NCRP Meeting | Yreka | 7.13-14.23

by | Jul 24, 2023 | Stay Informed, Trinity Resources

Sharing Information  |  Encouraging Engagement

This meeting of the North Coast Resource Partnership included strategic planning, presentations, updates, project decisions, and more. I attended this meeting as our alternate. It was an enlightening and encouraging two days.  This organization works extremely well together and do important work in the North State Region.

Background Information

  • The North Coast Resource Partnership was formed in 2005
  • The initial focus was on trying to obtain funds for infrastructure
  • Ranked #1 in CA during the first year for access to funds
  • Diversified in interests and participation – added Tribal Representation
  • Technical Review staff and core staff
  • Enhancing quality of life, landscape, and infrastructure
  • Wants our board to approve a new MOU
  • $100 million to date – 95:5 implementation to planning
  • Can provide funding and resources to help develop a project
  • These are the priorities I shared during an initial interview with representatives earlier this year:
    • Home Hardening – Fire Insurance
    • Forest Health – Fuels Management
    • Environmental Cleanup Resources
      • High-Resolution Planning to support projects

7.13.23 NCRP Special Meeting – Strategic Planning

  • History of NCRP
    • Tribal involvement has grown over the years.  Initial involvement came from a public comment made by the current co-chair during a meeting many years ago.  The tribes were invited to bring a proposal as to how the 34 tribes could best be represented within NCRP.
    • Jimmy Smith (there is an award in his honor) was the chair in the early years.  He was very instrumental in formally engaging the tribe within NCRP.
    • TPRC (Technical Peer Review Committee) has expanded in size and impact over the years.  The goal is for decisions to always be unanimous.  The volume of work (reviewing project details) is huge.  There are some challenges in attracting volunteers due to time commitment.
    • 2020 – changed from chair/vice-chair to co-chair approach (one county representative and one tribal representative)
  • Current State
  • TPRC Interview Summary
    • What’s going well?
      • Healthy Growth, Effective Meetings, Collaborative & Diverse Infrastructure, Focus on Common Ground Issues,
      • Regional Funding via Block Grants, Governance Structure, Staff, TRPC Review Process
    • What could be improved?
      • More Regional Funding, Improved Internal Functions, Improved Access to NCRP Information, Challenges to Participation.
    • TRPC Process Improvements…
      • Regional Planning and Legislative Advocacy…
  • Leadership Feedback
    • Leadership Structure is working well.
    • Need to build on our collective networks for greater impact/influence on behalf of our region.
    • Continue focus on inclusive practices
    • James (co-chair) will be the NACO chair next year
    • Focus on strong messaging… and delivery of our messaging to the right people
  • Sandra Perez (Trinity County representative and TPRC co-chair) was in attendance.  She is a very strong representative for Trinity County.  She currently works for Yurok Tribe (with Leslie Hubbard)
  • Workforce Matters
    • Chris | Sonoma County – shared background
      • They received $37 million from FEMA with 15% match from County (used PG&E funds)
      • Partnered with local organizations to help find/train personnel to support work funded by these grants
      • Offered bi-lingual training, a $1,000 incentive to draw people in (including landscapers who were making $17.50/hour… and could now make $25+.  They had 200% enrollment response.
    • I referred to NoRTEC… indicating they could be a great partner with NCRP regarding workforce development.  https://www.ncen.org
  • NCRP Staff – State of the Union
    • See document shared via email by Karen Gaffney in advance of the meeting

Day 2 – approximately 90 people

  • Public Feedback – Concerns were shared and a request was made for a distribution list that would keep interested parties informed regarding projects under consideration.

