Forestry Experts Testify on Wildfire Prevention Methods
SACRAMENTO – Frustrated at the Newsom Administration’s refusal to participate in the Wildfire Prevention and Forest Resiliency hearing and the hearing’s indefinite postponement, the Assembly Republican Wildfire Working Group hosted an informational forum on the barriers, challenges and solutions to preventing catastrophic wildfires. The updated forum agenda is available online here.
 
“As wildfires rage across California, forestry experts provided critical information to prevent these disasters to legislators,” said Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County), Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. “I want to thank Assemblyman Gallagher for his leadership as we push for solutions to save lives and livelihoods.”
 
The fast burning Caldor Fire and the second largest Dixie Fire have ravaged Northern California communities, many represented by the attending lawmakers.  With over half a million acres burned, California is currently on track to be the most devastating wildfire season in recent history.
 
Healthy forestry experts traveled to the State Capitol to testify before lawmakers on best practices to prevent wildfires. Foresters spoke on opportunities to improve firefighting operations, wildland fire mitigation and recovery services and measure to prevent wildfires and improve forest health.
 
Led by Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), whose district includes the 2017 deadly Camp Fire in Paradise, lawmakers demanded more funding be dedicated to adopt the experts’ advice.
 
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff), Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals, CA), Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine), Assemblyman Megan Dahle (R-Madera), Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County), Assemblyman Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), Assemblyman Thurston “Smitty” Smith (R-Hesperia) and Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) participated.
 
Republican lawmakers asked for the following resources:
  $500 million to the California Climate Initiative to be split between Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants
• An exemption for all projects funded by the $500 million from CEQA
• Making SB 901 commitment a continuous appropriation through 2028-29
 

 
•
•
•

Starting from Sierra Valley to Portola to Chilcoot.............

This fire destroyed Greenville, burned parts of Almanor, Janesville, Indian Valley, Chester and Lassen Volcanic National Park and is now burning near Lake Davis headed back toward Dixie Valley and Frenchman which were just burned in the Beckwourth Complex. Winds have been fierce. The Caldor Fire burns in Tahoe...........Be safe! ​

