Tour the Trinidad Rancheria’s stormwater project

By [email protected] | on June 08, 2023

TRINIDAD BAY and Pier. Via Trinidad Rancheria

TRINIDAD – The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria (Trinidad Rancheria) invites the community to join them on Thursday, June 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Trinidad Harbor (meeting near the public restrooms) in celebration of World Oceans Day.

Pacific Watershed Associates consultants will be joined by the Tribe's Environmental Department Staff to guide interested community members through a walkthrough of an upcoming stormwater construction project at Trinidad Harbor that will support a more resilient ocean and benefit the community.

The walkthrough will give visitors a chance to learn about the project, its features, and the planned public access routes during construction.

This project is just one of many where Trinidad Rancheria affirms their dedication to maintaining the harbor as a safe, cultural, commercial, recreational, historical, and scenic draw for local businesses and community members while serving as stewards of the ocean. We welcome you to join us!

Trinidad Rancheria purchased the Trinidad Harbor in January 2000. Since the purchase, the tribe has worked hard to mitigate hazardous waste and remove toxic materials left behind by previous commercial operations, and other sources of pollution such as used oil, hydraulic fluid, creosote and pollutants that affect groundwater and the Trinidad Bay.

After first purchasing the Trinidad Harbor Properties, Trinidad Harbor was identified by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) as in violation of the California Ocean Plan and the Rancheria began work on mitigating several discharges to the Trinidad Head Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS), which is home to the unique and diverse kelp forest ecosystem.

Trinidad Rancheria has completed numerous projects to eliminate discharges and comply with the SWRCB discharge prohibition. Projects include the construction of the zero discharge pier, public restrooms, and a state-ofthe art wastewater treatment facility and disposal fields. Trinidad Rancheria has also performed a number of upgrades to Seascape Restaurant, the boat launch, ramp and hoist.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, Trinidad Rancheria has also implemented best management practices for soil and erosion control, pesticides, and other chemical prevention; public education and outreach; trash clean up and handling; wastewater treatment facility operation and maintenance and stormwater runoff from parking areas and other developed features.

This summer, Trinidad Rancheria is anticipating the construction of a project to eliminate final discharge prohibition, stormwater runoff from the parking areas and other developed features. Trinidad Rancheria will construct a series of rain gardens, bioretention swales, permeable pavers, linear drains, and speed humps to redirect and treat stormwater from the parking areas and developed features.

This project will also include concrete mat to improve Trinidad Rancheria access to launcher beach and rock slope protection around launcher beach to protect the beach from erosion and restore the area's natural beauty.

Trinidad Rancheria aspires to build a Marine Program that will empower the Tribe to protect, restore, and sustainably co-manage the coastal environment and its resources to achieve healthy and diverse ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, economic viability, and generational prosperity.

As Indigenous peoples, and owners of the Trinidad Harbor, they honor the inherent balance and interconnectedness of the ocean and coastal communities. They are currently planning projects such as the Stormwater Construction Project to serve as effective stewards of the ocean as they develop a Marine Program.

To learn more about Trinidad Rancheria's Environmental Program, please visit trinidad-rancheria.org/environmental-program/.