Liz Writes Life 2-19-2020

Feb. 19, 2020

Liz Writes Life

California enjoyed a good snow-packed winter last year. But, unfortunately, this year’s Feb. 1, 2020 snow surveys are not looking so good. At the start of January 2020, the statewide snowpack was at 90 percent or normal. That has dropped to 64 percent and includes the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is a huge contributor to agricultural and metropolitan water usage as well as power generation and recreation to the state.

Locally, the snowpack is at 66 percent after Klamath National Forest Service employees surveyed the Middle Boulder, Dynamite Meadow, Swampy John (above Etna) and Scott Mt. on Feb. 1^st. The surveys will be conducted again the first of March and April. Boy, let’s hope and pray we get a “Miracle March!”

Nope, I still haven’t done anything out in the garden. Quite often, I stare at the dry perennial stems that need pulling; and I am starting to feel a little guilty they are not cleaned up. Only a little! I heard some friends were pruning their fruit or ornamental trees. Good for them!

The only gardening I am doing is watching the three pink hyacinths shrivel-up in the bowl in the house. I planted them in gravel and water in early January. The three that hadn’t bloomed are just now starting and they are purple. Surprisingly, two of the pink ones are shooting out another pick hyacinth.

The crocus that I tried to force-bloom indoors are stagnant. They have grown several inches, but the inch or so of green grass-like stems are just sitting there. I decided to put them outside to see if that would stimulate blooming, but that hasn’t worked. The icy mornings don’t seem to bother them, so I don’t know if crocus just don’t like to be forced to bloom. Hum, shrug. I didn’t get the left-over bulbs planted in the garden, so I have nothing to compare them to.

FEMA grants

Doug LaMalfa, CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, is grateful FEMA has issued two federal grants totaling $16 million to California for Carr Fire recovery. The first grant is for $6.5 million to the city of Redding to restore its power grid. The second grant is for nearly $10 million to the CA. Dept. of Resources Recycle and Recovery for debris removal per a provision secured by Congressman LaMalfa.

The Carr Fire burned over 220,000 acres, destroyed over 1,600 structures and caused eight deaths. LaMalfa is pleased these newest FEMA grants will help his constituents continue to recover from the deadly 2018 fires.

Also, LaMalfa worked with the federal Dept. of House and Urban Development to obtain over $1.8 million in Community Development Block Grants to Paradise, Chico and Redding; and over $1 million in HOME grants to Chico and Redding. These grants will assist with building low-income housing in these communities.

He is dedicated to working with Congress and the Administration to ensure the North State rebounds from these tragic fires -- as quickly as possible.

FERC

During the past several weeks, there has been a flurry of back-and-forth letter-writing regarding the Klamath dam removal situation. Result: All talk to remove the dams is just that – talk. No governmental decisions have been made.

In fact, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission just set down the law or rather the process that must be followed -- in black and white. This means, the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp., that wants to destroy the dams has been publically put on notice.

This latest spat started with KRRC sending letters to government agencies demanding decisions and the forward movement toward KRRC obtaining the hydro-electric license to remove the dams.

Loy Beardsmore, who owns a home and property in the Copco area, contacted me to say she wrote a letter to both FERC and the CA. Water Board asking both government agencies to follow the correct administrative and environmental processes. She and her husband, John Beardsmore, said it looked like KRRC was “intimidating and bullying” the agencies.

Then, I learned that other property owners, the Siskiyou Water Users Assoc. and Siskiyou County had also weighed-in. The county’s response was three pages and addressed significant aspects of inadequacies in KRRC’s proposed Definite Plan for obtaining PacifiCorp’s hydro-electric license and removal of the four targeted Klamath dams.

I wish you could read the county’s letter. Talk about important environmental, financial and liability issues that KRRC has not addressed! If the process is being slowed down, it is KRRC that has failed to meet deadlines to improve and complete its Definite Plan.

Adding to the process for KRRC is another review of its plan. Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Dist. 5 Supervisor, told me that whenever KRRC submits a final Definite Plan, it must first be evaluated by an Independent Board of Consultants before going to FERC. That is when the National Environmental Policy Act will be implemented. It is no small feat to address all the NEPA issues and will take even more time.

A few of the issues, Ray said the county has brought to light include the incorrect disposal of concrete, proposed by KRRC, which will likely have asbestos in it. KRRC’s proposal does not meet federal, state or county regulations. Also, the county has learned from KRRC’s contractors that certain proposed bridge improvements (on county roads) are being stricken from KRRC’s plan to save money. This is a major public safety issue, because of the heavy equipment that will need to cross these bridges.

So, once again, KRRC is making a lot of noise and demanding forward movement of its Klamath dams removal project, but has not done its part in completing its final Definite Plan.

Ray Haupt will explain more on the Klamath dams issue at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 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. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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