Archived Press Releases

Opportunity to Learn about Citizen Water Quality Monitoring!
April 3, 2006

Water quality experts and enthusiasts will be on hand during the April 12, 2006 Stillwater-Churn Creek Watershed Alliance (Alliance) meeting to provide information on water quality as well as citizen water quality monitoring opportunities this fall. Stakeholders in the watersheds of Churn Creek, Clover Creek, and Stillwater Creek are encouraged to attend this informational session to learn about various parameters used to calculate the health and sustainability of area streams. The Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (RCD) is sponsoring this meeting from 5:30-7:00 PM at the City of Redding's Corporation Yard, Parks Building #4 at 20055 Viking Way near Abernathy Lane.

As this area's most recognized urban stream, Churn Creek is heavily influenced by common events such as driving (leaking oil), lawn care (fertilizers) and outdoor recreation (dog walking, off-road riding). Many factors contribute to the health of the stream and its ability to sustain wildlife and vibrant riparian vegetation. Stakeholders attending the meeting on the 12th will hear from a representative with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, an agency whose mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California's water resources, and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations. The representative will be on hand to discuss water quality in urban Churn and Clover Creeks and tributaries compared with the more rural Stillwater Creek, and provide suggestions for stakeholders on how to best manage water resources on an individual level.

In addition to the general discussion on water quality, Eda Eggeman with the California Department of Fish and Game will be displaying equipment used for citizen water quality monitoring, an event planned for late summer. Ms. Eggeman plans to demonstrate the equipment and work with participating stakeholders to identify creek locations and training sessions.

Additionally, this meeting will provide an opportunity for an update on the Stillwater-Churn Creek Watershed Assessment. The Watershed Assessment, which is well underway, will be a data-rich snapshot of the current conditions of the watershed with some analysis on changes and trends that have occurred over time. The second primary checkpoint for the Watershed Assessment is scheduled to be available April 7th.

The RCD received funding for this project from the California Bay-Delta Authority with Proposition 13 Watershed Grant Program funding that is overseen by the State Water Resources Control Board. Forming watershed groups is one way of organizing everyone in a watershed to work cooperatively to conserve and improve the health of the environment, especially water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and therefore, improve the local quality of life. The activities of people upstream from where you live impacts you and the lives of people, fisheries and wildlife downstream. We all depend on watershed health for drinking water, flood protection, sustainable resources and other elements in determining the quality of life in our communities.

Churn, Clover and Stillwater Creek Watersheds include all of the Enterprise, north Redding, Churn Creek Bottom, City of Shasta Lake, Mountain Gate, and western Jones Valley communities. For additional information on this meeting, please contact the Western Shasta RCD at (530) 365-7332 x 203. Visit the RCD's Watershed Information Model for information on the watersheds: http://wim.shastacollege.edu.