Community

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Written by: Editor

Published: 03 August 2021

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office welcomes public input on the proposed clean-up of the abandoned Clyde Mine in Colusa County.

The proposed remediation, monitoring and maintenance was developed in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and is estimated to cost more than $1.4 million.

The Clyde Mine is one of 14 inactive mines within the Sulphur Creek Mining District, known for gold production in the late 1800s.

The mine is located along a tributary of the Sulphur Creek, north of State Route 20, within the Indian Valley Management Area, a popular site for outdoor recreation.

The proposed plan recommends excavating mercury-impacted material, backfilling trenches, leveling terrain, laying a geo-fabric and soil cover over the site to direct surface water into natural channels to reduce runoff and reseeding with native plants.

More information about the proposed project is available at https://go.usa.gov/xsu7g. Please submit written comments by Wednesday, Sept. 1, electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., via the project website, or by mail to the Ukiah Field Office, Attn: Clyde Mine Remediation, 2550 North State St., Suite 2, Ukiah, CA 95482.

Hard copies of the draft project proposal are available at the Redbud Library in Clearlake, or by appointment during normal business hours at the BLM Ukiah Field Office.

Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other personal identifying information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment — including personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time. While someone may ask the BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

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Written by: Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

Published: 01 August 2021

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif.‌‌ ‌‌ — ‌ ‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Construction near Saratoga Spring Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway‌‌ ‌‌29

— Construction from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction from Route 281 to Private Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Ocean View Drive which will occur on Tuesday, Aug. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Slide removal two miles west of Three Chop Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Highway construction east of Three Chop Road began on Thursday, July 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal from Comminsky Station Road to Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Work south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Lane closures will be in effect in both directions. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Moss Cove Safety Rest Area will be closed through fall 2021.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through fall 2021.

— Drainage work from Piercy to the Humboldt County Line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists can anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Drainage work at the Piercy on and off ramp began on Friday, July 30. Full ramp closures will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should use an alternate ramp.

Highway 175

— Pavement work near Buckman Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Shoulder work east of Buckman Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Drainage work from Old Route 101 to South Fork Eel River will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 29 July 2021

On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), co-chairs of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, announced the introduction of the bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act.

This legislation grants authority to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or USFWS, to collect civil damages to repair and restored damaged wildlife refuges.

“Wildlife refuges represent some of the very best of our nation’s public lands. Sadly, when they are damaged, the USFWS must use taxpayer money to conduct needed repairs instead of holding the responsible parties financially responsible. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act that would allow USFWS to seek civil damages from people who damage refuges. Those fines will be used to restore our public lands,” said Thompson. “This process is more efficient, saves the taxpayer money, and is already used by agencies like the National Park Service. I’ll work to ensure we pass this important bill to preserve our wildlife refuges.”

“The First District of Virginia is home to unique and special ecosystems. As a former state health official who conducted field research in the Chesapeake Bay, I am aware of the ecological challenges facing Virginia waters, wetlands, and refuges and I know the importance of taking care of our environment for future generations. Providing for the protection and security of these resources is absolutely vital.” said Wittman. “This legislation will help ensure that our nation’s refuges are protected for years to come.”

Wildlife refuges sustain thousands of dollars in damage each year and the USFWS has no way under current law to recover the costs needed to conduct repair.

In fact, between 2014 and 2016, at least 1,787 acts of vandalisms and 127 acts of arson were committed to refuges, which cost more than $395,000.

This bipartisan bill gives the USFWS authority to collect civil damages from those responsible and use those funds to repair damages. Wildlife refuges nationwide host more than 48 million visitors each year and generate $2.4 billion for local economies.

This legislation puts wildlife refuges on par with other public lands that already have such protection.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.