2006-2007 Annual Report, Inland Empire Natural Resources Conservation

8/2/2019 2006-2007 Annual Report, Inland Empire Natural Resources Conservation

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annual report06-07

INLAND EMPIREResource Conservation District

To promote the understanding thatthe quality of the environmentdetermines the quality of life.


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District Boundary 2

Mission Statement 3

Executive Summary 4

Federal Appropriations 5

Santa Ana Watershed Association 6

Big Bear Restoration Project 7

Education 8

Envirothon and Speako 9

Annual Workplan 10

Financial Statement

Table of Contents


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Mission Statement:

The purpose o the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District is to promote the understanding that

the quality o the environment determines the quality o lie. In cooperation with landowners, local,state and ederal agencies, the agricultural community, environmental and community groups, we will

promote good stewardship o our soil, water and other natural resources. We will provide strong educa-

tional programs that will encourage todays youth to accept the responsibility o conserving our natural

resources or tomorrows generations.

Board o Directors:

Michael Martin - President

Paul Williams - Vice President

John McMains - Secretary/Treasurer

Cheryl Avent

Terrie Andrews

Sybrand Vander - Dussen

Tim Johnson

District Sta:Jennier Ares - District Manager * Gretchen Laustsen - Natural Resources Manager * James Law - Field

Ecologist * Angela Marion - Conservation Educator * Kate Sykes - Administrative Assistant


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Resource Conservation Districts are unique, in that they are classied under Caliornias Public ResourceCode, Division 9 as Improvement Districts. Resource Conservation Districts may make improvements

or conduct operations on public lands, with the cooperation o the agency administering and having

jurisdiction thereo, and on private lands, with the consent o the owners thereo, in urtherance o the

prevention or control o soil erosion, water conservation and distribution, agricultural enhancement,

wildlie enhancement, and erosion stabilization, including, but not limited to terraces, ditches, levees,

and dams or other structures, and the planting o trees, shrubs, grasses, or other vegetation. (Division 9,

#9409). These general powers enable RCD sta to cooperate with private landowners in a non-regula-

tory manner while educating and implementing conservation methods.

The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District has more than 1.3 million people in its 854,293 acre

service area, requiring a huge eat rom sta and board members to ensure that the conservation mes-

sage is being conveyed to citizens in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. On July 1, 2005 the East

Valley RCD and the Inland Empire West RCD consolidated to create Inland Empire Resource Conserva-

tion District. This merge has been very successul, creating more conservation opportunities in the

Inland Empire through the consolidation o resources, programs and partnerships.

Inland Empire Resource Conservation DistrictAnnual Report July 2006-June 2007

Executive Summary


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EmployeeTotal Hours for

FY 06-07

Administrative 363

IT/Database Management 16.5

Public Outreach/Education 994.75

Workplan 77

Removal/Restoration Projects 813.5

Conferences/Training 191

Meetings 136.25

Mill Creek 396.5

Total Employee Hours 2988.5

Inland Empire RCD continues to conduct restoration projects in the Santa Ana Watershed with the ed-

eral appropriations received rom Congressman Jerry Lewis oce rom 2003-2006. The money is being

managed through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The unds will be used or conservation projects in the Santa Ana Watershed. The objectives o these

restoration projects are to reduce the threat o invasive plants on native habitat and watershed unction,

to reduce fooding and erosion caused by unsae agricultural and urban practices and to restore natural

habitats to their original state while protecting property as well. Detail o specic projects are outlined

in more detail throughout the report.

Multiple projects have been developed to urther these goals. The development o outreach materials

and educational programs are vital in insuring that these measurers are sustainable. The programs are

available to the public and directed especially towards private landowners within the watershed. Tech-

niques and protocols, as well as the guidelines or long-term monitoring programs are also outlined. The

progress o activities must be reported to ensure the eectiveness o the plans.

