Title

A model for Using GIS to Evaluate and Visualize the Potential Impact of Pesticides and other hazardous materials on California Native American Basketweavers gathering plant materials near Putah Creek in Yolo County, California

Author Information

Debra Taylor

American River College, Geography 350: Data Acquisition in GIS; Fall 2012

Abstract:

Because of the way plant materials are processed by California Native American Basketweavers, they are exquisitely susceptible to being exposed to residues from pesticide and other potentially harmful chemicals in the soil, air and water. This paper outlines a methodology for visualizing areas of potential high chemical impact, so that they can be avoided and thus minimize potential exposure to those chemicals.

Introduction

Basketweaving, traditionally, has been a functional art form in almost every culture around the world at some point in its history and is still practiced in many cultures. This unique experiment called the United States of America has brought forth the concept of the ‘melting pot’ of diverse cultures and people being transformed into a ‘uniform’ American identity by a dominant European derived cultural viewpoint. But in reaction to that forced ‘identity crisis’ many groups fight to retain their own unique cultural traditions, religions and world views. Among the indigenous traditions that are re-claimed is that of basketweaving among Northern California Indians such as the Hoopa and others. (CIBA, 2012) Baskets are made according to the final use or function desired and differ structurally appropriate for the end use– whether to carry water or some solid substance. Among Native American in California (and elsewhere) basketweaving has cultural significance beyond beauty or functionality – and in many cases may have a religious/spiritual context as well

Baskets could be both functional and ceremonial

My interests in weaving as a functional art form combined with my experiences working as a Veterinarian on the Navajo Reservation (Arizona), serving as Coordinator/Faculty of the US Dept of Ed. Minority Science Improvement Program (MSIP) at DQ University (California), in addition to my professional experience as Toxicologist and Risk Assessor converge and, I believe, give me a unique perspective on the issue of the potential impact of chemical exposure to plants used by basketweavers in Northern California, particularly pesticides. In this paper, I will focus particularly on areas where native plants are growing along Putah Creek in Yolo County as a small ‘test’ area and look at various known hazardous chemical in the area - including pesticide application the locations of superfund sites and other potentially hazardous impact on plants through groundwater or air borne deposition .

Much of the attention typically given to the issue of pesticide application to plants, has focused on direct application to food crops that would be consumed by people. However, according to a report from the Department of Pesticide Regulation, "pesticide drift, which is the off-target movement of pesticides is recognized as a major cause of pesticide exposure affecting people as well as wildlife and the environment" and drift from agricultural application comprises about 71% of pesticide exposure incidents in the United States. (Association of American Pesticide Control Officials, 2005). Drift can be characterized as "1) spray, mist, fumes or odor during application 2) volatilization, odor from a previously treated field, or migration of contaminated dust; and 3) residue left by offsite movement." (Lee, Mehler, et al, 2011).

A view along Putah Creek

While external residues (on vegetation) are the primary focus, some plants can uptake chemicals through their roots (from water in the soil) and leaves and incorporate them within their cells, thus, being available for consumption even without apparent surface residue. [This characteristic is very pronounced in some plants and is even being explored and exploited in hazardous waste remediation or clean-up of a limited number of hazardous chemicals found in soils through processes designated as ‘phyto-remediation.' [The additional problem of how to eventually dispose of the plants becomes another issue to be resolved. However, we will save this topic to be dealt with in at another time- so let me not digress].

If you were not familiar with how some Native Californians process plant material for baskets, it would appear to be nonsensical to worry about the weaver being exposed to chemicals that may be applied to crops - such pesticides, herbicides or even nutrients. However, a closer look at the way in which the plant material is processed traditionally by the basketweavers, explains why basketweavers are concerned about potential exposure to chemical that may pose health concerns (may be harmful to their health). More about that later.

There are many plants used for basket weaving found all around the world. Palm fronds are very popular for baskets in tropical areas of the world. Some species of palm trees can be found growing very successfully in Northern California as this lush growth in downtown Winters shows.

Palm tree in downtown Winters, CA

Traditionally, each region tended to use material found in the immediate vicinity, but nowadays weavers may forage far afield to find plants for particular special qualities to enhance their baskets – color or texture, for example. In northern California some of the typical plants used are redbud, willow, native grasses, cattails, and yucca.

