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The California Department of Food and Agriculture is accepting written comments on the document and scheduled seven comment sessions to receive public input, three of which have already occurred.
“The draft Environmental Impact Report is not a treatment plan but a comprehensive document used for evaluating options and to identify potential significant environmental impacts as well as other components of the program since it began in 2007,” said John Connell, director of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services at CDFA. “We are asking the public to review the document and offer comments, or they may participate in one of the seven comment sessions throughout the state.”
The EIR evaluates the environmental effects of various strategies and methods for treating the Light Brown Apple Moth in portions of the state where infestations have been identified.
The moth feeds on host plants and damages or spoils the appearance of ornamental plants, citrus, grapes, and deciduous fruit tree crops.
The moth, which was discovered in the Bay Area in the spring of 2007, has forced state and federal quarantines in numerous California counties.
Approximately 3,473 square miles are now under quarantine within California and more than 110,000 moths have been trapped.
State and federal quarantine regulations prohibit the movement of all nursery stock, all cut flowers, and all host fruits and vegetables and plant parts within or from the quarantined area unless it is certified as free from the pest by an agricultural official; is purchased at a retail outlet; or was produced outside the area and is passing through in accordance with accepted safeguards.
Currently one fifth of all wine grapes in Sonoma County are under quarantine. Earlier this summer the moth damaged organic berry crops at several farms in the Watsonville area and also has been found inland in Yolo and San Joaquin counties.
The Light Brown Apple Moth is native to Australia and is found in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hawaii. The range of host plants is broad with more than two-thousand plant species known to be susceptible to attack by this pest, and more than 250 crops.
Officials say it threatens California’s environment – including cypress and oak trees – by destroying, stunting or deforming young seedlings and damaging new growth in the forest canopy. State and federal agriculture officials are currently developing sterile insect technology to combat the infestation.
Issues raised from comment letters and during the comment sessions will be incorporated into a final report and then made available to the public in the form of a final EIR.
More information, including the draft EIR report, can be found at www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/lbameir .
The remaining public comment sessions will be held at the following locations:
Sacramento
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
East End Complex
1500 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Sonoma
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Sonoma County Veterans Memorial Hall
126 First St. West
Sonoma, CA 95476
Watsonville
Monday, Aug. 31, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Watsonville Civic Plaza community Room
275 Main St., 4th Floor (sixth level in the parking lot garage)
Watsonville, CA 95076
Oakland
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Elihu M. Harris Building Auditorium Building
1515 Clay St.
Oakland, CA 94612
The deadline for written comments is Monday, Sept. 28.
Comments may be sent to Jim Rains, staff environmental scientist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, 1220 N St., second floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.
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LAKE COUNTY – Rainbow Ag has announced the addition of an equestrian field representative to spearhead a major revamping and upgrading of its equine department.
Beth Schwarz of Ukiah began work Aug. 13 as equine field representative for the Rainbow, America’s Country Stores in Ukiah and Lakeport.
In making the announcement, Rainbow President Jim Mayfield said Schwarz will coordinate a plan to make Rainbow the “premier shopping destination for horse owners in Lake and Mendocino counties.”
“Beth has the ideal combination of equestrian knowledge, retail experience, promotional background and dynamic personality to take Rainbow to a new level of service for the many horse owners in this region,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield said that Schwarz, who is experienced in both Western and English riding, will work closely with the equine community to identify ways in which the Rainbow stores can enhance product selection and improve services.
“Beth will be attending the equestrian events, club meetings, seminars, fairs and rodeos to get direct feedback from horse owners on what Rainbow can do to better serve them,” Mayfield said. “She will also interface with the Rainbow retail staff in Ukiah and Lakeport to insure that we have a complete selection of the latest products for our customers.”
Mayfield said Rainbow has worked hard for years to build its equestrian program and along the way has been designated a “Premier Dealer” by Farnam and Purina two of the largest equine product companies in the world.
“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we know that we can do better, and Beth is the right person at the right time to move Rainbow forward,” Mayfield said.
Prior to joining Rainbow, Schwarz held top positions in recruiting, human resources and promotion with Borders Group in Ukiah, Sports Authority in Fairfax, Va., and served as a human resource analyst with the county of Mendocino. She holds an associate of arts degree from Bauder College in Atlanta.
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Members of LCAOR have selected Linda Lindeblad as 2011 president elect. She will serve as president-elect in 2010 and as president in 2011.
Victoria Gindele will serve as secretary/treasurer for 2010 and 2011.
Larry Oslin, Ray Perry and Leslie Kirchner will serve as directors for three-year terms beginning in 2010 and running through 2012.
A special thank you goes to Susie Cashmore, who will continue to serve on the grievance committee.
“We are proud of our newly elected Board and Officers,” said LCAOR President Anita McKee. “Thank you to all our members for their participation in the election process.”
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SACRAMENTO – The county of Lake was presented with a silver award for their exhibit at the California State Fair, a collaborative effort of a committee chaired by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
Several businesses contributed time, materials, graphics and more to create the exhibit.
A full “thank you” will be published soon, listing the committee members, businesses and close to 70 volunteers – or Lake County Ambassadors – who are staffing the exhibit during its 18-day run from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7.
Some of the features this year are an 8 foot square map of the county, a 10 foot tall by 21 foot long photo mural of Clear Lake with Mt. Konocti in the background and an 11 foot tall wine cave with a waterfall cascading from the peak and down both sides of the cave.
Inside the cave are featured 18 different Lake County wines. The cave is the creation of Paradigm Concrete Artisans of Lakeport owned by Bill Bibler.
Also in the exhibit is a beautiful custom made counter top supplied by Bob Maher of Maherajah (skis); attached to the counter top is one of Bob's skis which was worn by the winner of the World Championship Ski Races in Belgium a month ago.
A video of Lake County activities and attractions created by Tony Barthel of the Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast is being shown in a historic building reproduction made by Meek Construction.
A variety of photo/poster displays depicting the crop productions, population growth for 100 years, activities, etc. were created by Wray Graphics, Soul Cooperative and Direct Image Printing.
The theme this year is “Family Fun in Lake County.” There is a mountain bike suspended from the 30 foot ceiling donated for the fair by The Bicycle Rack and a biwing model seaplane is suspended as well as though it has just flown over Mt. Konocti. The plane was loaned by Ron and Darleen Keil of Kelseyville.
A visit to the California State Fair at CalExpo will provide an opportunity to experience displays from 33 of the 58 counties in California.
Fair hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
