FREE HAND CONFERENCE IN COLUSA - 9th Grade FFA AG DEPARTMENT - Ag Bio chickens finally laying! 21 Loyalton FFA students competed at Shasta College Field day on October 12th. Our horse judging team got first with Brock Griffin 1st high placing, Hunter Graves 2nd, Logan anseth 3rd and Zaya Ceresola. Our small engines team placing second with Bret Colberg 2nd high placing, Micah Edwards 3rd and Louis Siqueido on the team. Loyalton also took a vet science team 5th, advanced 7th and novice 12th livestock judging and a floral team 8th!
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SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle (Bieber) announced that his bill to expand high-speed internet access in rural California was signed into law. Assembly Bill 1665 will strengthen the California Advanced Services Fund, which supports modern communications infrastructure in underserved areas. “For too long, rural Californians haven’t had the same internet options the rest of the state enjoys,” said Dahle. “This bill will help close that gap and connect more people to the internet’s healthcare, education, and employment resources.” AB 1665 sets a goal of providing broadband access to 98 percent of California households. To reach that goal, the California Public Utilities Commission will work with internet providers and communities to fund cost-effective projects to expand high-speed internet options. Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle serves the 1st district. SIERRAVILLE – Caltrans is alerting motorists traveling on Highway 49 between Downieville and Sierraville that the highway will be closed from 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 24 to 6 a.m. the following morning, Wednesday, October 25 and again 6 p.m. Thursday, October 26 to 6 a.m. the following morning Friday, October 27 at the Vista Point located approximately 2.25 miles southwest of the Highway 89/49 junction. Caltrans is constructing a new 3-span bridge in a mountainous area where winter storms in February resulted in severe erosion, causing a large portion of the roadway to fail. In order to set in place the bridge girders that will support the new bridge deck, overnight closures of the roadway are required. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead for the closures. Caltrans is working with first responders to ensure prompt response to any local emergencies. One-way traffic controls will remain in effect outside of the closure times and will continue until the project is completed in the spring of 2018. Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong construction work. Caltrans will issue traffic updates on this and other work occurring in District 3 on Twitter and on Facebook. Use Caltrans’ QuickMap at quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ for real-time traffic information or download the QuickMap app on iTunes or Google Play. Motorists can also use the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) automated phone service by calling 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). Federal Emergency Coordination Center Activated
OAKLAND, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of California to combat the Atlas, Tubbs, Cascade, Lobo, LaPorte, Potter and Nuns fires burning in six northern California counties. On October 9, 2017, the State of California submitted several requests for Fire Management Assistance Declarations for the following named fires: Atlas in Napa and Solano counties, Tubbs in Napa and Sonoma counties, Cascade in Butte and Yuba counties, Lobo in Nevada County, LaPorte in Butte County, Potter in Mendocino County, and Nuns in Sonoma County. At the time of the requests, the fires threatened more than 14,000 homes, 100 businesses, a post office, 3 fire stations, 2 schools, and a state hospital. Critical infrastructure including a water pumping station, a hydro-electric facility, cell towers and electrical transmission lines are threatened or have been damaged. Mandatory evacuations are taking place for approximately 19,000 people, with the potential for a 9,000 additional evacuations. The fire started on October 8, and has burned in excess of 45,000 acres of State and private land. The FEMA Regional Administrator determined the fires threatened such destructio By Marilyn M. Singleton, M.D., J.D. Have we lost our collective minds? A mass shooting with no readily apparent motive is an extreme representation of our sense that our social fabric is unraveling. This is one of those things that people don’t believe can happen until it happens. And despite the unspeakable tragedy, it took less than an hour for politicians to criticize the President, ghoulishly exhorting that we need more than prayers and consolation. Maybe we do, but at least give the circle of victims a chance to deal with their personal grief before spouting off. At least CBS had the decency to fire its soulless vice president and senior counsel Hayley Geftman-Gold after she posted “I’m actually not even sympathetic bc [sic] country music fans often are Republican gun toters [sic].” We have become a culture where Tim Tebow is mocked for kneeling in prayer before a football game while others are praised for “taking a knee” during the National Anthem—which by the way is not praying. Taking a knee in American football is when the quarterback