environmental protection department · integrated pest management: a safer method to control pest...
TRANSCRIPT
Our Mission is to protect, monitor, restore, and regulate Morongo’s natural resources, honoring and protecting all life, land, and traditions and enhancing tribal sovereignty. We will promote
environmental awareness and environmentally considerate actions by exemplifying environmental stewards, fostering collaborative relationships, expanding education and outreach activities, and
continuing to enrich and develop our programs.
Morongo Band of Mission Indians July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Environmental Protection Department
Wildlife on Morongo Written by: Jon Castillo, Environmental Technician
Bears, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and snakes are some of nature’s amazing wildlife
creatures found here on the Morongo Indian Reservation. They can also present danger to
you, your family and your pets when they are threatened. Here are some tips to live in
harmony with our wildlife friends.
Eliminate Potential Food Sources.
At home keep small pets in sight, gated, or indoors. Keep cat, dog, and livestock food
indoors or sealed if outside. Keep trash with food scraps in bags and close lids on all
refuse containers. Wash down BBQ areas after each use (scraps and grease). This will
keep small rodents, coyotes and other wildlife from coming into your home.
Don't disturb snake habitats.
Rolling over rocks and sticking your hands in tree stumps, holes in
trees, and in brush piles is not advised. If you disturb a snake it will
feel threatened and might strike before you even realize it's there.
Look under your vehicles for snakes before entering. Wear long pants
or snake protectors when hiking or working on your yard.
When out in the Canyons make lots of noise and travel in groups to let wildlife
know of your presence. This will eliminate surprise encounters.
Look for signs of Bears.
There have been black bear sightings in all of
Morongo’s Canyons. Some signs are: Scat (poop) that
may have berries, heavy claw marks on trees, and
paw prints. There are only a few reasons bears
attack humans: to defend their young, to defend a
food source, or because they're surprised and scared.
There have been sightings of a Mountain Lion in Hathaway Canyon.
Turning and running can stimulate a mountain lion’s chase instinct. Instead, back up
slowly while speaking firmly and loudly and maintaining direct eye contact. Be aware of
what you can throw at the lion if it begins to act aggressively. In the unlikely event of an
actual attack, use whatever you can - fists, rocks, sticks, backpack—to fight off the
mountain lion.
It's best and safest to leave the animals unprovoked and their environment undisturbed. Our wildlife friends are
just happy to be left alone. If you see any of these wildlife animals in the Morongo Residential Community, please call
Morongo Patrol (951) 755-5302 or Gate Two (951) 634-4810 for assistance.
A Look at Google Earth
2
Integrated Pest Management: A Safer Method to Control Pest Problems in Your Home
3
Watch out for Bull Thistle!
4
Clean, Renewable Energy on Tribal Land
5
Environmental Outreach - Earth Day & Education at Morongo Schools
6
Seasonal Photo Contest
7
News Bits & Upcoming Events
8
Page 2 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
A Look at Google Earth Written by: James Payne, Environmental Director
Imagine if you had a machine that would enable you to fly, go back in history, and take you to the stars, the moon,
and even Mars. A device that would take you on tours, measure areas from afar, and provide information like a
gazetteer. Google Earth (Earth) can do all those things and more, well at least it can replicate some of those activities.
And unlike the current cost of a time machine, it’s totally free! Of course one of the best ways to learn something is to do
it hands-on, so instead of providing a tutorial for Earth, I encourage you to download the program to your computer
(https://www.google.com/earth/) and play around, but I’ll highlight some of the fundamentals and where to begin.
If you’re just starting out, the help resource (click the help button) takes you online and shows you how to learn the
basics, including navigating and controlling the view. You’ll discover how to search for an area, and once there, how to
zoom in/out, rotate the view, and change the perspective. Additional information is also provided for printing, emailing,
and saving.
You can mark point locations on the map to indicate a great
camping spot, a favorite getaway, or the location of anything
else. You are able to draw polygons on the map and then Earth
will calculate the amount of area there, which is great for
figuring out how much seed is needed for planting or the
acreage of property. Sketching lines on Earth is great for
showing and sharing a hiking or biking route with someone;
you can also use it to figure out the distance and one of my
favorites, figuring out the elevation profile.
