Thursday, 21 November 2024

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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Acting Forest Supervisor Kristen Sexton has signed a decision on the Plaskett-Keller August Complex project.

Forest land managers can now begin removing fire-killed and fire-injured trees near roads and campgrounds on just over 1,500 acres located on the Covelo and Grindstone Ranger Districts.

The project area is near Plaskett Meadows Campground, which experienced high levels of tree mortality during the 2020 August Complex and has not reopened due to the safety hazards.

“This decision strikes a responsible balance between the need for post-fire management activities in the aftermath of the August Complex and the public’s concerns of adverse effects for wildlife habitat,” said Sexton. “Focusing on roadside and campground hazard trees addresses the highest priority actions and the critical need to mitigate risk to human health and safety.”

Forest environmental planners initiated the analysis for the project in February 2021. Over the course of 12 months, the interdisciplinary team consulted with tribes and other state and federal agencies.

The team also incorporated feedback from the public, which was collected during comment periods, at virtual public meetings and during a field trip to the project area.

The final decision letter and the environmental analysis can be found online on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59444.


Plaskett Keller August Complex Project Map. Treatment areas will occur in Unit 310 and 311 near Plaskett Meads Campground are and along roadsides 200 feet. Courtesy of the Mendocino National Forest.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — With the anticipated increase in visitors that summer brings, forest officials share a few reminders on wildfire awareness and safety ahead of the July 4 weekend.

More than 90% of all wildland fires are human caused. This, coupled with drier than normal conditions, increases the odds of forest fires igniting. Together, Californians can prepare and prevent wildfires with just a bit of planning.

Campfire permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires or portable gas stoves. Permits are available online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit.

Visitors can follow these steps to prevent wildfires:

• Campfires: Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of five feet in all directions. Make sure you have a shovel and sufficient water to put out the campfire. Attend the fire at all times and never build a campfire on a windy day. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished: drown with water, stir with your shovel, drown again, and feel for any heat using the back of your hand.

• Camp stoves: If using a portable stove, make sure the area is clear of grasses and other debris that may catch fire. Prevent stoves from tipping.

• Vehicles: Stick to designated trails and be careful of parking or driving your car or ATV in tall, dry, vegetation, including grass. When towing, ensure your safety chains are properly connected with any type of trailer. The hot underside of the vehicle and dragging chains can start a fire.

• Flammable items: The use of any fireworks, explosives or internal or external combustion engine without a spark arrester is prohibited on the forest. Always use caution with smoking. Extinguish all smoking materials dead out on bare soil. Pack out all cigarette butts and filters.

Several campgrounds and trailheads remain closed due to ongoing safety hazards.

Forest officials remind visitors to check the website for recreation areas that are open: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/mendocino/recreation.

The popular Letts Lake Campground remains closed for maintenance; however, visitors can park at Big Springs Picnic for day use access to the lake. Big Springs Picnic is located on the west side of Letts Lake, accessed by a road 1/4 mile beyond the Letts Lake turnoff.

Although crews have cleared several forest roads, hazards remain in many areas, including falling trees and snags, rolling rocks and debris. Roads could become impassable at any time. Forest officials recommend driving high-clearance vehicles on dirt roads and carrying a chain saw.

Forest officials remind visitors to be cautious when recreating in the forest and to be aware at all times of potential hazards in a burned area, which includes dead standing trees, downed trees, dropped limbs, stump holes or unstable terrain. More information about hazards associated with a burned area is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mendocino/hazards.

Bears are active in the forest this time of year. Forest visitors can avoid problems with bears by maintaining a safe distance. Visitors must be vigilant with food storage and trash. Never feed bears and report any encounters with a bear to forest staff. Additional information about avoiding bear encounters is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mendocino/bears.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office is reminding voters who received certain verification statements of upcoming deadlines to have their ballots counted for the primary election.

The Registrar of Voters Office plans to certify the election results by July 7.

