invironmental Protection
.Agency
Water Division
Success Stories
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Table of Contents
State & Tribal Programs Office 4
Definition of CWA §319(h) 5
Funding 6
Definition of Success 7
• f_ 4*f JfE3^HK
Arizona 9
Ak-Chin Indian Community 10
Hualapai Tribe 11
Navajo Nation 14
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community 16
White Mountain Apache Tribe $.... 17
California 20
Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians 21
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe 22
Karuk Tribe 23
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians 25
Yurok Tribe 26
Jevada 29
Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley 30
Pyramid Lake 32
Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California 33
Contacts 35
Photo: Hunter Rock, Smith River Rancheria, CA
Hunter Rock, which is just off-shore of the Smith River Rancheria, was used by
Tolowa men in several ways: to swim around it for training and gather bird eggs for food.
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State & Tribal Programs Office
The State and Tribal Programs Office
administers Clean Water Act and special
appropriation grants for states,
municipalities, and over 80 tribes in
Region 9. The grants are used for the
monitoring, assessment, cleanup, protection,
and prevention of polluted runoff
in waterways, as well as assistance for
wastewater infrastructure.
Chemehuevi
Indian Tribe
Salt River Pima Maricopa
Indian Community
Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Page 4
Definition of CW\ §319(h)
Nonpoint Source Program
The Clean Water Act (CWA) §319(h), Nonpoint Source (NFS) Pollution
Control Program, assists Tribes to develop and implement polluted runoff
control programs that address critical water quality concerns. NFS pollution
is denned as rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation that runs over land or
through the ground, picks up pollutants, and deposits them into rivers,
lakes, oceans, or ground water.
Eligible activities (but not limited to):
• Hiring qualified staff
• Implementing physical measures or best management practices that will
reduce or eliminate NFS pollution in receiving water bodies, resulting in
water quality benefits
• Implementing that Tribe's approved NFS management program
• Implementing "on-the-ground" watershed projects (i.e., stream restoration,
revegetation, buffer strips, tree planting, and more)
• Conducting NFS education programs
• Training and travel
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Funding
Nationally, approximately $6 million has been allocated to fund CWA §319(h)
Tribal programs over the past several fiscal years. This allows awards of $30,000
(land base area less than 1,000 mi2) or $50,000 (land base area more than
1,000 mi2) in base funding to eligible Tribes. The remaining funds are awarded to
eligible Tribes through a national competition to support the implementation of
priority "on-the-ground" watershed projects up to $150,000 per project.
Clean Water Act Section 319 Funding
EPA Region 9
- 4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
-. 1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
FY-97 FY-98 FY-99 FY-00 FY-01 FY-02 FY-03
• Number of CWA §319 Grants
• Total Funds Awarded
•o
0)
.1
Page 6
Definition of Success
Definition of Success
• Reduction of NFS pollution
• Unique projects with innovative approaches
• Collaboration with other agencies and local communities
Results of Successful Projects include:
• Protection of water bodies and water resources
• Restoration of water bodies and resources
• Community effort and involvement
• Improved water quality
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Success Stories
After - Moapa Band of Paiutes, NV
Restoration of eroded streambanks caused by cattle along a
drainage channel in the Hogan Springs Wetlands area.
INDIAN LANDS
ARIZONA
nation 9 G!8 Canter
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Ak-Chin Indian Community
Removal of Tamarisk and Planting of Native Species Project
Introduction
The 47,600 acre Ak-Chin Indian Community and Reservation
was established by Executive Order 1538 by President Taft on
May 28, 1912. The Reservation lands are located in the northwest
part of Pinal County, Arizona. The Ak-Chin people refer to them-
selves as a community and not a tribe because they are descen-
dants of Tohono O'odham (Papago) and Akimel O'odham (Pima)
peoples who lived with the Ak-Chin people for more than a
century. The Ak-Chin village is located just south of Phoenix,
Arizona and is one of four Papago villages in Arizona.
The Ak-Chin Community proposed to eradicate non-native
Tamarisk trees and replace them with native vegetation. With
large root systems and large water requirements, Tamarisk trees
lower the ground water table and increase the salinity of the topsoil, making it almost
impossible for the remaining natives species to survive. The Ak-Chin Community hired
contractors to remove the Tamarisk, and approximately 240 Tamarisk trees were cut and
placed into a wood chipper. Chip pieces were taken to a nearby tree farm to be used as
mulch. The work was completed in approximately three weeks.
Description of Project
The community conducted soil suitability tests and
qualitative water testing with nitrate strips within the
project area with the assistance from USDA Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). These tests
were carried out in several sample locations to evalu-
ate suitability for native species. Native species, both
cottonwood and willow trees, were planted in the riparian zone. About 93 cottonwood
trees and ten willow trees were planted, and the trees were protected by augured
holes with gopher protection baskets. The community will continue to monitor and take
control measures as needed over the next five years to ensure the growth and develop-
ment of the native species.
Page 10
Funding
The Ak-Chin Community received $30,000 in FY 2002
from EPA Region 9 for this project.