Redbud leaves

Redbud pods in winter

Yucca plant along Putah Creek in Winters

An organization called CIBA (California Indian Basketweavers Association) has been instrumental in raising awareness of the potential for basketweavers to be exposed to pesticides and other chemicals applied to plants. Even though the plants used for basket weaving are not food crops, there are numerous ways in which they can be impacted by pesticides, herbicides, crop nutrients (use of sewage sludge) and other hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals, solvents, petroleum products, etc from nearby hazardous waste sites, and groundwater contamination. Basketweavers have very intimate contact with the plant material during processing to extract fibers not only with their hands, but also with their mouths and teeth. Chemicals that may not pass the skin barrier, may pass the oral mucous membranes or be swallowed. Dusts and vapors from airborne contaminants may be inhaled into the lungs and also swallowed. Thus the weavers are much more likely to be exposed to larger amounts of chemicals, when they are exposed, than other populations living in similar areas. Because California is the fruit and vegetable basket of the United States, if not the world, and agri-business tends to run toward large farms, there is high use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and nutrients for crops. Additionally, despite controls at the borders and airports to prevent the influx of parasites that target our crops, from time to time various insects and diseases have become a problem and resulted in widespread spraying of crops as well as forests/woodlands (for example, medfly and bark beetle). Another condition unique to California that I believe has deeper implications for Basketweavers is the fact that due to the structure of reservations and rancherias, most Basketweavers are forced to collect basket weaving raw materials on public lands. The real implication of this lies in the fact that unlike the large reservations, the Native populations have no control over decisions made concerning application of pesticide or herbicides. That is beginning to change as Native people have had negotiations with governmental (Federal) organizations to cease spraying in collection areas. For federal lands, there is a mandate to reduce application of chemicals as much as possible and to use native plant species. ( For county and locally held public lands, the Tribes must negotiate directly with the local governments.

Methods

Using a handheld gps unit (Garmin Etrex®), I collected 4 waypoints along Putah Creek between Lake Solano and UC Davis Arboretum. I also searched the Environmental health Investigative Branch and Department of Pesticide Regulation databases and mapping service to determine levels of pesticide application in Yolo County along Putah Creek's route as it meandered across the county and marked areas near some of the waypoints that I collected. I used the CHAPIS mapping tool on the Air Board's website to look at air monitoring data and the DTSC SPGIT program to look at other chemicals of potential concern in the area.

Waypoints along Putah Creek in Yolo County:

Waypoint /UTM	10	S	Easting	Northing
Solano Lake (A01)	10	S	0589354	4263610
Narrow Bridge (A02) (Winters)	10	S	0584743	4260947
Stephens Bridge (A03)	10	S	0589962	4264098
Shields Grove (A04)	10	S	0600270	4265938

Results

Average Emissions for Yolo County in 2010.

Other Chemicals of Potential Concern in areas near Putah Creek

Analysis

From the data and maps, we can see that there are areas around Putah Creek that could potential pose concern for exposure to pesticides and or other toxic chemicals by Basketweavers collecting plant material in this area. Some areas are more impacted than others, and this is clear from the maps. It would be useful to examine current data from all these regulatory agencies prior to collecting so that impacted areas may be avoided in the collection

Conclusion

GIS is an extremely useful tool to aid California Basketweavers in choosing safe areas to collect the plant materials that they use in processing and weaving their beautiful baskets. This would allow them to collect materials and process them using traditional methods safely, with peace of mind.

For future research and practical application, it would be really wonderful if an app were developed that would access the latest environmental data based on current spatial coordinates of the user. It would be a 'real time' on the spot resource for choosing - in the field- safe areas for collection.

Other Resources

CA Native Grasslands Association

http://cnga.org/home

Tribal Pesticide Program Council

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/tribes/tppc.htm

References

Air Resources Board

http://www.arb.ca.gov/app/emsinv/emseic1_query.php

Association of American Pesticide Control Officials. 2005. Pesticide drift enforcement survey report. Available at: http://www.aapco.org/documents/surveys/DriftEnforce05Rpt.html

California Department of Public Health (Environmental Health Investigation Branch)

http://www.ehib.org/page.jsp?page_key=135

California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA). 2012. http://www.ciba.org/index.php

Dept Pesticide Regulation

http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/envjust/documents/basketweaver.pdf

Department of Toxic Substances Control

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov

USEPA. Memorandum on environmentally beneficial landscaping. April 26, 1994. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ecopage/landscape/seeds/memo.html

Lee, S-J, Mehler, L., et al. 2011Acute Pesticide Illnesses Associated with Off-Target pesticide drift from agricultural applications - 11 states, 1998-2006. Environmental Health Perspectives online. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1002843 (http://dx.doi.org). Online 6 June 2011.