ALERT: Trenching of Wetlands on Atascadero Creek

[Zeno Swijtink]

Trenching of Wetlands on Atascadero Creek

On Friday morning, June 20th, neighbors living near the Atascadero (Graton) Wetlands just south of the town of Graton heard and saw an excavator operating in an area of undeveloped wetlands adjacent to Atascadero Creek. Neighbors, who reportedly spoke with the operator, were told that a trench was being excavated for the purpose of draining the wetlands to Atascadero Creek. Concerned citizens immediately contacted local and State agencies. The work was finally stopped some time later by County PRMD staff.

See Photos below. More photos of the trenching in the wetlands are posted at:

https://www.atascaderogreenvalleywat...esecration.htm

Cal. Dept of Fish and Game, the Regional Water Quality Control Board and Sonoma County PRMD have been notified and are working to investigate the incident and evaluate the damage.

If you are concerned about this incident, please contact 5th District Supervisor Mike Reilly at :

[email protected]

or by phone at 707-565-2241

Express your concerns and ask Supervisor Reilly to support a full investigation.

For more information about the Atascadero wetlands, attached is a description prepared in 2006 when a number of local citizens tried unsuccessfully to find a conservation buyer to save and protect this sensitive area.
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Please join us in the effort to preserve and protect valuable wetland properties in the Atascadero Creek corridor in western Sonoma County.

Wetland preservation has become a top environmental priority in California. A 1990 Report (Thomas Dahl) estimated that in the two centuries between the 1780's and the 1980's, approximately 91% of California’s wetlands were lost. This represents the highest percentage of wetlands loss in the United States. It has been 26 years since the period covered by that report, so it is safe to say that the magnitude of wetland loss is even higher.

This segment of the corridor is located adjacent to a walking and bike trail and contains irreplaceable wetland habitat of high biotic value. It contributes greatly to a healthy watershed and beautiful scenic viewshed and provides an undeveloped urban buffer.

Expanded riparian areas serve as wildlife corridors and provide animals creek access, suitable foraging habitat, and valuable habitat for nesting by resident and migratory birds. Riparian and wetland habitats also provide other values to society, such as flood storage, flood desynchronization, stabilization of the substrate to prevent movement of sediments into the waters of the creek and trapping of pollutants, especially sediments originating from nearby upland areas.

Coho salmon were noted downstream of the parcels in the 1994 Fish & Game Stream Assessment of Atascadero & Green Valley Creeks. Steelhead and California freshwater shrimp were documented in a tributary upstream of the parcels. According to Wetlands Biologist, Ted Winfield, “Preserving and restoring areas such as the Graton wetlands can contribute to the possible return of steelhead and other valued fish to Atascadero Creek.”

Wildlife sightings in the valley include deer, rabbit, coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon, woodrat, possum, bobcat and mountain lion. There are many snakes, including garter, gopher, kingsnake, and racer and many lizards, frogs and dragonflies likely to call the Atascadero Creek corridor home. Bird highlights are: Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Cinnamon Teal, Black Crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Egrets (all), Willet, Pileated Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, Western Bluebird, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Cooper's Hawk, Golden Eagle, Black Shouldered Kite, Ring Necked Pheasant, Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Tundra Swan, Snow Goose and more.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to assure that these wetlands are never developed with housing or agriculture and will remain “forever wild” to the benefit of all species. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, The Sonoma Land Trust, California Department of Fish & Game and the Regional Water Quality Control Board have all been supportive in the efforts to purchase and protect these wetlands. We are looking for additional funds from a Conservation group or buyer to facilitate their purchase.

[Zeno Swijtink]

It's really very helpful if people called Mike Reilly. His number is 707-565-2241. Just say you're concerned about this and want to have it investigated, and leave your name and where you live.

Mike is upset that this happened in his district but needs to see massive public outry to push harder on understaffed State and Federal agencies.

You can also email him at [email protected]

Thanks, Zeno

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Attachments:
#1: The backhoe operator digging a trench in the Graton Wetland on Friday morning, June 20th
#2 : How the wetland is in the winter.