Background Information
The MSG has been an Advisory Committee to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
(BOF) since January 2000. From 1989 to 1999, the MSG was an “ad hoc”
committee which met periodically. The MSG has, and continues, to: (1) develop
a long-term program testing the effectiveness of California’s Forest Practice
Rules, and (2) provide guidance and oversight to the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) in implementing the program. CDF has funded
monitoring efforts designed to ascertain if forest practice rules protecting beneficial
uses of water are being implemented and are effective since 1990.
Through 2000, the MSG’s monitoring program has largely consisted of: 1) hillslope
monitoring data collected on Timber Harvesting Plans (THPs) randomly located throughout
the state, 2) a pilot cooperative instream monitoring project in a 303(d) listed
watershed—the Garcia River watershed, and 3) selected monitoring related
projects.
Recently, the long-term monitoring program has been expanded, utilizing a somewhat
broader combination of approaches to generate information on forest practice rule
implementation and effectiveness related to water quality. The major components
of the program include: 1) continuation of the existing Hillslope Monitoring Program—evaluating
50 THPs and NTMPs per year, 2) incorporation of the Modified Completion Report
process—using CDF Forest Practice Inspectors to evaluate Forest Practice
Rule implementation and effectiveness, 3) development of selected monitoring projects
that can answer key questions regarding forest practice implementation and effectiveness,
and 4) development of scientifically valid monitoring plans in 303(d) listed waterbodies,
along with cooperative watershed monitoring projects in selected basins for long-term
instream trend monitoring. For more detailed information on the long-term monitoring
program, refer to the MSG’s Strategic Plan.
The primary reasons that the MSG is an Advisory Committee to the BOF are:
- Monitoring forest practices related to water quality is a long-term program
which requires input from a broad-based steering committee;
- Frequent briefings are critical because information about the adequacy of the
existing and potential new rules related to water quality is of the utmost importance
to the BOF; and
- An Advisory Committee of the BOF generates greater acceptance of the program and
its monitoring results—since there is a higher likelihood that all or most
of the agencies and organizations will have been involved throughout the process
(not just those with a current interest in the committee).
The MSG is made up of members of the public, resource agencies, and the timber
industry. Each agency and organization is responsible for determining the appropriate
person to serve as a representative on the MSG (i.e., the BOF does not make formal
appointments to the MSG). All relevant organizations are invited to attend the
meetings and these gatherings can be described as an open public forum to discuss
monitoring issues. Meetings are generally held every two to three months, either
on the North Coast of California or in Sacramento.
The MSG is chaired by a BOF member and staffed by CDF. For more information regarding
the MSG, please contact Pete Cafferata, CDF, P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, California
94244; (916) 653-9455; or pete_cafferata@fire.ca.gov.
