A Mendocino County Superior Court judge is rejecting a delay requested by the Skunk Train in the Fort Bragg lawsuit against the Mendocino Railway. The rail company is fighting to prove that they are a public utility and federally exempt as a common carrier. Judge Brennan says delay is unwarranted. MendoVoice reports the rail company lost an eminent domain case, and a request that the matter be moved up to federal court. The judge set the next trial date for December 14th to work on the schedule and set discovery proceedings. The City of Fort Bragg along with the California Coastal Commission argues that the railroad might have environmental and other impacts and more
The Lake County Board of Supervisors will meet tomorrow morning at 9am and proclaim November as National Native American Heritage Month. Lake County News reports the board will address hunger in Lake County and discuss giving staff direction to act. There will be a public hearing to approve a tentative subdivision map for Valley Oaks Land and Development at Highway 29 and Hartmann Road, Middletown. They’ll consider adopting a property tax exchange on the proposed Konocti County Water District annexation. The board is expected to approve an agreement for substance use disorder outpatient drug free services and more with New Life Health Authority for $10 million for Fiscal Year 2023-24. And in closed session the board will meet with legal counsel on litigation regarding Earthways Inc, the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project and more.
Downtown Ukiah continues to be a work in progress. MendoFever reports the intersection of Mill and State Streets will be closed from School to Main Streets for most of the week. Next week work may start to move south toward Cherry Street with sewer line replacement. Sidewalk work will happen on the north side with new curbs and gutters being put together, and will also have electric and irrigation lines installed. Construction hours continue to be during the work week from 7am to 6pm.
The Ukiah BLM Field Office is announcing that they’ve eased fire restrictions, including on Cow Mountain. The bureau says while weather conditions are no longer causing high wildfire danger, they are urging everyone to be responsible and help reduce the risk. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports that recreational target shooters can practice but are asked to be cognate of hot bullet fragments and exploding targets that can spark a wildfire. Shooters are reminded they have to pick up all their spent shells, brass and targets. The Ukiah office is also reminding people to check weather conditions, especially on Red Flag warnings and Fire Weather Watches if conditions turn dry and windy.
Cal Fire is announcing $117 million dollars in Wildfire Prevention Grants are available. Starting today, grant applications are open. The newly appointed State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant says the Wildfire Prevention Grant program has been an important part of providing communities the support they need to reduce wildfire risk,. They allow the state to invest in local projects that protect, engage and educate people and communities across the state. Completed applications are due on January 10, 2024. The agency is looking for projects that reduce hazardous fuel, fire prevention planning and education. Projects should aim to protect communities and improve public health. There will be a virtual workshop on the grants available that will be on November 8th. Check Cal Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Grants webpage for details.
The Mendocino Department of Cannabis says they are continuing to streamline the online platform for applications and more. Phase III applications have a new email address for submission. Check the department website for instructions and new policies. The also announced they are extending their equity grant eligibility window to November 24th.
Part of Cow Mountain has a burn scar after a weekend blaze. People on the east side of the Ukiah Valley said they saw a column of smoke around 1pm, south of Cow Mountain. Fire crews went to Twining Road where they report the fire had grown up to an acre of dry grass. MendoFever reports within an hour, firefighters and other resources had the blaze under control and forward progress halted.
The Mendocino County Coroner has new details on the remains of a body found in a burned out car a week ago. The death is deemed suspicious, according to the Press Democrat. The remains were found Tuesday morning on County Road 337L near the dump in Covelo. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies worked with Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and Cal Fire. The Cal State Chico Forensic anthropology staff helped identify the person but have not released the name yet. Anyone with information about the burning car and the fatal discovery should call the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
For the first time in several years, the California Drought Monitor reports that the state is 100 percent drought free. KTVU reports there are small parts of Northern and Southern California that are abnormally dry, but not in drought conditions. The Farmer’s Almanac, NOAA, and the National Weather Service are predicting for a wetter than normal winter season approaching, especially with the trending El Nino.
The deadline to file for Lake County candidates is this coming Wednesday, November the 8th by 5pm. Those who are running in the Presidential Primary Election set for March should have in lieu of filing petitions submitted by the November 8th timeline. Declarations of Candidacy, Nomination Papers and some fees have a deadline a month later, on December 8th. Lake County Registrar of Voters the primary election is on March 5th for Federal, State, Legislative and County officials.
The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research have a Woody Feedstock Aggregation Pilot Project to focus funds on projects with the Redwood Forest Foundation and the Forest Reciprocity Group of Cloud Forest. The group of organizations are collaborating to create uses for woody biomass in forest stewardship projects and biomass utilization. In an announcement issued in KymKemp, the group says forest practices and products will help reduce the risk of fires, help stabilize watersheds and help curb carbon emissions. They plan to develop ways to repurpose extra vegetation into poles and other wooden goods and reduce fire fuels in the state’s forests. In Mendocino County they hope to also help facilitate helping supply housing.
The Big River watershed has a lot going on, for many groups and agencies working to restore the wetlands after decades of timber and dams. The longest underdeveloped estuary in California is about 9 miles long. MendoFever summarized the tour meant to engage the public on positive environmental actions in the region. Last Saturday many converged to the Big River area to go over planning and ongoing projects. The good news is that salmon populations have grown in Big River which is a good sign for ecosystem restoration. A Rail Dump is in the planning phase of clearing out and rehabilitating the land. The Dry Dock Gulch project was just finished with the help of beavers helping manage and inspire changes to the water flow.
West Coast Native American Tribes want a chemical found in tires banned for killing salmon. The Yurok Tribe in California with other tribes in Washington are asking the EPA to prohibit the rubber preservative 6PPD saying it kills fish like the Coho Salmon when rains wash the matter from roads into rivers. Other states in the upper Northwest and in New England say the chemical is an unreasonable threat to waters and fisheries. The AP reports the chemical has been over for over 6 decades and is also found in footwear, synthetic turf and playground equipment. Manufacturers are already seeking an alternative that will meet safety standards. The petition to ban the substance last week will go through a long regulatory process. The EPA will gather more data to create regulations.
