Liz Writes Life 11-27-18

November 27, 2018

Liz Writes Life

Autumn finally showed-up bringing the much-needed rain. My goodness, it is wonderful. Back in the first week of November, I planted garlic adding a sack of manure to improve the soil. But, because it was so dry and because I did not want to irrigate it until the autumn weather arrived, I didn't water it. So, I expect this rain to get the garlic started doing whatever garlic does during winter.

This rain should moisten the soil enough that I can finally get the yucky tomato plants pulled up. It was about the time that I planted the garlic that I dug up the potatoes. They were volunteers and really didn't produce well. Ended up with about 20 pounds worth. Also cleaned-up the cucumber vines at that time. What is left of the zucchini also needs to be removed.

Supervisors

I wanted to mention that our county supervisors approved a letter to the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Director, Chuck Bonham, of its opposition to the state's proposed purchase of the Shasta Big Springs and Nelson Ranches in Shasta Valley.

The letter explains the county's continued frustrations. The major one is the unresolved issue of un-paid property taxes on other properties owned by the CDFW throughout the county, which exceeds $700,000! Apparently, no future tax payments are expected from the state, even though the county has implored the state for the monies.

A year or two ago, the California state legislature approved the funds for rural counties to be paid these taxes, but Gov. Jerry Brown used the money for something else.

The letter states the county is at the immediate risk of losing $26,000 annually, which The Nature Conservancy currently pays under the Williamson Act. It is TNC that purchased the properties from private landowners and is now trying to sell to CDFW.

Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Supervisors' Board, told me that the county can't afford the state or federal governments taking more land that they won't pay taxes on.

The opposition letter continues: “Since CDFW purchased a conservation easement and took control of the properties' water rights from TNC, and subsequently dedicated these water rights to in-stream flows, there have been sweeping impacts to the working landscape and diverse ecosystem of the area; including encroaching invasive weed species, reduction in diverse plant species, reduction in waterfowl and Sandhill crane utilization of the property, loss of groundwater recharge and limited agricultural activities. Additionally, although there has been complete in-stream dedication, fisheries within the Big Springs complex have not dramatically improved and the county fears that other future actions by CDFW, including potential removal of the Little Springs culverts, will have limited benefits to fisheries and negative impacts to groundwater recharge and neighboring wells.”

The Board “fully” supports activities to improve and protect fish species and habitat. But, the board contends CDFW is working to maintain a single-species management (coho salmon) and the board believes management for multi-species is much more beneficial. So do I!

The letter encourages CDFW to sell to private ownership and include collaborative relationships between property owners, CDFW and the county. These kind of working relationships will improve habitat restoration and water quality projects, increased in-stream flows and reinstate irrigation to the landscape. The county also supports tail-water capture and reuse, winter groundwater recharge and fish supplementation.

Sure do hope the CDFW will listen to our county supervisors.

Republican Women

Siskiyou County Supervisors, Lisa Nixon and Ray Haupt, spoke at the Siskiyou Co. Republican Women Federated meeting, earlier this month, sharing their experiences in WA. D.C. Lisa spoke first and praised Ray for his expertise as a forester and the NorthWest Forest Plan during their meetings with Dept. of Interior, Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service. Lisa said she was also able to reiterate, in meetings, the bad science used to list the Northwest Spotted Owl to the Endangered Species Act.

During the past two years, the Trump administration invited all county supervisors and sheriffs to WA D.C. This was the last group and included California, Alaska and Hawaii. Lisa said President Donald Trump spoke to the large group – and they were able to sit about 30 feet away! Our supervisors also met with Dept. of Interior Secretary, Dept. of Transportation Secretary, U.S. Dept of Veterans, Ag. Under Secretary, Jim Hubbard, USFS Chief and Kelly Ann Conway, an adviser to Pres. Trump.

Lisa said she wanted to drive home the damage that will occur to water quality and the environment if the Klamath dams are removed. She also brought up liability – who will be liable for the devastation?

Forest health, tree mortality, problems with the Endangered Species Act and dreaded wildfires were issues Siskiyou and other rural counties brought up. Heavy smoke throughout the summer is negatively impacting tourism. The Shakespeare Festival in Ashland estimates it lost over $2 million last summer, because of the cancellation of plays held outside.

Lisa said there is a big change going on in the DOI. Higher-ups are realizing their rules have been interpreted poorly – in a very heavy-handed way at the lower levels. She said DOI seemed to be sincere in moving to support active management of the forests and that local management must be fully engaged. Wow, that is a huge step in the right direction.

As a help to counties, Lisa said the Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao is working to streamline permitting and supports cutting red-tape at local levels. And in an unusual turn, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency actually talked about issues in rural communities.

During the meeting with Pres. Trump, he said the forests must be managed and thinned and his administration will “work with you so hard.” Les Baugh, a supervisor from Shasta County presented President Trump with an appreciation award for his administration's help on last summer's Carr Fire.

Lisa said “face time” with high-up officials was extremely valuable. “They were stunned by some of the things we told them,” she said, regarding issues, bad science and regulations harming Siskiyou County. She felt there was a sincere level of understanding. The trip was “very positive,” she said.

POW

Next week, I'll talk about Ray's adventures in WA. D.C. He also held meetings with CA. state-level folks, recently. To hear Ray yourself, attend the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting this Thurs., Nov. 29, 2018 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.