News

On Wednesday, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sued the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) over alleged environmental law violations relating to levee maintenance policies.

On Feb. 7 DFG had issued its intent to sue over the Corps' levee policies, as Lake County News has reported.

DFG claimed in its lawsuit that the Corps failed to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and federal Administrative Procedure Act when it adopted a national policy requiring the removal of virtually all trees and shrubs on federal levees. The Corps developed its national levee vegetation removal policy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Corps’ national policy fails to account for regional variations among levees, DFG alleged. As early as 1955, the Corps encouraged and even required the planting of trees and shrubs on California levees.

Studies conducted in 1967, 1999 and 2008 by California confirm that native riparian vegetation are compatible with flood control and that such vegetation can often act to minimize damage during a flood event.  

The Corps’ own studies from 1991 and 1999 also reportedly confirmed that post-damage flood rates for levees containing woody vegetation were lower than levees with no vegetation. DFG is confident that the Corps’ flood concerns can be met in a regional variation allowing this unique riparian habitat.

Only 5 percent of the Central Valley’s original riparian forest remains and the Corps’ new policy would eliminate it entirely.

 In addition to providing scenic beauty and recreational enjoyment for people, riparian habitat is essential for several endangered species including Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, riparian brush rabbit, Western yellow-billed cuckoo and Swainson’s hawk.

Approximately 1,600 miles of federal project levees along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and tributaries are likely to be affected by the Corps’ policy.  

Several miles of federal levees in the Bay Area and Southern California would also be affected. Compliance with the new policy is estimated to cost the state up to $7.5 billion and divert funds from more significant levee deficiencies such as seepage and erosion.

Despite years of roundtable discussions between DFG, the Corps and other state, federal and local entities, DFG’s concerns over removing the riparian habitat remain unaddressed.

DFG’s mission is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Wednesday estimated it will be able to deliver 65 percent of requested State Water Project (SWP) water this year, up from the 60 percent delivery estimate – or allocation – announced on April 16.

Originally, DWR projected in November that it would be able to supply 60 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet of SWP water requested, but a dry December, January and February dropped that figure to 50 percent.

A wet March and above-average reservoir storage boosted the allocation back up to 60 percent in April, and today’s increase to 65 percent is due to April’s wetter-than-usual weather.  

A 65 percent allocation is not unusually low, the agency said.

Wet conditions last year allowed the SWP to deliver 80 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet requested by the 29 public agencies that supply more than 25 million Californians and nearly a million acres of irrigated farmland.  

An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons of water, enough to cover one acre to a depth of one foot.

The final allocation was 50 percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2009, 35 percent in 2008, and 60 percent in 2007, DWR reported.

The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years due to pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish – was in 2006, according to DWR.

April rainfall was 167 percent of normal in the mountainous area between the American River and Lake Shasta that produces much of California’s water supply.  The April rainfall total in the San Joaquin River basin was 137 percent of average.

Water content in this year’s sparse mountain snowpack was only 55 percent of normal on April 1, the time of year it’s usually at its peak.

Reservoir storage has been the one consistent bright spot in the water supply picture this year.  Lake Oroville in Butte County, the SWP’s principal storage reservoir with a capacity of 3.5 million acre-feet, is 99 percent full (116 percent of average for the date).  

Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet, is 97 percent full (110 percent of average for the date).

Electronic reservoir level readings may be found at http://cdec4gov.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/rescond.pdf .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County's newest casino is opening this week, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Running Creek Casino will open to the public at 4 p.m. Friday, May 25.

The casino is located at 635 E. Highway 20 in Upper Lake.

The 33,000 square foot casino is an enterprise of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, and houses 349 slot machines and six table games.

“The road has been long and the obstacles too numerous to count, but we are finally here, excited and proud to open the doors to the public,” said Tribal Chairperson Sherry Treppa. “We want this establishment to be more than just a gambling hall.”

She continued, “Our vision is for visitors and local residents to see this as a place to come for dining and entertainment, as well as a local meeting place for Lake County clubs and organizations. We know there are other casino properties in the area to choose from, but we want to differentiate ourselves by offering more in terms of customer service, cleanliness, and hospitality.”

In addition to gaming, Running Creek Casino features the Hot Springs Express restaurant, offering quick, made to order menu selections such as burgers, sandwiches and salads.

A second dining option is Wildfire, a 65-seat full service restaurant with patio dining featuring quality American cuisine and a wood burning pizza oven.

Running Creek’s On the Rocks is a full service bar that highlights a variety of cocktails, beers and wines by the glass, as well as an array of appetizers to compliment any drink selection.

Other amenities include the Running Rewards player’s club and multiple meeting rooms.

Running Creek’s official grand opening is set for Friday, June 1, but the tribe and project management team made the decision in response to popular demand to open the casino on May 25, just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Private ceremonies for the tribe, local dignitaries, and VIP guests will take place in the morning, with the doors opening to the public for gaming and dining at 4 p.m.

The casino will then continue to stay open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

“I am proud to represent this tribe whose eternal hope and unrelenting determination not only brought this project to fruition in Lake County, but did so in a cooperative, respectful and professional manner,” said Treppa. “The tribe could not be more pleased about the new jobs we have created in our community through this project and the positive economic impact Running Creek will provide for area businesses.”

She added, “This business venture will bring the tribe one step closer to economic self-sufficiency. Moreover, it will enable us to engage in additional business enterprises in the future.”

