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Conservation Corner
by Robin Egan
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Our October Meeting had only 3 attendees besides myself and our speaker. And, for those interested in the FERC relicensing going on all over Northern CA, you missed a good one! Julie Liembach was kind enough to drive down to our meeting to give us an update on all that Foothills Water Network has been involved in. See the additional report in this month’s newsletter for details of this update.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
October 3rd – Red Sesbania Removal We had 10 volunteers, including myself. Mel Odemar, Mike Howes and Tom Pettey had their rubber boots and were able to reach the island, and boy did they find the “mother lode”, as Tom describes it! There were so many plants there they had to get the smaller ones on the way back. Many of the larger plants could not be removed with a weed wrench, so the pods were collected, bagged and carried out so they cannot propagate further. We finished around 10:45AM, and then enjoyed a BBQ Hamburger and Hot Dog lunch. Thanks to Nancy Harbolt, Paul Egan, Mitchell Egan, Emily Egan, Art Savery, Austin Savery, Mel Odemar, Mike Howes and Tom Pettey for all your time and hard work!
October 18th – Truckee River Day In conjunction with Sac-Sierra Trout Unlimited, a few of us assisted the Truckee River Watershed Council with the 14th Annual Truckee River Day. Thanks to Larry Goodell and Tony Fabian for volunteering their time to represent GBF and help with this annual event.
November 7th – Red Sesbania Removal Our next workday for Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea) removal will be Saturday, November 7th. We will meet at Rio Americano High School's (4540 American River Drive) parking lot at 9:00 am (From Fair Oaks Blvd, turn south on Saverien Dr - this dead-ends into the school). Plan on working until around noontime. Lunch and water will be provided. WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN WADE! We will be focusing on the actual island that is inaccessible during high water flows. We still need a few people to go along the north bank where we’ve been working, but our primary focus will be the island this month. Bring WADERS and/or rubber hip boots, long sleeves and long pants. Shoes that can get wet/muddy are preferable (or wading boots), as we will have to get in the water to reach some areas. Please let me know if you will be able to participate, so I have a head count for lunch.
LEGISLATION STATUS
AB1052 – Bay/Delta Stamp Extension. Signed into law by the Governor on 10/11/09! This means that “starting Jan. 1, 2010, the stamp and associated use fee required to fish within the bay/delta system will not be required. In addition, the committee will be continued to provide oversight and accountability of the $6 million
fund balance remaining on account. Other operational conditions addressing the way DFG manages the program have been included within the
legislation as a result of a Joint Legislative Audit regarding DFG accounting practices, project selection, public notification and application of these
funds.” See the rest of Mike McKenzie’s (of CSPA) post on Dan Blanton’s BB here: http://www.danblanton.com/viewmessage.php?id=129761.
AB 39 (Huffman)—Delta Plan-
In Senate Committee for Natural Resources and Water- Last Action: From Conference Committee: With recommendation: That Senate amendments
be concurred in and that the bill be further amended. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta Plan.
AB 49 (Feuer-Huffman)—Water Efficiency- In Senate Appropriations Committee- Last Action: From Conference Committee: With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in
and that the bill be further amended. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a 20% water efficiency
requirement for the year 2020 for agricultural and urban water users.
SB 12 (Simitian)—Delta Stewardship Council- In Assembly for Water, Parks and Wildlife- Set, first hearing. Further hearing to be set. This bill would declare legislative intent to enact legislation
to establish the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Stewardship Council
SB 229 (Pavley)—Delta Interim Actions, Water Rights, Groundwater- In Assembly for Water, Parks and Wildlife- Set, first hearing. Further hearing to be set. This bill would declare legislative intent to enact legislation
to authorize actions to be undertaken prior to the adoption of a comprehensive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Plan.
SB 458 (Wolk)—Delta Conservancy, Delta Protection Commission Revision-
In Assembly for Water, Parks and Wildlife- Set, first hearing. Further hearing to be set. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to establish a Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy and to modify the Delta Protection Commission.
The next conservation committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd (YES, election day) at 7:00 PM at the Round Table Pizza in FAIR OAKS (San Juan & Winding Way). As always, all are welcome to attend. ~
Robin Egan VP Conservation (916) 396-0030 |
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