miners using motorized suction pumps obtain a Clean Water Act Permit from the State Water Resources Control Board before mining in California waterways.
The legislation affects suction dredge mining, high banking and any other forms of mining that rely on motorized suction pumps to process materials from the banks or beds of rivers and streams. Dredging and high banking alters fish habitat by changing the river bottom and often reintroduces mercury, left over from historic mining operations, to the waterways threatening communities and fisheries.
The measure comes after nearly a decade of litigation among miners, tribes and conservationists. A moratorium on suction dredge mining has been in effect since 2009, but recent court decisions have cast uncertainty on it and prompted clarification from the legislature. Senate Bill 637 was authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) to provide clear authority to the State Water Resources Control Board to permit or deny small-scale suction mining in order to maintain water-quality standards.
NFARA has been working with the Sierra Fund, the Karuk Tribe, Center for Biological Diversity, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Friends of the River, Environmental Law Foundation, Upper American River Foundation, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Foothills Anglers Coalition, Klamath Riverkeeper and the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center for several years to reform small-scale mining laws and regulations.
Great Sierra River Cleanup
On September 19, as part of the 7th Annual Great Sierra River Cleanup,
NFARA 2015 GSRC Stevens Trail 2 2organized a cleanup event along the North Fork. 20 people joined our effort including 3 very young participants and their parents. One group of 6 volunteers went down the Stevens Trail to collect a pile of trash. Approximately 120 pounds (sleeping bags, propane bottles, mining equipment, etc.) were hauled out of the canyon.
The other group of the volunteers cleaned the Mineral Bar campground and picnic areas as well as the Pennyweight Trail. About 160 pounds of trash were removed from this area. A lot of small trash gets left, probably because it is harder to see and harder to pickup. Top of the list of small trash are cigarette butts, followed by bottle caps, the plastic straw wrappers from fruit box drinks, and the bag ties (both wire and plastic) used on bread/bun bags. At least one of the energy gel manufacturer has attached the top of the packet such that it stays with the rest of the packet and does not become really small litter. Good example of a simple change that can help the problem.
The Great Sierra River Cleanup is coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in partnership with the California Coastal Cleanup Day and serves to promote good stewardship on all our waterways. This year nearly 4600 volunteers removed more than 108 tons of trash and recyclables from rivers throughout the Sierra Nevada.
Final Shot
Think Snow!
