Angels Camp budget on track, city still recovering

Union Democrat, May 6, 2015 The Angels Camp City Council on Tuesday heard an update on its annual budget and a “State of the City” report from its finance department. City Administrator Michael McHatten gave an overview of expenses and revenues thus far in the fiscal year in a third-quarter report, which he said is probably the most important budget update before the summer budgeting period. Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council: Approved... Read More

Firewise meeting focuses on survival during wildfires

Drought makes preparation more urgent this year People in Arnold, like many towns in forested parts of California, are working now to keep their neighborhoods from burning down during fires that might happen late this summer. Calaveras Enterprise, May 5, 2015  Read More

Proposal gives Melones to local water districts

By Alex Breitler The Stockton Record | Posted: Friday, May 1, 2015  One of two bills introduced by congressman U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, wants the federal government to transfer ownership of New Melones Reservoir to local water districts. That’s the aim of one of two bills introduced by Denham on Wednesday. The other bill would seek to eliminate hungry predators that chomp on endangered fish in the Stanislaus River downstream of the reservoir. Both... Read More

CCWD still slated for 32 percent water use cut under proposed regulation

State officials are still recommending a drought conservation plan that would require customers of the Calaveras County Water District this year to reduce their water consumption 32 percent compared to 2013. Other water agencies in Calaveras County would be required to cut water use by 25 percent. Calaveras Enterprise, May 1, 2015    Read More

Supervisors consider changing county transit plan

Representatives from Calaveras County government, the Angels Camp City Council and the Calaveras Council of Governments will form an ad hoc committee to consider how best to steer the county’s struggling public transit system in the coming decade. Calaveras Enterprise, May 1, 2015  Read More

McClintock amendment would block water purchases

Rep. Tom McClintock’s amendment to forbid federal agencies from purchasing water during California’s catastrophic drought in order to release it into rivers to meet environmental requirements was adopted May 1 as part of the House of Representatives’ Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. Read Here John Buckley, executive director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center in Twain Harte, (and member of Calaveras Planning... Read More

River Reflections continues; grand finale event

After nearly a year of implementing the River Reflections Mokelumne River Arts Project, AmadorArts and its project partners invite the public to “Party at Pardee.”  On Saturday, May 9, from 2 to 5 pm, the finale event will focus on the performing arts to celebrate the conclusion of the project which began last summer. What better place than at the nearby reservoir which holds the Mokelumne River before it begins its journey to the East Bay…the... Read More

Fourth year of drought taking toll on cattle ranchers

The drought is forcing ranchers to cull herds… “There’s no place to go to. There’s so little property for lease,” Butler said. What used to be some 15,000 acres of prime grazing land between southern Tuolumne County and Oakdale has been rezoned and now is mostly almond orchards, he said. –Click here for article—Union Democrat, April 8, 2015  Read More

Feds, water districts spar over fish flows

Local elected leaders are backing two Central Valley irrigation districts that have defied a federal order to release more water this month from New Melones Reservoir for endangered fish in the Stanislaus River. –Click here for article—Union Democrat, April 8, 2015  Read More

County general plan gets low marks

“It appears as if the county is going out of its way to avoid providing any guidance for both orderly economic development and sound resource conservation,” said Tom Infusino, an attorney for the Calaveras Planning Coalition. Click here for article—Calaveras Enterprise, April 10, 2015  Read More