Mendocino County’s Stormwater Management agency is holding a stakeholder meeting regarding their NPDES Permit with Planning and Buildings Services (PBS). The virtual meeting is set for next Wednesday at 1:30pm on Zoom. They will present the planned changes to the Low Impact Development (LID) Standards before they finalize the program manual. The meeting is for general public, and industry professionals to give feedback on the current manual and the changes that are happening in the near future.
For more information about this meeting, please contact Adrienne Thompson at 707-234-6677, or check the department’s website at: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/planning-building-services/public-notices
The celebration at Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus went off without a hitch. There was a gathering yesterday of faculty, staff, students and supporters with food, music and celebrating 5 decades of learning. The campus was built in 1972 as the Lake County Center of Yuba College, but not until 1974, after a couple of years in Kelseyville, were there students on this Lake County campus. There are now many buildings on almost 13 acres including a new library; student services center; biology, chemistry and early childhood education classrooms; plus an on-campus restaurant with a dining room. The City of Clearlake also recently agreed to donate $55,000 for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years for a scholarship program.
A new report says there are more harmful algal blooms as the temperature rises due to climate change. The blooms are caused by the cyanobacteria that expands in water bodies, but can be harmful to humans, domestic animals and wildlife. The Public Health Institute study with its Tracking California Program showed a toxin that is let off from the cyanobacteria, called microcystin, has now contaminated private drinking water in Lake County. The study sent to the CDC showed there was bacteria detected in around 70% of the homes that take in their water from Clear Lake. The Institute also worked with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water.
Construction on the first stretch of a massive broadband project across the state has started. The 10,000-mile-long broadband network is supposed to help bring high-speed internet to Californians without. They started construction yesterday in rural San Diego County. The Governor commented that it will help close the digital divide and bring affordable high-speed internet to every California home… no matter the zip code they call home, so they “can be part of the Golden State’s thriving and diverse economy.” The work began on SR 67 near Poway, the first segment of the $3.8 billion project dubbed the “Middle Mile” broadband network.
A woman from Clearlake Oaks accused of arson and thought to be mentally incompetent to stand trial had a visit to court. The case against Tori Elizabeth Brannon continues early next month and a jury trial is set for November 30th. Brannon has pleaded not guilty but the judge believed there was enough evidence to try her in the case from July 2021. Brannon was sent to a state hospital to regain competency so she could understand the proceedings against her. She’s charged with aggravated arson, arson (inhabited structure), causing fire (inhabited structure), possessing material for arson and threatening to commit crime. At the time police said she was under the influence of a controlled substance. She was also accused of carrying a concealed dirk/dagger from another case the following day.
A giant expanse of land is being preserved near Westport for public use and the public is asked to help manage the land. The deal for the 26-acres of oceanfront property a mile north of Westport is thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit Westport Village Society, the landowner, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the California Coastal Commission. It’s part of DeHaven Creek. There was unanimous approval of the deal by the State Coastal Conservancy last month for a grant to cover the deal which should be done by the end of the year. They’re asking members of the public and local Native American Tribes to get involved in continued stewardship of the land.
If you are interested in helping WVS manage this property
or wish to offer comments please contact wvs@westportvillagesociety.org. For more
information about WVS and its activities visit https://www.westportvillagesociety.org/.
It’s been five decades of reading and learning at the Ukiah Branch Library. And with that, a celebration. Next Wednesday at the 105 N. Main St. location from 2 to 6 p.m. library staff is hosting a celebration of the 70’s to commemorate when the library opened. So go retro and come make some shrinky-dink art, listen to live music and see a special slideshow from the library’s archives. They’re also giving out goodie bags and will be serving cake all compliments of the Mendocino County Library and the Friends of the Ukiah Valley Library.
Applications are being accepted by the West Business Development Center (West Center) for its StartUp Mendocino 2023 program. It’s a free program for local entrepreneurs to expand or add onto their business. They say it will build on an entrepreneur’s success. The business accelerator program starting with their pitch competition back in 2019. The business accelerator course is a 13 early-stage program with sponsorship by Tri Counties Bank, Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Redwood Credit Union, and the County of Mendocino. They’re accepting applications thru Oct. 23rd with their announcement of qualifying participants Nov. 23rd.
Reports of shark sightings in Mendocino County. Mendo Fever reported they’ve heard the last two weeks of a trio of shark encounters. Sightings were reported by surfers at Virgin Creek. Then other reports of bumping, circling or following kayakers at Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park. The latest, the news site reports, was a 12–16 foot Great White just north of Van Damme swimming under and circling kayakers. The news site reports this time of year is normal for some sightings, but thankfully there’s been no recent attacks in Mendocino County. However there were recent attacks in Humboldt and Monterey Counties with severe injuries.
Water quality violations still being reported in Calif. Last Friday the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board said their enforcement work found a 25% increase the last two years which they say is because they’ve been more forceful responding to cannabis grows, especially the ones that threaten nearby waterways. They report most of the grows did not have permits and were dumping trash into creeks, riverbeds or building illegal roads for their nefarious work which then created erosion hazards. They say they’re still investigating multiple other possible violations. Since July of 2020 they have given nearly 250 violation notices out, 30 for non-compliance, 12 cleanup and abatement orders, 9 administrative civil liability complaints, 14 administrative civil liability orders (one issued to cannabis growers) and two expedited payment letters for mandatory minimum penalties. The larger cases in Humboldt and Trinity counties.
The Mendocino County General Government Committee is taking up several cannabis related items at their next meeting. After the Department of Cannabis Control announced one year ago there was $100 million in funding for the Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grants Program (LJAGP). The grants are to be distributed to those who have the greatest need to get annual, instead of Provisional License. Last week several people showed up to the Board of Supervisors meeting to hear what the Board had to say about the matter, which they mostly slid over to the committee for their Monday meeting. These licenses regulate cannabis businesses. Some applicants say they’ve been in limbo since applying for their annual licenses and may have to go out of business if they don’t get the switchover soon. Then the next day Supervisors will discuss and possibly move to and adopt the resolution for a Mitigated Negative Declaration regarding the establishment of a formal Cannabis Department; and establish an appeals process and define a county agency as the cannabis department. In other business the board is also looking to adopt a resolution to declare a temporary road closure of Dogwood Terrace and Dogwood Lane due to continued illegal dumping.
