Liz Writes Life 4-17-18

April 17, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA.

From warm days to blizzards and snowy mountains, April 2018 has showed she can provide nearly everything that weather has to offer. There were some colder days for baseball, soccer and track parents to sit through last week, but that means it is spring in Siskiyou County. Sunday’s rain was extra nice!

The snow-level surveys are out for April 1, 2018 and it doesn’t look good for California. PG&E conducts snow surveys in the Sierras to forecast hydropower production for the rest of the year and how to manage that water. There was 11 feet of snow at the Mt. Lassen measuring station on April 1, which is 58 percent of normal. But that was up from 23 percent at the start of March 1, when there was just 6 feet of snow.

The news article that I caught said the Mt. Lassen and Sierra-snow melts into the North Fork of the Feather River and then into Lake Almanor. Then it runs through PG&E’s system of hydroelectric plants in the Feather River Canyon and finally into Lake Oroville. As you know, this water flows south.

Closer to home, the USFS Klamath Nation Forest employees check eight stations in the mountains around Scott Valley starting Feb. 1^st each year. The April 1, 2018 report shows an average of 42 percent of historical averages of snow and 36 percent of average of water content.

Middle Boulder 1 snow station has been measured each spring since 1946 is at 6,600 feet above sea level. This April, it showed only 24 inches of snow with an historic average of 70 inches making it 34 percent of average.

Scott Mt. is the youngest of the snow surveys, which began in 1986 at the elevation of 5,900 feet. This year, there was 15.5 inches giving it a 32 percent of the historical average.

Swampy John, at the 5,500 elevation foot level held the highest percentage with 39 inches. The historical average is 79 inches, which gave a 49 percent of average. They began monitoring Swampy John in 1951.

Drought Declaration

Our Siskiyou Co. Supervisors were monitoring the poor snow levels throughout the winter and as a result, at their April 3, 2018 meeting, approved a resolution to proclaim the existence of local emergency for Siskiyou County related to drought.

I talked with Brandon Criss, who chaired that meeting. Brandon is vice-chair this year. Chairman Ray Haupt was attending the American Forest Resource Council in Washington State that week, so Brandon took the gavel. He said that the county has been in contact with the Tulelake Basin and Klamath Co., which have declared this a drought year. On March 26, 2018, it was reported the snowpack water content for the Klamath Basin was 29 percent of normal and Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Project irrigation deliveries could be significantly delayed and reduced. This water is used for the Tulelake Basin row crops and that area doesn’t need to take an economic hit from a lack of water.

Also on March 26, 2018, CA. Dept. of Water Resources reported the North Sierra snowpack water content was 20 percent of normal; and the Klamath National Forest reported 18 percent of average countywide on April 1^st. As a result, water supplies for irrigators and the environment could be in serious jeopardy resulting in economic loss, lack of feed production and shortened growing season.

Drinking water supplies for cities and towns, including unincorporated areas, may also be affected; and wildfires continue to be a major threat.

Brandon said that declaring the State of Emergency will assist the county in evaluating the situation; and help establish tools for farmers and ranchers, who want to take the risk of farming, to obtain federal crop insurance.

A copy of the resolution was sent to the State Director of Emergency Services and CA.  Gov. Jerry Brown. Brandon praised Siskiyou Co. Ag. Commissioner, Jim Smith, Siskiyou Co. Project Manager, Elizabeth Nielsen, and Jasen Vela, from our county Office of Emergency Services for their monitoring of the situation and writing the resolution.

Spring

Bright yellow forsythia and magenta quince bushes are gorgeous along with the pink and white tree blossoms bursting throughout the county -- and the first greens of spring are eye-candy! I think my Oriental poppies and perennials have grown over a foot this week! I didn’t get any spinach or lettuce planted, so will work on getting it done this week.

LaMalfa

Our CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, was honored by the American Conservative Union, last week, when the group presented him with their Award for Conservative Excellence. His voting record during the 115^th Congress proved his commitment to conservative values.

LaMalfa responded: “Growing up in Northern California, our views are typically very different from those that live in the Bay Area and those views are often ignored by our liberal-dominated state government. I’m pleased to once again receive this award based on my conservative track record last year, including votes to repeal the collapsing Obamacare law, defund Planned Parenthood and provide once-in-a-generation tax relief for millions of Americans. I’ll continue to advocate for conservative values in Washington on behalf of Northern California.”

Save the date

Remember there is plenty to do on Thursday, April 26^th. The Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee is hosting a Candidates Forum for candidates -- from all political parties -- to speak about the office they wish to hold. It will be held at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the introduction of speakers beginning at 6 p.m. There will be free hearty snacks and desserts; and beer and wine available for purchase.

Then, Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its meeting at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7:15 p.m. Ray Haupt will share important information from the American Forest Resource Council he attended in early April.

Liz Bowen is a native of Siskiyou County and lives Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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