Events in New Mexico last week and on the Eldorado National Forest (60 miles from Sacramento) Friday remind us that conflicts between wildlife -- in this case, hungry bears -- and forgetful or negligent humans can have devastating results for all concerned.
Public lands managers note such incidents are on the upswing. Cheryl Carrothers, Regional Wildlife Program Leader for the USFS Pacific Southwest Region, issued an email heads up to regional forests and district rangers on July 2nd, just before the holiday weekend:
“I just wanted to make sure you were all aware. We have had multiple incidents with bears this year and the frequency is increasing. Please pass on our concerns to your folks and forest visitors. Keeping safe distances between bears and humans is a priority, restricting access to food and other attractants is the primary way to ensure this happens!”
We’re posting two videos we found on YouTube below. Obviously, the views expressed are those of the authors and not this supervisor. Confirm their methods with a ranger before you go and be prepared. And it goes without saying that if you live up here, precautions aren’t just for campers…
Remember, wild things aren’t tame. Be careful, will ya? Read More »
Have you wondered why such a fuss is being made over de-funding the Williamson Act subventions to counties ? Confused about the meaning of “subvention”?
There’s an explanation below, but let me give it a try and I think you’ll understand why it’s such a big deal to counties. Be forewarned: my explanation is simplistic.
Farmers and ranchers get a break on property taxes in exchange for a 10-year (in Tuolumne County) commitment to keep their land in productive agriculture or open space. Counties rely on state subvention or subsidy dollars to cover the cost of providing those tax breaks. Unlike Tuolumne County (our subvention is approx. $117,000 a year), in the recent past some counties in the Central Valley have received over a million dollars a year from the state. State subvention dollars go into county general funds to provide public services (police, fire, roads, etc.). No subvention, revenues decrease. Revenues decrease, so must services.
Here’s a good case for saving the Williamson Act as made by the Save the Williamson Act: a Coalition Committed to Protecting the California Land Conservation Act posted on the California Association of Resource Conservation District’s (www.carcd.org) website.
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The Williamson Act is the single most-effective agricultural land preservation program in California, and it’s under attack. The Governor suspended subvention payments to local governments in the 2009-10 state budget and is threatening to do so again. Many of the 54 counties that participate in the program will not be able to continue the program without help from the state.
How about a little good news for a change? At a press conference this morning, Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) staff and representatives for SPI announced that the Standard Mill will reopen next year!
As you know from this blog, the closure of the mill (along with two other SPI mills) last year was devastating to the local economy. MANY jobs (direct and indirect) were lost here and a number of folks moved away to find work.
This is great news from an economic standpoint alone. But we have the added benefit of once again having a local facility where forest products can be processed – important from a fire fuels management perspective. That’s major!
Thanks, SPI and TCEDA and county staff for the elbow grease it took to make this work.
Do you know a teen or child experiencing grief and loss this summer due to the death of a loved one or a major life-changing loss? Grief is never fun, but it’s especially hard during the summer when teens and kids can be isolated from support systems.
Nansea Arquette and the folks at Dawn’s Light Center for Children & Adults in Grief have announced the formation of teen and children’s groups this summer to connect them with others who can relate to what they’re going through.
Click on the flyers below for details and please print out copies to post on bulletin boards in your neighborhood. If you are an grieving adult, that sucks too. Dawn’s Light has a group for you, as well.
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