UPDATE: Crews are mopping up the “Bald Hill 3” fire, which as of this morning, Sept. 16, is 95 percent contained and has burned 210 acres. Full containment was expected by Wednesday, Sept. 17. PREVIOUSLY: Hoopa firefighters battled a blaze on Bald Hill, which overlooks the Hoopa Valley, all night and by 9 a.m. this […]
Environment / Natural Resources
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Last of the Liquors Leave the Pulp Mill
The Samoa Pulp Mill is liquor free as of today. The nearly six-month process of hauling the three million gallons of abandoned caustic chemicals ended with a final truck heading northbound to Longview, Washington, where the pulping liquors are being reconstituted for use in a pulp mill there. Congressman Jared Huffman praised the efforts of […]
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Judge Denies Bid To Stop Trinity Water Releases
A federal judge with the Eastern District Court of California today denied a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction sought by Central Valley Project water users to stop extra releases of water from the Trinity reservoir at Lewiston Dam into the Trinity River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation approved those flow augmentation releases last week, […]
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SECOND UPDATE:Trinity Will Get More Water; Suit Filed
SECOND UPDATE: On Monday, Aug. 25, around 5 p.m., the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority filed for a temporary restraining order in Fresno Superior Court to stop the increased flows. Dan Nelson, executive director of the water authority, said Tuesday that the issue is much the same as last year when his agency and the Westlands […]
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Bay Trail North: Funded
The California Transportation Commission this week approved $3.1 million in grant funding for the construction of the Humboldt Bay trail between Arcata and Bracut, possibly paving the way for construction to begin next year. Officials described the grant as a “landmark,” and a major step forward for the long-talked about and debated project. Combined with […]
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Protesters: ‘Fish Need Water’
More than 100 people gathered in front of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Sacramento office Tuesday to demand that the bureau release additional water into the Trinity River, and by turn the Klamath, to prevent what they see as an imminent large-scale fish kill similar to that of 2002, when more than 50,000 salmon died […]
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Algae Toxins in the Trinity
These may be the dog days of summer, but ol’ Rex and Rusty better be careful about what rivers and lagoons they go jumping in to celebrate: The poor dogs don’t want to encounter toxic blue-green algae, which can thrive in the low flows and warm water conditions we’re seeing now on local rivers including […]
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Chesbro Explains Lonely ‘No’ Vote
North Coast Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro was one of only two California lawmakers to vote against putting a $7.5 billion water bond before state voters in November that is being hailed as an historic, bi-partisan plan to rescue the drought-parched state from a future of water uncertainty in an era of climate change. Specifically, the plan […]
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A Boost for the Bay Trail?
The Humboldt Bay Trail seems poised to take a great leap forward this month. California Transportation Commission staff is recommending approval of a $3.1 million grant application from the city of Arcata at the commission’s Aug. 20 meeting. “We’re pleased about that,” said Arcata Environmental Services Director Mark Andre. “Very pleased.” If given the final […]
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Human Remains Found In Humboldt Redwoods State Park
A camper made a grisly discovery on Sunday during her morning walk: a human jawbone. The jawbone was in the middle of a trail on the west side of the Cuneo Creek Horse Camp, an equestrian site in Humboldt Redwoods State Park just off of Bull Creek Road. The camper, who requested anonymity, immediately returned […]
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Rio Dell Can Drink Again
Hey, Rio Dell: Stick a glass under that tap, turn it on, fill ‘er up and take a nice, long pull. Then maybe take a shower. Go ahead: According to a news release from the City of Rio Dell, the State Water Resources Control Board has lifted its drought-panic order forbidding the City from drawing water […]
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Feds: Want Extra Water? Show Us Dead Fish
An appeal from the Hoopa Tribe for more water down the Trinity River yielded no increase, as the Secretary of the Interior announced this week that extra flows, requested to prevent a potential fish kill on the Klamath, would not be released. Mike Orcutt, Fisheries Director for the Hoopa Tribe, was in Washington, D.C. last […]