Act now to save CEQA.

Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:22:25 -0400 As the 2012 California Legislative Session speeds to a close on August 31st, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has again become the currency of the Capitol’s back room traders. Right now, the integrity of CEQA is seemingly being offered up by Democrats seeking Republican votes needed to pass last-minute bills – bills being drafted without public hearings and outside of committee review.... Read More

Water rights panel speaks at Workgroup Summit

Mountain Democrat On July 17, Mountain Counties Water Resources Association Executive Director John Kingsbury moderated a panel of four legal experts in California water rights at  the Sierra Water Workgroup Summit at King’s Beach, North Lake Tahoe. Kingsbury framed the issues: A lot of people think they have water rights, but do they really? What exactly are water rights: area of origin, senior, junior, pre- and post-1914, riparian? The state... Read More

Ruling hampers Yosemite-area resort plan

Written by Union Democrat staff August 02, 2012  01:23 pm A federal appeals court upheld a ruling on Friday  that a California developer does not have the rights to build a road connecting  his property to Yosemite National Park. Solvang developer Lewis Geyser, head of Hazel  Green Ranch LLC, wanted to construct the road to reduce travel time for visitors  to the upscale 300-building resort he wants to construct on the 83-acre  property.  ... Read More

Property values slip less

Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat  August 02, 2012 01:19 pm http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Local-News/Property-values-slip-less The total value of assessed property in Calaveras  County continued to fall this year, though at a slower rate than the year prior. Figures released by County Assessor Leslie Davis  this week placed the gross secured property tax roll at $5.46 billion in 2012, a  4.37 percent drop from 2011. The drop is less... Read More

Speak up for Mokelumne River recreation and protection on Monday and Tuesday

Three different foothill governing bodies will discuss the Mokelumne River at their meetings next week. We hope you can go and speak up for river protection and recreation. Protecting and using the Moke is good for people, fish and wildlife — and for our local economy. And thanks to everyone who came to the BLM hearing on July 31. Monday, August 13, 7 pm The Jackson City Council will consider a letter of support for the BLM’s proposed... Read More

Commercial rafting gets mostly a thumbs up

By Joel Metzger | Posted: Friday, August 3, 2012 10:14 am Few concerns were raised at a public meeting held in Amador County Tuesday regarding a three-year pilot study of commercial recreation on the Mokelumne River. The program would include opportunities for commercial rafting, kayaking lessons and guided fishing excursions. If there are no major public objections to the study, it will likely begin early next year, allowing a limited number... Read More

Foothill Conservancy Seeking Staff

The Foothill Conservancy, a small 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit conservation organization based in Pine Grove-Pioneer, is seeking an interim executive director. The position is FT limited-term with the potential to become permanent. See job announcement and application information at http://www.foothillconservancy.org/pages/events.cgi?calcatid=1&calid=410&_fn_=410.407.409 Foothill Conservancy also has an opening for a watershed conservation associate.... Read More

Report blasts housing agency

Written by Chris Caskey, The Union Democrat July 10, 2012 11:02 am Area cities and counties should have guarded themselves against liabilities created by the financial collapse of a local affordable-housing agency last year, the Tuolumne County Civil Grand Jury reported last week. In the Grand Jury’s annual report, the investigative body made up of local citizens, detailed the rise and fall of the Central Sierra Planning Council and recommended... Read More

Trinitas Golf Course Costly For Calaveras County?

July 13, 2012    02:34 pm Tracey Petersen, MML Reporter Calaveras County, CA – The former owners of the 280 acre Trinitas golf course have filed an appeal to overturn a decision by a lower court last year. That ruling determined golf is not a legal form of agritourism in Calaveras County. Former Trinitas owners Michael and Michelle Nemee had hoped a victory in the agritourism case would make the course legal. The course was built without... Read More

Unemployment Down in Lode

Written by Union Democrat staff June 20, 2012 02:36 pm Union Democrat Staff Jobless claims fell slightly for the second straight month in the Mother Lode, according to job market data released Friday. The unemployment rate in Tuolumne County was at 11.7 percent in May, according to the California Employment Development Department, a half-percent decrease compared to April when that figure was 12.2 percent. Unemployment has fluctuated slightly... Read More