In cooperation with the Santa Ana Watershed Association (SAWA), Inland Empire RCD is responsible or

the maintenance o 592 acres o removed non-natives. Four-hundred and ty seven o these acres are

paid or by the earmark unds, the remaining acreage is located in Orange County, which is not included

in Jerry Lewis district. The ederal unding will assist with the maintenance contracts to ensure complete

eradication. IERCD will also begin new removal contracts to continue the invasive plant removal pro-

gram. In addition, the IERCD hosted a cleanup o Mill Creek as part o their Federal Appropriations Work-

plan.

Total sta hours o activities and expenses o the Federal Earmark Program rom July 2006 June 2007

are listed below. The total amount expended as o June 30, 2007 was $961,985.89.

Federal Appropriations


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Mill Creek Cleanup

The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District hosted a clean up o the open space surrounding Mill

Creek near the Prado Wetlands in Chino on October 28, 2006. The site, which has long been used as a

dumpsite by trespassers, drains rainwater into Mill Creek, a tributary o the Santa Ana River. The river pro-

vides drinking water or Orange County residents and valuable habitat or native wildlie. The majority o

the unding or the clean-up came rom the ederal appropriations.

The Cleanup brought together volunteers rom various public and private agencies around the commu-

nity. The District partnered with San Bernardino County Regional Parks, the US Army Corps o Engineers,

the Santa Ana Watershed Association, the Orange County Water District and REI to bring the cleanup to asuccessul completion. A crew o 80 volunteers assisted by three tractors, cleaned up 34 tons o garbage

and 600 pounds o recyclable materials rom the site. Some items removed rom the cleanup site includ-

ed a treadmill, a bathtub and a recreational boat!

The Mill Creek Cleanup was one o several regional cleanup events held in October o 2006 as part o a

statewide eort to address pollution entering Caliornias waterways. The Inland Empire RCD installed

gates and created earthen and boulder berms to discourage urther dumping at the site.

Volunteers Removing Trash rom Mill Creek Site


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Santa Ana Watershed AssociationIERCD has a major role in the Santa Ana Watershed Association with a representative serving on the

board o directors. SAWA was ormed in 1998 by the ve Resource Conservation Districts located in theSanta Ana Watershed. Since this time, SAWA has become a non-prot organization with a large number

o sta.

The Santa Ana Watershed Association (SAWA) continues to maintain over 3000 acres o removed invasive

plants. IERCD maintains 610 o those acres. The majority o the eradication expenses takes place in year

2-4 where re-growth occurs and herbicide applications need to take place,

The ollowing removal projects are being maintained by IERCD and are currently being unded by the

ederal appropriations monies. The eld ecologist has veried that a majority o our removal locations

have less than 1% regrowth o biomass. As a result, it has been determined that the complete removal o

invasive plants is approximately a ve-year process. This determination becomes essential inormation

or budget estimates on uture projects.

Project Reports

Project Area County Acreage

San Timoteo Creek Riverside/San Bernardino 209

Yucaipa San Bernardino 30Highway 30 (Highland) San Bernardino 30

East Twin Creek San Bernardino 84

Santiago / Modjeska I Orange 120

Santiago Creek Phase II Orange 15

City Creek San Bernardino 14

Harrison Canyon San Bernardino 7

Calimesa/Cherry Valley Riverside 21

Zanja Channel San Bernardino 15

Mill Creek San Bernardino 20

Santa Ana River San Bernardino 27

San Bernardino CountyRemoval

San Bernardino 18

Total 610


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IERCD Mitigation Program

IERCD became involved with mitigation and conservation easement projects through SAWA. In 2004,

SAWA received its In-Lieu ee status. This allowed the organization to receive unds rom developers

who have impacted habitat. The RCD manages the SAWA mitigation projects within district boundaries.

Consequently, the RCD became recognized by the regulatory agencies as the appropriate public agencyto accept and maintain mitigation and conservation easements in perpetuity. Monitoring tasks include:

removing invasive species, conducting photo documentation, monitoring project sites regularly, and pre-

paring annual reports or the regulatory agencies. The ollowing is a list o the mitigations and conserva-

tion easements received to date.