Hualapai Tribe
Abatement ofNonpoint Source Pollution at Spencer Beach Project
Introduction
The word, Hualapai, means "People of Tall Pines," and they are descendants of the
Pai people. The first contact with Europeans was in 1776 when Padre Garces encoun-
tered the Hualapai people. Later, in the 1880's, Anglo-American ranchers and miners
moved into the region, displacing the Hualapai people. The Hualapai Indian Reservation
was established by a Presidential Executive Order in 1883 and now includes about 1,562
square miles in northwestern Arizona. The main body of the reservation is located on the
south rim of the Grand Canyon with its northernmost boundary being 108.6 miles along
the Colorado River. About 2,300 tribal members now live on the reservation.
Historically, the Hualapai Tribe has maintained a society based on hunting, gathering,
and farming. In recent years, the economic base of the tribe has shifted to forestry, recre-
ation, tourism, wildlife, and livestock. Most of the businesses and infrastructure is located
in the principal city of the reservation, Peach Springs, Arizona. Since 1995, the tribe has
hosted about 30,000 visitors per month at its Grand Canyon West facilities during the
summer. The tribe also operates a river-rafting business on the Colorado River from
Diamond Creek to Pierce Ferry.
Description of Project
Spencer Beach is a popular spot for picnicking on
the Colorado River for rafters and power boaters vaca-
tioning at Lake Mead. Unfortunately, both the rafters'
guides and the power boaters do not have the neces-
sary equipment to dispose of human waste properly
and the waste is usually deposited along Spencer
Beach. Between 1995 and 1999, the water levels of
Lake Mead rose so dramatically that most of the beach was covered with water and
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waste, and contaminates were swept into the Colorado
River and Lake Mead.
The Hualapai Tribe worked with the Arizona Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality (AZ DEQ) to find a
solution to this nonpoint source pollution problem. The
Hualapai Tribe proposed to remove the human waste by
constructing a composting toilet and monitoring the
water quality in and around Spencer Beach. Once the
Hualapai Tribe received funding for the project, they
bought a carousel unit from Jade Mountain Inc. The
carousel contains four chambers, and once one chamber
is filled, the next chamber is automatically rotated into
place. When one chamber is filled, all the humus from
that chamber is removed as mulch. The Hualapai Tribe
constructed a wooden building around the carousel,
that contained an opaque plexiglass on one side (facing the sun) to facilitate heating
and composting of the material.
The Hualapai Tribe also sampled the waters that inundated Spencer Beach and the
mouth of Spencer Creek on a quarterly basis. With the results of the water testing, the
tribe began to see a pattern: the background fecal coliform impairments of the Colorado
River exist regardless of any additional inputs from Spencer Beach. The results showed
that when Lake Mead's water level was high, there was a high fecal coliform count.
During subsequent sampling, the level of fecal coliform was lowered, probably due to
the contaminants leaching away. Once the Lake's water levels dropped, the presence
of fecal coliform remained high.
The composting toilet facility was completed on April 29, 2000.
Funding
The Hualapai Tribe received $45,650 in FY 1998 from EPA Region 9 and AZ DEQ for
their project.
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Hualapai Tribe
Milkweed Springs Riparian Restoration Project
Description of Project
The Milkweed Springs Riparian Restoration Project is a
cooperative venture between the Hualapai Tribe and the Ari-
zona Department of Environmental Quality (AZ DEQ). The
project is designed to mitigate sedimentation entering Milk-
weed Springs and improve water quality in the spring. The
project area is important to the Hualapai Tribe culturally,
historically, and for recreational purposes. The spring area
had been used for centuries by the tribe, and currently tribal
members enjoy relaxing and swimming in the spring.
Sedimentation in Milkweed Springs is caused by two major activities: the
improvement and realignment work at nearby Buck and Doe Roads and the flagstone
mining operation upstream. The Hualapai Tribe proposed reducing the sediment
influx by constructing sediment control structures on the dam to prevent negative
environmental impacts.
Sedimentation is a primary source of nonpoint source pollution and the associated
economic costs are considerable. Permanent and temporary sediment control structures
were constructed utilizing natural stone, steel re-enforcing bar, and wire mesh. Stones
(both cobble and boulder sized) were used to fill the wire mesh and the structures were
tied to the bedrock. The permanent structures had steel rods drilled in them and were
cemented in the bedrock, while the temporary structures were tied with rope and
were replaced after a large flood.
In July of 1999, a flash flood demonstrated that the structures had done what they
were constructed to do — decreased the amount of sedimentation along the stream
banks. The permanent structures held in place and the temporary structures were rebuilt
after the flood. The project was completed in June of 2000.
Funding
The Hualapai Tribe received $42,592 in FY 1999 by EPA Region 9 for their project.
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Navajo Nation
Assay! Lake Project
Navajo Nation
Ganado/Indian Wells Stream Bank Stabilization Project
Introduction
The Navajo Nation Reservation, established in 1868, was enlarged by several Executive
Orders and is now one of the largest reservations in the United States. The Navajo Nation
covers parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, and is approximately 27,000 square miles.
The Navajo population is approximately 175,000 people.
