Liz Writes Life
August 18, 2021
Garden report
Dang it! Something ate half of an almost-ripe tomato and the next morning I found another almost-ripe tomato with several bites out of it. A raccoon was likely the bandit! Hum, because there are only a few tomatoes turning orange, I decided to try and protect them. Boy, I was so hungry for a bacon and tomato sandwich! What to do?
The deer netting has been used for fencing and I figured a raccoon would bite right through it, anyway. So I decided to try something different. I dug some old kitchen towels out of the rag bag and wrapped several around each couple of tomatoes that were ripening. Ended-up with three wrapped groups. I did this one night and it seemed to work. Unfortunately, the next night I didn’t remember to re-wrap (I had unwrapped them in the morning) the tomatoes until it was dark and very smoky and still yucky hot. So, I was lazy and didn’t go do the job. Yep, the next morning I could see the remnants of several almost-ripe tomatoes. Bummer.
So, I am now leaving the towels wrapped around several almost-ripe tomatoes and will just need to check them every morning to see if they are ripe enough to pick. While doing the wrapping, I knocked several orange-colored tomatoes off their stems, so they are in the house sitting on the counter, in morning sunshine, with my great expectations of ripening.
I did visit a friend, who has ripe tomatoes and she sent several home with me. So, I have eaten two bacon and home-grown tomato sandwiches. Yum! And, while I was at Gene’s Market in Greenview, several people reported they were getting a few ripe tomatoes. Yep, the hot dog days of summer are here and folks -- other than me -- are eating ripe tomatoes from their gardens. I am trying not to be jealous. Ha, ha. Good work on your gardens!
Water regulations
With a heavy hand, the California State Water Resources Control Board is stopping irrigation water to farmers and landowners throughout the state.
On Aug. 3, 2021, the water board voted 5-0 to stop water diversions that will affect over 5,700 farmers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin region. Farmers question the authority of the Water Board to “take” their water right usage, which in California is a legal property right. Lawsuits are expected. Threats of fines of more than $1,000 per day have been laid out by the water board.
The diversion ban must still be approved by the Office of Administrative Law, but approval is expected and the new regulations will begin on Aug. 16, 2021 for the Sacramento and San Joaquin region.
On Aug. 17, 2021, the same water board will hold a teleconference meeting specific to Siskiyou County’s Shasta and Scott River watersheds regarding “Drought Emergency Regulation.” Agenda items include establishing minimum instream flow requirements. (My opinion on this issue is that you can’t get water where there isn’t any. Most of our streams and the rivers are already at very low flows or non-existent because of the drought.)
The second part of this agenda item will also provide curtailment and information order authority to the State Water Board. Local farmers, ranchers, agricultural organizations and Siskiyou County are sending in comments before the meeting. I talked with Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou Co. Supervisors’ Board, who said the county wrote another comment letter that also reiterates previous comments.
One thing the State Water Board is proposing is a 30 percent decrease in overall use of water in both Shasta and Scott watersheds. But, the county and farmers claim significant reduction has already occurred through fallowing of fields, selling of livestock, installing low-water-usage irrigation systems and switching to crops that use less water. The county is frustrated that the State Water Board seems to be ignoring these efforts and is not recognizing the accumulative reduction of water use.
The county is also questioning why the draft emergency regulations are attempting to “usurp the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act,” which the county has worked diligently with irrigators. It also appears the Scott Valley adjudication may be affected by these new regulations. How did the State Water Board obtain the legal authority to re-describe these schedules? This is a significant question asked by the county and I hope they receive a correct answer.
Once again, the county encouraged the water board to resolve problems through creative and collaborative solutions. Voluntary actions will achieve the best results. Boy, do I agree!
Doug LaMalfa
There was some good news from the federal government on the firefighting front. In a recent press release, Congressman LaMalfa thanked the Biden Administration for sending 600 additional firefighters, aircraft and other resources to fight the Dixie Fire and other wildfires burning in Northern California. LaMalfa said the assets were “desperately and urgently needed” and looked forward to continuing to work with the White House to get assistance to Cal Fire and the federal firefighters as well as those greatly affected by fire damage and loss. Good to know the White House responded!
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. Columns from the past can be found at:
lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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