The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake are a federally recognized tribe historically located in Upper Lake California.

In 2008, they were able to place 11.24 acres near their historic tribal lands into trust, which allowed them to create a gaming enterprise.

The casino construction project began in 2004 and was approved by the Department of the Interior in August of 2011, as well as through a state compact signed in March of 2011 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Visit the casino online at www.runningcreekcasino.com , follow it on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/runningcreekcasino and get updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therunningcreek .

California’s infant mortality rate has reached a record low, state health officials reported on Tuesday.

The California Department of Public Health said that in 2010, the most recent year data are available, the rate was 4.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 4.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009.

Infant mortality is defined as the number of deaths in infants under one year of age.

The findings give California the fourth-lowest infant mortality rate among all 50 states.

“Optimal infant health outcomes are influenced by a woman’s health even before she becomes pregnant, including avoiding tobacco, alcohol and drugs, maintaining a healthful weight, and taking folic acid supplements,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, state health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health.

“Early entry into prenatal care, genetic testing to identify health risks at birth, breastfeeding, immunizations, and continuing proper nutrition through a baby’s developing years all contribute to improving infant health outcomes,” Chapman said.

In Lake County in 2010 there were 721 live births and three infant deaths. Because there were less than five deaths a rate was not assigned to Lake County, according to the agency's report.

For 2009, Lake County had 726 live births and five deaths, and that year also was not assigned a rate, based on the available data.

African Americans in California experienced the largest decline in infant mortality in 2010, from 10.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009 to 9.5 in 2010, the agency reported.

While this is a significant improvement, health officials said racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality persist. African-American infant deaths occurred 2.3 times more frequently than Caucasian infant deaths in 2010.

The infant mortality rate among Caucasians remained unchanged between 2009 and 2010 (4.1 deaths per 1,000 live births) and dropped from 5.0 to 4.9 among Hispanics, according to the data.

Among the factors that may have contributed to the declining infant mortality rate is the decline in the percent of births born prematurely (less than 37 weeks’ gestation). The percent of births born prematurely in California declined from 10.4 percent in 2009 to 10.0 percent in 2010.

Optimal health of women before pregnancy and during pregnancy is likely to contribute to fewer babies born prematurely and to better survival rates of babies overall, the agency's report suggested.

State data showed that the United States ranked No. 31 worldwide for infant mortality; had California been its own nation, it would have ranked No. 27.

Lowest mortality is found in Luxembourg, 1.8; Slovenia, 2.1; Sweden, 2.5; Iceland, 2.5; and Finland, 2.6, according to the report.

Many California Department of Public Health programs and initiatives target reduction of infant mortality as a goal.

For information on these programs, as well as resources that can help pregnant women or women who are considering pregnancy, visit one of the Web sites listed below.

Maternal health before, during and after pregnancy: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mcah/Pages/MaternalHealth.aspx

Nutrition needs for pregnant women, nursing women and infants: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks/pages/default.aspx

Immunization needs of pregnant women and infants: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/default.aspx

Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program: http://cdph.ca.gov/programs/mcah/Pages/default.aspx

Genetic Disease Screening Program: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/gdsp/pages/default.aspx

LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lake County Planning Commission will consider a proposal for a new BMX park near Kelseyville as well as a project to underground utilities on a portion of Mt. Konocti.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 Forbes St., Lakeport.

At 9:03 a.m., a public hearing will be held on a general plan conformity report sought by the Lake County Department of Public Services for the BMX park.

The park would be located on a half-acre of the existing Kelseyville Park, 5270 State St.

At 9:05 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing to consider a mitigated negative declaration based on initial study for Red Lava Vineyards' plans for a small winery – 15,000 cases or less – a tasting room with retail and up to 26 special events a year at 8200 South Highway 29, Lower Lake.

At 9:45 a.m., a public hearing will be held on the Lake County Department of Public Services’ application for a general plan conformity report for the installation of underground utilities between the Riviera West Subdivision and the telecommunications tower on Buckingham Peak of Mt Konocti.

As part of the item, the commission will consider adequacy of the documents associated with a proposed mitigated negative declaration and mitigation  and monitoring plan for this project.

Based on the commission's recommendation on the documents, the Community Development Department director may consider adopting a mitigated negative declaration and issuing a complex grading permit for AT&T’s application for the installation of underground utilities on Mt Konocti.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Memorial Day holiday traditionally marks the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, when many Californians head out to picnics, barbecues, and outdoor events.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds those headed out on the road to buckle up, designate a driver, and eliminate distractions.

Memorial Day weekend is a Maximum Enforcement Period for the CHP. Officers will be out on the road looking for motorists who are a danger to themselves and others.

The Memorial Day holiday reporting period begins on Friday, May 25, at 6 p.m. and runs through Monday, May 28, at 11:59 p.m.

“If you are celebrating the Memorial Day holiday, we want you to have fun and be safe,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “If you get behind the wheel, make sure you buckle up and ensure your passengers do the same. Wearing your seat belt can save your life and the lives of those you love.”

Memorial Day weekend in 2011 saw a significant increase in the number of people killed in collisions.

According to CHP statistics, there were 24 deaths statewide, a 41 percent increase from the previous year, and 60 percent of those killed were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

There were 1,367 arrests for driving under the influence statewide in CHP jurisdiction during the holiday weekend.

The CHP’s holiday enforcement effort coincides with the 2012 “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign, which continues nationwide through June 3.