Description of Project
The Assayi Lake Project is focused on achiev-
ing two goals: stabilizing and closing former
forest logging roads and re-enforcing highly
eroded drainage areas that are contributing to
high sediment loads into Assayi Lake. The Assayi
Lake is used by tribal members and others for
recreation, especially fishing, and as an irrigation
water source. To date, tribal staff have completed
about half of the project during the summers of
2001 and 2002. During those two summers, work-
ers implemented mitigation methods such as
waterbars, check dams, low water crossings, and other practices to reduce the erosion
near the former logging roads. These roads were closed off to vehicular traffic with
boulders or other materials. In order to complete the project, more work will be done
during the summer of 2003, including regrading slopes, installing more control check
measures, and re-vegetating the area with native trees and grasses.
Partnerships
The Navajo Nation collaborated with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service's
engineering staff and U.S. EPA.
Funding
The Navajo Nation received $165,000 in FY 2000 from EPA Region 9 for this project.
Page 14
Description of Project
The Ganado/Indian Wells Stream Bank Stabilization
Project is focused on reducing nonpoint source pollu-
tion along the Pueblo Colorado Wash by removing
potentially hazardous household and commercial
wastes, installing fencing along the stream to keep out
livestock and vehicular traffic, implementing soil and
slope stabilization measures, establishing turf reinforce-
ment mats, and planting native vegetation, including
willow and cottonwood trees and native grasses.
In preparation for the bank stabilization project, the Navajo Nation removed a variety of
pollutant laden wastes (motor oil, coolants, vehicles, paint, paint thinner, and other yard,
household, and commercial wastes) that had the potential to leak heavy metals and organic
pollutants into the waterway, degrade water quality, and destroy the natural stream and
wildlife habitat. Once the site was cleaned of these hazardous materials, the Nation com-
pleted the following bank stabilization measures: installed soil stabilization structures,
installed 1,600 feet of fencing, and planted 400 willow cuttings and 100 cottonwood poles.
The Nation hired a contractor to assist with the bank stabilization, slope grading, and erosion
control measures.
In addition, the Navajo Nation provided educational outreach to tribal members regard-
ing the importance of water quality and how each person's activities can negatively impact
tribal waters.
The project is slated for completion in the summer of 2003, when the slope stabilization
work will be completed, turf reinforcement mats will be installed, and native grasses planted.
Partnerships
The Navajo Nation worked in cooperation with the National Park Service and the U.S.
EPA on this project.
Funding
The Navajo Nation received $102,500 in FY 2001 from EPA Region 9 for this project.
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Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Salt River Corridor Water Quality Protection and
Wetland Demonstration Project
Introduction
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
(Community) is comprised of two tribes: the Pima,
"Akimel Au-Authm" (River People) and the Maricopa,
"Xalychidom Piipaash" (People Who Live Toward the
Water). The Maricopa Tribe lived in small communities
along the lower Gila and Colorado Rivers and eventually
established a relationship with the Pima Tribe when the
Maricopa people migrated toward the Pima Tribe's
villages in the early 1800's. The Pima people believe
they are descendants of the "Hohokam" (Those Who Have Gone Before) who lived in
Arizona for nearly 2,000 years.
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's lands were established by Execu-
tive Order on June 14, 1879 by President Rutherford Hayes. The Reservation lands are
located in Maricopa County, near the city boundaries of Tempe, Scottsdale, and Fountain
Hills, in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Reservation lands consist of 53,500 acres and
sustains 19,000 acres as a natural preserve. About 12,000 acres are utilized as agricultural
land, producing cotton, melons, potatoes, onions, broccoli, and carrots. There are about
7,000 tribal members who reside on Community lands.
Description of Project
The Salt River lies along the southern boundary of
Reservation lands for about 17 miles and is dry down-
stream of the Granite Reef Diversion Dam. Vegetation is
minimal since river flow was diverted and rainfall is
low in this desert climate. Even though little water
reaches this area on the river, stormwater flows into the
area via irrigation ditches, direct runoff into river, and
storm drains. Suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, and E. coli are contained in this
untreated water that flows into the Salt River.
Page 16
To reduce this nonpoint source pollution problem,
the Community has assessed the sources of nonpoint
source pollutants from agricultural and urban areas that
discharge onto Reservation lands; investigated the
water quality of the agricultural tail water discharge;
and constructed a wetland demonstration site to
improve the water quality of the untreated tail water
that discharges into the river. The wetland demonstra-
tion site includes planting native vegetation (ground
cover and native grasses, cottonwood trees, and willow trees) that acts as buffers to slow
down the flow of the discharged water into the river and dissipates and filters out the
pollutants. The wetland demonstration site is also monitored to ensure that pollutants are
being removed from the water. The Community has taken some initial water samples of
the discharge (at inlet and outlet locations from the wetlands site) to determine water
quality of the untreated tail waters.
Funding
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community received $130,000 in FY 2001 from
EPA Region 9 for this project.
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Cibecue Creek Restoration Project
Introduction
The White Mountain Apache Tribe formally received their Reservation lands by an
Act of Congress on June 7, 1897. The Reservation lands, totaling 1.6 million acres, are
located in east-central Arizona. Currently, there are about 13,000 tribal members living
on the reservation.
