RIP Trinitas

Legal battles over former golf course finally end The battle over the Trinitas golf course outlived the golf facility itself. Now, however, it is finally over. Calaveras Enterprise, Aug. 15, 2014  Read More

Supes did right by the Moke River

Our county supervisors got it right when they voted to support state wild and scenic designation for the Mokelumne River. They had sound reasons for their decision, including the economic advantages of having a wild and scenic section available for fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting. The designation is an opportunity to save the river and use its water resources for the benefit of Calaveras County – to preserve our water rights for future... Read More

Delta waters in tug of war

In what is believed to be a first, the California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are asking the state board that oversees water rights to investigate water diversion practices by farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The two powerful water agencies say they suspect farmers are taking water released from upstream dams and intended for consumers in other regions of the state.  Read Here in Sac Bee  Read More

Calaveras Supervisors reaffirm support for Wild & Scenic Moke

Transcript of Comments; Call for River Artists; Water Politics in Calaveras; new Groundwater websites & proposed regulations; September Public Meeting on Water and Drought Calaveras BOS stands strong for a Wild and Scenic Moke!  On July 29, 2014, a 4-1 vote reaffirmed Calaveras supervisors’ support of state Wild and Scenic designation for 37 miles of the Mokelumne River.  Supervisor Cliff Edson, who requested Tuesday’s meeting,... Read More

Sierra Pacific Industries was seeking state permits to log in Sheep Ranch

Swiss Ranch Timber Harvest Plan is a 361-acre harvest plan, that most of the harvest – including areas only about a mile from Earth Abides ( a land the trust east of Sheep Ranch, volunteers with the Catholic Worker movement grow organic vegetables and hold retreats for people) – would be logged using what foresters call an “alternative prescription.” Read Here  Read More

Energy Efficiency Strategies: A New Tool for Rural Communities

Sierra Business Council (SBC) is breaking new ground in the energy efficiency field in the Sierra Nevada. Five communities have partnered with SBC to develop strategies for increasing energy efficiency in their areas that will result in reduced emissions and dollars saved on energy bills. The strategies will be augmented by concrete measures the community can readily implement within a reasonable timeframe. The measures would be designed to also help... Read More

7 Weird Ways to Save Water

Check them out, courtesy of National Geographic, here:  7 Weird Ways to Save Water  Read More

What Does California Need? More Water Storage or Better Water Management?

“Is the question more water storage or better management of our water resources in California?  “I think it’s gonna take both. You got a water system for 20 million and we have 36 or 37 million,” Assemblyman Dan Logue said. Logue is taking fellow Legislators on a tour of what would be the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County.   Read more from KFBK here:  What Does California Need? More Water Storage or Better Water Management?  Read More

Water bond must recognize Sierra’s importance

By Steven Frisch Special to The Bee Published: Monday, Jul. 28, 2014 Before they left Sacramento for summer recess, legislators said they would work together to hammer out a new water bond bill when they returned in August. This would replace the $11.14 billion proposal currently on the November ballot, which has already been delayed twice. Although legislators and Gov. Jerry Brown have put forward conflicting ideas that may be difficult to reconcile,... Read More

Brown pushes lean water bond

ORIGINAL VERSION IS ‘PORK-LADEN,’ HE SAYS   By David Siders dsiders@sacbee.com Gov. Jerry Brown, pressing his case Tuesday for a smaller water bond on the November ballot, criticized the existing, $11.1 billion bond as “pork-laden” and “with a price tag beyond what’s reasonable or affordable.” Brown has been pushing for a $6billion bond since June, with $2 billion of that amount for dams   and other water storage projects. The proposal... Read More