Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program Tribally-centered Fish Consumption Application

The State of California's Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program (Program) was established in 2006 with a mission to conduct comprehensive, statewide monitoring to assess whether fish and shellfish found in California's streams, lakes, and coastal areas are safe to eat. The Program is implemented by the State Water Resources Control Board's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP).

The Program, in partnership with the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the Project’s Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC), is developing an interactive and user-friendly application that includes and contextualizes bioaccumulation monitoring data, advisories, and guidance associated with fish consumption and human health. The application will be tailored to the needs of California Tribal users who consume fish for subsistence and/or cultural purposes.

The partnership between the Program and California Native American Tribes (Tribes) and Tribal Organizations to inform the development of the application will be critical to ensure the application and its features are tailored to broad and diverse Tribal audiences.

Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)

The purpose of this Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) is to help inform and co-create the application and related materials to ensure they are relevant to Tribal and subsistence consumers of fish and shellfish in California. TAC members will be asked to provide guidance related to application development decisions, features, and functionality as well as supporting the early review of the application when it is available.

TAC members include (listed alphabetically by Tribal Affiliation):

• Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians: Sarah Ryan (Environmental Director)
• Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria: Anira G'Acha (Environmental Director)
• California Indian Environmental Alliance: Sherri Norris (Executive Director)
• Cherokee: Gladys Bustos (Tribal member)
• Coastal Defenders: Coach Jackson (Founder, Nanticoke People)
• Enterprise Rancheria: Debie Rasmussen (Environmental Director)
• Eskuin Tribe: Jessica Lopez (Tribal Chair)
• Pinoleville Pomo Nation: Terri McCartney (Environmental Director)
• Quartz Valley Indian Reservation: Sarah Schaefer (Environmental Director)
• Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians: Luis Santana (Fish & Wildlife Director) & Gloria Mitchell (Tribal Elder)
• Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians: Zach Gigone (Environmental Scientist)
• Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation: Monica Hiner (Environmental Division Manager) & Brittney Ford (Tribal Resource Specialist)
• Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians: Daniela Mejia (Water Quality Technician)

Tribally-led Meetings

We welcome feedback from California Tribal Governments or Tribal Organizations who are not able to join the TAC. Program staff will be available to attend and/or present about the Application development and review efforts, and receive feedback at broader Tribally-led meetings, upon request.

If you are interested in joining the TAC or would like to engage in this process in a different way, please contact: anna.holder@waterboards.ca.gov (preferred) or 916-341-5096.

• Tribally-centered Fish Consumption Application Fact Sheet, Jun 2025
• Tribally-centered Fish Consumption Application Work Plan, Jun 2025