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

1,000+ Comment Pages on Calaveras Draft General Plan

Planning Director Peter Maurer told the Calaveras Planning Coalition on April 6 that he has over 1,000 comment letter pages (plus many attachments) to read about the Draft General Plan released last December, and that comments “are still coming in.”  According to the director, he is about half way through the letters, and about half of the comments so far are on “global issues” such as water, community plans, economic development, “keep... Read More

Wild & Scenic River bill gaining support; Mokelumne River to Receive Interim Protection

“Recent amendments to Assembly Bill 142, the latest Wild and Scenic bill concerning the Mokelumne River, are pleasing to Friends of the River and Foothill Conservancy”.  On March 23, AB 142’s author Frank Bigelow accepted several amendments from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, and stated the bill was not intended to delay Wild and Scenic designation and that he could support Wild and Scenic protection if recommended as a result... Read More

CSERC’s John Buckley Rebuts Attack Column

John Buckley, executive director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, rebuts “twisted statements” and “fabricated claims” in a recent attack column.  Buckley advocates “middle ground policies” and reasserts that thousands of existing vacant parcels exist for new construction and development in Calaveras County. Read Guest Opinion, “The right to differ doesn’t equal a right to mislead or ignore facts” (Calaveras... Read More

“The brief water war on the Stanislaus River is over”

Representatives of the South San Joaquin and Oakdale irrigation districts confirmed Monday morning that they are again cooperating with federal dam operators to allow water to flow down the Stanislaus River to benefit steelhead.” Read, “Tulloch to remain full this summer” (Calaveras Enterprise, April 14, 2015).  Read More

Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch has posted a new item

MENLO PARK PASSES RESOLUTION TO BAN CLEARCUT LOGGING IN CALIFORNIA  Menlo Park,CA– On Tuesday April 7, 2015, Menlo Park’s City Council passed a resolutionto call on the state legislature and governor to ban clearcut logging inCalifornia, making it the fifth California […]You may view the latest post athttp://www.ebbettspassforestwatch.org/2015/04/08/menlo-park-passes-resolution-to-ban-clearcut-logging-in-california/  Read More

Water news

In California water news today, Emergency changes approved reducing river flows; Sanctions, higher costs considered under California drought plan, Some communities may have to cut water use by 35%, Water board shutoff orders could include senior water right holders, Water agencies mull big changes to hot-button plumbing plan, Delta Smelt, Icon of California Water Wars, Is Almost Extinct, California rain & snow does little to help drought; Funnel... Read More

Help recommend Tahoe creeks for national Wild & Scenic protection!

TAKE ACTION TODAY The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comments in response to the agency’s initial evaluation of potential Wild & Scenic Rivers flowing into Lake Tahoe. At stake are some of Lake Tahoe’s most scenic, popular, and biologically diverse tributaries, including several streams flowing into the upper Truckee River that support threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout. The evaluation is being conducted in response to an objection... Read More