August 31, 2021

Today, over 14,300 firefighters remain on the frontlines of 15 major wildfires and one extended attack wildfire burning across California. Yesterday, crews continued their progress towards containment. Yesterday 46 new initial attack wildfires were sparked and extinguished quickly. The Caldor Fire grew to be the 17th largest fire in California and the Monument Fire has become the 20th largest fire in California history.
As of January 1, wildfires have burned more than 1.8 million acres in California.
While firefighters continue their battle on the current major wildfires, CAL FIRE and fire departments across the State remain prepared for potential more significant wildfires due to critical fire weather.
Red Flag Warning is in effect through tonight from Modoc County, through the northern Sierra Nevada, past the Tahoe Basin and down to Mono County for gusty winds and low humidity. A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the Northern Sierra Nevada through Wednesday evening. These winds combined with extremely dry fuels and low humidity will lead to critical fire weather conditions. New or existing wildfires will have the potential for rapid spread and growth under these conditions.
An unusually dry airmass will remain in place across northern California through the weekend with some improvements in far western areas due to slightly deeper & more impactful marine layer along portions of the coast. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across Southern California through Wednesday. Humidity will continue to increase through Thursday, when a warming and drying trend will drop humidity in inland areas.
CAL FIRE is urging all Californians to ensure they are prepared for wildfires by creating a wildfire preparedness action plan. Download CAL FIRE’s web-based app to create your custom plan at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Airola Fire, Calaveras County (more info...) West of Columbia
*639 acres, 85% contained
*Evacuation warnings lifted
**Unified Command Fires**
Caldor Fire, El Dorado County (more info...)
South of Grizzly Flats – El Dorado National Forest
*191,607 acres, 16% contained
*17th largest fire in California history
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place, new evacuation orders issued *Over 35,000 structures threatened, 669 structures destroyed
*Damage inspection is ongoing
*Highway 50 closed from Sly Park to Meyers
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 6 and NIMO Team 2 in command
Chaparral Fire, Riverside & San Diego County (more info...) Southwest of Murrieta – Cleveland National Forest
*1,427 acres, 50% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings in place
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS *CA IMT 14 in Command
Dixie Fire, Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama & Shasta Counties (more info...) Feather River Canyon
*807,396 acres, 48% contained
*Nearly 11,500 structures threatened
*2nd Largest and 14th Most Destructive Wildfire in state history *Evacuation orders and warnings in place for multiple communities *Repopulation continues in some areas
*Damage assessment is ongoing
*Unified Command CAL FIRE, USFS, BLM, and National Park Service *CAL FIRE IMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 are in command
French Fire, Kern County (more info...)
West of Lake Isabella – Sequoia National Forest
*25,643 acres, 40% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*Unified Command CA Interagency IMT 12 and Kern County Fire *NIMO Team 1
Monument Fire, Trinity County (more info...) West of Big Bar – Shasta-Trinity National Forest *170,945 acres, 29% contained
*20th largest fire in California history
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place *Repopulation ongoing where safe to do so *Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 5 and Alaska IMT in command *CA IMT 1, Team 5 (Young) assigned
**Federal Incidents**
Antelope Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...) South of Tennant – Klamath National Forest *71,447 acres, 60% contained
Beckwourth Complex, Lassen/Plumas Counties (more info...) Northeast of Beckwourth – Plumas National Forest
*105,670 acres, 98% contained
Knob, Humboldt County (more info...)
2 Miles south of Willow Creek, Six Rivers National Forest
*1,000 acres, 0% contained
*CA IMT 1, Team 5 (Young) will assume command at 0700 today *Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
Lava Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Northeast of the community of Weed - Shasta-Trinity National Forest *26,409 acres, 90% contained
McCash Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Ten Bear Mtn McCash Creek - Six Rivers National Forest *36,461 acres, 1% contained
*Great Basin IMT 3 is in command
McFarland Fire, Shasta, Trinity & Tehama Counties (more info...) West of Platina – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
*122,653 acres, 95% contained
*CA IMT 11 in command
River Complex, Siskiyou & Trinity Counties (more info...) West of Callahan – Klamath National Forest
*106,132 acres, 23% contained
*Complex is comprised of 23 fires; 16 fires contained *Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*NIMO Team 3 and CA IMT 13 in command
South Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) North of Fontana – San Bernardino National Forest *819 acres, 65% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
Tamarack Fire, Alpine County (more info...)
South of Gardnerville – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Off Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest *61 acres, 50% contained
Roadside Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest
*50 acres, 60% contained
*68,637 acres, 82% contained
Walkers Fire, Tulare County (more info...) Northeast of Springville – Sequoia National Forest *8,108 acres, 52% contained
**Extended Attack Incidents**
Railroad Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...)
Washington Fire, Tuolumne County (more info...) West of Sonora
*100 acres, 75% contained
K-Rail, Humboldt County, (more info...) NEW *4 miles southeast of Hoopa
*30 acres, 35% contained
Forward spread has been stopped 

​

 
VALLEJO, Calif., — August 30, 2021. To better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forests in California. This closure will be in effect from Aug. 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. through September 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. This order does not affect the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is not in the Pacific Southwest Region.
 
“We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,” said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien. “It is especially hard with the approaching Labor Day weekend, when so many people enjoy our national forests.”
 
Factors that led to this decision include:
 
1.       By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on National Forest System lands during emergency circumstances.
 
2.      The closure order will also decrease the potential for new fire starts at a time of extremely limited firefighting resources, and enhance firefighter and community safety by limiting exposure that occurs in public evacuation situations, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact human health and strain hospital resources.
 
3.      Due to state-wide conditions, any new fire starts have the potential for large and rapid fire growth with a high risk to life and property. The Forest Service and our partners are absolutely doing all we can to fight these fires and will continue to do so, but the conditions dictate the need for this region-wide closure order.
 
