SARSAS General Meeting Agenda for Monday, October 22, 2012 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Monday, October 22, 2012

175 Fulweiler Avenue (the Domes), Auburn, CA 95603 

Contact: Jack Sanchez at 530-888-0281

Meetings are Fourth Monday of each month at 10-11 a.m.

I.      Self- introductions and sign-ins.       

II.    SARSAS Philosophy–We believe by working together with many individuals and agencies at the same table, we can achieve the mission of SARSAS, which is to return salmon and  steelhead to the entire 33 mile length of the Auburn Ravine

.

III   Featured speaker is Mary Tappel, Beaver Management Expert, “Beaver Management in our New Age of Returning Salmon”

IV. Gary Mapa, Vice President of SARSAS, “For the Good of the Order”

Scheduled Speakers:

                                                               

November 26, 2012, Lincoln   Regional Sewer Project Manager Dave Lee, “Regional Sewer Project – an Update”

Tuesday, December 18, 2012, Mark Egbert, District Manager, El Dorado County and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, “Restoration of a Reservoir”

January 28, 2013, Richard Rivas, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wildlife Biologist, “WHIP and Fish

Passage”

February 25, 2013, Ron Ott, SARSAS Fish Passage Specialist, “Fish Screens on Area Streams and Rivers”

March 25, 2013, Placer County Sheriff Edward N. Bonner, “Fishing Stories of a Boy Growing Up in Loomis”

April 22, 2013, Einar Maisch, PCWA Director of Strategic Affairs, “Middle Fork Authority Update”

May 28, TUESDAY, 2013, Rocko Brown, ESA PWA, Restore Salmon Ecosystems”

June 24. 2013, Jack Sales, International Dark-Sky Association, “Salmon and Light Pollution”

July 22, 2013, TBA

August 26, 2013, TBA

September 23, 2013, Randy Hansen, SARSAS Fish Friendly Farming Coordinator, “Fish Friendly Farming Update”

Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project on NID's Lincoln Gauging Station Completed December 2011

Fish Passage Project

Lincoln, California

A Watershed ImprovemIrrigation District (NID)ent Project of The Nevada

In 2010, residents and fishermen in Lincoln, Placer County, witnessed a phenomenon not seen in years. At least 30 fall run Chinook salmon were counted in Auburn Ravine Creek inside Lincoln city limits.
Several small modifications to downstream irrigation water diversion points in Sutter and Placer counties had allowed the salmon to migrate from the Central Valley as high as Lincoln (elev. 167 ft.). However, continued migration of the fish to higher spawning grounds was hampered by a growing waterfall, caused by tail water erosion below a water measurement station.
The station is owned and operated by the Grass Valley, Nevada County-based Nevada Irrigation District (NID) and has been used since 1981 to chart water flows from NID to other nearby agencies.
Soon the possibility of bringing more natural conditions back to Auburn Ravine came into wider public focus. The fish passage concept had originated a few years earlier when the Auburn Ravine-Coon Creek Restoration Plan was adopted as part of the Placer County Conservation Plan.
Through a series of meetings, NID and Placer County worked out preliminary details of a project that would allow fish migration at any flow level over and through the six-foot barrier at the water measurement station and the eroded creek bed below it. The goal was to bring a more natural condition to Auburn Ravine. The collaborative effort would become known the Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project.
The project drew wide industry and community support. Placer County secured a CALFED grant that would fund part of the project, NID took the role of lead agency and pledged further funding. Soon the Dry Creek Conservancy and Granite Bay Flycasters were on board with additional funds.
Project planning and environmental studies were completed in early 2011, and construction was scheduled to begin in the fall of 2011. Needed water deliveries and the potential for early fall storms left a narrow window for streambed construction so a very tight construction schedule was developed.
Another construction concern was that the project, located in the Lincoln Crossing Nature Preserve, is surrounded by homes and used by residents for walks and outdoor enjoyment. NID addressed issues of access, noise, dust and safety to the satisfaction of neighbors. Meanwhile, the district worked to keep costs down and the project on schedule and eligible for its CALFED funding.
Construction was scheduled for Oct. 1-Nov. 30, 2011 and Sacramento contractor Preston Pipelines, Inc. was brought on board to do the job. Complexities in stream construction led to a lengthy and detailed state and federal permitting process, with final permitting obtained just in time.
During the narrow two-month construction window, a temporary bypass was constructed to dry the creek bed for the work while continuing the required downstream flows. “There are risks involved in creek bed construction at this time of year,” said NID Project Engineer Keane Sommers. “We were very concerned about rainwater coming down the creek and flooding our construction site so we oversized the bypass.”
Once the bypass was in place, 200 feet of the overgrown, eroded creek channel was cleared and tapered back to a more natural form. A “nature-like fish way” with a series of rock chutes and step pools was sculpted into the streambed. Concrete cutoff walls designed to stem erosion were buried up to 13 feet into the channel and stabilized by large rock and smaller materials. Native plants were added to the newly-reconfigured steam banks and surrounding areas were restored to pre-construction conditions. NID will monitor the site for the next five years to ensure that the grasses and 125 trees that were planted provide a suitable riparian habitat.
Dry weather through much of the fall of 2011 allowed the project to move forward without delay. Creek work was completed by the November 30, 2011 deadline.
The project received accolades from nearby residents as well as from fishing and environmental advocates who are enthusiastic about opening an additional mile of Auburn Ravine to fish movement. SARSAS President Jack Sanchez said he was confident the project would lead to more fish migration and said he looked forward to conducting fish counts this coming fall. Upstream, in Auburn, city officials see the project as an initial step in a long term vision of opening Auburn Ravine all the way to their city, which they see as a potential educational and economic boost the Placer County seat.
“Watershed stewardship is an important part of our mission,” said NID General Manager Ron Nelson, who is former Chairman of ACWA’s Region 3. “We have a watershed improvement fund and this was a community effort that fit our mission well.”
The Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project was completed for $865,000. NID contributed $491,000, CALFED $304,000, Placer County $50,000, Bella Vista Foundation $10,000, and Granite Bay Flycasters $10,000