As a result, the elections office is reminding vote-by-mail voters who received a “signature verification statement” or an “unsigned ballot envelope statement” that the deadline for the Lake County Registrar of Voters office to receive the completed forms either by mail service, fax, email, or in person is Tuesday, July 5, by 5 p.m.

Please be aware that the Lake County Registrar of Voters cannot count a voter’s vote-by-mail ballot if the completed and signed Statement is not returned by the July 5 deadline.

For more information, call the elections office at 707-263-2372 or toll-free at 888-235-6730.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club hosted the Mendo-Lake District meeting at Hans and Carol Dobusch's property in Kelseyville.

As the attendees entered the property, they were greeted by Phoenix, a Macaw parrot, and two friendly dogs.

The event began with a garden tour of Carol and Han's gardens and a tasty brunch. To the delight of the attendees, all events were held outside under the shade trees in the Dobuschs’ park like landscaping.

Assistant District Director Rhea Pitchard, welcomed the clubs from Ukiah, Willits, Potter Valley and Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis.

Each club shared what they had accomplished during the Spring and Penny Pines Certificates were awarded to Diane Cerutti and Sandy Spencer.

Following the reports from the garden clubs the meeting was adjourned for a barbecue and social time.

Following the barbecue, Terry Knight, local outdoorsman and columnist for the Record-Bee and Ukiah Daily Journal, gave a presentation of the history and lore of Mt. Konocti and Clear Lake. Phoenix the Macaw also enjoyed Knight's presentation with shrieks and jabbering.

Kitty Loberg, vice president of the Trowel & Trellis Garden Club, installed the new officers for the 2022-2023 year.

They are: Carol Dobusch, president; Kitty Loberg, vice president; Linda Pyers, treasurer; Kathleen Steinberg, secretary; and Hans Dobusch, parliamentarian.

A good time was had by all.

The Mendo-Lake District is a member of the California Garden Club Inc.-Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

Kathleen Steinberg is secretary of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club.
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NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. —‌ Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Guardrail work in Clearlake Oaks at East Hillside Lane will conclude on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur from Gravel Plant Road to North Fork Cache Creek on Tuesday, June 28. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

Highway 29

— Road work near Hidden Valley Lake at Spruce Grove Road will conclude on Wednesday, June 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

— Road work west of Lower Lake at Point Lakeview Road will conclude on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Road work at Route 281 will conclude on Saturday, June 25. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays.

— Road work in Lakeport near Robinson Rancheria Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 53

— Electrical work in Clear Lake at Dam Road will conclude on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

Highway 175

— Utility work will conclude in Cobb at Bottle Rock Road on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Bridge work in Cobb at Estates Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Utility work will occur in Gualala at Haven Neck Drive on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur from Haven Neck Drive to Navarro Bluff Road on Wednesday, June 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Road work in Fort Bragg at the Hare Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur in Fort Bragg from Happy Lane to Little Valley Road on Thursday, June 30. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Emergency Road work will occur in Westport from Blue Slide Gulch to Pacific Avenue on Friday, June 24. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Tree work will occur near Little Lake Road on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Paving work is scheduled to begin near Three Chop Road on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur in Willits from Cemetery Road to the Broaddus Creek Bridge on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Tree work in Willits at Franklin Avenue continues. One-way traffic control will be in place from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur in Willits near Hollands Lane on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Emergency work south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Bridge work continues in Ukiah at Route 222. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Fence work in Ukiah at the East Perkins Street Overcrossing continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Bridge work will begin near the Irvine Lodge Rest Area on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work south of Laytonville at Long Valley Creek continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Caltrans has granted an encroachment permit for the Kate Wolf Festival south of Rattlesnake Summit from Thursday, June 23 to Monday, June 27. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Drainage work north of Spyrock Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Tree work will occur north of Spyrock Road on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through July 2022.

Highway 128

— Utility work will occur west of Orbaun Creek on Wednesday, June 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 162

— Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Bridge work south of Leggett will begin on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Slide removal continues south of Piercy near Reynolds State Park Road. A lane closure is in effect and motorists should use an alternate route.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Construction work from the Route 169 junction to north of Klamath will conclude on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 25-minute delays at all hours.

