Clear Lake Region Pesticide Environmental Risk Project

Sarah RyanBig Valley Rancheria EPAWestern Region Pesticide Meeting May 2005

Pesticide Issues in Lake County

Historical pesticide use with residues found in recent sediment sampling (4,4’-DDE, lead, arsenic, dieldrin)

Current adjacent agricultural overspray events onto Tribal lands

Ongoing aquatic weed management programs which include herbicide applications on Clear Lake – several Tribes live on lakeshore and depend on its resources

7 Tribes with varying reliance on traditional foods More than ¾ million pounds of pesticides applied in

the county in 2003

Clear Lake Region Pesticide Environmental Risk Project

Began in March 2004, 2 year grant

6 Tribes in Lake County

$100,000 2 staff (20% and

10% of time) Pesticide Circuit

Rider

Goals of Grant

Increase Tribal knowledge of pesticide routes of exposure

Promote effective pesticide management through education and communication within and outside Tribal boundaries.

Reduce the risk of Tribal pesticide exposure

Grant Tasks

Identify current/historic pesticide use on/adjacent to Tribal lands in Clear Lake Region

Assess the environmental and health risks of these pesticides

Identify pesticide use that will potentially impact Tribal cultural practices

Conduct workshops for Tribal members/local community to communicate the environmental and health risks of pesticide use

Grant Tasks, cont’d

Identify and communicate alternatives to pesticide use

Support creation of Tribal infrastructure to manage and minimize exposure to pesticides from lands adjacent to Tribal lands.

Pesticide Circuit Rider

Assist with grant projects

Provide environmental and health risk assessments

Develop SAPs as needed

Assist with communication of pesticide concerns to County and State agencies

Grant Projects

Community meetings/workshops

Pesticide assessments Pesticide Action Plans Sampling and Analysis

Plans Native plants pamphlet Tule study with CDFA

Community Meetings/Workshops

Scoping meeting at each Rancheria, included tour

Discussion of pesticide concerns

Historical knowledge Plants of interest Workshops this summer

will include local agencies and non Tribal community members

Scoping Initiative Meeting Report for the Upper Lake RancheriaSeptember 15, 2004Clear Lake Regional Pesticide Environmental Risk Project Project contact for the Tribe Identify current pesticide concerns for the Tribe•Historical pesticide use such as the old pear orchard east of the Rancheria•Pesticides in groundwater, including Hardesty Well•Land use near the Rancheria including proposed agricultural development•Solid waste issues including disposal of Rancheria residents household

hazardous waste

List plant and animal species and/or groups specific to Tribal use and areas these are collected (as allowed by specific Tribal norms and etiquette).  Locate SAPs and QAPPs with applicable information. Identify possible pesticide use in the area including agricultural, urban andlake application.  Discuss possible sources of information for pesticide use.

Scoping Meetings

Pesticide Assessments

Gather pesticide data pertinent to each Tribe to quantify pesticide exposure (adjacent agriculture, vector control, rights of way, drinking water info)

Evaluate human health risks from potential pesticide exposures

Pesticide Assessments, cont’d

Collected info from:– CalTrans– County of Lake Dept of Agriculture– CA Dept of Food and Agriculture– County of Lake Dept of Public Works– CA Dept of Pesticide Regulation

Pesticide Action Plans

Assessing need for further action: pesticide monitoring, increased communication with local agencies or neighbors for protected areas

Emphasis on cultural impacts

Sampling and Analysis Plans

During Scoping meetings, already took stock of pertinent SAPs and QAPPS of each Tribe

Money for development of SAPs to monitor recommended priority pesticides in specific media

Native Plants Pamphlet

Compile list of plants with collection times, uses, general gathering areas

Overlay with local pesticide use info (what, where, when)

Use information to determine the plants that need attention

Create pamphlet that educates the public about need for native plant preservation

Tule Project with CDFA

Began as a response in November 2004 to Tribal concerns about pesticide residue in traditional foods

Tribal/CDFA meeting in January 2005 to discuss tule consumption (how, when and where)

CDFA currently developing methodology for analyzing fluridone in tules, water and sediment, at Clear Lake in 4 different locations (chosen by the Tribes)

CDFA will conduct sampling during May 2005, (pre and post fluridone application) and share info

Do you eat tules? Please come to the Housing office at 11am this Thursday, J anuary 6th to be part of a California study on

pesticides in tules

Please come to a short EPA meeting to discuss tule consumption with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. They will be testing the

tules for pesticides and want to talk with Tribal members about tules. They want to know the

following about your tule consumption:

How many tules do you eat?

What time of year do you eat them?

Do you cook or prepare them in any way?

Goals of Grant, revisited

Increase Tribal knowledge of pesticide routes of exposure

Promote effective pesticide management through education and communication within and outside Tribal boundaries.

Reduce the risk of Tribal pesticide exposure

Contact information:

Sarah Ryan, Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians

sryan@big-valley.net

cell 707-349-4040/ ofc 707-263-3924 x109