Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 11, 2009
3. Watersheds –
One year later: Fuels not as dry
The
Stimulus-funded work under way at
Redding Record Searchlight
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One year later: Fuels not as dry
The
By Paul Wellersdick
Today is the one year anniversary of the Humboldt Fire which burned 23,344 acres, destroyed 87 homes 167 outbuildings, damaged seven other homes and caused a major evacuation of
CAL FIRE is still investigating the suspected arson fire. This year has the potential for a similar fire season even with wet weather recently slowing fire season a bit, according to CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Jeff Harter said the difference between this year and last is this year, brush is still soaking up moisture. Last year brush was already drying out as a result of drought.
Harter points out the recent rains pushed the fire danger further back, greening up lighter fuels. CAL FIRE samples manzanita leaves from
"When it reaches 80 percent, it's critical," he said. "The whole bush can be consumed readily We know that when a fire starts in the brush we'll have a hard time controlling it."
As of a week ago, fuel moisture was at 120 percent, compared to last year's 110 percent. While 10 percentage points may not seem like a lot, Harter said the difference is that the moisture content this year is still climbing, last year it started to dry early because of dry north winds, he said.
"It hasn't started to dry yet, but it will soon," he said.
Weather patterns this year have been different. Last year, dry lightning, that is lightning without rain, started thousands of fires across the state. Last week lightning storms were present again, but this time with rain. While last week's lightning caused some fires, they were put out by the rain accompanied with the storm, Harter said.
Starting June 21, which is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, humidity recovery at night ceases drying out fire fuels. "That's what really gets us in the summer time," he said. Harter notes that despite the better moisture levels, this season's fire potential is as great as last year, he said. Depending on the fire type, there is plenty of fuel out there, he said. The Humboldt and Ophir fires were primarily grass fires. Those fuels are already half-cured in the valley, Harter said.
"With a north wind we can still have that type of event again," he said.
Harter also says those grasses re-grow quickly and create flashy fuels which can build into bigger burns.
"You can't even tell it burned," he said. "We could be right back in that - that's the
Defending against a wildfire is tough, he said. CAL FIRE protects property and watersheds, by reducing fuels in the same way an underbrush fire would.
"We have to emulate fire, which is tough to do," he said. "People need to do their clearances."
Cal Fire consistently asks residents to create a 100-foot zone of defensible space around a home by thinning brush. That creates the same fuel reduction a natural habitat would with periodic fires.
"Having everything overgrown thick and tall isn't natural," he said. "You need to prune things up and make it more natural."
Harter reminds homeowners that it's important to remember to create clearances at the right time. He also said it's best to work first thing in the morning and avoid running power equipment which could start a fire on hot, windy days. Also having the right building construction in homes is essential to withstanding a wildfire. Fires spend fuels in forests which can reduce fire danger, Harter said.
"Driving up Skyway, on the right, you see all the tall burned stalks," he said. " That's a nice fuel break for us now."
Firefighters can use old burns to contain new fires, especially when they're fresh, like the Humboldt Fire's path.
"It's not a containment line, you still have to improve the lines, but it's definitely a place to make a stand," he said.
There's still plenty of fuel in the county for fires to burn, he said. CAL FIRE Prevention Chief Todd Price also said fire danger this year is similar to last year.
"With continuing drought we're very similar to last year," he said. "Early June precipitation was welcomed by us but we're still looking at a severe fire season."
CAL FIRE is prepared and staffing levels on state side should be relatively the same, he said. Typically fire engines carry 4 firefighters on each engine and full staffing should be achieved by the end of June, he said.
"We're hoping we don't get pounded like we did last year," he said.
Last year fire danger was worse causing CAL FIRE to increase its staffing earlier than normal, Harter said. And last year's fires didn't allow firefighters to perform their annual training sessions. This year, they were able to go through their mandatory refresher training, he said. July 1 is still the day CAL FIRE anticipates it will start rolling brownouts on county-funded fire stations including Station 33 on the Upper Ridge and stations in Nord, North Chico,
Major holidays such as the Fourth of July and Labor Day won't be browned out, he said.
"In essence, we're mandated by the (Butte County Board of Supervisors) to save a certain amount of money," Harter said. "We've already cut staffing." CAL FIRE has laid off 11 firefighters in
The cuts to the level of service provided in the county can affect this fire season. If CAL FIRE has to send strike teams to other parts of the state, it won't have the people to pull from and backfill behind stations that have engines in other areas.
"This is all uncharted territory," he said. "It will be interesting."#
http://www.paradisepost.com/ci_12565217
Stimulus-funded work under way at
Redding Record Searchlight-6/11/09
About 60 north state construction workers will be busy over the next three months readying a pipeline, pumping plants and a containment pit for tainted sediment from Iron Mountain Mine.
"They are used to working in
The Martinez-based company is one of three subcontractors preparing a dredging and water treatment operation for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency along the Spring Creek Arm of Keswick Lake as part of the Iron Mountain Mine cleanup. Wetzsteon said 12 of the about 20 workers the company will have working on the project are from the
Planned for next year, the project has been sped up by $20.7 million in federal economic stimulus money announced in April, said Rick Sugarek, EPA's manager of the Iron Mountain Mine cleanup. He said for each $1 million spent about eight temporary jobs that would pay $40,000 to $50,000 per year will be created.
"That's the whole idea behind this thing - to create jobs," Sugarek said.
Wetzsteon and two other subcontractor managers said their companies will be working on the project until September. The jobs will pay between $20 to $40 per hour, plus benefits, the managers said.
Jerry McCasland, project director for Roseville-based Turn-Key Construction, said the work is welcome in what is a slow construction time. He said some workers have been going six to seven months between jobs.
He said the bulk of the company's workers live in Glenn, Tehama or Shasta counties.
"I'd say 70 percent of the guys are there," he said.
The main contract is with CH2M Hill, a Colorado-based engineering firm with an office and roots in
The EPA is still taking in bids for the dredging contract, Sugarek said. That work is set for October and November as well as April and May 2010.
The dredging will clear fine sediment that is heavy with copper and zinc from
The EPA declared the mine a Superfund site, or an uncontrolled source of hazardous waste, in 1983 and the federal cleanup started in 1987. Scientists have said the mine produces some of the world's worst water.
In all, the dredging will clear 350,000 tons of sediment from the creek, Sugarek said. During the process, he said water in
Once pulled from the creek by a hydraulic dredge, the sediment will be pumped through 6,000 feet of pipe to a 12-acre "disposal cell," or containment pit, said John Spitzley, project manager for CH2M Hill. There workers will seal the sediment and it will be buried.
Water passed through the new system will be treated and put back into Spring Creek, he said.#
http://www.redding.com/news/2009/jun/11/stimulus-funded-work-underway-at-iron-mountain/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of
No comments:
Post a Comment