Description of Project
The purpose of the Cibecue Creek Restoration Project was to improve critically
impaired areas along the creek. In the summer of 2002, a huge wild fire blasted through
forested lands adjacent to and on the reservation, burning about 200,000 acres. Since
then, most of the nonpoint source pollution activities have been greatly affected by the
fire. Currently, tribal staff are working to assess the fire damage and salvage any timber
wood from the fire area.
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The tribe's Best Management Practice (BMPs) plans will be modified to address the
extensive fire damage and water quality problems resulting from the fire. The tribe
experienced huge flooding problems in the streams after the fire, causing erosion and
wiping away newly planted vegetation. Some nonpoint source pollution control activi-
ties described below were modified or put on hold due to other pressing community
needs (for example, protection of homes, bridges, etc.) which took first priority and
required tribal members' time and effort.
The tribe implemented gully control
projects in the Red Dust Community Area
and at Martinez Ranch. Tribal members con-
structed 16 gully structures before the fire
utilizing three different designs to meet the
needs of controlling eroded areas. Tribal
members re-contoured the eroded areas,
edged rocks along the ditches, and planted
new seeds to prevent further erosion. Tribal
members also brought high school science
classes to the activity site to educate them
about the importance of identifying nonpoint source pollution problems and potential
solutions. All gully structures were reconstructed and vegetation was replanted after
the fire.
Next, tribal members worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Forestry to
identify roads that could be closed around upper Cibecue Creek. These roads were
identified as significant contributors of sediment in the watershed. Several roads are
expected to be closed in summer of 2003 and eventually, tribal members will work to
reseed these road areas and conduct other erosion control measures. Also, there are
other roads that tribal members hope to close in the near future once the fire assess-
ment work is complete.
To protect their drinking water source, tribal members completed restoration
work at White Springs and Martinez Ranch. Before the fire, completed restoration
work at White Springs included transplanting sedges, cattails, bulrushes and reed,
upgrading rock structures, and mending fences. After the fire, tribal members re-
built the fencing and replanted native vegetation. At Martinez Ranch, before the fire,
tribal members upgraded gully structures and planted vegetation to prevent further
erosion in the area. After the fire, tribal members reconstructed gully structures and
replanted vegetation.
Page 18
Tribal members worked with teachers and
students in conducting various watershed activ-
ities. Students assisted in identifying nonpoint
source pollution in their community and in the
collection of stream assessment data. For exam-
ple, at Martinez Ranch, students learned to
identify plants and learned how nonpoint
source pollution affects the local environment.
The tribe has proposed to reconstruct chan-
nels along the creek's banks that were eroding.
The two sites: Cibecue Creek along Rose Thompson's
cornfields, an area on south end of the community,
and Cibecue Creek along the Z-19 irrigation diversion.
Work on this activity has been delayed due to fire
damage in the area, but tribal members plan to recon-
struct the channels at both sites in the near future.
Lastly, tribal members talked with landowners
along project boundaries to explain future plans at the Red Dust Housing Area, Z-19
area, and along Rose Thompson's cornfields. Some landowners showed interest in the
restoration project and were pleased with the work. Work on this activity was delayed
due to fire damage in the area, but it will be completed in the near future.
The tribe also received funding from EPA Region 9 in FY 2002 to reassess their
Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Program and Watershed Program in terms of their
needs after the fire. The tribe's goals in reassessing their NPS and Watershed Programs
include: sampling sediments in streams, creating a database of all nonpoint source
pollution projects and watershed projects, analyzing data from turbidity sampling and
surface substrate sampling, developing a method for analyzing impact of forest roads
on the watershed, and providing input on local activities (such as timber sales, dump
site closures, road closures, housing construction, etc.).
Funding
The White Mountain Apache Tribe received $50,000 from EPA Region 9 in FY 2002
for this project and supplemental FY 2002 funding totaling $91,787.
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INDIAN LANDS
CALIFORNIA
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Campo Band ofKumeyaay Indians
Diabold Creek Wetland Restoration Project
Introduction
The Campo Indian Reservation is located approxi-
mately 65 miles east of San Diego, California; elevations
range from 2,800 feet to 4,600 feet. The vegetation in-
cludes mountain chaparral with chamise and scrub oaks,
tracts of oak forests, riparian areas of willows and cotton-
wood trees, and small wetland areas. The reservation is
comprised of two separate sections, totaling 25 square
miles. About four square miles of the reservation drains
into the Colorado River basin, while the other 21 square
miles drain into the Tijuana River basin.
The goal of the Diabold Creek Wetland Restoration Project was to block and reverse
continual erosion of the Diabold Creek channel, restore the wetland area, and recharge
the aquifer. The main causes of these nonpoint source pollution problems include long-
term cattle grazing and nearby agricultural operations. Diabold Creek meanders through
the central part of the Reservation lands near Church Road. The Tribe utilized heavy
equipment to re-grade the creek bed and creek banks and installed geotextile material
as a foundation for the layering of 200 tons of rock riprap. In addition, the Tribe:
• Planted barley seed to control erosion;
• Planted about 100 native cottonwood and willow trees in the project area; and
• Sampled water quality in the wetland area on a quarterly basis.
