R25AP00510

PURPOSE: OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS THE TOLOWA DEE-NI NATION WILL CONDUCT PLANNING ANDDESIGN TO DEVELOP A TRIBAL WATER SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A STABLE SOURCE OF DOMESTIC DRINKING WATER FOR THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY NEAR SMITH RIVER IN NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIATHE LIMITED ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN BOTH SYSTEMS DIRECTLY IMPACTS TRIBAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WATER RESERVES ARE UNATTAINABLE TO SERVE THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY AT NORMAL HOUSEHOLD LEVELS AND ARE UNAVAILABLE TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS IN THIS HIGH RISK AREA IN THE EVENT OF NATURAL OR MANMADE DISASTERS IN THIS HIGH-RISK AREA, SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES OR WILDFIRES. IN ADDITION, FILTRATION RISKS OF CONTAMINATION INCREASE DUE TO DRAWING WATER FROM THE SMALL CREEK BED SEDIMENT DURING DROUGHT PERIODS.THE THREAT OF LOSS OF CLEAN WATER ACCESS ALSO IMPACTS MENTAL WELL-BEING AND LIMITS RESIDENTS OF THIS UNDERSERVED, RURAL TRIBAL RESERVATION AREA IN THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE FULL,PRODUCTIVE LIFESTYLES EQUITABLE TO THOSE OF OTHERS WHO LIVE ELSEWHERE. DRINKING WATERINSECURITY DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE TRIBAL NATION IN ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES AND TO SUSTAIN PUBLIC TRUST IN TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE TRIBE TO PROVIDE ITS CITIZENS WITH SAFE, DEPENDABLE DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THIS ACTION IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THE TRIBE HAS A RELIABLE SOURCE OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER. IT IS ALSO PART OF OUR FEDERAL TRUST RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT TOLOWA DRINKING WATER SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY 1960S. IT IS OUTDATED AND DOES NOT SERVE THE ENTIRE TRIBAL COMMUNITY. FAMILIES AND TRIBAL ELDERS FACE A CONTINUED RISK OF AN ENTIRE LOSS OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND EXPERIENCE SEVERE WATER RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE TOLOWA DRINKING WATER SYSTEM AND THE ADJACENT SMITH RIVER COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (CSD) WATER SYSTEM. BOTH SYSTEMS RELY ON SMALL SEASONAL CREEKS WHICH FALL DANGEROUSLY LOW TO SUPPLY THESE HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITH CLEAN DRINKING WATER. IN THE PAST DECADE, THESE CREEKS ARE NOW DRY IN THE SUMMER. WITHOUT THESE PLANNING AND DESIGN FUNDS, THE TRIBES FUTURE IS AT JEOPARDY.OUTCOME: THE PROJECT ASSISTS WITH REGULATORY COMPLIANCE BY PROVIDING THE TOLOWA GOVERNMENT AND ITS UTILITIES PROGRAM STAFF WITH A NEW SYSTEM CAPABLE OF MEETING STATE AND FEDERAL DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS WITHIN A SINGLE JURISDICTION. THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE BUILT TO MAXIMIZE COMPLIANCE, MEET PERMITTING STANDARDS, AND ENSURE EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND TREATMENT ARE IN PLACE TO COMPLY WITH STANDARDS WITHIN THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT AND THE CALIFORNIA SAFE WATER DRINKING LAWS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA WATER CODE, INCLUDING THE NEW PORTER-COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT. BENEFICIARY: THE PUBLIC. PLANNING AND DESIGN ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE THE TOLOWA DEE- NI NATION TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS AND TO DESIGN A COST-EFFECTIVE TRIBAL DOMESTIC WATERSYSTEM CAPABLE OF SERVING ALL 351 HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER FACILITIES WITHIN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY WITH A SUPPLY OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER ABLE TO MEET THEIR CURRENT NEEDS.

Tolowa Dee-Ni Nation

15.519 - Indian Tribal Water Resources Development, Management, and Protection

USBR California-Great Basin Region, Sacramento CA (MP) [DOI - USBR]

Del Norte, California United States

County-Wide

R-R-CGB-25-016