4.      Forecasts show that conditions this season are trending the same or worse as we move into late summer and fall.
 
5.      Although the potential for large fires and risk to life and property is not new, what is different is that we are facing: (a) record level fuel and fire conditions; (b) fire behavior that is beyond the norm of our experience and models such as large, quick runs in the night; (c) significantly limited initial attack resources, suppression resources, and Incident Command Teams to combat new fire starts and new large fires; and (d) no predicted weather relief for an extended period of time into the late fall. 
 
The following persons are exempt from this Order:
 
1.       Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
 
2.      Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
 
3.      Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special use. 
 
4.      Commercial recreational special-use permit holders and their customers are not exempt from this Order.  However, commercial recreational special-use permit holders, under the terms and conditions of their permit, may access their permit areas to conduct administrative functions and to protect property and related assets. Recreation residence permit holders are not exempt from this Order.
 
5.      Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.
 
6.      Owners or lessees of land, and residents of such private landholdings, to the extent necessary to access their land.
 
7.       Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.
 
More than 6,800 wildfires have burned 1.7 million acres across all jurisdictions in California, and the National Wildfire Preparedness Level (PL) has been at PL5 since July 14, 2021, only the third time in the past 20 years that the nation has reached PL 5 by mid-July – indicating the highest level of wildland fire activity.
 
The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this extreme public safety and fire threat. Citizens with specific questions within their area should consult their local forest website or social media pages for more information.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.


 
 

​24 years since the first Downieville Antique Bottle Show was started in 1993.  The early show was a great success and set the tone for future shows.  Downieville offered something different from other antique bottle shows; the charm of the small historic town and the camaraderie of the bottle collecting community which both contributed to the draw of Downieville’s show.
Over the years, the show gained popularity and featured several significant first-time events in bottle collecting history.  The 1997 Downieville Western Whiskey Extravaganza was amazing.  Never before had such a collection of western bottles been featured in one exhibit.  Valued at over one million dollars, show attendees were treated to a once in a lifetime viewing of rare and sought-after antique bottles all in one place.  Another year, the show featured the most desirable Slug Plate and Picture whiskies and many scarce and exceptional examples of early glass.  These two events have shown that the Downieville show has attracted the attention of many high-end collectors.
The 2017 Downieville Show was bittersweet; being announced as the last show to be hosted in Downieville.  However, after several years of retirement and then the pandemic Corona Virus which shut down so many shows and social events across the country for over a year, it was decided to bring the Downieville Show back to life!  Downieville will host another top-notch antique bottle show on Saturday, September 18.  Dealers from many western states including, California, Nevada, Utah and Oregon will be selling at the show.  Items for sale will include antique bottles, insulators, gold rush items, advertising, saloon, mining and railroad items, as well as many other western related artifacts.  There will be something for almost every kind of collector and finding a special treasure at this one-day show is inevitable!
The show venue is the Downieville School gym located in the heart of Downieville. “Early Lookers” will be admitted for a $10 donation between 8am and 10am.  Admission will be FREE to all from 10am to 3pm.  Hope to see everyone at the Downieville Antique Bottles & Collectibles Show and Sale on September 18!

 
The Plumas-Sierra Cattle Women held a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at The Lost Marbles Ranch.  The fundraising event was held as a benefit for the Sierra Valley Grange as the CattleWomen’s commitment to their community.
 
Actors from Triple Threat Enterprises were the stars of the night. The Sierra County Arts Council helped support them by awarding the troupe a $500 sponsorship.  A big Thank-you to the troupe and to the Sierra County Arts Council!
 
The interactive Murder Mystery played out over 3 Acts while quests enjoyed a fantastic meal by Paul & Sheri Roen and their crew. Clues were purchased to help participants guess the “who and how done it,” with 3 winners sharing half the pot from the sale of the clues.  Fantastic awards were won by Gary Parque and Carrie Barney for best costumes thanks to generous donations from Les Schwab in Deleker and Crystal Munoz.  
 
As always, Dick and Chris Spencer of The Lost Marbles Ranch were exceptional hosts.  A big shout out to Lance of Plumas Sanitation for the rather nice bathrooms they provided.  We would like to thank everyone who helped bring this event together, and the community members who attended.  Your support of our efforts is deeply appreciated.
 

