Opposing sides in California water wars forced together in groundwater agencies

With all the downpours and flooding across California this winter, it might seem that the pressure to begin managing the state’s precious groundwater supply would ease up a bit. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article140345243.html#storylink=cpy  Read More

Support For Biomass Facilities

A recent MyMotherLode informal poll asked “Do You Support Opening And Expanding Local Biomass (wood & organic debris burning) Facilities?” The majority, 79 percent, said yes while only 11 percent said they don’t know with another 10 percent against it. Read Article Here in MyMotherlode.com  Read More

Supes Weigh In Over Measure B Cannabis Ban Removal From Ballot

The future of commercial cannabis in Calaveras for now is now completely up to the county supervisors. As reported here, on Tuesday a ruling was issued by a visiting Calaveras County Superior Court judge in response to a lawsuit by Jeremy Carlson, who owns Calaveras Naturals and operates Little Trees Dispensary in Arnold, over incorrect and misleading wording within the Measure B commercial cannabis ban citizens’ initiative.The court order directed... Read More

CSERC files a lawsuit yesterday against the Forest Service arguing alleged poor management of cattle grazing in the Stanislaus National Forest.

The lawsuit was filed by the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) and the Sierra Forest Legacy. It argues that the Forest Service has been allowing cattle grazing in some areas to the point that it is out of compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. Read in MyMotherlode.com  Read More

Nearly $56 Million CCWD Capital Improvement Plan passes

Am ambitious five-year program has been given a unanimous approval  by the Calaveras County Water District. Read Article in MyMotherlode.com  Read More

THIS JUST IN … Snow survey results: Snowpack’s water content 164% of historical average

Today’s manual snow survey by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada found a SWE of 46.1 inches, 183 percent of the late March/early April long-term average at Phillips (25.2 inches). The three previous 2017 surveys at Phillips near the beginning of March, February and January found an SWE of 43.5 inches for March, 28 inches for February and 6 inches for January. Read Article Here on Maven’s Notebook  Read More

Damage, design flaws in Oroville Dam spillway point to lengthy repairs

The main spillway at Oroville Dam is riddled with design flaws and so badly damaged that an independent panel of experts hired by the state has concluded it’s probably impossible to repair the structure completely before the next rainy season begins in November.  Read More Here in SacBee  Read More

‘Big dream’ for county’s water future

San Joaquin County County supervisors may agree to conduct an experiment of ground water storage with East Bay MUD. The Record, March 20  Read More

Bill would expand protections for California’s rivers

A bill to expand protections for California’s wild and scenic rivers is working its way through the state legislature. Capital Public Radio, March 21  Read More

Don’t build more dams?

Twelve years ago, Friends of the River and other environmental groups warned state and federal agencies that the unarmored spillway at Oroville, our nation’s tallest dam, was dangerous. We were ignored. This time, we trust our words will not fall on deaf ears. Read this article in SF Chronicle  Read More