Another favorite feature of many is the time
slider, showing imagery from various years (going
back to 1995 for the area around Morongo). Of
course you can use this to identify both manmade
and natural features that have changed, perhaps
as the result of a fire or from development.
Like any good map reading, make sure you
look at the legend and identify what layers are
available. These features can be clicked on and off
and show you very interesting and various
information, and give you the option to click and
learn more online. Such data and providers
includes earthquakes, National Geographic, NASA,
weather, hiking trails, and photos taken of or at
their location on the map.
If you’re already more familiar with Earth,
check out the features and tools that allow you to
explore the stars, Mars, and the moon. You can
also use the flight simulator to fly either a prop
plane or a fighter jet. Share your knowledge and
create a movie tour!
May 2014
June 1996
Notice the development of the Travel Center,
MCRS, roundabouts and more! What might this
look like in another 18 years?
Path/elevation profile
Integrated Pest Management: A Safer Method to Control Pest Problems in Your Home Written by: Dana Morey, Environmental Supervisor
Page 3 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
Spiders, ants, and cockroaches, oh my! We have all been bugged at one time or another by pests, and for many
of us, our initial reaction is to reach for the nearest can of bug spray. Insect sprays, baits, repellants, sanitizers, rodent
poisons, and weed killers are all pesticides. Pesticides are very effective at killing pests but they are poisons and are
also very harmful to people, animals, and the environment. Children are at an even greater risk of exposure to these
harmful poisons and can come into contact with them if pesticides are not stored or used properly at home and at
school.
Rather than rely upon pesticides to handle your pest problem, try a safer approach called Integrated Pest
Management (IPM). IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach that manages pests effectively while
minimizing risks to human health and the environment. IPM uses knowledge about a pest’s biology and habitats to
select the best combination of common-sense practices to control the pest. Pests are like us and seek habitats that
provide for their basic needs such as air, water, food, and shelter. Therefore, pest populations can be controlled by
creating inhospitable environments by removing the availability of these basic needs. If pesticides must be used, the
least toxic pesticide should be chosen.
Implementing Integrated Pest Management
1. Properly identify the pest. Before deciding on a course of action, identify the pest and
where it is coming from. Using IPM effectively requires understanding the pest’s basic
biology and habitats. IPM strategies for ants would be slightly different than that of rodents.
2. Take away food. Store food in hard plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Clean
up crumbs and spills and don’t walk around the house eating food. Use a trash can with a
tight fitting lid and take it out often. Put away pet food when your pet is not eating.
3. Take away water. Fix dripping faucets and pipes, keep surfaces clean and
dry, and do not let water accumulate anywhere in or around your home. For
example, do not leave any water in trays under your houseplants, make sure
appliances are not leaking, do not allow rain water to accumulate in buckets,
puddles, etc. for long periods of time, and remove or dry out water damaged
materials.
4. Take away their hiding places/ shelter/ entrances. Investigate how the
pest got inside and fill in any holes, cracks, and crevices. Get rid of clutter and
keep things tidy to minimize pest hiding places. Install screens on windows,
doors, and floor drains to discourage pests from entering your home. Place
weather stripping on doors and windows and caulk and seal openings in walls.
Outside, remove or destroy outside pest hiding places around your home such
as piles of wood or debris and keep vegetation at least 18 inches away from
your house.
5. Monitor the situation. Watch and see if the pest returns, if it does re-check
steps 2-4.
If you decide the best solution to your pest problem is using a pesticide, use
caution and choose the form of pesticide best suited to your target site and the
pest you want to control. Read the label and follow safety precautions to keep
yourself and your family safe!
For more information, visit
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/index.htm
Page 4 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
Watch Out for Bull Thistle! Written by: Kimberly Miller, Environmental Specialist
What is bull thistle?
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a plant native to Europe and Asia that has
been introduced throughout North America. The bright pink/purple flowers are
easily spotted in the canyons May through September. The flowers may appear
pretty, but the plant is protected by many long, sharp spines. Bull thistle can
grow up to 6 feet tall. It typically grows as a biennial, meaning it spends the first
year as a rosette and then begins to grow tall and produce flowers the second
year. Bull thistle is an invasive plant. “Invasive” is used to describe non-native
plants that do very well outside of cultivation, expand into natural areas, and
disrupt native plant communities.
Where do you find it and how does it get there?