Today, nearly 16,000 firefighters remain on the frontlines of 15 major wildfires and two extended attack wildfires burning across California. Yesterday, crews continued their progress towards containment. Although 38 new initial attack wildfires were sparked yesterday, crews were able to contain most of them quickly though two, the Chaparral Fire and Roadside Fire, have grown to large wildfires.
Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned more than 1.7 million acres in California.
While firefighters continue their battle on the current major wildfires, CAL FIRE and fire departments across the State remain prepared for potential more significant wildfires due to critical fire weather.
A Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather has been issued for Modoc County this afternoon through this evening, and then again Monday for gusty winds and low humidity. Monday’s Red Flag will extend beyond Modoc County down the northern Sierra Nevada just past the Tahoe Basin, and will likely last through Tuesday evening
An excessive heat warning is in effect from 10 am – 8 pm today for the southwestern part of the state. Hot and dry conditions will cause the potential for large fire to remain elevated across the region through this weekend. Across the state, there is a heightened risk for new lightning starts beginning today through Wednesday, especially with thunderstorms that may form over areas that continue to support critically dry fuels.
With the current Red Flag Warning and extreme heat, CAL FIRE urges you to use extreme caution if you have outdoor plans. A wildfire sparked under these conditions can spread rapidly, threatening lives and homes. To learn ways to prevent a wildfire, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Fires of Interest:
**CAL FIRE Incidents**
Airola Fire, Calaveras County (more info...)
West of Columbia
*639 acres, 65% contained
*Change in acreage due to more accurate mapping *Evacuation warnings lifted
**Unified Command Fires**
Dixie Fire, Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama & Shasta Counties (more info...) Feather River Canyon
*764,135 acres, 48% contained
*Nearly 12,000 structures threatened
*2nd Largest and 14th Most Destructive Wildfire in state history *Evacuation orders and warnings in place for multiple communities *Repopulation continues in some areas
*Damage assessment is ongoing
*Unified Command CAL FIRE, USFS, BLM, and National Park Service *CAL FIRE IMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 are in command
Caldor Fire, El Dorado County (more info...)
South of Grizzly Flats – El Dorado National Forest
*156,515 acres, 19% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place, new evacuation orders issued *More than 18,000 structures threatened, 652 structures destroyed
*Damage inspection is ongoing
*Highway 50 closed from Sly Park to the junction of Highway 50 and 89
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 6 and NIMO Team 2 in command
French Fire, Kern County (more info...)
West of Lake Isabella – Sequoia National Forest
*24,815 acres, 22% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*Unified Command CA Interagency IMT 12 and Kern County Fire
Monument Fire, Trinity County (more info...) West of Big Bar – Shasta-Trinity National Forest *163,155 acres, 23% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place *Repopulation ongoing where safe to do so *Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS
*CAL FIRE IMT 5 and Alaska IMT in command
Chaparral Fire, Riverside & San Diego County (more info...) - NEW Southwest of Murrieta – Cleveland National Forest
*1,425 acres, 10% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings in place
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and USFS *CA IMT 14 is mobilizing
**Federal Incidents**
McFarland Fire, Shasta, Trinity & Tehama Counties (more info...) West of Platina – Shasta-Trinity National Forest
*122,653 acres, 93% contained
*CAL FIRE is no longer in unified command, but continues to assist *CA IMT 11 in command
South Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...)
North of Fontana – San Bernardino National Forest
*819 acres, 30% contained
*Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*CAL FIRE is no longer in unified command, but continues to assist
Antelope Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...) South of Tennant – Klamath National Forest *71,408 acres, 50% contained
River Complex, Siskiyou & Trinity Counties (more info...) West of Callahan – Klamath National Forest
*96,525 acres, 23% contained
*Complex is comprised of 23 fires; 16 fires contained *Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place
*NIMO Team 3 and CA IMT 13 in command
McCash Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Ten Bear Mtn McCash Creek - Six Rivers National Forest *30,012 acres, 1% contained
Lava Fire, Siskiyou County (more info...)
Northeast of the community of Weed - Shasta-Trinity National Forest *26,409 acres, 90% contained
Beckwourth Complex, Lassen/Plumas Counties (more info...) Northeast of Beckwourth – Plumas National Forest
*105,670 acres, 98% contained
Tamarack Fire, Alpine County (more info...)
South of Gardnerville – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest *68,637 acres, 82% contained
Cajon Pass – San Bernardino National Forest
*50 acres, 30% contained
*Unified Command CAL FIRE, USFS and San Bernardino County Fire
*Great Basin IMT 3 is in command
Walkers Fire, Tulare County (more info...) Northeast of Springville – Sequoia National Forest *6,643 acres, 45% contained
**Extended Attack Incidents**
Roadside Fire, San Bernardino County (more info...) - NEW
Washington Fire, Tuolumne County (more info...) West of Sonora
*100 acres, 50% contained
*Evacuation orders remain in place
*Unified Command CAL FIRE and City of Sonora
Westward Fire, Riverside County (more info...) - FINAL W. Westward Ave area, Banning – CAL FIRE
*160 acres, 100% contained
Bennett Fire, Nevada County (more info...) - FINAL
East Bennett Road, Grass Valley *59 acres, 100 % contained 

