To Everyone,
You are invited to a presentation on a survey study of fish use by California Tribes during a public State Water Board Meeting. The results could be used for deriving water quality objectives to protect people (including Tribes) who catch and eat fish from California’s waters. Dr. Fraser Shilling of UC Davis will be presenting his survey results to the Board Members of the State Water Board.
The date is Sept 9 , 2014. We will email the meeting agenda with the meeting details closer to the date (meeting agendas can also be found here:http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/ where they are posted 10 calendars days in advance of the meeting). You can attend in person in Sacramento (Cal/EPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento) or you can watch a live video broadcast of the meeting, available at:http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast/.
Presentation Summary
Tribes have expressed concern that water quality and other water-related decisions tend to lack consideration of tribes’ use of water and aquatic resources. The State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided funding to UC Davis researchers to collaborate with tribes in discovering the historical and current patterns of fish use. UC Davis researchers worked with partner tribes to establish an appropriate approach to interviewing tribe members about fish use.
Members of 40 California tribes and tribe groups were surveyed directly at 24 locations, and staff from 10 tribes was surveyed online using standard questionnaires. Traditional uses of fish were assessed using literature review and surveying of tribe members and staff. Contemporary uses were assessed using tribe member interviews. UC Davis researchers found that tribes use fish in similar patterns (fish types and source-waters) as they did traditionally, but not in similar amounts. Tribes used 26 freshwater/anadromous fin-fish species, 23 marine fin-fish species, and 18 other invertebrate, and plant species and groups of species. The single most commonly caught and/or eaten fish species group among all tribes was “salmon”, which could include chinook or coho salmon. The 95th percentile rates of consumption of caught-fish varied by tribe and ranged between 102 grams per day (g/day) (Pomo) and 484 g/day (Pit River). The rate of fish use (frequency and consumption rate) was suppressed for many tribes, compared to traditional rates, which most tribes attributed primarily to water quantity and quality issues.
If you have questions, please contact Amanda Palumbo at:amanda.palumbo@waterboards.ca.gov or (916) 341-5687.
Regards,
Amanda
Amanda Palumbo, Ph.D.
Environmental Scientist
Division of Water Quality
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street, 15th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916.341.5687