drops to one knee immediately after receiving the snap, thus automatically ending the play. Taking a knee is a boring but effective move by the winning team toward the end of the game, as it does not allow the opponent the opportunity to regain possession of the ball. In urban lingo it means to take a temporary break from an activity. Clearly, “taking a knee” is not praising a Higher Power that many on this earth believe in. And standing for the Anthem does not make one a racist. Note to partisan “news” presenters: when you push a pendulum in one direction really hard, when released it swings the other way with equal or greater force. Living in virtual reality is no longer beyond the fringe. Children are becoming obese because they are participating in sports through video games rather than actually tossing around a ball to one another. What happened to talking to each other? You don’t need a psychology professor to tell you that smart phones increase loneliness. Just walk down the street and you’ll see far too many couples walking, each with their own cell phone, obviously not talking to each other. Texting a few abbreviated words has replaced real conversation and emotional connection. And we wonder why opiate use has risen to epidemic levels. People have always had their troubles. And man’s desire to avoid suffering whether physical or emotional, whether through alcohol, opium, mushrooms, or coca leaves has been documented for at least 9,000 years. But now the public has been convinced they can’t just be “high on life” and learn to cope. Big Pharma’s direct-to-consumer television ads quietly list innumerable side effects while extolling the virtues of their wares and the consumer’s inability to live without them. Nearly 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug. The statistics from the Rochester Epidemiology Project in Olmsted County, Minnesota (which are comparable to those elsewhere in the United States) reveal that the top three medications consumed are antibiotics (17%), antidepressants (13%), and opioids (11%). Antidepressants and opioids were the most commonly prescribed among young and middle-aged adults. As physicians we do not want to become numb to patients’ needs while being consumed by government dictates. Electronic medical records should not become the excuse for hiding behind a computer screen—particularly with members of the younger generation who came out of the womb with a cell phone strapped to their ear by the umbilical cord. We need to be free to spend precious time getting to know our patients. Medications have saved countless lives, but prescriptions cannot become the tool to move along the overbooked office schedule or a quick fix to placate the demanding patient. Let’s take heart. When left to our own devices and stripped of artificial political labels, we humans rise. Just ask our first responders and medical personnel or the hurricane volunteers or the victims helping victims or the thousands of people donating blood or the over 30,000 donors to the Go Fund Me page for the Las Vegas victims. United we stand. ### Bio: Dr. Singleton is a board-certified anesthesiologist and Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) Board member. She graduated from Stanford and earned her MD at UCSF Medical School. Dr. Singleton completed 2 years of Surgery residency at UCSF, then her Anesthesia residency at Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital. While still working in the operating room, she attended UC Berkeley Law School, focusing on constitutional law and administrative law. She interned at the National Health Law Project and practiced insurance and health law. She teaches classes in the recognition of elder abuse and constitutional law for non-lawyers.
SIERRA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS showed support by concensus on the concept of acquiring ownership of Sierraville School as a County Community Hall for the community of Sierraville at its meeting Tuesday, October 3rd in Downieville. Planning Director Tim Beals told of a cell tower lease arrangement at the school site and the County soliciting Verizon when the occasion came about for the “best ground” on the west side. The new tower will be located on the west side next year. Beals told of the maintenance and joint use of the building and how the County took on responsibility for the modular, the school and grounds. Rents are paid for use and goes to a fund for maintenance by the County. He stated County costs exceed revenue. With Verizon’s tower, there will be more money “fairly substantial monthly rent.” Beals stated Dr. Merrill Grant will get a sense of support by the school board with no commitment but they’re looking for “common ground.” Supervisor Paul Roen noted the previous Prop. 40 allocation of $250,000 which allowed the ADA project and required the County to be obligated for maintenance of the building for 20 years. Beals told of Verizon having signed the lease and Sierraville receiving rental income. He told of the posssibility of the cogen in Loyalton getting a second cell tower, calling that “two separate issues.” He told of “one around Loyalton,” with Supervisor Scott Schlefstein calling it “excellent.” With the Board’s support, Beals will pursue acquisition of Sierraville School. “Every Second Counts – Plan 2 Ways Out!”