The tribe's water well is located less than a half mile from the project site and the
aquifer feeds the well with some of the tribe's drinking water.
At the completion of the project, storm water
runoff will trap sediment behind the rock structure,
increasing stability of stream banks and reducing stream
erosion. This restoration technique will also help raise
stream flows during periods of drought and increase
the water table.
Similar to this method of installing rock structures in
the creek bed, the Tribe has traditionally implemented
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similar methods of erosion control, placing rocks and other debris across creek channels
to form wetlands for fish species and wildlife to live.
Partnerships
The tribe also worked with USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service on this project for technical
assistance.
Funding
Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians received $29,700
in FY 2002 from EPA Region 9 for their project.
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
Lake Havasu Beach Non-Native Species Removal Project
Introduction
The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is located in San Bernardino County, California,
on approximately 32,000 acres, and lies directly across Lake Havasu from Lake Havasu
City, Arizona. The Chemehuevi Indian Reservation is located along 30 miles of the
Colorado River.
The Chemehuevi (which means "Those Who Play With Fish" in Mohave) people are
related to the Southern Paiute people and have resided in the southwestern desert area
for generations. In 1853, the Chemehuevi people lost their lands to white settlers.
Description of Project
The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe proposed to clear non-
native species, Tamarisk and Giant Cane, using hand meth-
ods in order to selectively remove unwanted non-native
species and leave the natives species undisturbed. The
native species included mesquite, cottonwood, willow,
and native herbs and grasses. Cleared vegetation was
burned on site and herbicides were applied to non-native
species to ensure eradication and control. Tribal staff
Page 22
noticed that once the non-native vegetation was cleared, there was more native vegeta-
tion in the project area than originally assumed and the removal of the invasive species
allowed the native vegetation to grow.
The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe used the presence of native willow and cottonwood
trees at the project site as guides to plant new native vegetation. Tribal staff planted
approximately 100 saplings, mostly cottonwood and willow trees, which had a reason-
ably high survival rate. The project area has been monitored and protected from re-
growths of non-native species. Tribal members reported that some wildlife has returned,
including beaver, bobcat, and possibly deer, to the project area.
Partnerships
Partnerships in the Non-Native Species Removal
and Re-vegetation Project include: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S.
Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs, and US EPA.
Funding
The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe received $60,000 during FY 2000 and FY 2001 from
EPA Region 9 for their project.
Tribe
Decommissioning of Former Forest Roads Projects
Introduction
The Karuk Tribe is located in Northern California near the Oregon state line and has
approximately 430 miles of roads located throughout the tribal lands that were used for
timber harvesting and mining gold, gravel, and quartz. These unpaved and deteriorating
roads are depositing soils into the streams on the tribe's ancestral lands, threatening the
habitat of Coho, Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead Trout. Anadromous fish species are
economically and culturally valuable to the tribe, and the restoration of riparian and
aquatic habitat is crucial for the protection and survival of these important fish species.
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The Karuk Tribe and the U.S. Forest Service came
together to form a partnership and developed the Karuk
Ecosystem Restoration Program to achieve their mutual
ecosystem management goals and watershed restoration
objectives. The Karuk Tribe hired TerraWave Systems,
Inc. to provide program management services and to
train tribal personnel basic watershed restoration tech-
niques to complete the job. Sixteen tribal members were
trained and learned skills needed for operation of heavy
equipment, prescription planning and surveying, and supervision of project sites.
Description of Project
Decommissioning ofSteinacher Road
As part of the Karuk Ecosystem Restoration Program, the Karuk Tribe and the U.S.
Forest Service decided to first focus their attention on decommissioning Steinacher Road.
Steinacher Road was a main contributor of sediment load entering into both Steinacher
and Wooley Creeks which eventually lead to the Lower Salmon River. Approximately
10,600 cubic yards of sediment has entered stream channels from these roads since 1971.
In 1996, the Klammath National Forest decommissioned the upper two miles of the
7.2 miles ofSteinacher Road. The remaining 5.2 miles of this road were decommissioned
by the Karuk Tribe. Tribal members removed about 94,800 cubic yards of sediment from
the streams and re-established the natural drainage for five major streams that cross the
abandoned Steinacher Road. The decommission project on Steinacher Road was com-
pleted on November 1, 2002.
Decommissioning of East Ishi Pishi Road
Once Steinacher Road was complete, the Karuk
Ecosystem Restoration Program outlined the restora-
tion efforts on two other important roads to decommis-
sion, East Ishi Pishi Road and Thompson Road. The Tribe
saw how successful their project was and sought more
funding from EPA Region 9 in FY 2002 to decommis-
sion East Ishi Pishi Road. Currently, this project is in the
design and planning stage. The actual construction
stage should begin in spring 2003 and the decommissioning of East Ishi Pishi Road will
take about five work seasons. East Ishi Pishi Road is 26.3 miles long and to complete the
project, the Tribe plans to decommission the entire length of the road.
Page 24
Funding
The Karuk Tribe received approximately $500,000 between FY 2000 and FY 2002
from EPA Region 9 for this project.