​

QUINCY, Calif. – August 26, 2021 – Several National Forest campgrounds will continue to be available for Dixie Fire evacuees while the Regional Forest Closure Order No. 21-04 is in effect. These campgrounds are located in close proximity to Quincy in the areas of Meadow Valley and La Porte Road. The campgrounds are free of charge but have limited services available at this time.

Open campgrounds include Meadow Camp, Rock Creek, and Deanes Valley Campgrounds in the Meadow Valley area, in addition to Red Bridge Campground off La Porte Road.
Limited services are available at these open campgrounds – there is no water and no wood campfires are allowed. Evacuees should bring a self-contained, portable heat source to cook meals, such as a propane camp stove or barbecue. The Forest Service is working on bringing additional services to some of these campgrounds such as trash bins.
Evacuees will need to obtain a 7700-48 permit to stay in one of the campgrounds listed above. A Forest Service representative can provide evacuees with the form when they are servicing campgrounds.
More information on the Regional Forest Closure Order No. 21-04 can be found on the Plumas National Forest website Plumas National Forest - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov).
Contact the Plumas National Forest Supervisors Office at (530) 283-2050 or the Mt. Hough Ranger District at (530) 283-0555 for more information.
### 

​

Almost 1,000 Californians died in 2019 due to drunk driving
 
WHAT:            With our nation celebrating the upcoming Labor Day holiday, MADD California along with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in reminding everyone about the dangers of drinking and driving. Over Labor Day weekend, MADD staff and volunteers will join local law enforcement to spread the word about impaired driving dangers and work together to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives. The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from August 18 through September 6, 2021. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased law enforcement officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways. Funding for this DUI enforcement was provided by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
In conjunction with the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, MADD California will be participating in Saturation Saturday on August 28, 2021. Victim volunteers of impaired driving crashes will join law enforcement agencies throughout California to share their stories to assist in removing drunk and drugged drivers off our roadways.    
 
“MADD urges the community to help make the roads safer than ever this Labor Day holiday.” said Patricia Rillera, State Executive Director, MADD California. “We hope residents will help spread the message of planning ahead by designating a non-drinking driver if celebrations include alcohol.”
 
During the 2019 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. August 30 – 5:59 a.m. September 3), there were 451 crash fatalities nationwide. Forty-five percent of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking (.01+ BAC). More than one-third (38%) of the fatalities involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ BAC), and nearly one-fourth (24%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2019, 46% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
 
The timing of the campaign is significant because on Saturday, August 7 at 11:30 a.m. a suspected DUI driver was arrested after an alleged road-rage incident led to a multivehicle crash killing a pregnant woman along with her unborn child and injuring a 10-year-old boy in the city of Long Beach.  As a result of this crash, the need is heightened for MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving program and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to address the ripple effects of driving impaired.