Come to the Calling Back the Salmon Celebration, September 29-30, 2012, noon to 5pm on Sat. and 8:30 -10:30 am Sunday

Come to the Calling Back the Salmon Celebration at McBean Park in Lincoln, noon to 5pm on Saturday, September 29, and help return salmon to Auburn Ravine while enjoying the music of Mumbo Gumbo and eating great foods, enjoying exhibits, artworks, and countless activities for adults and children.


Enter the raffle to try to win the winning artwork in the Auburn Ravine Art Show.


The Salmon Run begins at 8am at East Avenue at Hwy 193, across from swimming pool - run/walk a 5K with your family.


On Sunday, September 30 at 8:30 -10:30 a.m., enjoy the Spiritual Blessing of the Salmon and Steelhead in the Auburn Ravine.


There is something for everyone at the Third Annual Calling Back the Salmon Celebration joinly sponsored by SARSAS and Wildlife Heritage Foundation.

SARSAS Meeting Agenda General, September 24, 2012, at 175 Fulweiler Ave, The Domes, Auburnc CA Darryl Hasyes, ISI, Inc. is Speaker

                                                 SARSAS Meeting Agenda General

Monday, September 24, 2012

175 Fulweiler Avenue (the Domes), Auburn, CA 95603 

Contact: Jack Sanchez at 530-888-0281

Meetings are Fourth Monday of each month at 10-11 a.m.

I.      Self- introductions and sign-ins.    

II.    SARSAS Philosophy–We believe by working together with many individuals and agencies at the same table, we can achieve the mission of SARSAS, which is to return salmon and  steelhead to the entire 33 mile length of the Auburn Ravine

.

III   Featured speaker is Darryl Hayes, ISI, Inc., “Fish Screens and Installation on Auburn Ravine”

IV. Jack Sanchez, President of SARSAS, “For the Good of the Order”

Scheduled Speakers:

                                          

October 22, 2012, Confirmed speaker is Mary Tappel, Beaver Management Expert, “Beaver Management in our New Age of Returning Salmon”

November 26, 2012, Lincoln City Engineer Bruce Burnworth, “Regional Sewer Project – an Update”

Tuesday, December 18, 2012, Mark Egbert, District Manager, El Dorado County and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, “Restoration of a Reservoir”

January 28, 2013, Richard Rivas, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wildlife Biologist, “WHIP and Fish

Passage”

February 25, 2013, Ron Ott, SARSAS Fish Passage Specialist, “Fish Screens on Area Streams and Rivers”

March 25, 2013, Placer County Sheriff Edward N. Bonner, “Fishing Stories of a Boy Growing Up in Loomis”

April 22, 2013, Einar Maisch, PCWA Director of Strategic Affairs, “Middle Fork Authority Update”

                                       

What Has Been Accomplished Returning Salmon and Steelhead to Auburn Ravine in Placer County, CA

WHAT HAS SARSAS ACCOMPLISHED AS OF AUGUST 2011

Working with many individuals, agencies and groups, SARSAS has overseen Salmon reaching Turkey Creek Golf Course where another NID dam is in the planning for a fish ladder and screen over the canal or complete removal.

