EPA

Environmental Accomplishments for Big Valley Rancheria
FY2003

 

The Environmental Protection Office of Big Valley Rancheria, under the direction and priorities of the Tribal Business Committee and with the employees: Mike Schaver, Environmental Director and overseeing water programs, Sarah Ryan, Environmental Outreach Coordinator and overseeing solid waste and pesticide programs, and Phil McCloud, Recycling Specialist and overseeing set up and maintenance of the Transfer Station, has accomplished noteworthy items during this past year. EPA staff also used the help of Tribal interns from the California Indian Manpower Consortium program. These achievements fall into the following categories:

1. Solid Waste
2. Recycling
3. Pesticide Management
4. Cultural Preservation

Solid Waste
Transfer station set up
This last year, Big Valley’s EPA completed the transformation of an old trailer into a Recycling Center/Transfer Station. Now, Tribal members can drop off their trash into the 15 yard dumpster, their used oil and other household hazardous wastes behind a secure area, their old tires, mattresses and appliances in another area of the Transfer Station grounds. Recycling bins are present for Tribal members to drop off plastics, aluminum and glass and there is even a spot for used building materials. In order to facilitate reuse of items, Tribal members have access to anything dropped off at the Transfer Station. For those Tribal members who can’t bring their unwanted items to the Transfer Station, the Environmental Protection Office purchased a truck with a lift gate that will lift up to ½ ton, making the collection of large appliances a safer task.

Tribal youth Clean ups
EPA staff has also made it a priority to continue Rancheria clean ups with Tribal youth. Three times this past year, the Outreach Coordinator assembled all interested youth in a portion of the Rancheria to clean up all items found on the ground. Youth were given trash bags and latex gloves, along with some safety instructions before they panned out to pick up every bit of litter they see. Their bags were tallied when they returned to a designated point, and each youth pulled out all recyclables within their bags. Afterwards, youth were treated to pizza and everyone received some sort of environmental award for their efforts (such as wooden whistles in the shape of a dragonfly, solar model airplane kits, insect stickers, amethysts, wrist compasses, etc.) Tribal youth picked up a total of 169 bags of litter and recycled more than one 55-gallon barrel each of plastics, aluminum and glass. Pictures are attached.

Recycling
Start up of Big Valley Rancheria Community Recycling Program
During this past year, EPA staff developed a recycling program to pick up all recyclables from the Tribal governmental offices. Under the General Assistance Program, staff purchased small paper bins for each desk and larger bins for each department to place their aluminum, plastics and glass. A flyer was developed to hand out to all Tribal staff to inform them about the program. EPA staff has compiled some rough totals of what was collected: more than one ton of paper, ten 55-gallon barrels of aluminum, seven 55-gallon barrels of plastics, four 55-gallon barrels of aluminum and countless ink cartridges and household batteries.

Pesticicide Management
Monitoring Pesticide Drift Issues
Because Big Valley Rancheria is surrounded by local agriculture, pesticide drift is a very real threat to the health and safety of its members. EPA staff continues to compile pesticide use reports from the County Agricultural Commissioner on how much and what is used near the Rancheria. The Environmental Protection Office has developed working relationships with the adjacent farmers to inform before they apply pesticides so that staff can get the word out to Tribal members/staff to be alert. The Tribe is in the process of developing its pesticide sampling analysis plan to be able to sample for drift of the many pesticides that are used nearby. Picture attached.

Review of Groundwater and Well Data
EPA staff have reviewed documents for groundwater and existing wells for pesticide residues and will continue to monitor them annually to ensure quick action if residues are found.

Monitoring Herbicide Applications to Clear Lake
EPA staff continues to coordinate with the Hydrilla Eradication Program of the County in order to receive prior information about an herbicide application near Big Valley Rancheria. When notified, EPA staff sets up signs asking Tribal members not to swim in the vicinity for the rest of the day, in order to minimize any contact with the herbicide. Because Tribal members collect and consume young tule reeds from the lakeshore, EPA staff informs cultural leaders of the seasonal application start date. Picture attached.

Cultural Preservation
Tule Boat Workshop
Big Valley Rancheria has held its second annual Tule Boat Workshop, a free three-day intensive that features Tribal Elders teaching Tribal youth and adults how to build a traditional tule boat. Presentations occur throughout the workshop on issues of cultural and environmental importance. After collecting the tules (a multi-hour process) and assembling them through binding small bundles of tules together, each Tribe that participates has a fine, lake-worthy boat. On the final day of the workshop, the Tribal teams race the boats, with prizes going to the winners of the men, women, youth and relay team categories. This workshop is held during the summer solstice. Pictures attached.