 
 
REDDING – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2), in conjunction with Hat Creek Construction & Materials, Inc., has begun emergency work on State Route 284 (Frenchman Lake Road) near Chilcoot-Vinton following the Beckwourth Complex. Hazard trees are being removed, along with sign replacement and pavement work.
 
State Route 284 is currently under one-way traffic control from approximately 4 miles north of the junction with State Route 70 to the end of the route near Frenchman Lake, Mondays – Fridays during daytime hours, with up to one-hour delays depending on operations. Outside of area residents, public travel is discouraged in the area during emergency operations. The emergency work is currently anticipated to be completed by early October.
 
Construction projects are subject to changes without prior notice.  Caltrans and its contractors do our best to keep the public informed.  To stay up to date on highway projects, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Project information can also be found on the District 2 webpage. The public can also call (530) 225-3426 during working hours or send an email to D2PIO@dot.ca.gov. Updated highway conditions for California can be found on QuickMap and on One-Stop-Shop for the Western U.S.  ​

Scott Rodd
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 | Sacramento, CA
California lawmakers indefinitely postponed a planned oversight hearing last week that was intended to examine Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration’s track record on wildfire prevention, as the state continues to burn.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers called for the hearing after an investigation from CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom revealed the Newsom administration had nixed a planned $500 million increase in wildfire prevention funding and overstated — by 690% — the number of acres treated through his “priority” wildfire prevention projects. …
The decision to put off the oversight hearing comes as internal emails obtained through a public records request show Newsom’s handpicked Cal Fire director Thom Porter ordered the removal of a key document from the department’s website on the same day that CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom published its investigation. The document — a “fact sheet” describing Newsom’s priority projects — stated the fire prevention effort would complete work on 90,000 acres of forestland. In reality, Cal Fire completed less than 12,000 acres…
Transparency advocate Aaron Mackey, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said he was troubled by the document’s removal and said the action underscored the need for the state Legislature to exercise its oversight function.
“Delaying this hearing [shows] that transparency and accountability to the general public is sometimes seen as an afterthought,” he said. Those values, he added, should be viewed as “core to the agency's mission,” along with wildfire prevention and suppression…
Republican lawmakers decried the hearing’s cancellation and said the rapid spread of wildfires across California made it more necessary than ever.
“Why would the Newsom Administration or the Governor himself not want to participate in an open and public discussion on the current status of wildfire prevention operations?” Assemblyman Vince Fong, the Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee, said in a press release. ”The public demands answers to countless questions.”
In a subsequent text sent to CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom, Fong called Cal Fire’s removal of the fact sheet “extremely troubling” and lamented that the Legislature’s oversight function has “completely stalled.”…
Lawmakers have not set a new date for the oversight hearing.
To read and hear this story in its entirety, please click here.
# # #
Assemblyman Vince Fong represents the 34thAssembly District, encompassing most of Kern County including the communities of Bakersfield, Bear Valley Springs, China Lake, Frazier Park, Golden Hills, Inyokern, Lebec, Oildale, Ridgecrest, T
​

SAN FRANCISCO —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Sixteen to One Mine, one of California’s oldest operational gold mines, has agreed to an Administrative Order on Consent requiring the mine to install a new treatment system that will remove pollutants from mine drainage before entering local waters. The mine was found to be in violation of its permit under the U.S. Clean Water Act after consistently discharging mine-influenced water that exceeded limits on pollutants. The Sixteen to One Mine, located in the Tahoe National Forest, discharges into Kanaka Creek, a tributary of the Yuba, Feather, and Sacramento Rivers.
“Under the Clean Water Act, industrial wastewater must be treated before it can be discharged,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Amy Miller. “These upgrades will be critical to protecting public health and water quality in Sierra County.”
The agreement announced today addresses elevated pollutant levels by requiring the mine to install a system to treat total suspended solids, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and pH to levels at or below permit limits. The Sixteen to One Mine has agreed to submit sampling and treatment plans, install an approved water treatment technology, repair stormwater management features in disrepair, update its stormwater management plan, and apply for coverage under the California Statewide Industrial General Permit.
The Sixteen to One Mine has 220 days to complete this work. The facility will report sampling results to EPA for three years to demonstrate the treatment system’s effectiveness, ensure compliance with the permit, and protect the water quality of Kanaka Creek.