Agency Type Location AcresRequired

TimeRecd Amount

OCWD/GWRS Mitigation Santiago Creek 1 Perpetuity 8/29/01 $50,000.00

Joseph NicholsHomes

ConservationEasement

San TimoteoCreek

6 Perpetuity 8/29/01 $112,000.00

County of Orange,IWMD

Mitigation Santiago Creek .324 Perpetuity 3/5/03 $16,200.00

California Quartet Mitigation Santiago Creek 2 Perpetuity 6/1/03 $100,000.00

Reach 3-B FloodControl Project

MitigationSan Timoteo

Creek34.56 20 years 3/15/04 $1,620,000.00

City of Irvine Mitigation Santiago Creek 2 5 years 4/22/04 $75,000.00

So. CA. Reg. RailAuthority

Mitigation Santiago Creek .37 5 years 6/25/04 $21,000.00

Essex Nationwide Mitigation Warm Creek 0.5 5 years 9/22/04 $21,132.80

Viele Ave. / Beaumont MitigationSan Timoteo sub-

tributary

0.06 5 years 12/1/04 $ 3,000.00

Yorba Linda Heights Mitigation Santiago Creek 3.25 Perpetuity 2/1/05 $162,500.00

Caliber Motors Mitigation Watershed 0.1 Perpetuity 2/1/05 $ 5,000.00

Metro Water Dist. Mitigation Santiago Creek 0.45 Perpetuity 2/1/05 $ 25,000.00

OCTA Mitigation Santiago Creek .06 Perpetuity 6/16/05 $3000.00

MastercraftConservation

EasementSan Timoteo

CreekTBD Perpetuity 7/1/05 $242,000.00

Century Homes Mitigation Wildwood Creek .09 Perpetuity 7/26/05 $87,000.00

KB Homes Mitigation Santiago Creek 9.06 Perpetuity 10/6/05 $453,000.00

Century American MitigationSanta AnaWatershed

.48 Perpetuity 10/19/05 $24,000.00

Chino Hills/Centex ConservationEasement

Chino Hills 25 Perpetuity 1/1/06 $120,930.00

Rialto Channel MitigationSanta AnaWatershed

3.3 Perpetuity 5/16/06 $61,575.00


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MAGNIB

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The photos above represent the rst conservation easement IERCD received. The easement is located

in San Timoteo Creek in San Bernardino County. The easement was required due to development in the

area. The eld ecologist perormed a variety o maintenance activity on the site in the 2006-2007 scal

year. Tasks included; weed abatement, trash removal and photo documentation.

Many hours were spent on SAWA projects or scal year 2006-2007. The breakdown or hours spent per

employee is as ollows:

Table goes here

May 2006 January 2007

July 2004 June 2007


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Big Bear Sediment Load Reduction ProgramOn March 30, 2004 Inland Empire RCD was awarded $250,208.35 in grant unding rom the State Water

Resources Control Board (SWRCB) under the Watershed Protection Program. The goal o this grant is to

reduce sediment entering Big Bear Lake rom the abandoned Snow Forest ski resort via Knickerbocker

Creek, city streets and other small drainages.

During the 05/06 year the Snow Forest Monitoring Plan, which described the types o constituents to be

monitored and the requency/schedule or the monitoring activities, was completed. In addition the rst

drat o the Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) was completed. This report describes how the data

collected will be o adequate quality to meet the monitoring objectives.

The Forest Service completed the rst drat o the engineers restoration plans or the abandoned ski site

and a public meeting was held or local residents and representatives rom businesses and agencies to

review and comment on the nal restoration plan. The SWRCB approved the nal drat o the restoration

plan ollowing the public meeting and a site visit.

During the 06/07 scal year the nal drat o the QAPP was completed and approved and the District

was ocially able to begin water sampling. Unortunately there was never signicant rainall allowing or

Knickerbocker Creeks water level to be high enough or water samples to be taken. Although there was

some snowall throughout the winter, the subsequent melting never resulted in substantial fow withinKnickerbocker Creek to obtain water samples. District sta continues to make monthly visits to the site

or photo documentation. Also we will make additional trips or water sampling in the event o a rain

storm.


