March 27, 2018
Liz Writes Life
Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA
Protest
More than 50 people walked the sidewalks on Main Street near
the Miner’s Inn Convention Center, in Yreka, on Monday, March 19th to
protest the KRRC, Klamath River Renewal Corp., meeting. I don’t know why non-profit
KRRC held the meeting except to espouse its rhetoric, one again, on why four
hydro-electric Klamath dams should be destroyed. From what I can see, KRRC is
currently in no government regulatory process where a meeting needs to be held
for public comment. So, I assume it was propaganda. I talked with a few people
that attended the KRRC meeting and was told about 25 people attended.
The protesters carried a variety of signs. One of my
favorites is “Klamath Dam Scam,” which sums up the entire fiasco. Our Dist. 1
Congressman Doug LaMalfa supported the protestors and I heard that he wanted to
be there, except he was in D.C., so his staff rep. Erin Ryan attended. Erin said
she had a good time at the peaceful protest!
POW
Scott Valley Protect Our Water is holding its meeting this
Thursday, March 29th at the Fort Jones Community Center. Time is 7
p.m. Please bring a dessert to share as we eat before, during and after. After
a two-month absence, Erin Ryan will be in attendance to give us updates on D.C.
issues and Congressman LaMalfa.
Ethan Garrett is running for the position of Siskiyou Co.
Assessor/Recorder and will explain what he plans to bring to the office if
elected. The current assessor, Mike Mallory, is retiring and not running for
the office.
Then, Jim Smith will be on the agenda. Jim is our Siskiyou
Co. Ag. Commissioner. He grew up in the Tulelake area, with his family, farming
potatoes, grain and hay within the boundaries of the Bureau of Reclamation
Klamath Project. The Klamath Project was started way back around 1910, when our
country was in dire need of food production expansion. So, when reading Jim’s
bio on the county website, I learned that his grandfather actually earned a
homestead following his service in World War I. I knew there was an influx and
expansion of the project with World War II veterans earning homesteads in the
late 1940s, but have never met anyone with World War I history. What a great
heritage.
I chatted with Jim about the current water allocation
situation in the Tulelake Irrigation District and also learned the ag.
commissioner is a complex job; at least is seemed so to me.
One thing I asked Jim was about Siskiyou’s annual crop and
livestock report. I speculated the gross income from agricultural products in
the county had likely dropped. Jim said it hasn’t and made a brief comment
about how the type of products grown change quite often. He referred to the
fact that few potatoes are now grown in Butte Valley, but the strawberry plant
industry in that high-elevation area has grown and thrived. In fact, the
strawberry plants are such high-quality they are literally purchased by
companies all over the world. Yep, strawberry plants from little ol’ Siskiyou
County!
Easter
Get out those baskets and put running shoes on your kids. It
is time for Easter Egg Hunts this weekend. The Etna Lions Club contacted me
about its annual event, which will be this Sunday, April 1, 2018 at the Etna
City Park. Parents and grandparents: You really need to be early, because these
hunts start on time and are over in a flash. So, if you want your kids to have
a chance at finding eggs, get there before the start time of 1 p.m.
There will be lots and lots of eggs, some traditional
hardboiled and many plastic eggs with candy or money inside. Then there will be
the special prize eggs. Oh, and this egg hunt will be divided into four
different age groups, so little ones can have a good chance at finding eggs.
Sorry, I don’t have info on all the Easter Egg Hunts throughout
the county. So check on your local bulletin boards, newspapers, facebook or
however you find your news for events. And, once again, show up early so your
kids don’t miss out!
Groundwater
Last week, Dr. Thomas Harter, hydrologist from U.C. Davis,
gave a presentation to the Siskiyou Co. Flood Control and Conservation District
during the county supervisors’ board meeting, where he explained the extensive groundwater
work that is underway to meet the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management
Act called SGMA. Our county was allowed to take the lead, by the state, on
developing the sustainable groundwater regulations for our groundwater basins
in Siskiyou. Local control is always a good thing.
Dr. Harter began advising the Scott River Watershed Council
and then the Scott River Groundwater Advisory Committee starting back in 2007
providing guidance in developing water models and water budgets. This decade of
information has proven to be extremely helpful for developing the SGMA
groundwater management plan.
I spoke with Tom Menne, who has served on the Scott River
Groundwater Advisory Committee since its inception and has been working with
Dr. Harter. He appreciates Dr. Harter and told me, “Dr. Harter lets the science
speak for itself. I can’t think of anybody better to be involved with this
process than Dr. Harter.”
Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Flood Control
District, told me that Dr. Harter is pleased with the work that has been
accomplished in Siskiyou and Scott Valley basin saying it is well-organized and
well-staffed. As a result, Siskiyou is way ahead of other counties in the state
in developing its plan. That is impressive.
The Flood Control District took the next step in this process
and appointed members to the Scott Valley Groundwater Basin Advisory Committee,
which will become a legal-type of agency under SGMA. (I think that is how it
works.) Menne was named to the committee as were Jason Finley, Tom Jopson,
Michael Stapleton and Brandon Fawaz.
Liz Bowen is a native of Siskiyou Co. and lives near
Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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