Getting salmon some twenty-two miles up the Auburn Ravine started with NOAA Special Agent Don Tanner working with SARSAS personnel to meet with dam owners to remind them dams must be removed no later than September 15 each year and stay down until April 15 so the Fall salmon run would have access to spawning grounds.

South Sutter Water District was able to raise funds to install a fish screen over the Pleasant Grove Canal, about six miles downstream from Lincoln.  This screen should be installed by the beginning of 2013 and, when installed,  should prevent up to 90% of anadromous fishes returning to the  Pacific from being entrained in the Canal.  That means a very large percentage of Auburn Ravine smolt will be able to successfully reach the Sacramento River and swim to the Pacific.

NOAA Agent Tanner and SARSAS personnel met with the owners of the following dams and the owners agreed to comply to the September 15-April 15 dam removal: the Coppin, Davis, Tom Glenn, Lincoln Ranch Duck Club,  Aitken Ranch, Moore, Nelson Lane and the Lincoln Gauging Station.  The Scheiber Dam was removed.

Nevada Irrigation District is currently installing a fish ladder over the Lincoln Gauging Station, located  a quarter mile downstream from Highway 65, making it possible for salmon to swim two miles above Lincoln where they will encounter NID's Hemphill Dam, which is currently in the planning stage of being addressed.  The Lincoln Gauging Station fish ladder construction will begin September of 2011 and be completed in  October.

Before salmon can reach Wise Powerhouse, located one mile downstream from Auburn, NID must complete work on the Hemphill Dam and the largest dam on the Auburn Ravine, the Gold Diversion Dam and its Canal. 

Once these two dams are addressed, salmon can then reach the richest spawning grounds on the Auburn Ravine.  Auburn Ravine, according to a fish count done by California Department of Fish and Game in 2005, has an average of 7,000 salmonids per mile, making it one of the richest streams in

Northern California.

Once SARSAS finishes getting salmon to Auburn, it will focus its attention of Coon Creek and get the salmon at least to Hidden Falls Regional Park near

Auburn.

September 2012 Auburn Ravine Salmon Update

September, 2012, Auburn Ravine Salmon Update

NID installed a fish ladder on Lincoln Gauging Station completed Dec 2011

In its endless journey to accomplish the mission of returning salmon and steelhead to all 33 miles of the Auburn Ravine from Verona to the City of Auburn, SARSAS has some very good news laced with a bit of sad news.
A total of eight salmon have been observed at Dog Park in the city of Lincoln. All eight fish were located from just below the Lincoln Gauging Station, a major barrier to upstream fish passage,to about 250 yards downstream of the barrier. The first sighting came on Sunday, October 31st just a few days after the major rainstorm.

Two young men were at the Lincoln Gauging Station and observed a large (over 36") salmon attempting to gain passage over the barrier. The fish tried over and over but was driven back each time. On its last try the water flowing over the S curve washed this majestic fish back into the rocks. Wedged between two rocks the salmon was destined to a sure death had it not been for the efforts of the two men who lowered themselves down the cement wall. One of the men then managed to grasp the salmon between his body and his arms and carried it to the top of the barrier releasing it above the Gauging Station where it swam off.

This fish had not even begun to change colors and other than some heavy bruising from the rocks seemed okay. The two young men continued to observe three smaller salmon trying to get above the barrier but unfortunately none of the three made it.

Jack Sanchez, president of SARSAS and Board Member John Rabe, traveled to this site on the 4th of November with the two young men. We did not see any salmon attempting to go over the barrier and the water was probably too low anyway. However a high school student came up the middle of the Auburn Ravine, and we discovered he was with his high school Water Quality class taking their FinalExam. We joined the students and their teacher downstream of the gaging station and were informed that they had spotted one dead salmon, one dying salmon and three live salmon between them and the gaging station. The dying salmon was dead by the time we observed and photographed it. It was measured at 36" and other than the fact that it had battered itself to death on the gaging station rocks it was a majestic chinook salmon that had not yet begun to change colors. The other dead salmon was smaller and in similar condition having also suffered severe battering on the rocks at the gaging station.

