A bill in the house would study the benefit and impact on farming seaweed. Congressman Jared Huffman along with a colleague from Alaska have introduced the Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023. It looks to have the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) work together to learn about coastal seaweed farming and come up with money through a grant program to reduce cost barriers for indigenous communities, so they too can participate in coastal seaweed farming. Huffman says the practice has tremendous potential as a food replacement, fertilizer, and as animal feed while providing benefits to local economies.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to indeed protect the California spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act. The owls have been disappearing due to logging, climate change, among more threats. The owl inhabiting the southern/coastal population would be listed as endangered and the Sierra Nevada population would be listed as threatened. The listings come after an agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sierra Forest Legacy, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Center for Biological Diversity, all represented by Earthjustice.
In a formal letter to further the progress of the Great Redwood Trail, the Great Redwood Trail Agency says the Skunk Train has abandoned the rail. The agency filed an application with the federal Surface Transportation Board. After filing to railbank 176 miles of dilapidated rail line from Willits to Humboldt Bay, the application was approved. That meant the Skunk Train couldn’t take over the rail line as a public right of way. Just a 50-mile section remains for railbanking. It also means the Skunk Train, which is a tourist attraction, would be deemed as having committed adverse abandonment since it does not conduct freight operations. The company also cannot run trains from Ft Bragg to Willits because of tunnel collapses.
State and federal fishery scientists say the lowest number of Chinook since 2008 has been counted in their spawning grounds. The scientists met virtually this week at their annual Salmon Information Meeting. They announced spawning salmon that returned to California’s rivers late last year were at just under 170,000 adults on the Sacramento River. The fall Chinook on the Klamath were at just under 103,800, the second lowest amount since 1997. The director of the Fish and Wildlife says it was kind of expected even though they took protective and restorative actions in California. It could change this year, scientists say with all of the wet weather. The Salmon Information Meeting was attended by fishing industry participants, conservation organizations and other stakeholders.
A fire at a home in Fort Bragg was apparently caused by bad wiring. The Fort Bragg Fire Chief says the fire was fully involved on the second story of the home and it was filled with smoke. When they arrived, they couldn’t attack because the smoke was too thick and temperatures, too hot. Crews cut through the roof to vent the fire so they could get inside. The newer homeowners reported that the area the fire started in had had leaks and bad wiring in the past. The Chief says it’s possible the wiring was not up to code.
California State Parks are starting a new digital Passport Program. This means visitors can use their phones, or digital devices, to enter any one of the state’s 280 parks. The Calif. State Parks Director reminds that spending time outdoors has proven benefits such as improving mental and physical health and inspiring creativity and connection, and he says, “it’s fun!”. You can also use the official app to track your visits and earn badges. It’s available on iOS or Android devices. Also there are ways to enjoy parks for free with the California State Park Library Pass, CalWORKs, and for those receiving Social Security.
Some members of Congress, including Representative Jared Huffman have sent a letter to the President for better security at the Capitol. Huffman reportedly led the effort to encourage President Biden to appoint a new Architect of the Capitol to enforce a ban on members carrying firearms on the House Floor. There’s already a regulation in place from 1967, but apparently, it’s not always followed. Plus, the former Architect of the Capitol was fired and magnetometers outside the House Floor have been removed now that the Republicans hold the majority. They also cite the release of tapes from the January 6th insurrection to Fox News.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is green-lighting an agreement for a tribal casino-resort near Geyserville. The project would sit on the site of the River Rock Casino. The Dry Creek Rancheria is looking to put the new casino on its land in the Alexander Valley, featuring almost 300 rooms, a 60-thousand-square-foot casino with up to 15-hundred slot machines, a wedding chapel, spa, and other amenities. The agreed to deal replaces another between the county and tribe from way back in 2008 which allowed for an even bigger hotel and casino, and more gaming devices.
Preparations in the works for three Friday nights of films to be shown from the International Wildlife Film Festival which takes place each year in Missoula, Montana. This Friday festivities begin at the Ukiah Civic Center, with snacks, music, then film screenings. The opening night theme is “Bees, Butterflies and Birds”. The event starts at 6:15 pm followed by the screening at 7 p.m. Series tickets can be purchased on site, night of, are at Book Company for $30. The money raised goes to the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project (RVOEP), a special program of the Ukiah Unified School District that provides outdoor environmental education programs to over 2,000 students a year.
So much snow came down in the Lake Tahoe area, that some resorts had to close. Now reports of an avalanche slamming into an apartment building in Olympic Valley Tuesday night. Evacuations were ordered after the slide filled the bottom two stories of the three-story building. It was measured at 200 yards wide and 25 feet deep. The Placer County Sheriff’s office reports they did not find anyone trapped or injured. The building at the base of Palisades Tahoe ski area, which closed Tuesday due to severe weather.
The Clearlake Senior Center is asking for support for their Meals on Wheels program. They’re having an old fashion hoedown, including food and music. It’s happening 3 weeks from Saturday, March 25th at the Highlands Senior Center located in Clearlake. Tickets are $40 and a no host bar will be provided. You can get your tickets by calling the Center, in person at their Thrift Store or online at hsscclearlake.org.
