Northwestern California Tribal Territories Herbicide Monitoring Project

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Klamath River at Horse Creek Bridge

In northwestern California, the tribal people have voiced concern over the use of reforestation herbicides on private forest lands, in addition to pesticide use in agricultural valleys which lie adjacent to tribal territories. Residents in these forest communities, who rely on plants, animals, water and other natural resources, have expressed concern about the presence of pesticide residues.

The tribes, particularly the Yurok, Hupa and Karuk, have requested that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs monitor surface waters, plants and other natural resources for herbicides and other pesticide residues from their uses in reforestation and agriculture practices in that region.

Reports on Monitoring and Study Results

  • Wofford, P., K. Goh, D. Jones, H. Casjens, H. Feng, J. Hsu, D. Tran, J. Medina, and J. White. 2003. Forest Herbicide Residues in Surface Water and Plants in the Tribal Territory of the Lower Klamath River Watershed of California. EH 02-05, PDF (797 kb)
    • Appendix A. Meeting and field notes for the Yurok Environmental Monitoring Group
    • Appendix B. Protocols
      • Study 172: Surface Water Monitoring for Forest Herbicides in the Yurok Aboriginal Territory.
      • Study 191: Monitoring for Herbicide Residues in Plants of Interest to the Tribal People in their Aboriginal Territory of Northwestern California
    • Appendix C: Standard Operating Procedures for sampling techniques and equipment
      • SOP EQWA005.00, PDF (862 kb)
      • SOP EQOT001.01, PDF (264 kb)
      • SOP FSWA002.00, PDF (58 kb)
      • SOP FSOT001.01, PDF (376 kb)
    • Appendix D. Standard Operating Procedures for sample handling and laboratory continuing quality control
      • SOP ADMN006.00, PDF (32 kb)
      • SOP QAQC001.00, PDF (399 kb)
      • SOP QAQC003.01, PDF (662 kb)
      • SOP QAQC004.01, PDF (230 kb)
      • SOP QAQC005.01, PDF (49 kb)
    • Appendix E Laboratory methods
      • Determination of Atrazine, Simazine, Diuron, Prometon, Bromacil, Prometryn, Hexazinone, Cyanazine, Metribuzin in River Water, PDF (107 kb)
      • Determination of Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) in Runoff Water, PDF (90 kb)
      • Dicamba, MCPA, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, Triclopyr and Bentazon in River Water by GC/MSD, PDF (226 kb )
      • The Determination of Triclopyr and 2,4-D in Plant Materials, PDF (361 kb)
    • Appendix F. Sample results - raw data, PDF (70 kb)
    • Appendix G. Results of continuing quality control samples, PDF (313 kb)
    • Appendix H. California Department of Fish and Game's procedures for fish tissue sample collection, laboratory methods, and fish tissue quality control results, PDF (389 kb)
    • Appendix I. Additional sampling performed by the Yurok Tribe Environmental Program, PDF (195 kb)
    • Appendix J. Comments on draft report, PDF (16 kb)
  • Michael O' Malley, M.D., M.P.H. 2002. Recognizing Illnesses Related to Forestry Herbicides. Report, PDF (611 kb)
  • Jones, D., N. Singhasemanon, D. Tran, J. Hsu, J. Hernandez, and H. Feng. 2000. Surface Water Monitoring for the Pesticides in the Hupa and Karuk Territories. EH 00-12, PDF (3.9 mb).
  • Currie, R.C., Ross, J.H., Dong, M.H., Formoli, T. 1999. Potential Impacts of Forest Herbicide Applications on California's Native American Basketweavers. Worker Health and Safety Branch Report HS-1762

For content questions, contact:
Nan Singhasemanon
1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
Phone: (916) 324-4122
E-mail: Nan.Singhasemanon@cdpr.ca.gov