Liz Writes Life
July 14, 2021
Congressman LaMalfa and Sheriff LaRue headline Republican
meeting
On July 8, 2021, California Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa
visited Siskiyou County holding several meetings and speaking at the Siskiyou
Conservative Republicans’ meeting in Montague and later speaking to the
Siskiyou Patriots’ at in Yreka. I was able to attend the earlier Republican
meeting and quickly learned that Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue would also
speak. So, I pulled out my trusty notepad and went to work taking notes.
Yep, current issues related to fires, the outside media
calling Siskiyou County “racist” over illegal cannabis grows and the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission’s recent decision to approve the transfer of the
license for the four Lower Klamath Hydroelectric dams from PacifiCorp to the
non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp. were major topics.
Sheriff LaRue spoke first and was upbeat. “No matter how bad
things get, we still need to smile,” he said, “Good will prevail.” I sure like
his can-do attitude!
He expressed his appreciation for the support he has received
from his department and throughout the Siskiyou community during his first nine
months in office. LaRue then admitted there has been “a lot of noise that isn’t
true” relating to the Lava Fire, started by lightning on June 25, 2021 -- and
Hmong residents living in the A-12 Road area. He said it is “strange” to have a
shooting death during fire evacuations, but it happened. Also “strange” was the
fact that 14 arrests were made, because individuals were running the blockades.
A-12 and Highway 97 were shut-down at various times in the early days of the
Lava Fire. It was a very serious time.
Evacuating the Lake Shastina area went “very smooth,” he
said, “but the evac process in the Shasta Vista area was more difficult.”
This is the area that recently saw hundreds of large greenhouses
built and they are full of illegal grows of cannabis with thousands of people
living in camping type of situations. Not in homes.
Adding to the chaos was the fact that firefighters were being
threatened and blocked from getting into and out of fire fighting areas -- by these
local residents. Yep, it was a “hostile” situation, said Sheriff LaRue. Besides
encouraging life-saving evacuations, law enforcement also needed to be there to
protect the fire fighters. Outrageous for sure!
Sheriff LaRue said his department received backup from many
law enforcement agencies with 50 extra officers arriving to help.
Sheriff LaRue also mentioned: Because of the recent strict
county ordinances that do not allow farmers to sell or transport their water
pumped from agricultural wells to off-property, (the water was going to the
illegal cannabis grows) he has been able to accomplish stronger enforcement. More
than 20 water trucks have been confiscated from these actions, the sheriff
said!
After a fine lunch of barbecue ribs and salads by Dave and
Kathy Tyler and cupcakes by Jackie Twilliger, Congressman LaMalfa accepted the
microphone and discussed several of his votes on bills in congress and his
interactions with fellow congress people.
LaMalfa continues to work on saving the four Klamath
hydroelectric dams. Doug said that FERC made its most recent decision, so it
wouldn’t get saddled with liabilities. He said that because the states of
California and Oregon have been named (by FERC) as co-licensees with the
non-profit KRRC, they “cannot escape the liability of environmental damages.” This
could be very costly!
It has been estimated at least 20 million cubic yards of
sediment is backed up behind the dams and will cause tremendous environmental
and water quality damage to the Klamath River, when released. Doug said that
number has been increased by three fold and it is more likely that 60 million
cubic yards of sediment will pollute the entire region out to the Pacific Ocean
if the dams come out.
The public scoping process has begun, which is part of the
information that must be obtained to complete the Environmental Impact Statement
under the National Environmental Policy Act. The four meetings will be held on
zoom, but LaMalfa said we should demand that at least one of these sessions
must be held in Siskiyou County in a town hall-type meeting, so more
individuals will be able to voice their concerns – on record.
There is hope regarding the NEPA process. Doug explained that
there are many environmental arguments that should prove the terrible detrimental
aspects of dam destruction.
On that note, I wanted to let you all know Siskiyou County
began its process of using the administrative steps that must be taken before a
lawsuit can be implemented to stop dam destruction. At the July 6, 2021
Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board meeting, Chairman Ray Haupt moved to file a
rehearing petition with FERC on the relicensing decision from PacifiCorp to
KRRC for de-commissioning the dams. It was seconded by Michael Kobseff and
passed.
This is an appeal on FERC’s decision in (legal) petition
form. Ray told me it is a long process with many legal steps that must be
taken. It is comparable to walking up to a gate – before it can be opened. And
because the administrative process is complicated, there will be more gates
that must be opened before a lawsuit can be filed.
So, even though the threat of dam removal is real, it is
still a few years away and is not final.
Go Bag
During the Republican meeting, Dan Dorsey encouraged everyone
to have a “Go Bag” ready, because in extreme situations you may only have five
minutes to decide what is important if you need to evacuate. Dan is the new
chairman for the Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee, but he is also a
retired Fire Captain for Cal-Fire and has been involved in drastic fire
situations.
Dan said to get a set or two of clothes, important documents,
water bottles, food and remember medicines and prescriptions should be gathered
into one spot for easy access. Don’t just think about it, Dan said to “do it!”
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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