Fire Prevention Week October 8-14, 2017 Sacramento – Did you know that only one-third of Americans have created and practiced a home fire escape plan? Almost three-quarters of Americans have an escape plan; however, less than half ever practice it? With these statistics, it’s time to stop being complacent and get the ball rolling in creating a home escape plan for you and your family and more importantly practicing it. The second week in October (8-14) marks Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme is “Every Second Counts – Plan 2 Ways Out!” Take time now to create an escape plan with your family and practice that plan twice a year. Knowing what to do and where to go can save precious seconds, helping you and your family escape safely without tragedy. “Our goal is to make sure our residents are safe from fires, whether inside the home or outside,” said Lynne Tolmachoff, CAL FIRE Chief of Public Education. “Fire Prevention Week is one opportunity to initiate awareness of how to protect you and your family from harm’s way and to give you the tools you need to maintain a safe home and yard.” Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began October 8, 1871. The horrific fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. Each year’s theme is to reinforce the importance of fire prevention. Crafting your plan for escaping a home fire is easy to do:
If you happen to be caught in a wildfire, knowing two ways out is critical to getting out safely. Create a Wildfire Evacuation Plan that includes:
# # # SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Pedestrian and bicyclist safety, a priority for the California Highway Patrol (CHP), will be enhanced by a federal grant in the coming year. “Far too many Californians are being killed or injured while walking or bicycling on our roadways,” said CHP Acting Commissioner Warren Stanley. “The grant will promote awareness and respect between all road users; specifically, to impart the importance of safely interacting with each other while sharing the road.” Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities account for 29 percent of roadway fatalities in California. Data from the CHP Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System in 2015 showed there were at least 310 bicyclists and pedestrians killed and more than 3,100 injured within CHP jurisdiction. The California Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Enforcement and Education Project grant will help CHP officers use pedestrian and bicyclist collision information to conduct enhanced enforcement activities and public education campaigns. Although grant activities will focus on collision factors associated with the highest number of fatalities and injuries, the enforcement component will include all laws that affect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. This includes motorists who fail to yield for pedestrians, motorists who illegally pass school buses, and bicyclists who do not stop at stop signs or lights. Traffic safety rodeos and educational presentations emphasizing children and the elderly will help the CHP promote safe pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist behavior to protect those who choose to walk or bike. The grant helps the CHP apply additional resources to bicycle and pedestrian safety and accomplish its mission of saving lives. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NEVADA CITY, Calif. – Forest Supervisor Eli Ilano announced that fire restrictions in the Tahoe National Forest will be lifted Friday, October 6, 2017. Conditions in the Forest prompted the decision to end restrictions. When restrictions are lifted, recreationists may have campfires outside of designated campgrounds with a valid California campfire permit, smoke outside of designated sites, and operate internal combustion engines off forest roads and trails where appropriate. Campfire permits are free from any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) office. You can also obtain a campfire permit online at www.preventwildfireca.org. “Although fire restrictions have been lifted, forest fires can still occur,” said Ilano. “Warm, dry and windy weather conditions are still likely outside of our traditional fire season and that means the fire danger is still present. Please continue to be careful with fires while in the national forest.” Never leave campfires or lit lanterns and stoves unattended and make sure equipment and off-road vehicles have working spark arresters. Other wildfire prevention practices can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/fire-aviation/prevention. Please remember, Cal Fire continues to have a statewide burn ban. Contact your local Cal Fire office for more information. For more Tahoe National Forest information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Tahoe_NF and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TahoeNF. ### Placer County and Caltrans to present at North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council meeting
AUBURN – Caltrans and Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery