In addition to the usual committee
meetings, the past several weeks have been filled with trainings. A seminar on
collaborative relationships among County departments, non-profits
and community partnerships, such as Family Resource Centers (FRCs,) took place in late
September.
The Community Services Council (CSC) sponsored a “train the
trainer” workshop for a parenting class called “Parenting Now.” This class
focuses on development during the first six years of a child’s life. CSC has also
applied for a four year grant to bring a full menu of parenting classes to communities as
a pilot program in four FRCs, including Scott Valley, Happy Camp and Yreka.
A week ago, I attended a Family Violence Summit. This training
discussed various issues concerning family violence from the perspective of law
enforcement, social services and the courts.
I also sat in for several days in October with law enforcement
supervisory staff on “critical incidence response” training. This class taught
the principals of the Incident Command System, a type of crisis management system that is
used across the nation by fire departments, law enforcement, emergency services and public
health to respond to disasters and other incidents. If you are interested in taking some
serious preparedness training, several courses are offered online with FEMA at http://www.training.fema.gov/wrningBanner.html
We have been following up with comments on the proposed “Basin
Plan Amendment” for Scott River Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for temperature and sediment. Although the document reflects
an expressed willingness and desire to work with landowners and existing groups like the
Resource Conservation Districts it still has things in it that are of concern.
There is no doubt that the underlying science is deficient and needs
to be “peer reviewed.” A comprehensive economic impact analysis needs to be
done. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) needs to look closely
at the findings of the many studies that have already been done on the impacts of suction
dredge mining before it does one more study.
Siskiyou County has already applied for a grant to do a sediment
inventory of County roads. However, everyone knows that our road budget is already limited
and will be severely impacted if the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is not
reauthorized. We will have to use our limited road budget to address public health and
safety issues as a priority. Addressing “legacy” sediment sources for both the
County and individual landowners will need to depend on funds being made available from
outside the county.
NCRWQCB has recommended that
the County pass a “grading ordinance.” We have explained that the Scott Valley
Plan, existing zoning ordinances and state laws already provide sufficient regulatory
authority to control sediment. The grading ordinance request has already been before the
Board and rejected. However, the County is currently reviewing its Land Development
Manual, which applies to new building activities, and will be looking at that in the
future.
County representatives have
already been working with the Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) for quite some time on
answering some hydrological questions, such as how increased density in upland vegetation
effects flows and how fast the general aquifer replenishes itself each winter season. SRWC
has plans for a meeting in Fort Jones at 6:30
p.m. on Tuesday the 15th of
November to gather ideas from folks on how we can get some of the helpful answers we need
in a way that is non-threatening to water users.
The NCRWQCB will hold a meet
in Yreka on Wednesday, December 7 at 9 a.m. at the Yreka Community Theater to consider adoption of
the Scott River TMDL. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/programs/tmdl/scott/scott.html
Members of the public will be
able to provide oral and written testimony at the hearing. If you did not have an
opportunity to comment at the workshop, you may wish to speak your peace at the December
meeting.
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