| Click the button below to search for articles... View News Items from prior months... June 2021 July 2020 June 2016 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 July 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 November 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 February 2010 January 2010 | Attention Commercial Agriculture Irrigators: Public Notice July 17, 2014 New Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) program C Dobbas, Executive Director, Upper Feather River Watershed Group Even as severe drought conditions challenge California farmers and ranchers, the State requires agriculture irrigators to comply with regulations of at least two state water agencies: The Department of Water Resources (DWR) oversees water rights and allocations; while the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWB) oversees water quality concerns. Upper Feather River farmers and ranchers receive their irrigated lands water quality program information, and regional representation, through the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition which represents 13 sub-coalitions within its area. The new Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP), now referenced as Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR), has been adopted by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Irrigators have an option to join local coalitions to work as a group to comply with the program for their areas, or file a Notice of Intent to comply on an individual basis. The coalition option remains the most cost efficient method of program compliance for farmers and ranchers, since the fees and reporting requirements are shared through a group approach to the program. July 15, 2014 – Annual coalition participant lists were submitted to the Sacramento Valley Coalition. If you are a current UFRWG member who paid your annual dues, you are enrolled as an active member and meet current compliance requirements. If you missed renewing your membership, you may still do so by July 25. Please contact us asap. July 21, 2014 - Local Coalitions must notify their current members about the new WDR program and its expanded requirements. Upper Feather River Watershed Group (UFRWG) is the local coalition for Plumas, Sierra & a portion of Lassen County. Members have been informed of the impending new program at the 2013 November annual meeting and through a May Newsletter mailing. Additionally, an updated Newsletter with further specific information will be mailed out again in August. Coalition members will receive several new program documents: 1.) Notice of Confirmation – to acknowledge the new program with its new requirements, this will be mailed with annual membership invoices ; 2.) Farm Evaluations – members will be asked to complete a farm evaluation survey to help quantify local surface and ground water quality practices being implemented. These will be submitted to the RWB in group format. October 2, 2014 is the non-member enrollment deadline set by the RWB for coalition sign-up. Irrigators who are not currently members of a local coalition may soon receive a letter from the Regional Board which has increased outreach and enforcement efforts. Outreach lists have been sent to local coalitions for parcels within their watersheds, and mapped by the RWB, as potential irrigators who need program coverage. The Board of Directors of the UFRWG approved a 15% discount on back fees and dues for new members who enroll by the October 2, 2014 deadline identified by the RWB. Any commercial farmer or rancher who wishes to utilize the coalition option to comply with the new Waste Discharge Requirements for agricultural growers may call Carol 775-722-2610 or email cjdobbas@yahoo.com Program information for the new Waste Discharge Requirements for commercial agriculture irrigators can be found on the Central Valley Regional Board website at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/irrigated_lands/new_waste_discharge_requirements/sacramento_river_watershed_wdrs/index.shtml Published: 07/17/14 Downieville Clinic THE DOWNIEVILLE CLINIC PATIENT’S ADVOCACY COMMITTEE (DCPAC) Chair Ingrid Larsen gave an update on the status of the clinic. She stated the Downieville community and beyond has been concerned with the possibility of the clinic’s reduction in hours, and the elimination of its 24/7 service. Larsen said since the Downieville forum with CEO Scott McFarland, DCPAC has been an active committee meeting once a week and have had five meetings to date with 50 -75 people from the community in attendance at each meeting. She said the committee made a presentation to the Board of Directors to try and appeal for their commitment to the Downieville clinic and recently had an interface with the CEO and number of people from administration and Board of Directors. DCPAC has asked the Board of Directors for many documents, and Larsen was elated to receive a copy of the Agreement of Merger between Western Sierra Medical Clinic, Inc. and Miners Community Clinic, Inc. Larsen handed copies to the Board of Supervisors and noted at the time of the merger she was the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Larsen stated with this agreement the committee is trying to remind the Board of Directors to look at its service commitments and objectives which state providing on-site medical care on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis in Downieville, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or insurance status. The agreement also states maintaining its provision of medical services per its agreement with the Sierra County Jail and Sierra County Health and Human Services. Larsen stated the committee thinks its essential the Board of Directors review the contract before making cuts. Published: 07/14/14 Illegal Immigration, how many will the boat hold? By Glenn Mollette Two thousand two hundred and twenty-three people desperately tried to escape from the sinking Titanic. One thousand five hundred and seventeen perished, as they could not escape. Most of them could not escape because there were not enough lifeboats. There were boats for only eleven hundred and seventy-eight people. Sadly, the ship was not properly equipped with enough lifeboats. Who in their right mind would have preferred the sinking ship to a lifeboat? No one wanted a sinking ship. People who drowned desperately wanted a lifeboat. Escape was impossible because there was no place to escape. If I lived in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Central America or numerous other countries including Mexico I would be scratching and clawing to find a way out. Who wants to live in such places of violence and poverty? Millions are stuck and will never escape. Millions of people have found a place of safety and freedom in America. People keep coming and coming. Actually there will never be an end to the rush of people storming our borders for safety and freedom, as long there is a magnet to draw them here. Also the best of any lifeboats will sink. Even the Titanic sank. Do we sometimes think we are unsinkable? America is not unsinkable. I think too much of America sits around glued to social media eating ourselves into the grave while more and more people are coming into our boat. Some of them are hard workers and will do their jobs rowing and keeping the boat afloat. Others are climbing on board staring at us wondering what we are going to do to save them from drowning. There is room for more people in America, but, how much room do we have? We don't have room for more freeloaders. We don't need more liars filling out claims for social security disability and then working cash only jobs to keep their government check coming. We don't need more people on food stamps and Medicaid getting free food and medical rides at the expense of the working citizens. Unfortunately the boat is already crowded with Americans who have learned entitlements as a way of life. How many of these people can we take on before we sink? There is room for people who will fill out their paperwork and come into our country documented. We have room for hard workers who will pay their taxes, and keep America strong and secure. Those who cross our border illegally are illegal. They are not going to fight for America's freedom and values, serve in our military and keep America strong. They are lawbreakers and need to become legal. We have kept the American boat of safety and liberty floating for quite a while. Millions have come here and tremendously contributed. However, how many illegals will the boat hold before we sink? Published: 07/01/14 |