Denair neighbors say farmer’s drilling sapped their wells

Published: July 7, 2013 By Garth Stapley — gstapley@modbee.com DENAIR — Faced with saving crops or friendships, Roger Smith chose crops. Home water wells owned by several neighbors went dry after the farmer drilled a huge agricultural well to keep alive the corn and alfalfa that feed his dairy cows. At least six families say they were forced to spend up to $13,000 each sinking new wells or lose the luxury of drinking, flushing and showering. They... Read More

Calaveras water rate hikes scaled back after ratepayers object

By Dana M. Nichols, Record Staff Writer July 11, 2013 SAN ANDREAS – Calaveras County Water District directors scaled back plans for a rate increase Wednesday after facing hours of sometimes-angry criticism from an overflow crowd of ratepayers. District staff had recommended hiking water rates by 60 percent over four years and sewer rates almost 70 percent over five years. They said the increase is necessary to replace aging pipes, pumps and... Read More

‘Bump parties’ out at Tulloch

Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat July 10, 2013 12:30 pm Calaveras County leaders agreed Tuesday to settle a lawsuit against Lake Tulloch Resort brought on by “bump  parties” with a spring break-type atmosphere the past few summers. The settlement requires the resort to submit to a  special event permitting process to hold any similar gatherings in the  future and resolves a suit filed by the county in September in the  Calaveras... Read More

Board gets update from conservancy group

By Stephen Crane | Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 8:13 am The mountains, forests and waterways of Calaveras County have been getting a boost over the past few years, and the economy has benefited as well. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy opened up Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting by presenting a variety of initiatives within the county the group has facilitated over the past few years. According to its mission statement, the conservancy “initiates,... Read More

On restoring our forests so they are more resilient in the face of fire

The following Op Ed by Steven Frisch of the Sierra Business Alliance was shared today on Facebook. Steve has kindly given permission to share here on the CAP Webpage: Let me state unequivocally, as one who has and likely will live in the wildland urban interface again, I don’t want a 30 year old father of four risking his LIFE for my accumulated sentimental baubles. We love our firefighters, they put their lives on the line to save our families... Read More

Experts: Expect bigger, fiercer wildfires in West

By ALICIA CHANG and SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writers LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s a dangerous but basic equation behind the killer Yarnell Hill wildfire and other blazes raging across the West this summer: More heat, more drought, more fuel and more people in the way are adding up to increasingly ferocious fires. Scientists say a hotter planet will only increase the risk. More than two dozen wildland fires are burning from Alaska to New... Read More

Court ruling a blow to land use collaboration

Editorial:  By the Editorial Board Published: Friday, Jun. 28, 2013 – Page 12A/Sacramento Bee A developer wants to dredge wetlands on his land to build a shopping center. He needs a permit. The local government agency tours the site and tries to negotiate a deal that would permit him to build, while offsetting the harm to the protected wetlands. These kinds of land use negotiations go on every day in California and across the country. State... Read More

Calif. closes loophole allowing gold dredging

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The state of California has closed a loophole that gold miners have been using to keep using suction dredges, despite a statewide moratorium. Following through on a proposal from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Office of Administrative Law on Friday approved a new definition so miners can no longer split their dredges in two to keep mining. Rich Krimm of the New 49ers gold mining club says businesses... Read More

Downsized arts center closer to reality in Lode

By Dana M. Nichols – Record Staff Writer – July 01, 2013 SAN ANDREAS – A design for a smaller, 300-seat performing arts center at Calaveras High School could come before Calaveras Unified School District trustees as soon as Aug. 6, trustees decided this week. Trustees in January killed plans to build a $5.4 million, 500-seat performance hall after a board majority concluded it was too expensive and would have required the district... Read More

CCWD OKs budget, defends projects

By Stephen Crane | Posted: Friday, June 28, 2013 /The Calaveras Enterprise The Calaveras County Water District has had a busy week, and more work remains leading up to its special board meeting July 10. See the district’s service area here. Amid the scramble to educate an incensed public about its proposed rate increases, the district held two separate town hall meetings this week – one in Copperopolis Tuesday evening, and another the following... Read More