Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Liz Writes Life 2-5-19


Feb. 5, 2019

Liz Writes Life

Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

Yep, there were several responders to my opinion in last week’s “Liz Writes Life” about saving the Klamath dams. Good. I could argue with non-profit organizations, including the pro-dams removal leader Klamath River Renewal Corp., till the cows come home. But, I am not going to do that today. I just ask my readers to remember non-profit groups are not government agencies. Only government agencies are tasked with following the correct government regulated process for dam removal. And that is the key here.

For years, there have been many voices claiming the dams must come out. This has been loud rhetoric meant to influence “we the people”.
But, the actual decision for the dams to be destroyed has yet to be made. It will be made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. At this point, the proposition proposed by KRRC to allow KRRC to purchase/obtain the licenses to the four hydro-electric Klamath dams from PacifiCorp and has not been decided.

If the decision is made to allow KRRC to obtain the hydro-electric licenses, then NEPA will kick-in and must be followed. Under the “Summary of the National Environmental Policy Act” it states: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was one of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment. NEPA was enacted as federal law back on Jan. 1, 1970. Klamath dams removal will significantly affect the environment!
The state of California must also correctly follow its environmental policies if a pro-dam removal decision is made.

So, instead of listening to the loud voices proclaiming Klamath dams removal is a done deal, I am waiting for the actual decision by FERC and then will watch-dog that NEPA and California Environmental Quality Act are followed – to the letter of the law.

In talking with our Siskiyou County supervisors, and other groups and individuals, I believe dam-huggers (like me) have stayed on top of all accusations and issues; and have responded with appropriate letters, documents and legal concerns. Yes, there is anxiety and fear in waiting, but that just makes us vigilant!

Remember to read the Executive Summary of the Lower Klamath Project – draft Environmental Impact Report, released by the CA. State Water Resources Control Board. Then write your comment -- as we are in the public review period of the draft CA. Environmental Impact Report – and submit it to the SWRCB before noon on Feb. 26, 2019.

It can be submitted electronically or by mail: Email address is: WR401Program@waterboards.ca.gov or by U.S. Mail: Ms. Michelle Siebal, State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights – Water Quality Certification Program, P.O. Box 2000, Sacramento, CA 95812-2000.

Or attend the public meeting that will be held tonight, Feb. 5, 2019, at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka. The SWRCB staff will be recording the public comments and you can leave your written comments with them as well. The meeting is from 5 to 8 p.m.

Snow

It was great to hear the Sierras received lots of snow for the snowpack survey held last week near Tahoe. It showed 100 percent of average snowpack for Feb. 1st.

But, that is not the case here in our mountains surrounding Scott Valley as the snowpack looks low, even though I have not seen our local survey results. I am writing this on Monday morning and was hoping to wake up to three-inches of the predicted snow and huge flakes falling outside my window. Nope, didn’t happen. But, I am still hoping!

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its first meeting of the year on Feb. 28, 2019 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m. Currently, Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor, Ray Haupt, and Erin Ryan, staff for Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa, are on the agenda. There will be lots to report!

Hammonds

The Feb. 2, 2019 newsletter from the Public Lands Council reported great news for Oregon cattlemen Dwight and Steven Hammond. PLC has worked with the Hammonds to restore their grazing allotments, which had not been renewed before or after they received a pardon from President Trump, last July, and were released from prison. The Acting Interior Secretary, David Bernhardt and his team, were thanked for correcting the hardships Hammonds faced without grazing allotments for their ranching operation. This is really good for all grazing allotment holders and the environment.

Bundy

But not-so-good news came, last week, for Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, his sons Ammon and Ryan, and Ryan Payne, as federal prosecutors are moving forward with an appeal of U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro’s dismissal of felony conspiracy and weapons charges.
It was last year, in January, when Judge Navarro threw out the case against the Bundy family and Payne after finding “flagrant prosecutorial misconduct” by the federal prosecutors. The government’s opening appeal brief is expected to be filed by Feb. 6, 2019.

The Bundys and Payne had been held in federal detention prison for 23 months as the case slowly worked through the court. The charges against the Bundys stemmed from an armed standoff with federal agents in April 2014 at the Bundy ranch near Bunkerville, Nevada.

But, Bundy may actually look forward to a bigger showdown with the feds. At a meeting in Feb. 2018, in Sparks, Nev., Bundy said he would have preferred for the trial to continue because much more of the bad behavior of the federal agents would have been exposed. Bundy was quoted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal of the January 2018 trial, “That court (proceeding) was actually stopped because we would have embarrassed the government very much if it would have continued on for even two more hours.”

I also heard Cliven say, in an interview, that he believed the jury would have found them not-guilty and it would have set a very important precedent.

But, for me, it is frustrating to imagine the arrogance of the federal prosecutors to go forward with an appeal. Much has come to light of the dastardly antics of the federal agents that led up to the April 2014 standoff. How do they think that information can be kept out of court?

Garden

Finally, I addressed the asparagus patch and cleaned it out. The soil is soft, so the surviving mallow weeds pulled-out pretty easily. And, I put a couple bags of steer manure on the five remaining plants. Felt good to get that job done.

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.

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