Salinas River Spraying
CSPA Protest
Subject: Salinas River - Something is Very Wrong in California
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 16:02:50 +0000
From: BOB BAIOCCHI <cspa@psln.com>
Organization: CSPA
To: email distribution
CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE
P.O. BOX 357
QUINCY, CA 95971
BUS TEL: 530-836-1115
FAX: 530-836-2062
Mr. Narayan Thadai June 10, 1998
Monterey County Water Resources Agency
893 Blanco Circle
Salinas, CA 93901
Re: Proposed Chemical Treatment (Herbicide Defoliation) of Salinas
River; Comments by California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
BY FAX COMMUNICATION FROM 530-836-2062 TO 408-424-7935
Dear Mr. Thadai:
This to advise you and the MCWRA that the California Sportfishing
Protection Alliance is against the chemical spraying (herbicide
defoliation) of 100 miles of the Salinas River's riparian corridor for
claimed flood control protection by the Monterey County Water Resources
Agency.
It is our understanding the proposed project will be approved tomorrow
and commence immediately thereafter.
It is our understanding, commencing with the midline of the Salinas
River two (2) helicopters will be used to spray a 300 foot wide swath of
the chemical. The spraying will commence 12 miles south (upstream) of
San Ardo in the Lower Salinas River Canyon in the vicinity of Bradley
and commence the chemical spraying for the next 100 miles downstream to
the juncture of the Highway 1 Bridge at Castroville near the Pacific
Ocean.
It is our further understanding that the spraying is estimated to
remove 70% of the riparian vegetation (and wildlife habitat) along the
Salinas River.
The Salinas River sustains threatened steelhead trout. Threatened
steelhead trout have been listed for protection under the provisions of
the federal Endangered Species Act. The spraying of chemicals along the
Salinas River has the potential to harm and injure threatened steelhead
trout.
By notice of this letter, we are requesting the MCWRA consult with the
U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (USNMFS) pursuant to the
provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act. We are further
requesting the USNMFS require the MCWRA obtain a conditioned take permit
for the taking of threatened steelhead trout.
The Salinas River also sustains threatened California red-legged frogs
which are also protected by the provisions of the federal Endangered
Species Act. The spraying of chemicals along the Salinas River has the
potential to harm and injure threatened California red-legged frogs.
By notice of this letter, we are requesting the MCWRA consult with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USNMFS) pursuant to the provisions of
the federal Endangered Species Act. We are further requesting the USFWS
require the MCWRA obtain a conditioned take permit for the taking of
California red-legged frogs.
Because the proposed project will alter and harm 70% of riparian
habitat along the Salinas River, we are further requesting the USFWS to
investigate this matter and require the proposed project is stopped to
protect wildlife species and their habitat in the riparian corridor
along the Salinas River.
The proposed project and spraying of chemicals into the Salinas
corridor has the potential to violate state and federal water quality
statutes. Because there are two federally listed species that can be
harmed and injured, we believe MCWRA should obtain a NPDES (federal
permit).
By notice of this letter, we are requesting the MCWRA to consult with,
and obtain a NPDES permit from the California State Water Quality
Control Board. By notice of this letter we are further requesting the
California State Water Quality Control Board to investigate this matter
immediately and take enforcement action.
It is our understanding that MCWRA will approve the project tomorrow
and will proceed to implement the project immediately. We are requesting
MCWRA obtain all the necessary permits and approvals from the above
mentioned state and federal agencies before implementing the project.
The waters of the Salinas River belong to the people of the State of
California. The fish and wildlife resources of the Salinas River also
belong to the people of the state, and are public trust resources and
assets. The MCWRA does not have the discretion to harm the trust assets.
The CSPA further request the project is stopped until mitigation
measures can be developed without causing adverse impacts and harm to
California steelhead trout, California red-legged frogs, and California
wildlife and plants.
A written response is requested.
Respectfully Submitted
SIGNED BY BOB BAIOCCHI
__________________________________________
Robert J. Baiocchi, Consultant
For: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
P.O. Box 357
Quincy, CA 95971
cc: Mr. Jim Crenshaw, President, CSPA
By E-Mail
Mr. Alan Beaven, Esquire
Attorney-at-Law
Law Offices
CSPA
By fax to: 415-433-6382
Mr. James Lecky, Chief
Protected Species
U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service
501 West Ocean Blvd. Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
By Fax to: 562-980-4027
Mr. Wayne White, State Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130
Sacramento, CA 95821-6340
By Fax to: 916-979-2744
California State Water Quality Control Board
Sacramento Office
c/o Mr. Gary Carlton, Executive Officer
3343 Routier Road, Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95827-3003
By Fax to: 916-255-3015
Phil Ashley, CASA
By E-Mail
Interested Parties (Numerous - By E-Mail)