invite community residents to provide feedback about a new roadway safety concept involving roundabouts that will be presented by Caltrans and Placer County Transportation Planning staff to the North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday, October 10 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Placer County’s Community Development Resource Agency – Planning Commission Chambers, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn off Bell Road. A recent spike in highway fatalities generated a grass-roots community effort to identify solutions to reduce highway collisions and fatalities on Highway 49 between Auburn and Grass Valley. Caltrans, Nevada and Placer County staff and residents, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), local officials and members of the Citizens for Highway 49 Safety group are working together to plan safety improvements for this corridor. In addition to increased funding for CHP enforcement of traffic laws, ten safety improvement projects on Highway 49 are now planned by Caltrans. In addition, a preliminary engineering concept has been proposed that would allow for a concrete median barrier to be installed on the roadway through the use of roundabouts located at selected intersections along the highway. Roundabouts would allow residents prevented from turning left by the concrete median barrier to reverse course in an efficient and safe manner as well as address a frequently voiced community concern – speeding motorists. You’re the best, dear readers! This just in........ THE SIERRA BOOSTER ARRIVES With info from our Valley About everything that’s new It comes to U.S.P.S. Within a day or two The arrival lifts our spirits up As though awakened by a rooster It tops our normal reading list That great ‘Sierra Booster’ So, I tell you Jan, you do good work Your efforts get three cheers On top of that, here is our check. Sign us up for three more years. Jim & Susan Olsen Pine Grove, CA Historic Precipitation Ended the Drought during Water Year 2017
SACRAMENTO – After five years of drought, the 2017 water year brought unexpectedly heavy precipitation, ranking second only to 1983 as California’s wettest year for statewide runoff. The dramatic swing in water conditions highlights the need to develop better long-range weather forecasting to cope with the state’s highly variable annual precipitation. DWR begins water year 2018 intent on narrowing the forecasting gap with improved sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasting. Working with researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, DWR is developing innovative technology to forecast land-falling atmospheric rivers. “Current short-term forecasting for seven days out is 70 percent accurate, while the 14-day forecast is only seven percent accurate,” said DWR Director Grant Davis. “That isn’t adequate for water management. Advancing accurate, even longer-range forecasting is critical for our ability to plan for California’s highly variable weather.” The water year that ended September 30 saw an extraordinary number of atmospheric rivers that created high water conditions throughout the state. The Feather River watershed received record runoff in January and February, which led to some of the highest inflows into Lake Oroville ever recorded. More accurate forecasting would have helped DWR manage reservoir levels to deal with significant inflow in the days following the February 7 discovery of erosion on the main spillway at Lake Oroville. Better forecasting also would help inform the spillway’s reconstruction timeline based on predicted precipitation. The record-setting precipitation in Northern California and above-average rainfall elsewhere contributed to flooding in several river systems. Fifty-two counties declared states of emergency due to the January storm sequence, and flood fight materials and specialists were pre-positioned in Merced, Butte, Stanislaus, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties based on the forecasts in anticipation that local agencies would request support. Despite record-breaking rainfall in Northern California in water year 2017, drought impacts still linger. Governor Edmund Brown Jr. issued an executive order in April to end the statewide drought emergency, but maintained a state of emergency for the counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Tuolumne, where homes with dry or contaminated private wells continue to receive emergency drinking water deliveries. One success story stemming from the drought is the East Porterville Emergency Water Project, which will see 756 unincorporated East Porterville homes connected to the City of Porterville’s municipal water supply by the end of 2017. Similar projects are underway in the communities of Okieville, Monson, and Seville-Yettem to connect an additional 195 homes to a sustainable water supply. Another highlight of the 2017 water year was the announcement that 99 percent of the state’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins met a key deadline to form