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Local Coordination to Preserve Culturally Sensitive Plants. Sarah Ryan Big Valley Rancheria EPA Western Region Pesticide Meeting May 2005. Pesticide Issues in Lake County:. Pesticide drift and historical pesticide residues Lack of education about Tribal use of plants
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Local Coordination to Preserve Culturally Sensitive Plants Sarah Ryan Big Valley Rancheria EPA Western Region Pesticide Meeting May 2005
Pesticide Issues in Lake County: • Pesticide drift and historical pesticide residues • Lack of education about Tribal use of plants • Unknown contamination of sensitive plants
Some Findings: • Elevated levels of copper, barium, zinc in tules • At Big Valley, organochlorine pesticides, arsenic, elevated copper, lead, iron and zinc found in sediment along the eastern boundary of Rancheria • Basketweavers are altering their methods to avoid possible contact with pesticides
Actions taken: • BVR received US EPA funding - quantify pesticide routes of exposure for local Tribes • Tribes began project with CA Dept of Food and Agriculture to sample tules for fluridone herbicide used in hydrilla eradication program • Extensive comments and interaction with county on its Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Clear Lake Region Pesticide Environmental Risk Project • Community scoping meetings • Native plant list • Pesticide assessments • Workshops
Tule Project with CDFA • Began as a response in November 2004 to concern that Tribes raised 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
Clear Lake Integrated Aquatic Plant Management Plan • Tribes offered information on use and consumption of lake plants/animals • Tribes made detailed comment on 2 drafts of plan, made corrections to assumptions about Tribal use of Lake
Native Plant List • 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
Summary of Local Coordination • Assessments will assist Tribes with management of resources • Tribal discussion of concerns about sensitive plants • Coordination with state on pesticide sampling of traditional food • Tribal consumption information included in county pesticide risk assessment • Education of local community with native plants pamphlet
Keep vigilant and stay involved: • County’s Aquatic Plant Management Plan did not use Tribal consumption numbers • Pesticide drift incidents continue to occur • Pesticide sampling rarely takes place on foods consumed by Tribal members • “How can we eat our subsistence food if our food is contaminated?” This is a work in progress…
Contact: sryan@big-valley.net 707-263-3924 x109 cell 707-349-4040