The Upper Trinity River watershed is 692 square miles and over 70% is publicly owned, most of which is administered by the US Forest Service. The Trinity Alps Wilderness Area accounts for 32% of the total area. Private lands account for 29%, including the small communities of Coffee Creek, Covington Mill and Trinity Center, recreational facilities, and resorts.

This is a community-based project with active local leadership that address issues like high turbidity levels seen in Trinity Lake following big storms and will look to the communities to develop recommendations in a comprehensive watershed assessment and action plan.

The District intends to meet with interested landowners, land managers and other watershed stakeholders in public meetings and individually in the various communities. Existing studies are being summarized and a list of prioritized concerns will be compiled. Look for future articles in the Conservation Almanac, on the District’s website, and in the newspaper for information on community meetings, and field trips.

The goal is not just to write a plan, but also to identify issues and implement recommended projects that will reduce sediment and turbidity levels in the lake, improve water quality for the Trinity River Basin and the Central Valley Project and promote good natural resources conservation and stewardship. For example, the District has already begun to conduct road inventory in cooperation with Timber Products in the very upper portion of the watershed. (See photo below), with funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“I really look forward to working with my neighbors, resource management colleagues and all of the other stakeholders in the watershed,” commented Pat Frost, District Manager and landowner in the Covington Mill area. “I’ve gotten know a lot of folks in the watershed through other projects the District has done in the watershed. So, if you’d like to participate in this collaborative planning project or need more information, please give me a call.