local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) under the state’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. California depends on groundwater for a major portion of its annual water supply, particularly during times of drought. The long-term planning required by SGMA will reduce the impacts of groundwater overdraft, including subsidence, and provide a buffer against drought and climate change. Although a wet 2017 minimized the risk of subsidence in historically affected parts of the San Joaquin Valley, DWR continues to fund satellite- and aircraft-based radar monitoring of subsidence by NASA to support local implementation of SGMA. Looking ahead, DWR is preparing for the uncertainty of water year 2018 and beyond: In August, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board adopted the 2017 update to the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, prepared by DWR, which recommends long-term multi-benefit actions to improve flood risk management. This past year DWR awarded more than $4.2 million in Delta Flood Emergency Response grants to improve Delta flood response and increase public safety. In the past five years, DWR has awarded 46 grants totaling $25 million to develop and update flood safety plans, and increase coordination, training, and flood fight supplies for local agencies across the state. Ongoing SGMA implementation will bring overdrafted groundwater basins into balance to protect our water supply against the impacts of prolonged drought and climate change. California WaterFix will upgrade California’s water supply infrastructure to more reliably transport water through the Delta, protecting against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. The project provides a more flexible and environmentally-responsible way to convey water during significant precipitation events for use in dry years. Construction could begin in 2018, pending support from public water agencies. The first phase of reconstruction on the Lake Oroville spillways will be completed by November 1, 2017, ensuring the spillway can handle 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) this water year. Phase 2, which will be completed by end of 2018/early 2019, will bring the spillway to final design with a capacity of 270,000 cfs. The emergency spillway will be reinforced with several erosion-prevention features, including a cutoff wall to prevent head-cutting erosion. In the face of California’s highly variable weather patterns, DWR and our local, state, and federal partners are working together to ensure that Californians are prepared. Infrastructure improvements and advances in accurate, long-term forecasting are critical to public safety and sustainability. When it comes to water, California must prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Read more about water year 2017 in the report “What a Difference a Year Makes.” # # # Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at SaveOurWater.com. Today, across our nation, we stop to grieve the loss of 58 innocent lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. The likelihood is that the number will rise, as hundreds have been wounded, many with life-threatening injuries. The loss in incomprehensible. The fact that someone would perpetrate such a crime is unconscionable. To the wounded and families of those killed, we offer our prayers. To the friends and communities, we share your sense of loss. You will remain in our thoughts long after the echoes of this brutal weekend have faded. PORAC members will study and learn from this event. We will not allow the madness of a few to dictate the way we live in America. PORAC is proud that our brothers and sisters in Las Vegas, the brave first-responders, did their job with courage and efficiency and thought for others before they took their own safety into consideration. God bless the families who are suffering this morning. The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) was incorporated in 1953 as a professional federation of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Today, PORAC represents over 70,000 public safety members and 930 associations, making it the largest law enforcement organization in California and the largest statewide association in the nation. Art + Ag Trail, South West: By Jean Myles and Lora Myles Sierra Valley’s Art + Ag Trail event is free event, open to all, involving local artists and area farms, ranches and historic buildings. Visitors can pick up free maps, and may purchase souvenir passports and prize drawing tickets at one of the three trailheads: the Sierraville School, Sierra Valley Farms or the Grange Hall in Vinton. Passports can be stamped at the various ranches or venues on the tour. The event includes a great deal of the history of the Valley. As members of the Sierra Booster team for the day this year, my daughter and I were the photographer/reporters for the south-west side of the Valley. We were impressed at the multiple-generation families on the ranches, some of them extending to the fifth generation. At the Sierraville