Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 12, 2009
3. Watersheds –
Adventure of the Week: Come together to celebrate the mighty
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By Matt Weiser
A major overhaul of the federal government's plans to manage forest lands in
Yet the process is freighted with legal conflict and shifting political winds stretching back to the Reagan administration.
The forest-plan makeover kicks off at a public meeting in
Four forests in
"It's just important for people to understand that we're inviting them in at all phases," said Ron Pugh, acting deputy planning director for the Forest Service Pacific Southwest region.
The plans are supposed to be updated every 15 years, but many are overdue, Pugh said. Like a city's general plan, they serve as policy guidance for all activities in each forest, from camping and other recreation to habitat restoration, stream management and logging practices.
The process begins at the regional level, and then shifts to each forest as details are refined.
Changes to the National Forest Management Act in 2008 require the Forest Service to adopt a more collaborative approach to public involvement.
But other changes prompted legal action by environmental groups.
Greg Loarie, an attorney at the nonprofit law firm Earthjustice, said the Bush administration changed the law in 2001, removing a Reagan-era requirement for each forest plan to be vetted by an environmental impact study.
This change, he said, eliminated requirements for each forest to meet clear targets to improve habitat and water quality, for example. A federal lawsuit is under way on this issue, and Loarie said it might not make sense to revise plans while this conflict exists.
The July 1 meeting is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
http://www.sacbee.com/politics/story/1940176.html?mi_rss=State%2520Politics
Adventure of the Week: Come together to celebrate the mighty
By Gamaliel Ortiz
A dress knit from plastic water bottles.
Message: Stop using wasteful plastic for your daily water consumption.
An inner-tube skirt.
Message: Ride your bike more and don't litter.
Trash – some of which was found along the
The show is just one of many attractions at this year's American River Confluence Festival, on Sunday in
The confluence of the
"We're celebrating the
Peach has a long list of why people ought to care: from the drinking water and electricity the river provides to the scenic watershed that spans thousand of acres and provides hiking and sightseeing. Peach has fond memories of a clean-up detail one year when he spotted a mother bear caring for three cubs near
The river and canyons are simply breathtaking, he says.
"Rivers are the lifeblood of our humanity, really," he says. "It's a really remarkable area once you explore it."
The festival, in its 18th year, will be home to a "village" of fun with family-driven and educational activities.
Attendees will learn how to protect the area. They will get tips on recreational opportunities, including rock climbing and whitewater rafting near China Bar. Various music groups will perform. Children will have plenty of chances to showcase their artistic abilities.
In all, about 30 booths will be set up, including ones featuring health and wellness demonstrations and organic farm products.
A more poignant aspect of the festival is a presentation on injured animals, some injured due to careless human interaction, including littering.
Andrea Rosenthal, a PARC member, says the river, despite its usefulness, is special and warrants protection. She says the community organization, about 100 members strong, has been on a mission to protect the habitat for years, beginning with an effort in the 1970s to impede the building of an
"It's a free-flowing river," she says. "We don't want to see it underwater with a dam. We want it to be there to enjoy for centuries to come. When two rivers come together it's always a very spiritual place."
At the meeting point of the two forks, grinding rocks from the Maidu people are found. Miners also took harbor, resting their hopes of gold there. The history is rich, Rosenthal says.
PARC continues to push for ways to get federal protection for the land, Peach says. There will be information available about the group's efforts.
"Quite frankly, the
IF YOU GO:
What: American River Confluence Festival, with music, family-oriented activities and art presentations to celebrate the importance of river system in the
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where:
Cost: Free
More info: www.parc-auburn.org and a map or call (530) 887-9314.#
http://www.sacbee.com/livinghere/story/1935789.html
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