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Salton Sea Wetlands Demonstration Project
Introduction
The Torres Martinez Indian Reservation is located in the agricultural-intensive
Coachella Valley in south-central Riverside County and northwestern Imperial County.
The reservation contains approximately 24,800 acres, with over 11,000 acres beneath
the Salton Sea, which was flooded in 1904 by an accidental levee break along the
Colorado River. This accident provided the tribe with over 12 miles of Salton Sea
shoreline.
The Salton Sea is listed on the Clean Water Act §303(d) - Impaired Water Bodies List
by the State of California. In addition, it is projected that the Salton Sea will start to
reduce in size in the next few years. The Sea's reduction in size creates several problems,
including:
• Dust (PM10) filled with sediments from agricultural runoff over tribal lands;
• Flow of contaminated effluent, irrigation, and urban runoff entering the Sea;
• High algae blooms occuring year round; and
• Super-saline condition in the Salton Sea caused by high level of nutrients
and pesticides.
Compounding the problem, three water cooled-power plants in the Mexicali Valley
are due to begin operations within five years and a new wastewater facility is proposed
near the project area. There are numerous pollutants currently flowing into the Salton Sea,
including: cadmium, chromium, zinc, aluminum, iron, nitrate, selenium, and lead. None
of these pollutants dissipate, biodegrade, or decay.
Torres Martinez proposes to construct a wetland area that will remediate both the
point and nonpoint sources of pollution to address the wastewater, agricultural and
urban runoff flowing into the Salton Sea. By constructing a wetland, cleanup of the area
will be possible by having the water flow through the wetland before it is discharged
into the Salton Sea.
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This wetland project will be a pilot project to address the water quality problems on
the north side of Salton Sea. Surrounding the wetland, "hyperaccumulating" vegetation
will be planted that is capable of absorbing up to 400 times the soil concentrations of
salt. Also, the inlet to the Salton Sea will be planted with native vegetation to enhance
sea bird and fish habitat.
Partnerships
Partners in this project include: Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Water Quality Con-
trol Board, Salton Sea Authority and Scientific Committee, Coachella Valley Water District,
Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and US EPA.
Funding
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians received $180,000 from EPA Region 9 in
FY 2002 for their project.
Yurok Tribe
Tectah Creek Watershed Restoration Project
Introduction
The Yurok Tribe, with a total of 4,200 enrolled
members, is among the few aboriginal people of
California with tribal land located within the tribe's
ancestral lands. The Yurok Tribe's ancestral lands are
made up of about 320,000 acres and the Yurok Tribe's
Reservation landscare approximately 56,000 acres.
The central focus of Yurok tribal life is the Klamath River through cultural practices,
spiritual ceremonies, subsistence food, and commerce. Over the past few decades, the
fish populations (especially those of eulachon, lamprey, steelhead, coho, and chinook
salmon) have declined rapidly, causing concern for the overall health of the Klamath
River basin ecosystem.
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Description of Project
The Yurok Tribe proposed the Tectah Watershed Restoration Project (Tectah Creek is a
tributary of the Klamath River) and divided the project into two aspects: the training of
tribal members, including learning watershed protection techniques, operating heavy
equipment, and acquiring basic skills to decommission roads along the Tectah Creek
Watershed. These roads are owned by Simpson Timber Company and are located within
the Yurok Reservation and ancestral lands.
There are three long-term objectives regarding the revitalization of the Tectah Creek
Watershed including: improving in-stream water flows, restoring aquatic and wildlife
habitat, and stabilizing river bank slopes. When the stream assessment survey was com-
pleted and it identified which roads should be decommissioned, the tribal staff selected
qualified tribal members to begin the training program. Trainees learned several tech-
niques to perform watershed restoration treatments. To date, the Tribe has completed
the following:
• Decommissioned 3.64 miles of roads along the Tectah Creek watershed;
• Removed about 84,184 cubic yards of soil and prevented the soil from entering
the waterways;
• Trained tribal members in different watershed protection techniques and basic
skills, including heavy equipment operation, Standard First Aid, CPR, and
Safety Operations.
Funding
The Yurok Tribe received $130,000 in FY 2002 from EPA Region 9 for their project.
Yurok Tribe
Abandoned Vehicle Riparian Cleanup and
Riparian Planting Project
Description of Project
The Yurok Tribe identified the abatement and cleanup of abandoned vehicles in
waterways as a priority in their nonpoint pollution source (NPS) program. These vehi-
cles have the potential to leak gasoline and other pollutants into the surface and ground
waters on tribal lands. By the end of the project, 59 vehicles were removed from the
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lower portion of Reservation lands and 72 cars
were taken away from the upper part of tribal
lands. Contractors removed the vehicles from the
riparian area and hauled the cars to be crushed at
a steel mill for recycling. All of the fluids in the
vehicles were contained during the operation.
In removing about 131 vehicles from the
riparian area, it is estimated that about 592 gallons
of toxic pollutants were prevented from being released into nearby surface or ground
waters (assuming that the average vehicle contained about 4 quarts of oil and about 4
quarts of other fluids). Also, other vehicle parts, such as corrosive metals, batteries, tires,
and upholsteries did not pollute the waterways on tribal lands.