School, Retired speech teacher Sara Schoensee was dressed as her multiple-great-Grandmother Rebecca Haymen, who ran a millenary shop in the mid-1800’s. Suzi S. worked in the Sierra Valley school system for 34-years, and retains a wealth of history of Sierra Valley. Sierra Valley resident Kristi Jamason got the idea for the annual Art & Ag Trail from Sierra Valley resident and furniture designer Brad Greenwood, at an open house that featured his furniture. Kristi felt that she could tie together a tour of Sierra Valley, showcasing the farms and ranches in the valley and artists from in and around the valley. This is the second year for the event. Both events have been extremely successful. License plates from Nevada, Oregon and California were seen at all of the venues. Special guests were newly found family members of a woman from Lake Tahoe. She had been looking for her birth family for over 40 years, and had found them through 23andme. Her new-found family from Australia and Boston were visiting. They spent the day at Art + Ag, and had dinner at the Vinton Grange. We found Kristi providing information to visitors at Gary Romano’s Sierra Valley Farms on A-23 south of Beckworth. Gary and his family host a Friday Farmers Market during the summer, along with special dinners in one of the farm’s old barns. Chef Sean Conry, the pastry course instructor, and 2 students from the Feather River College Culinary Arts School, were on hand Saturday in Gary’s well-equipped outdoor kitchen, preparing dishes from products from Sage Eggs & Ham of Beckworth and Sierra Valley Farms for lunch and snacks. An amazing amount of work goes on in the background for the event. Kristi worked with the ranches and artists ahead of time, produced directional signs, and assigned the different artists to the ranches. Each artist had handmade items for sale in small booths. Kristi wound up her very long day helping with the dinner, prize awards and auction at the Sierra Valley Grange in Vinton. At Sierra Valley Farms were Gary Romano, with his books and farm products; Rand Nash, who makes hand-made kayaks at Sierra Valley Boat works; Casey Clark of Rolling Out Clay, a potter from Reno; Judy Dailey, J. Dailey Design, with her wire-wrapped jewelry; and Laurie Monroe of Sage Eggs & Ham. Beautifully embroidered barn quilt dish towels made by Karen Rickman of Loyalton were on sale to raise funds for the event. We also found the embroidered towels at the Sierraville Schoolhouse. Now, I wish I had bought more. The hay bar maze at the K.C. Cattle Company was a challenge for adults, great for children. Marjorie Voorhees and her partner, Scott Perry, are leaving the Sattley Cash Store sign in place, but have added their own sign, Country Class Collectibles. Salli Wise demonsrating spinning the carded wool into yarn. Sally is a part of the co-op that works with rescue alpacas. Sally is a talented spinner and weaver. A view of Sierra Valley from the gate to the Lemon Valley Barns. As Lora was taking pictures, one cow walked up to a fence, looked around and simply jumped over it. It happened so fast that she did not catch it on camera. No wonder we often see cows on the road in the Valley. The Sierravill School was one of the three trailheads for Art+Ag, which was convenient for anyone coming from Truckee. The Sierra County Historical Society had a table of books on California and Sierra County History, and fun books for children. Jennifer Kennedy and friends from High Sierra Heritage Fruit had a table full of apples and other fruit that have been grown in the high mountain areas. They also had several books for sale on fruit cultivation, and preservation. The odor of the apples filled the hall at the school. The display of apples reminded me of the legend of the star in the apple, told to me by my grandmother many, many years ago. According to the legend, the Christ Child blessed the apple tree for bending its branches to hide the young family escaping Herod’s wrath and for providing food when it was needed. Ever since, when you cut an apple crosswise, you see a star. It doesn’t always work, in fact, the smaller one looks more like a dragonfly, but usually it is a star with the seeds contained within the five points of the star. - Photos by Jean Myles Feather River Land Trust hosted artists, Tyler and Michelle Jacobsen, Plumas Audubon Society, and the Beckwourth Ranger District at the Sierra Valley Preserve, a 2,500-acre property at the headwaters of the Middle Fork Feather River. The property is rich in water, wildlife habitat, meadow wildflowers, a diversity of animals, and has a long legacy of human use. Visitors will experience beautiful vistas, a short nature stroll, and birding opportunities from a cattle corral system converted to a nature preserve trail-head. Visit the Feather River Land Trust for information on the wildlife and natural history of this important headwater valley. Protection of the wetlands and agricultural lands of Sierra Valley safeguards an important California water resource - the Middle Fork of the Feather River. - Nichole Johnson photo |