— Construction work near Rowdy Creek to the Oregon State Line will conclude on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Highway 199

— Construction work near Kings Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work at Hiouchi Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

— Permitted cleanup and repair work between Hiouchi and Gasquet will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Bridge work from Mary Adam Peacock Bridge to Wagon Wheel Cafe will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Utility work will occur from Alton to Wolverton Gulch on Tuesday, June 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur from Church Lane to Johnson Lane on Tuesday, June 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Construction work from Johnson Lane to Hely Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur west of Dinsmore on Tuesday, June 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 96

— Crack sealing operations south of Weitchpec will begin on Monday, June 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction work south of Orleans will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Maintenance work will occur from Slate Creek to Bluff Creek Road on Friday, June 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Bridge work near Myers Flat will begin on Friday, June 24. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. A full on ramp closure will be in effect beginning Wednesday, June 29. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Bridge work at the Route 101 South Fork Road Undercrossing continues. A full off ramp closure will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Utility work will occur in Eureka from V Street to X Street on Monday, June 27. Lane closures will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area. LC#C101DB

U.S. 101 (87.5/89.6) — Construction from the St Louis Road Overcrossing to Mad River Bridge will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Utility work in Arcata at Route 299 will continue. The on and off ramps will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction work from Murray Road Overcrossing to Georgia Pacific Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. In addition, the following intermittent full ramp closures will be in effect: the School Road Overcrossing on and off ramps, the Murray Road Overcrossing on and off ramps, the Crannell Scale southbound on and off ramps overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the Westhaven Drive Undercrossing on and off ramps overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should follow signage and use an alternate route when necessary.

Highway 225

— Permitted utility work between Jackson Ranch Road and Peninsula Drive will continue. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Construction near Route 200 will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns.

— Emergency tree work at Chezem Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays.

— Construction east of the Burney Vista Point will continue. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Construction from Willow Creek to Old Three Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Posted On

EUREKA, Calif.— Thousands of income-eligible customers in the North Coast could save 18% on their monthly electric bill by enrolling in Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s Family Electric Rate Assistance, or FERA, program.

The FERA program gives discounts on electricity bills to income-qualified households of three or more individuals, but thousands of eligible customers have not yet signed up for the program, and are missing out on significant savings.

PG&E estimates a total of 3,199 households in Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt counties could save on their monthly bills by enrolling in FERA.

“PG&E continues to partner with agencies in our hometowns to reach eligible customers as the FERA program remains underutilized. We hope the remaining eligible customers will learn more about the program and apply today,” said Aaron August PG&E Vice President of Business Development & Customer Engagement.

Less than 25% of eligible PG&E households are currently enrolled in the program in Northern and Central California with an estimated 174,219 eligible and only 39,907 enrolled.

Some may overlook FERA thinking it only applies to families, or that income qualifications are the same as a similar monthly energy discount program; California Alternate Rates for Energy Program, or CARE. In fact, any income qualified household that does not qualify for CARE may be eligible for FERA as it has higher income guidelines.

Customers who apply for CARE and don’t qualify are automatically evaluated for FERA. Customers cannot be enrolled in both programs. CARE offers a higher monthly discount of 20 percent or more on both gas and electricity.

FERA applications can be found online or visit a local community agency located throughout PG&E’s service area to pick up a paper application. Applying can be easy and only takes about five minutes. Eligible customers begin receiving the FERA program discount in their next billing cycle once their application is approved.

Customers who meet income requirements for FERA and CARE may also qualify for the Energy Savings Assistance Program offering free energy-saving improvements to maximize energy efficiency in the home. With recent changes to the federal income guidelines, even more customers are eligible.

Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for FERA to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines. FERA is funded through a rate surcharge paid for by all utility customers.

For more financial assistance program support visit www.pge.com/billhelp.

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