Once the removal of the vehicles was complete, the tribe planted about 7,400 native
tree species to help restore the riparian area.
• The tribe does not have an abandoned vehicle ordinance in place yet (an ordinance
is in draft form and is going through the review process). However, at this point,
removing more vehicles is a challenge because it is a voluntary process.
• The Reservation lands are isolated and remote to any vehicle crushing companies
and scrap metal refurbishing companies so it can be costly to pay these companies
to bring in their equipment to remove vehicles, crush them, and then haul it to a
place to sell the parts.
• It is a challenge to locate an appropriate site (about two to three acres in size) to be
utilized for crushing the abandoned vehicles. The location must be flat, contained,
and gated.
Funding
The Yurok Tribe received $30,000 in FY
2002 from EPA Region 9 for their project.
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Fort Me
Dermitt
Summit Lake
Fort McDermitt
.Winnemucca
Duck Valley
Wells
Battle Mountain
Lovelock
Vramid Lake
Car
Elko
• South Forks
Ely
Duckwater
INDIAN LANDS
NEVADA
Reservations, Colonies
25 0
Goshute
Moapa River
Las Vegas
Fort Moj ave
Last modified: April 2000
Ratfon 9 GIS center
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Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley
Skull Creek Stream Crossing Restoration Project
Owyhee River Streambank Protection and Restoration
Introduction
Reservation lands for the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley were established
in 1877 and enlarged in 1886. The lands are located in southwestern Idaho and north
central Nevada with approximately half of the land area in each state. The Shoshone
Paiute Tribes have retained all of the 289,820 acre land area as tribal trust land governed
by the tribal council.
Agriculture is the economic mainstay of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes. A short growing
season affects production on the approximately 87,000 acres that are suitable for farm-
ing and irrigation. The majority of the land serves as grazing land for cattle and horses
owned by tribal members.
Description of Project
Skull Creek Stream Crossing Restoration Project
The purpose of the Stream Crossing Restoration Project at Skull Creek was to reduce
nonpoint source pollution including the reduction of sediment loadings from unim-
proved back country roads and pollution associated with water contact with vehicles
during stream crossings. Completed activities include:
1. Created stream crossings for cattle and other domestic animals over Skull Creek.
2. Constructed twelve drainage dips.
3. Conducted surface water sampling and assessment of water quality impacts for
the Owyhee River Streambanks Restoration Project.
4. Conducted outreach to schools through presentations and development of a
slide show regarding the importance of stream restoration.
Construction of unimproved back country dirt roads adjacent to or within a stream
or flood plain often results in increased sedimentation and pollution from the vehicles.
Skull Creek is such a stream that is located along the unimproved Skull Creek Road. This
road crosses Skull Creek five times and remains within fifty feet of the stream for most of
its length. Three of the five crossings were modified to minimize pollution associated
with vehicles crossing the stream. At each of the three crossings, the creek flowed along
the road from 80 to 100 feet.
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To remedy this problem, a bankfull dam was installed at
two crossings, and at the third crossing, the old crossing
was blocked and reclaimed and a new crossing was con-
structed. Goeweb base was used to stabilize the crossings,
and at one crossing, a new meander was constructed to
prevent road bank erosion upstream of the crossing. Pro-
ject elements will be checked during late spring once
roads are passable for potential failure or damage, and
repairs will be completed as necessary. The Stream Cross-
ing Restoration Project at Skull Creek was completed in
September, 2002. The project will be evaluated over the
next three years.
Owyhee River Streambank Protection and Restoration
After observing that the Stream Crossing Restoration
Project at Skull Creek Project had successfully reduced nonpoint sources of pollution,
the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley continued to address these issues by imple-
menting the Livestock Pollution Reduction Plan for the Upper Owyhee River and Three
Springs Project. This project is aimed at reducing pollution caused by livestock and
encompasses ten miles of the East Fork Owyhee River and its tributaries. It will estab-
lish seven sites for remediation measures (four sites along the river and three sites at
springs located at a tributary of the river). Proposed Best Management Practices
(BMPs) include: constructing alternate watering sources for livestock, restoring dam-
aged riparian and spring areas, fencing damaged and sensitive areas, and prevention
of livestock access.
In 2002, the tribe received funding for the Owyhee River Streambank and Channel
Restoration Project. This project proposes to complete riparian restoration along the
Owyhee River using fluvial geomorphology as the basis for the restoration. The project
also included restoration and improvements to additional springs and water sources on
the reservation using range management practices. The tribe also explored develop-
ment of a grazing and nutrient management plan for the reservation.
Funding
EPA Region 9 helped fund three projects described above: Stream Crossing
Restoration Project at Skull Creek (for $280,000 from FY 2001 through FY 2002), Live-
stock Pollution Reduction Plan for the Upper Owyhee River and Three Springs Project
(for $100,000 in FY 2001), and Owyhee River Streambanks Restoration and the Spring
(for $130,000 in FY 2002).
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Pyramid Lake
Lower Truckee River Riparian Vegetation Protection
and Restoration Project
Introduction
The Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation encompasses
about 477,000 acres and is located in western Nevada,
about 30 miles northeast of Reno. The Truckee River is
an important water resource to the people of Pyramid
Lake and is home to the endangered Cui-ui and the
threatened Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.
