AUBURN RAVINE/COON CREEK WATERSHED
Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP) GROUP
REGULAR MEETING
June 8, 2005
The meeting of the Auburn Ravine/Coon Creek Watershed CRMP Group (AR/CC) was called to order by
Rich Gresham, Placer County Resource Conservation District (PCRCD) at Auburn City Hall & Civic Center
Room #10 at 1:42 p.m.
PRESENT: Rich Gresham and Katie Maloney, PCRCD; Mary Keller, Sutter County; Joyce Richter; Ophir
Property Owners; Gordon Seck, Placer County Fish & Game Commission; Steve Azevedo, Teichert
Materials; Eric Nichol, Dept. of Water Resources; Brian Keating, Placer County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District; and Edmund Sullivan, Placer County Planning Dept.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
 Placer Tree Partners: Katie Maloney reported Placer Tree Partners has been offered a $2K stipend
to assist with re-printing Treasured Tree Walking Tour Maps by the Placer county Planning Dept. after
the Indian Gaming proposal was denied.

Vegetation Management Subcommittee: Rich Gresham reported that a range management plan will
be developed for the Spears/Didion property located along the Coon Creek corridor. The purchase
agreement for the property allows ten years of grazing on the property. He noted the potential for
opportunities to partner with others in the area of public education and outreach.
Gordon Seck noted the Tulle Elk Group is looking to re-introduce elk to the area as the Concord
grazing area is being closed. The American River Watershed is being considered as an alternative.
UPDATES:
 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands: It was
reported the CA Farm Bureau won a court decision indicating the State Water Resources Board and
the Regional Water Quality Control Board overstepped their bounds in regards to the waiver program.
Rich will contact Kirk Scilacci to see if he will be available for a more in-depth update next month.
1. BUSINESS
a) Placer/Sutter Grant Proposal Development Update and Consideration of Letter of Support:
Rich Gresham reviewed the project development and the potential for collaboration with several willing
landowners to provide for creek and riparian enhancement, sediment control, and increased channel
capacity.
Rich solicited comments from the group regarding the proposed project and suggested the group
provide a letter of support.
Brian Keating indicated he has some issues with the off channel pond component being proposed.
He noted the Placer County Flood Control Plan focused on the retention of flood waters vs. detention
for volume mitigation. He indicated he needs further discussion before endorsing the project.
Rich stressed the concept of multiple benefits and noted the challenge of pulling everything together in
a comprehensive proposal package.
Mary Keller noted Craig Benson has been working to develop the project components for further
discussion and refinement if needed. She also noted that Craig is well versed in retention and
detention concepts.
Rich encouraged the group to continue working together to further develop and refine project
components.
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Group discussion revolved around topics including opportunities for collaboration, Teichert watershed
restoration and enhancement activities, check dam operations, the potential benefits of looking at
Cross Canal watersheds as a whole, and the Placer County Conservation Plan effort.
Brian indicated he will provide Craig with his written comments.
Edmund noted the proposed project is being presented as a riparian restoration and enhancement
project and not flood control or fish passage project.
Group discussion revolved around Auburn Ravine fish passage issues and the potential for
collaboration with the CA Dept of Water Resources on the issue.
The group decided to defer action regarding a letter of support.
Steve Azevedo consented to give the group an update on Teichert’s watershed activities at a future
meeting.
b) Rock Creek Tributary Restoration and Trail Construction Project Overview:
Edmund Sullivan reviewed the background of the Rock Creek project and noted tributaries may be
contributing to water quality issues on Coon Creek. Ed noted development of the Target Store
adjacent to Rock Creek provided $75K in mitigation that funded a study to look at the tributary. Redesign of the creek and existing sewer lines is being considered in addition to trail enhancement that
will improve walking access to the commercial areas surrounding the project area. He noted Rock
Creek used to be seasonal, but is now a perennial stream. Culvert re-sizing to address restricted
flows is also under consideration. Issues that need to be addressed include channel restoration to
address channel incision, beaver issues, and terracing to re-establish connection between the creek
and floodplain.
Benefits of the proposed project include improved water quality, turning the creek into a community
amenity, and establishing walking trail connectivity.
Group discussion revolved around potential funding sources, potential public meetings, the potential
for watershed group collaboration, and suggestions for additional project components like educational
kiosks that could introduce the public to watershed and /or low-impact development principles.
Edmund solicited comments on the proposed project. No comments were offered.
c) Pleasant Grove/Curry Creek (PG/CC) and Auburn Ravine Coon Creek (AR/CC) Watershed Group
Consolidation Discussion:
Rich Gresham reviewed prior discussions regarding the potential merging of PG/CC group with the
AR/CC group.
Edmund Sullivan added PG/CC has held discussions regarding potential merging with either the Dry
Creek Watershed Council or the AR/CC Watershed Group that resulted in the PG/CC deciding the
AR/CC would be the most appropriate group to merge with by using hydrologic boundaries as their
rationale. Edmund noted he thinks the consolidation of the two groups will be re-energizing for both
groups and enhance stakeholder participation.
Rich noted that AR/CC discussion last month regarding the potential for a merger with PG/CC
resulted in no objections raised by AR/CC participants. He suggested re-visiting the projects
component of each group’s Ecosystem Restoration Plan as a good place to begin identifying a nexus
of cooperation; potentially in the areas of water quality monitoring, riparian restoration and
enhancement, and challenges being presented by urbanization and growth pressures.
Edmund noted the PG/CC group would like to hold meetings at 3 p.m. vs. 1:30 p.m.
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After discussion it was decided the first meeting of the consolidated group will be held in November
2005 and the agenda will include a discussion regarding the time and place of future meetings.
2. OPEN DISCUSSION
 Brian Keating noted the Auburn School Preserve Project will not be addressing a comment made
about the under-sizing of a culvert that could result in potential flooding of Old Town.

Edmund Sullivan passed out copies of the Auburn Ravine/Coon Creek Watershed brochure
developed by Foothill and Associates on the group’s behalf. Positive comments were received
regarding the brochure.
3. ADJOURNMENT, NEXT MEETING AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The next Auburn Ravine/Coon Creek Watershed CRMP Group meeting will be held on July 13th at
Auburn City Hall & Civic Center in Room #10 at 1:30 p.m. The following items will be on the agenda.
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Sutter/Placer Grant Proposal Development Update
Regional Cross Canal Watershed Flood Control Update
Rock Creek Tributary Restoration and Trail Construction Project Update
Open Discussion
The meeting was adjourned at 3:34 p.m.
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