Lake County residents are anxious about cannabis rules. At the East Region Town Hall meeting last week, legal cannabis growers and residents are uncertain about the future of the cannabis industry. The Record Bee reports the Lake County Code Enforcement Director says the county has remained conservative and the Board of Supervisors have moved at a slow pace, allowing everyone to understand state rules and how local agencies determine policy. Turner says it’s complicated to turn an illegal industry to regulatory framework. During the meeting a report was brought up that indicates water use for cannabis growers is about 1 liter per foot. The board has an ordinance requiring a hydrology report and continues to work on the rules. Generators to dry cannabis were also brought as a contentious issue. A study is planned to examine wildfire risk, tribal land disturbance noise and more.
Half a dozen people felt a couple of earthquakes at The Geysers geothermal area yesterday. The Press Democrat reports Sunday morning at around 8:40am a 3 magnitude quake registered about 4 miles north of the Geysers steam field. Later yesterday afternoon another quake shook the area at a larger 3.8 magnitude according to the USGS. No damage or injuries were reported.
Lake County is working to engage with the public on the Clear Lake Hitch barrier removal project. The Lake County Watershed Protection District with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are inviting residents along streams in the watershed to a town hall. The Stream Clearing and Permitting Overview session is set for this Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Lake County Superior Courthouse and will be available remotely as well. They’ll discuss ongoing local and state efforts to remove Clear Lake Hitch barriers to foster a healthier aquatic ecosystem. Private landowners are encouraged to hear about the conservation efforts and understand the program to maintain environmental balance.
The Mendocino County Cannabis Department is closed for Indigenous Peoples Day today, but is letting the community know that LEEP Direct Grant Applications will be available thru the end of this month. The department is also interested in demographic information to submit to the state for additional resources in legal cannabis permitting. The Cannabis Equity Grant Demographic Survey link has been sent top those who signed up for Canna Notes from the department. The survey will continue through the end of next month as the department continues to streamline the online portal and create policies that best fit the community.
A Mendocino County woman is facing county jail time, because she stole a paycheck in the mail from Mendocino County to District Attorney Eyster. Kylee Wood of Willits was sentenced late last month, prosecuted by Lake County’s District Attorney Krones. Wood was convicted of felony grand theft. Her accomplice was never caught. The Mendocino County DA posted on social media that Woods had been placed on supervised probation for 2 years in December of 2021, but was found in violation five separate times, the last one in August. She was sentenced to 16 months in the Mendocino County Jail on September 27th.
A new Mendocino County Courthouse is moving forward. Officials are in final negotiations on the design, engineering and construction of a $144 million Mendocino County Courthouse. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports contracts are expected to be signed by the end of the month. The Mendocino County project is on the high priority list with the California Judicial Council as well as a smaller courthouse in Lake County. The timetable will be a year long final design development followed by state review. The construction in Ukiah is scheduled to begin in early 2025. The 82,000 square foot courthouse will be built on 4 acres that will wrap around the Ukiah Train Depot. Current plans show a 3 story block like structure. City and county representatives are working on the future of the old courthouse downtown.
Potter Valley residents are remembering the 2017 Redwood Complex Fire and how it merged with another fire in Redwood Valley. In a press release over the weekend, Mendocino County officials issued a notice of commemoration. The Redwood Complex Fire burned over 36,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 8,000 residents, claiming nine lives. The county CEO, Sheriff and Office of Emergency Services are reflecting on the tragedy and honoring the memory of its victims. Officials also want to acknowledge the bravery of first responders and all who worked serving the Redwood Valley and Potter Valley communities.
The Mendocino National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations at campgrounds and other sites this fall and winter as cooler and wetter conditions move in. Forest personnel began last week in the Red Bluff Area and will continue along the Grindstone District with pile burns in higher elevations. They’ll be moving down to lower elevations. This week, Upper Lake Ranger District fire personnel will potentially burn 40 acres of piles in the Lake Pillsbury basin or 20-130 acres of understory burning at Howard Mill. Managers will monitor weather conditions and continue to take advantage of burn windows. Some smoke may be visible and local fire and government authorities are keeping track of the fuel mitigation process.
CHP and Lake County agencies are investigating a semi truck accident. Friday afternoon on Highway 20, a big rig hauling cattle overturned just east of Clearlake Oaks. Lake County News reports there were multiple emergency and animal rescuers working to save the livestock and driver. It happened just after noon when a witness said the truck driver was headed east pulling a double decker livestock trailer with 79 cattle. It appeared to some that the driver was taking turns on the highway too quickly and flipped over. The driver was not injured, but some cows were killed in the crash. Firefighers sawed into the metal trailer to free the cattle. It took many hours into the evening to get the cows out with help from Cal Fire, Cal Trans, the Lake County Sheriff and more.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is asking the public to help with the Fungi for the Fall Continental MyCoBlitz from the 13th through the 22nd. In a release, the department says the BioBlizt helps survey all organisms living in a specific area. The MycoBlitz focuses solely on mushrooms. They are looking for residents to help catalog as many species as they can. The continental scale mushroom collecting foray is an effort to document all fungi that exist in the continent. Observations will be included in the iNaturalist project during the foray week that begins this Friday. Cal Fire’s website has more details on the fungus survey and more.
First 5 Mendocino is expanding their trauma informed care. The organization is announcing next month, November 9th mental health researcher Dr. Mary Catherine McDonald will lead a series of training events to inform the community. Dr. McDonald will share information on the latest in neuroscience research on trauma and give practical strategies to promote resilience and mental health development in both kids and adults. There are several interactive workshops planned with panel discussions and networking. The first session will be one month from today from 10am to 3pm at the SPACE auditorium in Ukiah. Check out first5mendocinio.org for more details.
Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board is celebrating the Purple Pipe Project with young Ukiah students. Last week, Joaquin Esquivel spoke with YoKayOH (Yokayo) Elementary students about the success of creating one billion gallons of recycled water via irrigation and dust-control. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the state water official says things have been hard in the Russian River Watershed and how the water treatment plant is playing a key role in preserving the environment. Officials are preparing for Phase 4 of the Ukiah’s recycled water project and officials say they’ll see the Purple Pipe get installed soon.
Large businesses in the state must disclose emissions under a new law signed by the Governor over the weekend. The law mandates over 5,300 companies who make more than $1 billion annually report their direct and indirect emissions. The AP reports emissions from travel, transport and building operations would be included. SB 253 aims to bring more transparency to the public about how big businesses contribute to climate change. The California Chamber of Commerce and other groups oppose the law saying it’s too soon to implement and that companies don’t have the expertise to accurately report indirect emissions. Under the new law, the Air Resources Board has to approve rules by 2025 to implement legislation. It wouldn’t be until 2027 that companies would have to disclose those indirect emissions.
