EPA - Big Valley Rancheria

EPA NEWS

ORDINANCES:
Staff members have been working on several environmental ordinances for the protection of Big Valley’s land and resources. They are as follows:

Big Valley Environmental Ordinances
Development of Big Valley Environmental Policy Act
General statement of Big Valley Rancheria’s intent to protect the environment within its boundaries, establish right for protection and regulation for Tribal as well as non-Tribal members.

Development of Big Valley’s Cultural Protection
This ordinance establishes the Tribe’s right to protect any and all of the elements necessary for the past, present, and future continuation of its traditions and culture. It includes the right to hunt, fish, and gather any resources necessary for this protection.

Lake County Cultural Protection Ordinance
The environmental departments of the 6 Tribes around the lake have formed a group called Hinthil Environmental Resource Consortium (HERC). This committee addresses any environmental concern that the Tribes may have including clean water, water rights, clean air, cultural resource protection, land practices in the county and how it affects Tribes, right to have bird feathers for ceremonial gear, right to gather, transportation needs of the Tribes and any issue brought to our attention. This group acts as a government to government organization with other government agencies in the county, state, and federal arena. HERC meets once a month, subcommittees meet once a month, and HERC meets with other agencies as needed.

Big Valley can be very proud of HERC as it has become known in other counties as a successful model of Tribes that have joined forces and deal effectively with other government agencies, especially the County of Lake.

Staff members have been an active member of HERC for the past 6 months and works on the subcommittee that is currently developing a ‘county wide’ cultural preservation ordinance. This ordinance protects Tribes rights not only to protect cultural artifacts but to protect resources necessary for the continued practice of its culture, such as gathering sites, traditional trails, hunting, fishing rights and such.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
GIS/GPS
Staff members have has been developing environmental information data sets. Currently, they are used to track water monitoring information. This fall and winter Staff will develop and track a nutrient buffer zone adjacent to the housing development to assure contaminates from the runoff do not enter the lake water.

Staff coordinates with the engineers to assure project designs are compatible. Staff has been converting engineering drawings into a GIS format that Staff uses for mapping purposes.

Staff attends monthly meetings with the county and other agencies that gather environmental data around Lake County. This is to stay current with programs and to make Big Valley’s Tribal presence known to other agencies.

Staff hosted an inter-Tribal GIS user group that had speakers from 5 agencies as far away as Idaho and San Diego and was attended by 7 Tribes as far away as Eureka, Sacramento, and Round Valley. This event offered Indian Tacos for lunch coordinated by JoJo and proceeds went to rebuilding the roundhouse.

Starting this fall, Staff will be working closely with U.S. E. P. A. to develop an environmental information quality assurance plan and an environmental information exchange network that will allow for efficient and standardized information exchange between federal, state, and Tribal environmental agencies. This project will require extensive training and development of Geographic Information Systems.

Grants
Staff members wrote two grants for next year. They are: · The National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant (NEIEN) · Innoviative Nutrient Buffer Zone (NPDES)

Earth Day
Staff members designed and manned the Big Valley Earth Day Booth. At this table Staff conducted an environmental survey and plant use survey. Upon completion of the survey, participants received sweetgrass and white wild sage. The results of the survey are used to make sure the Big Valley EPA is addressing the environmental concerns of its Tribal members. Staff also had information on native plants and alternative energy.

Tule Boat Event
Staff members photographed the event and is in the process of making a scrapbook of the event that can be viewed at the Big Valley Tribal administrative office upon completion. Tribal members can also request copies of family photographs from Staff members.

Library
Staff members have developed a library database and labeled and shelved a library for environmental and cultural information.

Wetlands Brochure Committee
Staff members are working with a committee to develop an educational brochure for use in Lake County on the biological habitat of local wetland areas. The brochure will provide traditional uses of wetland plants by local Native Americans and the beneficial effects of their sustainable practices.

Environmental Intern
Evonne was training a Tribal youth intern to learn the day to day work of her job as an Environmental Planner of Big Valley. She is very pleased to have a Tribal intern to work with her. She will be training her intern on software, Tribal environmental issues, and interaction with other environmental agencies and Tribes.