Pesticides- Hoopa Valley Tribe

Pesticides

In California, approximately 50% of the states 32 million acres of forested lands consist of timber stands of harvestable quality. Government agencies, private companies, and private individuals own these lands, and may manage some or all of their lands for commercial timber production. The timber industry employs intense forest management practices, particularly in regions where fire or over cutting has resulted in large losses of harvestable timber. Reforestation practices are used to establish new conifer stands in these low-density regions. These practices generally involve the use of the forest herbicides to control the growth of unwanted vegetative material prior to planting, during site preparation, and timber stand improvements following conifer establishment.

The extensive use of pesticides and herbicides has been an area of great concern for the members of Hoopa Valley Tribe. Basket weavers, hunters and gatherers, and other traditional practitioners have, for some time, felt that the use of forest herbicides contributes to the many ailments, including cancer, which local Indians experience. Many residents in Hoopa rely on surface water as a potable water source. At the request of several tribal and community members in this area, Hoopa Tribal Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA), through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Office of Pesticide Programs, monitor surface water for herbicides used in reforestation practices in their region. Since 1981, the Hoopa Valley Tribe has had a zero tolerance ordinance for pesticide use on the reservation, but private landowners bordering our valley continue to employ such practices.

Sampling for Pesticides in Supply Creek

There are 13 main substances that are monitored for in surface water. These substances can be categorized into four pesticide groups based on the structural formula of each compound. These groups are, organonitrogen, phenoxys, triazines/uracil/urea, and miscellaneous. Individual pesticide compounds in these groups will include but are not limited to the following:

• Phenoxys: 2,4-D, MCPA, and triclopyr
• Triazines/Uracil/Urea: Atrazine, metribuzin, prometon, prometryn, and simazine.
• Organonitrogen: Bromocil, haxazinone
• Miscellaneous: Glyphosate, diuron, cyanazine

Spiking a Sample for Laboratory QA

The purpose of TEPA’s pesticide monitoring is to determine if the sampling results indicate a presence of pesticide residue at levels of concern. If pesticides are detected, we can then follow the proper procedures to find the source and mitigate our streams to prevent future contamination. Our goal is to protect the water quality here in Hoopa for the present users as well as the future generations.

If you have any further question contact the Tribal EPA department at (530) 625.5515 or tepa@hoopa-nsn.gov.

Click Here for the California Indian Baketweavers Website

Click Here for the California DPR Northwest California Herbicide Monitoring Project

Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe
PO Box 1348 ~ Hoopa, California 95546 ~ (530) 625.4211