Description of Project
The Pyramid Lake Tribe's long-term goals include: improving water quality and
natural habitat by decreasing turbidity from soil erosion, decreasing nutrient loads,
creating vegetation cover along streams, and stabilizing stream banks.
The Tribe's Lower Truckee River Riparian Vegetation Protection and Restoration
Project consisted of the following activities:
1. Installed 60 miles of fencing on both sides of the lower Truckee River corridor to
control access of livestock to watering areas.
2. Developed and restored spring, stream, and wetland areas.
3. Installed solar powered wells to keep livestock out of critical fish and wildlife
habitat areas.
4. Gathered and removed excess wild horses.
5. Built fencing around parts of Pyramid Lake to keep livestock out of the lake.
6. Employed range riders to maintain fences and livestock compliance.
The Pyramid Lake Tribe has effectively decreased nonpoint sources of pollution on
their tribal lands and demonstrated the importance of addressing grazing management
techniques to reduce polluted runoff and erosion.
Funding
The Pyramid Lake Tribe received several grants since FY 1999, totaling approximately
$400,000, from EPA Region 9 for their project.
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Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Riverbank and Land Restoration Project On Carson River
Introduction
The Washoe Tribe's ancestral lands include
areas near Lake Tahoe and lands from Honey
Lake in the north, to Mono Lake in the south.
The tribe uses surface waters for drinking,
cooking, fish and plant harvesting, and cere-
monial purposes.
The Washoe Tribe's surface and ground-
water resources have been impacted by
nonpoint source pollutants from upstream
developments, agriculture, mining, golf courses, urban runoff, landfills, and septic and
sewer systems. Historically, the river water quality has been high in phosphates as is
typical of rivers throughout the Great Basin. However, the Carson River has historically
exceeded state standards for total nitrogen, fecal coliform, and turbidity. The river was
significantly impacted by a 150-year flood event in January 1997. After that flood, much
of the riverbanks were severely eroded and its course was altered.
The Washoe Tribe has taken efforts to restore the Carson riverbanks. Sediments are
eroding from the riverbanks, causing a decrease in water quality, which has degraded
the overall condition of the watershed, and reduced the aquatic and riparian habitats.
Description of Project
The restoration project began in August 2000, and the overall goals of the restoration
project are to reduce sedimentation, restore native vegetation, implement new
irrigation systems to improve the vegetation's chances for survival, and remedy the
grazing and agricultural impacts on the water quality and the condition of the water-
shed. In order to achieve these goals, the Washoe Tribe first conducted a reconnaissance
survey of the defined project area along the Carson River. The reconnaissance survey
included: range analysis, soil inventory, cottonwoods inventory, riparian vegetation
inventory, fisheries inventory, and riparian evaluation. To date, the Tribe has completed:
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A reconnaissance survey, including
a survey of birds and vegetation
plots;
Stabilized, irrigated, and vegetated
a 2,500-foot section on tribal lands
along the Carson River;
Conducted a total of seven water
quality sampling events;
Planted approximately 100 cotton
woods, buffalo berries, and other
native species along riverbank;
Installed new fencing for grazing and
agricultural areas along the riverbank;
Identified sites for watering holes and solar bumps in project area; and
Established a Watering Care Group and a schedule for monitoring.
Partnerships
Partners in this project include: USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS), Western Nevada Resource Conservation Council, Carson Valley Conservation
District, Upper Carson River Management Group, Ducks Unlimited, local agencies, and
educational institutions.
Funding
Since FY 2001, the Washoe Tribe received a grand total of $590,000 from EPA Region
9 for this project.
WATER DIVISION TRIBAL CONTACTS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM
CLEAN WATER ACT SECTIONS 106, 319(h), 104(b)(3)
EPA, REGION 9
Joel Jones, Program Manager
(415) 972-3449
PROJECT OFFICERS
Tiffany Eastman
711 (relay)
(415) 972-3404
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
eastman.tiffany@epa.gov
Jim Fletcher
(619) 235-4763
(619) 235-4771 (fax)
fletcher.james@epa.gov
San Diego Border Office
So. CA Contact for
1st Time Applicants
Jenee Gavette
(415) 972-3439
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
gavette.jenee@epa.gov
Kristin Gullatt
(415) 972-3432
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
gullatt.kristin@epa.gov
Central CA & NV Contact
for 1st Time Applicants
Roccena Lawatch
(415) 972-3442
(415 972-3537 (fax)
lawatch.roccena@epa.gov
Linda Powell
(415) 972-3431
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
powell.linda@epa.gov
Northern CA Contact
for 1st Time Applicants
Wendell Smith
(415) 972-3421
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
smith.wendell@epa.gov
Jared Vollmer
(415) 972-3447
(415) 947-3537
vollmer.jared@epa.gov
Loretta Vanegas
(415) 972-3433
(415) 947-3537 (fax)
vanegas.loretta@epa.gov
AZ Contact for
1st Time Applicants
Stephanie Wilson
(775) 885-6190
(775) 885-6147 (fax)
wilson.stephanie@epa.gov
Nevada Office
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