CSPA

Salinas River

Part Nine of Nine

Subject: Salinas River Followup

Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 14:59:45 +0000

From: BOB BAIOCCHI <cspa@psln.com>

Organization: CSPA

To: CSPA members and Board via email

CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE

P.O. BOX 357

QUINCY, CA 95971

BUS TEL: 530-836-1115

FAX: 530-836-2062

William T. Hogarth, Ph.D. June 17, 1998

Regional Administrator

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

501 West Ocean Boulevard

Long Beach, CA 90802-4213

James Lecky, Chief

Protected Species Branch

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

501 West Ocean Boulevard

Long Beach, CA 90802-4213

Wayne White, State Supervisor

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130

Sacramento, CA 95821-6340

Re: Proposed Chemical Treatment of Salinas River by Monterey County

Water Resources Agency; Request for Additional Information by California

Sportfishing Protection Alliance

Dear Gentlemen:

I recently faxed to your offices a copy of a letter to the Monterey

County Water Resources Agency concerning a CEQA document and their

proposal to chemically treat by air about 100 miles of the Salinas River

(Bradley to Castorville). The CSPA advised the USNMFS about the threat

to Salinas River threatened steelhead. We also advised the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service about the threat to California endangered red-legged

frogs and wildlife habitat from the proposed chemical treatment. We also

advised the California Coastal Regional Water Quality Board regarding

the threat to water quality. We did not advise the California Health

Department regarding the threat to public health and safety resulting

from the spraying of this chemical by helicopter.

Many members of the CSPA are seriously concerned about the chemical

treatment of the waters of the Salinas River, and the effects to water

quality, and fish and wildlife resources.

I was not contacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Sacramento

Office) regarding the CSPA letter of concern over California red-legged

frogs and the loss of wildlife habitat. I was not contacted by the

Coastal Regional State Water Quality Board about our letter of concern

over water quality in the state's water. I was not contacted by the CDFG

regarding the effects to steelhead trout, wildlife habitat, and

California red-legged frogs (CDFG was faxed a copy of the CSPA letter).

However, I was contacted by the USNMFS's Santa Rosa Office. The USNMFS

person advised me because the project is a non-federal project, the

USNMFS could not get involved using the provisions of the federal

Endangered Species Act unless there were dead steelhead bodies resulting

from the treatment. However, there are so few steelhead in the Salinas

River, that it would probably be impossible to come up with dead

steelhead bodies.

It is my understanding the Monterey County Water Resources is proposing

this project under a federal water quality permit issued by the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

It appears to the CSPA because there is a federal 404 water quality

permit involved with the proposed project, that the USNMFS could and

should get involved in protecting threatened Salinas River steelhead.

That also would be true in the case of the USFWS and California

red-legged frogs. In the event the District does not have a federal

water quality permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it appears

that would be a violation of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

The CSPA is very concerned that no action has been taken by a federal

agency to stop the project, and prevent harm, injury, and harassment to

endangered species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Please advise me whether the USNMFS and the USFWS will get involved in

the federally water quality permitting process pursuant to the provision

of the federal Endangered Species Act to prevent jeopardy to endangered

species.

Please advise me whether the USNMFS and the USFWS will get involved in

protecting endangered species resulting from the proposed chemical

spraying into the waters of the Salinas River. i.e. monitoring for dead

steelhead and frog bodies.

Respectfully Submitted

__________________________________________

Robert J. Baiocchi, Consultant

For: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

P.O. Box 357

Quincy, CA 95971

For further information contact Bob Baiocchi at either 530-836-1115 or

at e-mail address: cspa@psln.com