To:      Lake Davis Steering Committee 

From: Julie Cunningham 

Date:  March 1, 2005

Re:     February 28, 2005 Lake Davis Steering Committee Meeting, Eastern Plumas District Hospital Education Room, Portola 

Present:   Jerry Dollard (Dollard’s Market), Bill Powers- (SC Chair and Plumas County Supervisor), Terri Daoust (Portola Reporter), Jane Braxton-Little (Sacramento Bee), Colleen Marsh (SC-Lake Davis Coalition), Paul Dickie, John T. Ball-(SC-Rotary), Jim Murphy (SC-City of Portola), Mike McNamara (Department of Health Services, Division of Drinking Water), Dave Spath (DSH, DDW), Ivan Paulsen (California Department of Fish and Game), Carl Lischeske (DHS, DDW), Curtis Levine (California Department of Water Resources), Maury Miller (DWR), Stephen Clifton (SC-Leonard’s Market), Steve Martarano (CDFG), Doug Rischbieter (DWR), Larry Eng (DWR), Paul Stein (DFG), Ryan Broddrick (DFG), Diana Jacobs (DFG), Fran Roudebush (SC – Lake Davis Coalition), Sally Gearhart, Vivien Finch, Saralyn Bensinger (Grizzly Store), Judy Schaber (U.S. Forest Service), Angela Dillingham (USFS), John Heavin (USFS), David Brierley, Jerry Sipe (Plumas County Environmental Health), Kelly Hale (PCEH), Kent Petersmeyer (SC-Grizzly Ranch), Robert Meacher (Plumas County Board of Supervisors), Bill Dennison (Plumas County BOS), Brian Morris (Plumas County Counsel), Julie Cunningham (CDFG).  On conference line:  Jim Pedri (Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board), Ron Dykstra (CVRWQB), Ralph Hinton (DWR), Stephanie Tom Coupe (California Department of Fish and Game) 

Welcome, Introductions, Introductory Remarks:  Bill reviewed the accomplishments of the Lake Davis Steering Committee since 1999.  The Steering Committee has invited the key players to this meeting and hopes that the Department of Fish and Game can move ahead on a project that is on firm ground and done correctly.  The Steering Committee wants to facilitate this process. Ryan stated that a pike eradication project is an opportunity and a challenge, with statewide implications for invasive species management.  He thanked participants for the large amount of work and effort put into this issue. 

Discussion Topics 

Options for the Future and Timeline:   Ryan reported that the Department’s goal is to implement an eradication project in 2007.  The goal is to appoint a project manager in the next month and to file a Notice of Preparation by the end of April.  $2.5 million is currently earmarked for the project.  Some participants would prefer a 2006 project date, and there was some discussion about how to declare the project an emergency.  Others thought it important that no shortcuts are taken.  The group discussed various factors that will influence the timeline, including the CEQA and NEPA time requirements for public comment, technical factors such as the drawdown timeframe, and other administrative and public disclosures considerations such as the need for the Department of Health Services to analyze information and make a determination on the use of rotenone in a public water supply.  Bill suggested that a “Gantt chart” timeline be developed so that the community can understand what is happening next, and so that the Steering Committee can help facilitate the efforts. 

Role of the Steering Committee:  Bill stated that he sees the Steering Committee as a group that brings information together, sorts through it, helps address community concerns and facilitates solutions to the issues surrounding the pike problem.  Jim Murphy sees the Steering Committee as both an information conduit and a liaison between the Department and the community.  Ryan stated that the Department needs this type of participation by the public, but that it is also time for the responsible agencies to work together more formally on technical issues.  Paul has found that working with community groups is often more effective when the intent or opinion of the group is funneled to the Department through a chairperson.  Fran suggested it might be appropriate to invite the Air Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to participate on the Committee. 