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OMMYNONSECORE

Many administrative matters were handled throughout the year as well. The District applied or and

received a one year grant extension rom the SWQCB. The amended grant agreement also updated the

District name rom East Valley RCD to Inland Empire RCD.

Ater the completion o the QAPP and the approval o the restoration plan a Request or Proposal was

created and put out or bids. In October the Natural Resources manager met with Paul Bennett and JoshDireen o the U. S. Forest Service and Scott Towsley o Towsely Construction (the selected contractor)

regarding the Snow Forest Restoration Plan. Towsley Construction began implementing the Snow Forest

Restoration Plan on October 11th. Due to the dry weather throughout the month Towsley construc-

tion was able to stay on schedule with the project with one remaining task to be completed in spring. In

November the Forest Service hired a helicopter operator to place downed trees on several slopes o the

Snow Forest ski area. These trees assist in reducing fow velocity and may also discourage any unauthor-

ized uses o the area.

The nal portion o the restoration work was on hold or a couple additional months due to a pair o bald

eagles on the site. Bald eagles were a ederally listed Threatened Species, (removed rom Endangered

Species List in June 2007) thereore no work could be done until the pair moved rom the site. Eagles

typically arrive in the San Bernardino Mountains in late November and remain until early April. The last

part o their job, road removal, will be completed in the 07/08 scal year when the Forest Service is done

using the road or the removal o dead and dying trees.

Many hours were spent on the Snow Forest restoration project or scal year 2006-2007. The breakdownor hours spent per employee is as ollows:

Employee Big Bear

Gretchen Laustsen 258

Kate Sykes 0.5

Linda Burdwell 2.5

James Law 20.25

Angela Marion 44

TOTAL 325.25


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Education Report

Each year the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District visits thousands o school children and edu-

cates them on the importance o resource conservation. During the past year the education department

oered environmental education programs tied to the Caliornia Content Standards or the Teaching

Proession, to meet the individual needs o our diverse community. Inland Empire RCDs purpose is toinorm the public that resource conservation can be practiced no matter how limited the time, space or

monetary resources. Many schools utilized the Districts ree education programs and have shared their

experiences with other teachers, thus expanding the scope o IERCDs education programs.

Inland Empire RCD is also expanding their education programs beyond the schools in order to reach a

larger audience. The educator presented Stormwater and Trees Please programs at Earth Day Events, Sci-

ence Nights, and Education Expos in order to reach more members o the public. The Conservation Edu-

cator even visited local libraries in an eort to reach more children within the community. These events

provided the opportunity to educate parents and other adults as well as children.

During the 2006/2007 year, the Conservation Educator introduced Recycle, Reduce, Reuse to the Districts

youth, educating them about the importance o recycling our natural resources. This program was a suc-

cess with students who were able to make their own piece o recycled paper and learn about recycling in

the process o this un and hands-on activity.

Backyard Conservation

Backyard Conservation teaches students about the importance o practicing conservation in their own

backyard. Students identiy the sources o many household items and ways they can conserve resources

at home and school. Students reinorce their connection to the web o lie through hands-on activities.

Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater Pollution teaches students about Non-Point Source Pollution (NPS) through the use o anEnviroscape watershed model. Students are taught about the water cycle and their local water sources.

Students participate in modeling how surace and groundwater can transport pollutants rom their

neighborhoods into the Santa Ana River and out to the Pacic Ocean.

Toil o Soil

Using scientic soil sieves, students reveal the components and properties o soil. Students see how all

living creatures depend on healthy soil or their existence. Students participate in a demonstration o the

precious little amount o land on the earth that is considered suitable or arming.


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Trees Please

Students engage in a class discussion about the benets trees provide: shade, lumber, oxygen, cleaner

air, wildlie habitat, etc. Students also discuss the benets o growing native species. The students are

then given a planter, some soil, and a native seed to raise at home.

Wonders o Wetlands

The Wonders o Wetlands program uses an Enviroscape model to involve students in demonstrating the

unctions and eatures o a wetland. Students learn how wetlands can remove pollutants and improve

water quality. As with all IERCD education programs, the kids also learn what they can do to preserve this

natural resource.

