Forests recover from fires without clear-cutting

The timber industry makes a lot of money clear-cutting our national forests after fires, so it’s no surprise that it takes some liberties with the facts (“Salvage logging is first step to fire recovery,” Viewpoints, Oct. 13). The logging industry claims that where fires burn most intensely, the forest does not naturally regenerate, suggesting that post-fire logging is needed to generate revenue for artificial tree planting. This is a myth. Scientific... Read More

University of California unveils plan to combat climate change, saying it’s ‘moral imperative’

Reducing the human carbon footprint is a “moral imperative,” University of California President Janet Napolitano said Tuesday as she vowed to turn the system’s 10 campuses into a living laboratory for solutions that can be scaled up to state, national and global levels. Read Here  Read More

Paloma Pollinators and CalaverasGROWN are willing to help those who have been impacted by the Butte Fire.

We have worked on a half dozen parcels already and would love to ramp up our efforts, but also need more volunteers to get involved. We have to prioritize the help we are giving. We will start helping those with the following issues first: -your well is damaged and you need help getting it turned back on:only ask us for this if you need the water for living or irrigation now -the fire burned your land so badly that most of the leaves and pine needles... Read More

Forest restoration is a complex issue, but progress isn’t impossible

Wildfire, land management, and forest health have been regular topics in local and national news recently. The New York Times published an article about the impacts that wildfires and climate change are having on forested landscapes across the west. The Fresno Bee responded to their readers’ questions about the Rough Fire with a story on changes in forest management over the last 100 years. MSNBC featured an Op Ed by The Nature Conservancy on current... Read More

Wildfires in California

Wildfires in California have been increasing in size and severity in recent decades. How do these recent fires compare to historical conditions in the Sierra Nevada? The following article by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy takes a look at the numbers and science behind ongoing research into wildfire behavior and impacts in the Sierra Nevada. (This was written before the Butte Fire – 70,000 + acres to be added) Read article here      Read More

California rancherias look to microgrids for power during natural disaster

Many homes and businesses went dark as firefighters battled the Butte Fire and to get the flames under control. But the lights stayed on and power kept flowing at the rancheria’s hotel and casino because of a specialized network of generators and electrical equipment that gave the rancheria temporary energy independence from the regional power grid operated by Pacific Gas and Electric. Read entire article in the Sac Bee    Read More

Butte Fire Rumor Page

The county has created a “Butte Fire Rumor Page” (direct link). This page can be found on the Calaveras County Website. Example of content: One of the questions it answers is about sandbags: “Sandbags need not be filled with sand. In fact, any soil from the property will be sufficient. Bags should be filled ⅓ to ½ full as over-filling bags causes them to bulge and allow water to leak through gaps. Sandbags will be available... Read More

Volunteers spread straw for Butte Fire survivors

Volunteers organized by Calaveras Grown are neglecting their own orchards, bees and gardens several days a week to lay down erosion control materials and repair wells on properties damaged in the Butte Fire. Read article from Calaveras Enterprise here  Read More

Assembly Bill 142 is a compromise

Calaveras County Water District Director Dennis Mills was incorrect when he asserted the Mokelumne will become a wild and scenic river without further action. Read article here  Read More

Butte Fire Update – Calaveras County

Here’s an update from the Calaveras County Admin Office 10/19/2015 Environmental Health: • Locations of debris removal teams:  Western and Central Jesus Maria; Del Sol • Number of Debris removal teams: 6 • Hazmat sweep properties cleared: estimate of 320 properties.  (waiting to verify with EPA • Properties cleared of debris (all debris removed): 6 • Right of Entry forms submitted: 570 • Items of concern: Traffic safety;... Read More