CIEA works with in partnership with Tribes and Communities on a project by project basis. We do not have a membership structure this enables us to ensure that we do not speak on behalf of Tribes and Communities we serve and advocate that each entity speaks on their own behalf. CIEA provides resources and capacity-building through trainings and linking Tribes and Communities to technical assistance so that they can advocate on their own behalf, advance their own communities, support healthy lands and waterways, and empower the future generations to be environmental stewards. 

Our current programs increase Tribal and Community participation in designating water bodies with Tribal Beneficial Uses, collaborating for salmon recovery, coordinating climate resiliency, and collaborative planning and work force development.

CIEA provides technical support for California Tribes and Californian Communities to address environmental issues with a focus on water quality and landscape health, collaboration among Tribes and Communities with agencies and supports Tribal and community-driven strategy development. At events and planning meetings, Tribal and Community partners share best practices, resource opportunities and engage collaboratively with each other and with local, state, and federal government agencies.

Tribal Beneficial Uses

CIEA supports Northern California Tribes and Californian communities to work with their Regional Water Quality Control Board to include Tribal Beneficial Uses (TBUs) definitions into regional Basin Plan Amendments, the Bay-Delta Plan, and the Pacific Ocean Plan Update. These two definitions include “Tribal Subsistence Fishing” and “Tribal Cultural Uses.”

Integration of the two new Beneficial Uses, has been determined as a priority by each Regional Water Board for all four plans, however each is at a different phase of the process Information on the status of TBUs from each Regional Board

CIEA facilitates the Tribal Beneficial Uses Strategic Planning Caucus meeting, which offers a space for Tribes and Communities-at-large throughout the state to discuss best practices and support each other in planning and establishingTBUs in their region.

Bioaccumulation Monitoring

The State Water Resources Control Board and CIEA collaborated with Big Valley Rancheria to co-host the Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program Training Series  to support Tribes and Californian communities develop programs in the areas of bioaccumulation monitoring, data analysis, and data use processes, and enable Tribes and other bioaccumulation monitoring groups to adopt those processes into their workflows and more easily partner with their regional Boards the Bioaccumulation Program and the Safe to Eat Workgroup.

North Coast Emergency Response and Forest Resiliency

CIEA is the Tribal engagement director of the North Coast Resource Partnership and works with the Salmon Restoration Federation. For both organizations CIEA provides coordination, trainings and capacity support in order for Tribes to develop staff who are able to complete Emergency Response planning and develop actionable workplans.

Newsletter

CIEA distributes a monthly newsletter, CIEA Environmental Chronicles, which provides monthly announcements about upcoming training, capacity building, and funding opportunities, as well as water and environmental related news. Readers are more than welcome to send information about upcoming events, training, or news to be shared to info@cieaweb.org with newsletter in the Subject line.