Friday, June 4, 2021

Congressman Doug LaMalfa tours Siskiyou County

 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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