We get great stuff here at the Booster! In the mail this week was the well-loved recipe book from 1976 published by the Sierra Valley Hospital Auxiliary with favored recipes of locals. How many can remember having the hospital and/or the auxiliary.  The Auxiliary also baked dozens of homemade pies for the Rotary 4th of July picnic and it was a sell-out!
The book came from Mazie Carnell, formerly of Sierraville and now of Reno, NV. I have the same book but mine isn't nearly as well-loved. 
​Mazie writes, "I miss the Valley so very much - and the friends."

 
(Chico, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced the closure to the public of nine National Forests.  Last year the Forest Service closed all of the forests in California to the public for the first time in history.  This new forest closure means that the public will be excluded from public lands throughout Northern California. 
 
Rep. LaMalfa said, “These lands are owned by the people for the use of the people.  The idea that because the Forest Service has done a terrible job managing their lands and thinning the forest, they can exclude the public is offensive to anyone with basic common sense. They made a problem and now the public will pay the price. We all know there is a drought and catastrophic fires burning. Setting a policy that forbids the use of camp fires would be logical.  However, locking up all of our federal lands is an abuse that should not be tolerated.  This is the exact policy I warned the Forest Service against last year and it should not be repeated.”
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

​

 
VALLEJO, Calif., — August 19, 2021. To better provide public and firefighter safety due to extreme fire conditions throughout northern California, and strained firefighting resources throughout the country, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of nine National Forests. This closure will be effective at August 22, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. through September 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
 
“Fires are running very quickly due to the drought conditions, dry fuels, and winds. This makes initial attack and containment very difficult and is even more challenging with strained resources who are battling more than 100 large fires across the country,” said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien. “We do not take this decision lightly and understand how this impacts people who enjoy recreating on the National Forests. These temporary closures are necessary to ensure public and firefighter safety, as well as reduce the potential for new fire starts. I want to thank the public for your patience during this challenging situation.”
 
The closure order can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xF7EM. Affected forests include:
 
 

• Modoc National Forest

• Klamath National Forest

• Plumas National Forest

• Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

• Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• Lassen National Forest

• Six Rivers National Forest

• Mendocino National Forest

• Tahoe National Forest

 
 

The following persons are exempt from th

 
 
Aerial, Vehicle and On-The-Ground Inspections, Patrols and Restoration Work Has Begun for Affected Areas Where It Is Safe to Do So
 
PG&E’s 34 Community Resource Centers in 15 Counties Remain Open to Support Customers
 
PG&E Meteorologists Tracked Sustained Winds of 46 mph and Gusts Up to 59 mph in Some Areas
 
 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) crews are patrolling lines de-energized during Tuesday’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), after company meteorologists began issuing the weather “all-clear” this morning for portions of affected areas impacted by safety shutoffs.
 
Restorations have begun where possible.
 
As it becomes safe to do so, PG&E crews will patrol more than 3,289 miles of transmission and distribution lines to ensure that no damage or hazards exist before those lines are re-energized and those customers restored. Efforts related to this PSPS event will include up to 1,302 ground patrol units and 33 helicopters.
 
The PSPS event, which began Tuesday evening (Aug. 17), affected about 48,000 customers in targeted parts of 13 counties that experienced high, sustained offshore winds amid extreme to exceptional drought conditions. The following 5 counties were removed from the scope prior to de-energization and were not impacted due to changing weather conditions:

• Alameda
• Contra Costa
• Sierra
• Trinity
• Yuba

 
PSPS Restoration
 
PG&E has begun restoring power to customers in areas where it is safe to do so and expects to restore power to remaining customers affected by this PSPS event Thursday afternoon.
 
Restoration may be delayed for some customers if crews must repair significant damage to individual lines from wind-blown branches and other debris.
 