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse teaches students how they can help promote the wise use o our resourcesthrough recycling reusing and reducing. Students understand the importance o recycling and are

taught how they can implement recycling in their home.

Employee Programs # of Students# ofClassrooms

Angela Marion

Backyard Conservation 420 21

Stormwater Pollution 1100 44

Toil of Soil 400 20

Trees Please 760 36

Wonders of Wetlands 40 2Recycle, Reduce,

Reuse 220 11

TOTAL 2940 134

Total Number o Classroom Education Programs or 06-07

Employee Stormwater Events # of Students Taught

Angela Marion

Earth Day Festival- Chino 1,000

Cal State Earth Day Expo-San Bernardino

1,500

Earth Day Festival- Fontana 500

Education Expo- Ontario 5,000

TOTAL 8,000

Total Number o Students taught Stormwater Pollution at Outreach Events in 06-07


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Total Number o Students Taught Trees Please at Outreach Events in 06-07

Employee Trees Please Events# of Students

Taught

Angela MarionEarth Day Festival- Chino 700

Science Night- Redlands 250

TOTAL 950

Total Number of Students Reached by IERCD Education Programs for 2006-2007: 11,980

Employee Hours

Jennifer Ares 5

Linda Burdwell 15

Angela Marion 209

Kate Sykes 8

Gretchen Laustsen 4

TOTAL 241

Total Number o sta hours spent on education programs in 2006-2007


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The Caliornia Envirothon

The Envirothon is an outdoor natural resource education pro-

gram or high school students in grades 9-12. Students rom all

over the state are challenged to work as a team to answer writ-

ten questions, and conduct hands-on explorations o orestry,soils, wildlie, aquatics, and a current issue.

IERCDs Conservation Educator attended preparation workshops

or local teams and volunteered as a guide at the event. IERCD

Associate Directors also played a role in the Envirothon, acting

as judges or the event. Inland Empire RCD sponsored two local

teams rom Banning and Upland to participate in the event.

The 2007 Caliornia Envirothon event was held in Crestline in the

San Bernardino Mountains, at the Thousand Pines Camp rom

April 25-27. The Current Issue topic was Alternative/Renew-

able Energy. Fiteen teams participated. The winners were the

Sequoia team rom Palisades Charter High School. The Kodiak

Grizzly Bears rom Palisades Charter High School took second

place with the American Lions rom Arlington High School tak-ing third.

The Annual Speak - o Competition

The local speak-o was held on September 21st, 2006, at

A.K. Smiley Library in Redlands. The topic or the competi-

tion was Biouels: The Energy o the Future. Each student was

given 3-5 minutes to speak on this topic in ront o a panel ojudges and their ellow competitors.

The contestants were scored by a panel o three judges.

Krystina Thurin, a senior at Redlands East Valley High School,

took home 1st place with her speech, which provided his-

torical and international examples o the successul use o

Biouels. Krystinas eloquence and passion about resource

issues really shined, and she went on to take 1st place at the

Regional Speak-O at the South Coast Region Resource Con-

servation District Fall Meeting. Kay Larsh and Quira Perez,

both o Yucaipa High School, placed 2nd and 3rd at the local

Speako.

EmployeeTotal Hoursfor FY 06-07Envirothon

AngelaMarion

19

Employee

Total Hrs for

FY 06-07SpeakoffLinda

Burdwell56.25


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Financial Statement

A.A. 100Participate by booth/displays and presentations.

C.E. 60

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

D.M. 100

NR.M 50

P.M. 50Pursue possible contacts, leads and partnerships to assist in thedevelopment of the district facility.C.E.A.A.F.E.

100100

50

ANNUAL SCHOOL CONTEST

Annual speech, essay and poster contest. C.E. 100


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Resource Conservation District25864-K Business Center Drive,

Redlands, CA 92374

INLAND EMPIRE

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2006-2007 Annual Report, Inland Empire Natural Resources Conservation

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