Partner Presentations

  • Karuk Tribe | Slater Fire – focus on strong support for short and long-term recovery efforts by the tribe.  Donation centers, food banks, trailers for shelters, emergency response teams, etc.
  • Siskiyou Economic Development Council – 15 economic developers now.
    • Working Landscapes | Nikki – Agriculture & Innovation
      • Economic Sector Strategy – a collaborative effort to support the ag sector.
      • 8 years – $30 million increase in lodging.  Hoping for the same in agriculture sector
      • Market Development
        • Helping agriculture operators reach new markets – USDA Grant provided funding for an online food hub.  Allows for direct sale of products
      • Technical Assistance & Education
        • Working across multiple sectors… initial focus on agriculture.  1-1 consulting workshops, online class resources, farmers campus resources,
      • The goal is to help agriculture operators build economic and environmental resiliency
    • Climate & Community Resiliency | Kory
      • Recently received a $1.5 million award for climate collaborative
      • Six partners involved in this process… ranked 2nd in state
      • Regional Climate Collaborative Award
      • Just kicking off with deep listening sessions, learning from each other,
      • Housing, agriculture, fuel reduction, etc.
    • Have an expert on economic development block grants
    • CERF- put forward a proposal – for restoring/renovating a historic building as an innovation center
    • Engagement of smaller communities – strategic planning process on 5-year rotation that engages people from all areas served
    • Capacity – the key focus is building capacity
  • Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District
    • 16 active projected – 6,619 acres to be treated
    • Evaluation of another 17,600 acres
    • Yreka fuel break, prep for 950-acre prescribed burn project
  • Regional Collaborative Partnership on Juniper Management for Watershed Health
    • Received a TA Grant for removal of Junipers
    • Also applying for a grant that would fund the development of a biomass facility
    • A dramatic increase in density of juniper forests has been reported. This is preventing rain from supporting the watershed, a severe fire hazard
    • Junipers are not a good commercial product
      • Commercial firewood, biomass, bedding, specialized lumber, micro-power generation, heat capture technology, juniper posts,
    • 9-35 junipers per acre would consume all water in an area with 13” of rain per year
    • Some areas used to have 20… now have 120+ per acre
    • Examples of strong regeneration when junipers are removed/managed
    • 2008 Clear Lake EIS addressed 1.6 million acres… only 30,000 were treated.  More planning has to be done before more work can be done
    • Oregon has done a lot of research regarding this subject
    • Important to seed native/desirable grasses after removing trees… or undesirable (highly flammable) plants will take over
    • Clear Lake Watershed – 525 square miles.  Suckers reported 46 miles upstreams
      • Half of the inflow to the reservoir evaporates each year
      • Juniper management will have a significant/positive impact
  • Agency Partner Panel
    • CA Dept of Conservation
      • Regional Forest and Fire Capacity
      • Climate Shark Land Management Capacity
      • Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation
      • Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing
    • CA Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force
      • Data Access/Analysis Tools – “Interagency Treatment Tracker” is one key component
      • Partnerships
      • Action Plan
    • CA Dept of Water Resources
      • Support communities across the state
      • Measurement, data analysis, data dissemination (Groundwater Level Monitoring…)
      • Division of Flood Management
      • Financial Assistance – Drought Response
        • Maria.Lorenzo-lee@water.ca.gov
    • North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
      • General Order to regulate discharge from vineyards (65,000 acres) Russian river…
      • Federal Lands Permit
        • USFS, BLM, etc. Permit… livestock grazing being reviewed
      • Community Needs Assessment will be starting soon
      • Racial Equity Action Plan
      • 3 vacancies on their board
    • CA Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
    • US Forest Service
      • Fuels Reduction Update
      • 14 of the top 20 most destructive fires took place since 2010
      • Prescribed Fire Claims Fund – $20 million, 22 applications, 21 approved reservations
        • Addresses insurance/liability concerns
      • Grant Programs
        • The website has details – they are updating timelines for applying, etc. now
        • Regional Forest Health Pilot Projects
          • NCRP has made the most progress of the three pilot projects
  • NCRP Nominations, Elections, Committee Assignments
    • Tribal – nominations remaining open
    • NRCP Executive Committee – all existing members are willing to continue serving.  Approved
    • NRCP Ad Hoc Committees – all items listed below were approved
      • Disband Prop 1 Ad Hoc Committee
      • Funding Ad Hoc Committee
      • Illegal Cannabis Clean Up Ad Hoc Committee
      • Workforce/Capacity Ad Hoc Committee
      • Staff deputized to reach out to council members to fill committee seats
  • Jimmy Smith Award – the nomination and change of award name outline below were approved
    • Motion to rename award – “Jimmy Smith & Leaf Hillman Award”
    • Motion to approve the nomination of Supervisor Gore
  • Legislative Update & Staff Team Transition
    • See packet for details
    • Susan is stepping down from her role leading Legislation & Policy
    • Karen Gaffney is stepping into this role
  • The Slate of Staff recommendations regarding NCRP Funding Decisions were approved
    • RFFC Ad Hoc Committee is to move forward with these projects and approve (if necessary) prior to the next council meeting.  Otherwise, these will be submitted for approval at the next council meeting.  Total $11.1 million.
    • Cal Fire Pilot – $10 million
    • OPR Regional Biomass Strategy/Woody Feedstock Initiative – $700,000
    • Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Foundation – $400,000
  • Draft NCRP Dashboard
    • Reviewed Appendix A – which shows the initial view of the dashboard.  This is all produced out of the project tracker tool that the council previously approved.
  • 2023 Quarterly Meeting Dates & Locations (In Person)
    • October 20, 2023 | Eureka
    • January 19, 2024 | Ukiah or Sonoma
    • April 19, 2024 | Weaverville (date is in conflict with CSAC Legislative Conference)
    • July 19, 2024 | Del Norte
    • October 18, 2024 | Eureka