Bull thistle can thrive in many different habitats, but they are most likely to pop up in
areas that have been disturbed from the natural condition. Bull thistle is commonly found
along roads, trails, and in areas that have been affected by erosion, traffic, grazing or
other activities.
Bull thistle is primarily dispersed by wind. The flowers dry out and produce fluffy seeds
that are easily blown to new areas. A heavy infestation can occur in an area through the
feeding habits of livestock and wildlife. The animals will continue to eat their normal food
in an area, but will avoid the bull thistle. This leaves a wide open area for the seeds to
fall and easily establish new plants. People can also play a part in the dispersal of seeds.
If a seed blows onto clothing or is caught in shoes or tire tread, the seed can hitch a ride
into a whole new area.
Why is bull thistle undesirable?
Bull thistle out-competes native plants by taking up space, nutrients and water. Having a large
amount of bull thistle in an area can prevent native plants from being able to get established or
maintain a viable population. This can affect both plants and animals that make up the natural
ecosystem of the area. Without native plants, wildlife in the area may have to feed on plants that aren’t
preferred or are less nutritious. They may also have to leave the area to find suitable food elsewhere. In
addition to being a problem for native plants and wildlife, bull thistle is not very good for humans
either. The sharp spines will poke through most types of material except for thick leather.
What can we do to control it?
The best way to control bull thistle is to minimize the amount of
natural area that is disturbed. This means limiting driving to
established roads or trails, leaving natural vegetation in place,
managing grazing, and reducing erosion. Once bull thistle becomes
established, the most eco-friendly and effective option for removal is
to physically remove the entire plant including the root. The
Environmental Protection Department has been working to
eradicate bull thistle from sensitive areas and occasionally along
roadsides.
For more information on bull thistle and other invasive plants,
visit the California Invasive Plant Council’s website at http://
www.cal-ipc.org/ip/index.php.
Bull thistle rosette
Bull thistle flower
Bull thistle over 5 feet tall
Page 5 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
Clean, Renewable Energy on Tribal Land Written by: Pamela Atcitty, Environmental Specialist
Tribal Lands’ Natural Resources
Today, there are over 500 Native Americans tribes living in the United States. We live in more than 40 states, on
and off reservation lands that range in size from only a few city blocks to millions of square miles of rural lands. And
although we are among the poorest in the United States, our lands are home to a wealth of natural resources: two-thirds
of the country’s uranium, one-third low-sulfur coal, oil and natural gas resources are all on Native American land.
These natural, fossil fuel resources, when extracted, processed or burned, cause damaging effects on our environment.
Most importantly, when we extract our fossil fuel resources, whether coal, oil or natural gas, the resources are limited
and they will eventually be depleted.
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy comes from any resource that is naturally regenerated over a
short time such as wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal potential. When a Tribe
develops clean, renewable sources of energy, no matter how long or how much
energy is produced, the resources will still be as plentiful as when they were first
harnessed. Renewable energies are almost pollution free. When developed properly,
there is minimal loss of air or water quality as a result of increasing the amount of
energy produced, compared to fossil fuels. In this respect, renewable energies are
compatible with many tribal beliefs, such as living in harmony with nature: no
mountains are torn apart to mine coal; no polluting gases are spewed into the
atmosphere; and no greenhouse gases are created to increase global warming. The
possibilities are endless with renewable energy; whether our goal is to provide heat
to a single home or add to the utility grid for profit.
Types of Renewable Energy
There are many different sources of renewable energy. The two types of renewables that have had
considerable success on Tribal lands, are wind and solar, which have been used with positive results for
several years. Other sources of renewable energy include biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal.
Wind power is the most common renewable form of energy on Native lands. It extracts from air flow
using wind turbines or sails to produce mechanical or electrical power. Wind power can be produced
by a single stand-alone turbine, a small-scale system that is connected to an existing power grid, or a
utility-scale wind farm comprised of hundreds to thousands of turbines.
Solar cells made from silicon absorb the sun’s radiation. Solar technologies can be scaled to provide
onsite energy for homes, buildings or large installations that provide energy for the utility grid.
Hydropower plants convert the energy of moving water to electricity. Large and small scale,
hydropower technologies can produce energy, water supply and control flooding.
Biomass can be converted to biofuels by fermentation from crops or left-over food products and used
as gasoline. Biofuels can transmit electricity across a large area for a single home or small
community.
