Suction Dredge Mining: Mid-Klamath River
Communities are beginning to see the impact from prohibitive suction dredge mining
regulations put in place last fall in response to the Karuk suit against the Department of
Fish and Game. Local resort and hotel owners tell
me that their establishments are empty. Grocery and shop owners tell me that their
seasonal sales numbers have plummeted. Suction dredgers are local small businesspeople who
make their living on dredging or seasonal recreational miners. The new regulations have
hurt both, as well as all the local businesses that depend upon their trade.
Because the regulations were
changed under a clause in a decade old environmental impact report, no one was able to
raise current questions of social /economic impact or social justice before the
regulations were changed. The unemployment rate in the area prior to regulatory impact was
19.6%. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that these communities are already
struggling.
Williamson Act: Recently I heard a candidate for
office say that he was in favor of eliminating the Williamson Act as it was an unfair
tax-break for farmers. The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, or Williamson Act,
allows Counties enter into long term (20 year automatically renewing) contracts with
private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural
or related open space use. In return, landowners receive property tax assessments which
are much lower than normal because they are based upon farming and open space uses as
opposed to full market value and development potential. County governments receive an
annual subvention or “backfill” for loss of property tax revenues from the state
through the Open Space Subvention Act of 1971.
Under Proposition 13 values, the County would normally receive
$410,829 in property taxes from these lands. With the Williamson Act contract, the County
actually receives $106,048 in property taxes on enrolled lands. However, the State
backfills the County with an additional payment of $769,828 in “subvention”
payments for a total of $875,877 to the County in revenues for Williamson Act lands. The
Williamson Act is a win-win for agricultural landowners, their communities and County.
Methamphetamine: In
addition to impacts on individuals and families, a tremendous amount of resources from the Court
system, law enforcement, mental health, social
services and public health are being allocated to respond to the impacts of
Methamphetamine. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors will host a public workshop on
Tuesday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Miner’s Inn Convention Center. Seating
will be on a “first come, first served” basis.
Presentations will include: The physical and psychological impacts of addiction; The
affect of meth addiction on family systems and children; Prevention, intervention and
treatment; Environmental implications and clean up; Laws and penalties; A panel discussion
on drug courts; A panel discussion on treatment and recovery. For more information call
842-8007.
Water Quality: The State
Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is currently reviewing the Scott River Total
maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan and appears to be considering additional
restrictions in response to requests from Felice Pace and other coastal environmentalists.
Siskiyou County has provided input and I will provide testimony at the upcoming meeting in
Sacramento on June 7.
Recently, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board held a
“scoping session” on additional proposed regional regulations on uses that
impact wetlands and riparian areas. I provided input at the meeting concerning social and
economic impacts and the environmental impact of possible agricultural land conversions. |