Restoration steps include:
 

• Inspect – Our crews will work to visually inspect for potential weather-related damage to the lines, poles and towers. This is done by foot, vehicle and air.
• Repair – Where equipment damage is found, PG&E crews work to isolate the damaged area from the rest of the system so other parts of the system can be restored.
• Restore – Once the poles, towers and lines are safe to energize, PG&E’s Control Center can complete the process and restore power to affected areas.
• Notify Customers – Customers are notified that power has been restored.

 
For more information on the PSPS event, visit www.pge.com/pspsupdates.
 
Extreme Winds Recorded Across Service Area
Wind gusts in PSPS de-energized areas with some of the largest customer impacts were observed as follows:
 

• Butte: 56 mph
• Shasta: 48 mph
• Tehama: 55 mph

 
Customer Support
 
As of this morning, PG&E has opened 34 Community Resource Centers (CRCs) in 15 counties to support customers affected by this event. View the most current list of CRCs at www.pge.com/pspsupdates. CRCs opened Tuesday at 5 p.m. and closed at 10 p.m. then reopened at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. for the remainder of the shutoff.
 
During a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), we open CRCs where community members can access resources, including:
 

• A safe location to meet their basic power needs, such as charging medical equipment and electronic devices.
• Up-to-date information about the PSPS.
• Water, snacks and other essential items to reduce hardships to our customers.

 
To keep our customers and communities safe, all resource centers reflect appropriate COVID-19 health considerations and federal, state and county guidelines.
 
We are offering 15 outdoor sites to supplement the 19 indoor CRCs and provide more options for customers.
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
 
 

 

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Board of Directors of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) have authorized formation of the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA), a joint powers authority, to advance rural broadband development. GSCA will be governed by elected Supervisors from rural counties that choose to join. The objective of GSCA is to increase access to reliable, affordable high-speed broadband for all rural Californians.   
 
Access to broadband is an increasingly essential resource for educational opportunity, health care access, economic growth, and civic engagement. Despite the importance of broadband, access remains uneven throughout the state. A 2020 report by the California Public Utilities Commission found 51.3% of rural households did not have access to high-speed broadband, defined as download speeds of 100 Mbps.
 
Over the last five years RCRC, a thirty-seven-member county service organization, has increased its advocacy efforts in promoting policies that close the digital divide and bring reliable, high-speed broadband access to rural areas of the state. In July 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 156, establishing a landmark $6 billion investment in broadband infrastructure, representing a significant step in bridging the digital divide. The enactment of Senate Bill 156 has introduced new opportunities to expand RCRC’s efforts significantly, including explicit authority for county entities to operate broadband systems, the creation of a state-owned, open-access middle mile network, and establishment of innovative programs to fund broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of the state.
 
To best take advantage of these opportunities, RCRC has initiated the formation of GSCA to leverage collective efforts on behalf of rural counties in the provision of technical assistance and the establishment of broadband infrastructure in under connected areas. GSCA will assist rural counties in identifying pathways for development of broadband infrastructure within their communities, including the construction of municipal owned and/or operated broadband systems, among other options. Specifically, it is intended that GSCA will pursue initiatives to:

• Expand broadband in rural counties through the pursuit of technical assistance and funding for member counties; and,
• Install and operate open-access, municipal broadband infrastructure, starting with select initial locations and then expanding to additional project areas.

“Thanks to Senate Bill 156, local governments now have the funding and power to advance broadband development throughout California,” said Mono County Supervisor and RCRC Board Chair Stacy Corless. “Golden State Connect Authority seeks to leverage the opportunities provided by the legislation. Through this new entity, we can collectively pursue resources and target efforts to close the digital divide in rural counties, thereby enhancing economic development and the quality of life in underserved communities.”
 
All RCRC member counties are eligible to join GSCA through the approval of their county Board of Supervisors and have been notified directly by RCRC regarding the opportunity. GSCA will be governed by an elected Supervisor from each member county, and day-to-day operations will be managed by RCRC staff. Additional informational regarding GSCA is available at www.goldenstateconnect.org and will continue to be updated as efforts advance.

 

ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-seven member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
###
 

RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA
1215 K STREET, SUITE 1650 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 PHONE: 916-447-4806 FAX: 916-448-3154 WEB: WWW.RCRCNET.ORG