The great news was that there were three remaining salmon and the rain on Sunday, November 7 very likely produced enough water over the gaging station to allow them upstream passage. Jack returned to the location on the 7th early in the day before the river began to rise and observed a large salmon about 200 yards downstream of the barrier. Hopefully that salmon was able to find its way upstream later in the day as the water went from around 20 cfs to over 250cfs later Sunday. John went to the location on the 8th and spent three hours observing from the barrier to about two hundred yards west of the barrier but did not observe any salmon. The water was not high, but it was still a little cloudy from the rain. He reported that it was probably possible for salmon to move above the barrier with a lot of luck. Please observe the picture of the 36" salmon taken by the Lincoln High teacher, David Foxworthy.

So, the good news is there are salmon in the Auburn Ravine. Sighting six fish was very encouraging and we tip our hats to Brad Arnold, the manager of South Sutter Water District as he made sure all downstream barriers were removed by October 15th.

SARSAS thanks Brad and appreciates his efforts to assist Auburn Ravine salmon and steelhead.

IT IS VERY CLEAR that SARSAS has a lot of work remaining however. Realizing that precious salmon are being maimed and killed at the Lincoln Gauging Station is a grim reminder of the urgency of our actions to remove or mitigate dangerous and impassable barriers. Keep in mind that in the entire area where the salmon were sighted there was no gravel for spawning. They must get at least upstream of Highway 193 and preferably upstream of the Hemphill dam where habitat for spawning becomes superb for Chinook.

The Salmon Run Waiver - Print and Bring to Race

The Salmon Run

By indicating your acceptance, you understand, agree, warrant and covenant as follows:

SARSAS Salmon Run  REGISTRATION AGREEMENT AND LIABILITY WAIVER (the "Agreement and Waiver")

1. Authority to Register and/or to Act as Agent. You represent and warrant to SARSAS Salmon Run that you have full legal authority to complete this event registration on behalf of yourself and/or any party you are registering (the "Registered Parties"), including full authority to make use of the credit or debit card to which registration fees will be charged.  As used in this Agreement and Waiver, SARSAS refers to SARSAS, Inc. and any and all subsidiaries, affiliated entities, or entities that control or are controlled by SARSAS singly or together and its officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors and agents.

If you are registering a child under the age of 18 or an incapacitated adult you represent and warrant that you are the parent or legal guardian of that party and have the legal authority to enter into this agreement on their behalf and by proceeding with this event registration, you agree that the terms of this Agreement and Waiver shall apply equally to all Registered Parties. By registering a child under 13, you agree and consent to the collection of that child's information which you provide for the purposes of registration.

2.  Waiver.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS, AND THAT A REGISTERED PARTY SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE UNLESS THEY ARE MEDICALLY ABLE AND PROPERLY TRAINED.  YOU UNDERSTAND THAT EVENTS MAY BE HELD OVER PUBLIC ROADS AND FACILITES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE EVENT AND UPON WHICH HAZARDS ARE TO BE EXPECTED.  PARTICIPATION CARRIES WITH IT CERTAIN INHERENT RISKS THAT CANNOT BE ELIMINATED COMPLETELY RANGING FROM MINOR INJURIES TO CATASTROPHIC INJURIES INCLUDING DEATH.   YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT IN CONSIDERATION OF BEING PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT, YOU AND ANY REGISTERED PARTY, THE HEIRS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS OF YOU OR THE REGISTERED PARTY DO HEREBY RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE AND CONVENANT NOT TO SUE ACTIVE FOR ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT BY YOU OR ANY REGISTERED PARTY. 

3. Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties.

SARSAS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM (A) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE SARSAS OR (B) FOR THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES OR (C) RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH SARSAS OR (D) RESULTING FROM UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE, EVEN IF SARSAS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT USE OF SARSAS IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. SARSAS IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. SARSAS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

4.. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold each of SARSAS harmless from and against any and all damages, costs, claims or demands, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising from or relating to your use of SARSAS or the violation of any term of this Agreement and Waiver as well as the Terms of Service located at:  http://www.sarsas.org.

5. Severability. You further expressly agree that this Agreement and Waiver is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of California and that if any provision of this Agreement and Waiver shall be found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this Agreement and Waiver and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

BY INDICATING YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEEMENT AND WAIVER, YOU ARE AFFIRMING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT AND WAIVER AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS.  YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE GIVING UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE.  YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE SIGNING THE AGREEMENT AND WAIVER FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY, AND INTEND BY YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

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