West’s record wildfires raise questions about development

Development in the wildland-urban interface puts wildland firefighters at risk. USA Today, August 19  Read More

Respected Calaveras planning director resigns

Rebecca Willis is leaving after doing an excellent job for Calaveras County over the last two years. See story here Related article: Calaveras Enterprise, August 19 Letter of resignation  Read More

Rim Fire: effect of this massive fire on wildlife, forest, and watershed resources is already a devastating reality.

CSERC update with key information about the Rim Fire west of Yosemite Park:   The huge Rim Fire expanded by another 40,000 acres yesterday (Thursday, August 22nd), growing to over 105,000 acres in total size.  The fire has now swept into Yosemite Park on both sides of Lake Eleanor and is burning all along a broad front of Park land stretching south to Mather. Precious old growth forests have been consumed by the flames that continue to sweep eastward... Read More

Decision on proposed Calaveras development may shape growth

By Dana M. Nichols Record Staff Writer August 10, 2013 12:00 AM   SAN ANDREAS – The proposed Crazy Horse Estates housing development may only be four lots but its fate could influence whether businesses and homes can grow elsewhere throughout Calaveras County, planning officials say. And that means there will likely be a historic showdown sometime in the next few months before the Board of Supervisors. Builder Sam Mosby, one of the investors... Read More

Action Summary discussion/ decision at BOS

HEADS UP! –“Action Summary Minutes” are scheduled to return to the Board of Supervisors on August 27 for discussion/ possible adoption. At the last board of Supervisors meeting, at least 3 of our 4 supervisors seemed open to eliminating detailed BOS meeting minutes and adopting an extremely abbreviated and uninformative “action summary” of meetings–if the county was able to post audio and video files online. ... Read More

Calaveras High arts center gets go-ahead

By Dana M. Nichols Record Staff Writer August 07, 2013   SAN ANDREAS – Calaveras Unified School District trustees gave the go-ahead Tuesday night to draft plans for a 300-seat performing arts center to be built at Calaveras High School. If all goes well, the district could break ground on the center by next summer, and young actors, musicians and dancers could perform there sometime in the 2015-16 school year, Calaveras Unified Superintendent... Read More

Study touts tunnel benefit

While state study purports to provide an even-handed analysis of the economics of the twin tunnels project, tunnel opponents call the benefits “fantasy” and point out that it fails to consider the costs and benefits of other alternatives. The Record, August 6  Read More

Ecologists Turn To Planned Grazing To Revive Grassland Soil

The Nature Conservancy and cattle ranchers are studying whether mimicking the natural patterns of grazing animals can make grasslands more productive. NPR Morning Edition, August 5  Read More

Critics jump on frog and toad protection plans in California

Rep. Tom McClintock holds a forum Tuesday in Sonora to bash the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposal for the Endangered Species Act listing of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, which live in Amador and Calaveras county’s high country, and the Yosemite toad, which resides at higher elevations in Alpine County. Sacramento Bee, August 5 Related article: The Record*, August 6  Read More

Agency finds climate change taking toll on California

California lakes are warming, sea levels are rising, wildfires are spreading, and mountain plants and animals are migrating to higher ground as the impacts of climate change take hold. San Francisco Chronicle, August 8  Read More