Law Enforcement:  Ryan explained that the CDFG law enforcement personnel are stretched quite thin over the state.  The pike program will be boosting its use of scientific aides working at the lake to educate people about pike and is also looking into setting up a volunteer program modeled on a highly successful effort in Southern California.  He requested that the Steering Community/community help the Department on the issue.  The group discussed some ideas: 

Public Health:  Jerry Sipe reported that Plumas County Environmental Health is in its sixth year of a ten-year testing program for about 80 wells surrounding Lake Davis.   As a project is developed, the testing program should be evaluated and perhaps expanded.   Dave pointed out that a lot of interagency coordination will be necessary to address public health issues, and that this would ideally be laid out in the EIR/EIS.  The Department of Health Services will do a systematic and objective review of many things such as materials management, receptors, and lake water quality.  DHS must make a legal determination on the use of rotenone in a drinking water supply, and would probably hold one or two public hearings on the subject.  Jerry assured members that Plumas County, DHS, the Air Board and other responsible agencies will work in parallel with the EIR process, but that they would need the details of the project before conducting the analysis. 

Economic Impact Study:  Fran would like to pursue getting something passed through the Legislature to compensate people who are economically harmed, with clearer guidelines than last time, and that economic data would be needed before going to the Legislature.  Ryan suggested that if community and CDFG are going to cooperate on an economic study they would need to agree on the scope of the analysis.  The group agrees that the scope of the study should include downstream impacts as well as local ones. 

Water Quality Issues and Supply:  Jim Murphy reported that in January 2006 the new federal standards for arsenic in drinking water will go into effect and the City of Portola wells will not be in compliance.  The current estimated completion date for a Lake Davis water treatment plant [currently estimated as costing $3.7 million] is 2007.  He is concerned about a treatment in 2007 which would make the water temporarily unusable.  The City of Portola Planning Commission has applications for 1300 housing units, and is facing a building moratorium if more water is not obtained. 

Recent Successful Treatment Projects:   Kent inquired if there were other communities experiencing similar problems and if rotenone had been an effective eradication tool elsewhere.  He stated that it was important for the Department to account for why the treatment was not successful last time.  Ivan cited several examples of successful treatments, such as Lake Kaweah (white bass eradication), Frenchman Reservoir (northern pike eradication) and Sierra Valley (also northern pike).  Julie stated that staff is looking at case studies of reservoir eradication projects and their successes and failures to better inform the Lake Davis project.  Jim Pedri stated that the Regional Board that the regulatory approach for release waters will be different and that they will require that stringent standards be met.  Doug pointed out that some key technical factors would be different this time – such as water volume and treatment timing. 

Social Dynamic – How will this time be different?  Paul summarized some of the key issues that would make a future project different from the 1997 treatment.  The current process of working with the community to develop the project, the fact that the Forest Service is involved, and the fact that an independent contractor will be hired to do the environmental analysis.  Angie explained that DFG had talked to the Forest Service about their role in any future eradication effort.  The Forest Service determined that a Special Use Permit would be needed, requiring with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which would be conducted in tandem with DFG’s CEQA compliance process.    The USFS supports the goal of pike eradication. 

Plan for 2005:  Ivan reported that DFG plans to continue its current pike-removal work at the lake.  Additional trap nets are ordered for the spring and plans are in place to have two crews on electrofishing boats.  Stocking will continue through 2005.   Ryan pointed out that it was difficult to keep the existing funding during the state budget hearings, but the fact that progress was being made on the pike issue helped save the funding.  For the upcoming year, Fran suggested using a brochure about Lake Davis at state fairs and sportsmen’s events. 

In Closing:  Diana stated that transparency, openness and a commitment to peer-reviewed science will be key to the process moving forward successfully. Ryan thanked the group for their stamina and endurance working on the issue.  He pointed out that he was happy to be working with Deputy Director Paul Stein, a former Calaveras County Supervisor, member of the Regional Council on Rural Counties, and former head of the County Supervisor Advisory Committee.  Ryan encourages a dialogue with the manufacturers of rotenone, since the use of their products is an important fisheries management tool.