Geothermal energy is heat from the earth that can be used to heat and cool homes or to run utility-
scale power plants.
Potential for Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands
While there are many renewable energy sources for Tribes to consider, each one come with some
trade-off or impact. However, when properly developed and implemented, Tribes have the ability to
enhance energy security, stabilize energy costs, strengthen tribal energy infrastructure and promote
tribal self-determination. As Native people, we may live in poverty or may be beneficiaries of newly
accumulated wealth and it would be a mistake to consider that all tribes and their needs are the same.
But with all our diversity, we cherish some common values: living as proud, sovereign people, honoring
and protecting the earth and the people on it and caring about future generations.
Page 6 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
The 2015 Earth Day Event had a wonderful turn out. The event focused on
environmental education for our community and hosted booths from local
organizations, crafts for kids and even some animal visitors. This event is
important because it helps educate our community members on the important
roles they play in protecting our environment. We covered topics including:
Water Conservation, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Recycling, Energy
Efficient Products, Use of Native Materials, Local Wildlife and much more.
Thank you to all departments and volunteers for helping make this community
event a success.
Earth Day 2015 Written by: Jessica Southard, Environmental Administrative Assistant
Environmental Education in Morongo Schools Written by: Jessica Southard, Environmental Administrative Assistant
Each year the Environmental Protection Department staff collaborate with the
Morongo Schools to incorporate Environmental Education into the curriculum for our
students. This helps the students learn about our Air, Water, Pollution Prevention, GIS/
Geography and our Local Wildlife. They worked on some amazing projects including: an
experiment in how plants can filter pollutants, utilizing recycled materials to create
works of art representing our local wildlife, creating jellyfish from plastic to learn about
the lifecycle of plastic and the role it plays in our environment, understanding the
Greenhouse Effect with glass jars and a lesson on how to read maps and legends. Thank
you to all students and staff who helped make it a successful education year.
Page 7 July 2015 - Volume 10, Issue 3
Spring Seasonal Photo Contest Winner Written by: Jessica Southard, Environmental Administrative Assistant
The Morongo Environmental Protection
Department would like to congratulate
Trisha Smith,
Morongo Social Services
for winning 1st place in the Spring
Seasonal Photo Contest with her photo
“Quail outside the Social Service office”
Trisha received a $50.00 gift card to
Bath & Body Works. Eight photos were
submitted. Photographers remained
anonymous and all employees who had
access to a computer were allowed to
vote for their favorite photo.
Submit your photos for a chance to win a gift card to a local retailer!
Submissions need to be original photographs taken between June 1 and August 31, 2015 within the Reservation or the
surrounding San Gorgonio Pass and can be anything related to the environment. Tribal members, descendants,
community members, and employees are all welcome to participate!
To submit your photo for the photo contest, upload your pictures at: www.morongonation.org/content/environmental-
seasonal-photo-contest Or email photos and a description to: [email protected]
If you need assistance uploading your photo or you have any questions about the photo contest, please contact the
Environmental Department at 951-755-5128.
Congratulations to
Tom Yang, Morongo IT
who submitted the
Runner-Up photo
“Spring Begin”.
Check out these amazing images from the Morongo Reservation and surrounding area.
Summer
Entries
are Due
September 1st
Environmental Protection Dept. 12700 Pumarra Road Banning, CA 92220 951-755-5128
News Bits & Upcoming Events with the Morongo Environmental Protection Department
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Upcoming Events
EPD High School Intern Presentations
Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 10:30 am & 1:30 pm
In Council Chambers
Our summer interns will be presenting on a topic they are
passionate about concerning Environmental Protection and how it
relates to Morongo.
Household Hazardous & Electronic Wastes Drop-Off Day
Saturday, August 22, 2015 from 9:00 am – Noon
Behind Public Works
Items accepted include household cleaners, pesticides, herbicides,
oils, automotive fluids, tires, paints, electronic devices, and sharps.
Backyard Composting Workshop in Banning
Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 10:00 am
Banning Senior Center – 769 North San Gorgonio Avenue
Attend a free “How-To” workshop on backyard composting and
learn how to turn your green waste into a green resource! The
workshop is presented by the Riverside County Waste Management
Department and is open to all Riverside County residents.