Liz Writes Life
Published in Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, California
June 2, 2021
LaMalfa visits
Our California Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa toured
Siskiyou County with a little different goal last week. His staff person, Erin
Ryan, contacted our Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board Chairman, Ray Haupt, over a
month ago asking for a special tour for his staff. This included all staff in
his three California offices and in his Washington D.C. office. Ray told me
that the congressman wanted his staff to know what they were fighting for. LaMalfa
also held tours in the other eight counties that he represents.
So, Ray set out organizing a day of travel, sites to see and
issues to discuss. Ray related the highlights of the day to me in an interview,
cuz I wanted to share with you – my readers.
Yep, I am a huge supporter of Congressman LaMalfa. I have
known Doug since he was campaigning on his first run for California Assembly back
in 2001 and have always been impressed with his sincere concern for our county,
our events, issues and people. Doug has intervened in our behalf many, many
times with state and federal agencies. Ray says that Doug has a Ph.D. in saving
the Klamath Dams!
Ray and county staff met Doug and his group down at Castella.
They had just driven through the desolate area of the 2018 Delta Fire. Because
of Ray’s forestry education and U.S. Forest Service background, he easily explained
how the lack of forest management greatly increases the threat of wildfire.
Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta City, and other communities in the Sacramento River
canyon are certainly at high risk from forest fire. It is extremely worrisome
and needs to be remedied.
The next stop was near Lake Siskiyou, where the
group was joined by Professional Foresters from Jefferson Resources, who manage
the forested land which is owned by Siskiyou County. Daniel Lindler presented
the project objectives. Questions were asked and answered. The area has been
returned to a natural-like stand and deer winter range restored by
opening the meadows again.
Continuing on the forestry issue, the group then traveled to
Hawkinsville and Ray explained the Craggy Stewardship Project. This is an
unusual fuels project, because it is a partnership between USFS and Cal-Fire.
He explained the project is a good example of how to stop the spread of
wildfire and recently saved the town of Hawkinsville. The Craggy Project is the
first of this kind of partnership between the federal government and California
-- in the state.
The next stop was at Collier Rest Stop on I-5 for lunch,
where the issues of the Endangered Species Act-listed coho salmon, fish
diseases, water issues, threats of wildfire and how important the Klamath dams
are to fighting fire were discussed.
“The dams have saved Hornbrook and residents at Copco several
times in the last few years,” Ray said. The reservoirs are a must for fire
suppression.
Doug’s staff asked questions about the effect that Klamath
dam removal would have on the residents with homes on the river and what would
the tremendous amount of sediment do to the river’s eco-system and water
quality? Yep, really important concerns for sure.
Shasta Vista and road A-12, with the huge amount of illegal
greenhouses (no permits) growing criminal cannabis throughout the area, was the
last stop. Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue gave a presentation, answered
questions and then offered a tour of the illegal operations.
In 2016, Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board approved a
Declaration stating Siskiyou is not a commercial-cannabis grow county. State
law gave each county the ability to make this decision. Our Siskiyou
Supervisors continue to support eradication of criminal activity.
(Unfortunately, too many think they can get away with growing
it anyway. My guess is making lots of money is the incentive!)
Recently, Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus
obtained a court abatement order for nine pieces of property in Shasta Vista. Sheriff
LaRue is executing the order. So, a number of bulldozers, excavators, backhoes
and dozens of local volunteers were demolishing the illegal greenhouses,
abating the cannabis and cleaning-up the environmental disaster, when Ray and
the congressman’s group arrived. Impressive!
Ray told me that 384 huge greenhouses were destroyed, along
with 82,998 plants and 1,435 pounds of processed marijuana in two days last
week.
(You can’t tell me that 1,435 pounds of processed marijuana –
in Siskiyou County -- is legal. Nope. With all the controversy and outside
media claims of bias, it looks to me like many people have forgotten that only
12 marijuana plants are legal to grow in Siskiyou County and those must be
indoors. I have seen aerial photos of hundreds of gigantic greenhouses built in
the last three years throughout this area. Doesn’t matter who or what groups
are growing cannabis, it reeks of organized crime. That’s my opinion.)
Back to the congressman’s tour – “Doug has been to the county
more times than any congressman I know of,” said Ray. “Typically, he comes up
several times a year for events and is also here when times are tough,
including visiting the Happy Camp Fire several times,” last fall.
When he worked for the USFS, Ray met with congressmen and
other elected officials and finished by saying he has “never seen a congressman
bring his entire staff to a county.” High praise, indeed!
Those who attend various meetings, in our county, know that
Doug’s staff person, Erin Ryan, is here quite often and has a monthly time slot
for individuals to meet with her. She is open and available. And, Erin claims
that Siskiyou is her “favorite” county. Shuhhh, don’t tell the other counties!
Garden
Got two flowerbeds cleaned-up and one planted with volunteer
cosmos. A giant pumpkin seed is up, also two zucchini, eight cucumbers and
hopefully at least four cantaloupes! Almost all the soaker hoses were laid out
just in time for this yucky heat wave. Whew!
May peace
and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it makes you feel better!
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 can be
found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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