CALFIRE addresses the role of fuel breaks in Caldor fire

While the Caldor fire has been burning, CALFIRE has been hosting community briefings where representatives from the various agencies on the fire have a chance to update the public, as well as answer questions. We asked CALFIRE a number of questions, and their response to our inquiry about the role fuel breaks played in helping fight the fire was particularly thorough and informative. Take just a few minutes to listen in and learn more about how fuel... Read More

Local environmental leader addresses forest management, drought and more on CCTV

Local environmental leader John Buckley eloquently and succinctly addresses forest management, drought, climate change, water supply and more relevant and pressing issues in our Sierra Nevada communities. This excellent interview was broadcast on Calaveras Community TV and is well worth a half an hour of your time! John Buckley is the Executive Director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC), a Tuolumne county based... Read More

Supporters enjoy guided hike at Red Lake

CAP supporters Bob Leitzell and family hold their Clif bars after a great hike around Red Lake At our silent auction fundraiser in fall of 2019, Bob bid on a guided hike, hosted by the facilitator of the CPC, Tom Infusino. While they had to delay their plans due to COVID, they were finally able to get together this July to hike around Red Lake on Carson Pass. Tom shared his knowledge of the local wildflowers and the history of the Mormon Emigrant... Read More

CPC v. Board of Supervisors

On December 9, 2019, the Calaveras Planning Coalition (CPC) filed a case in Calaveras County Superior Court that convincingly asserts the General Plan Update (GPU) is incomplete and in violation of planning law. The case also calls for the County to release the 2011 Mintier-Harnish draft General Plan, which, to date, the County has withheld from the taxpayers who paid for it. CLICK HERE FOR LAWSUIT UPDATES or read why we filed this lawsuit... Read More

Home-Outward: Hardening our Homes against Wildfire

“The challenge is getting our society to understand that we have opportunities that don’t entail controlling extreme wildfire conditions, that we have opportunities for changing the ignitability of our homes to the point where we can avoid these disasters” “We’re not gonna get outta this problem by logging the forest. The only way out of this problem is we gotta solve for climate change and we gotta get to... Read More

Take a Water Survey!

This survey is being conducted by regional water management agencies to support a study of community water and wastewater needs in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. The information will help these agencies advocate for and seek grant and other funding to meet these community needs.  If you have questions about the study, please contact Holly Alpert at the California Rural Water Association (halpert@calruralwater.org,... Read More

Helping Developers Navigate the 2019 General Plan – the Checklist

One role of a County’s General Plan is to provide developers with clear guidelines, standards and practices to implement the goals of the General Plan. “The general plan is more than the legal underpinning for land use decisions; it is a vision about how a community will grow, reflecting community priorities and values while shaping the future.”– California General Plan Guidelines The 2019 General Plan adopted by Calaveras... Read More

CCWD updating its Urban Water Management Plan

The Public Review Draft of the Calaveras County Water District (CCWD) 2020 Urban Water Management Plan Update is now available for public review and comment.  Draft Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) Update for required 5-year update cycle. Latest update incorporates new analyses related to water supply vulnerabilities, climate change risks, and drought water supply reliability. Also includes new Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), defining... Read More

What is an Urban Water Management Plan?

An Urban Water Management Plan is a check-up to see if a water district is on schedule to secure rights to, divert, store, purify, deliver, conserve and reclaim sufficient water to meet the needs of its service area over the next twenty years. Urban Water Management Plans (UWMP) are required of all water urban water districts in California. They must be updated every five years. Why does an UWMP need to be updated? The State... Read More

Open Space and Carbon: Calaveras County Greenhouse Gas Baseline Reduction Plan

CAP Governing Committee Member Muriel Zeller provided the following letter explaining the role rangelands play in carbon sequestration. A Greenhouse Gas Baseline and Reduction Plan for Calaveras County is under development, and the conservation of rangelands should be a positive part of that plan. Hello, Mr. Frisch. I understand the Sierra Business Council is working on the Greenhouse Gas Baseline and Reduction Plan for Calaveras County.... Read More