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

Biking in Calaveras

“Bicycling is becoming more popular in the central Mother Lode, with more tourists, recreational cyclists and commuters demanding safe routes, and businesses recognizing the economic opportunity. But our roads and streets remain an obstacle to taking advantage of cycling opportunities.” If you are interested in biking in Calaveras County, please read, “Bike riding is an opportunity for Calaveras County” (Guest Opinion by Rob Williams, Calaveras... Read More

Medical care services in danger for Calaveras?

The Silver Oak Medical Office is closing its doors on Feb. 28. An announcement from the office stated that the increasing cost of running a private health care business and decreasing reimbursements from insurance companies were the major factors contributing to the office’s closure. An inability to draw new doctors to the area was also cited as a hurdle for the office. Read Calaveras Enterprise article here  Read More

Wet weather doesn’t mean Sierra Nevada forests are OK

Between 2014 and 2016, an estimated 83 million trees died in the Sierra Nevada from overgrowth, bark beetles, and drought… Between 2014 and 2016, the Butte, King and other fires have killed 30 million trees. Sierra Nevada Conservancy staff say these numbers are unprecedented… Federal agencies must confront overgrown, over-crowded, over-dense forests that have resulted from a century of fire suppression, mismanagement and neglect Read Article... Read More