Saturday, 11 May 2024

Regional

A female wolf in the woods. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The wolf pack discovered this summer in Tulare County will now be called the Yowlumni Pack.

The pack was found in the Sequoia National Forest in proximity to the Tule River Tribe of California’s reservation and ancestral lands.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, is honored to partner with the tribe on formally naming the pack.

The tribe shared that the name Yowlumni comes from the Yowlumni band of the Tule River Yokuts.

“This was described by my mother, Agnes Vera, who was born on the Tule River Indian Reservation in 1926,” said Vernon Vera, a Tule River tribal elder. “She was the last fluent speaker of Yowlumni until her passing in 2010. She taught that the Yowlumni were speakers of the ‘Wolf Tongue.’”

CDFW is thankful for the tribe’s assistance in naming the Yowlumni Pack and connecting the cultural significance of the pack in the region to its name.

After months of collecting DNA samples for analysis and attempting to collar one or more wolves in the Yowlumni Pack, CDFW was successful in capturing and collaring an adult female wolf on Dec. 5. She is approximately 7 to 8 years old and 85 pounds.

CDFW staff will monitor her movements to glean information about the pack including determination of its home range, use of habitat, potential for livestock conflict and other data.

Based on the results of the DNA analyses and subsequent observations, CDFW learned that the pack consists of a breeding pair and six pups. CDFW previously reported there were four.

Information about California’s wolves, including current information about existing packs, wolf biology, conflicts with livestock and CDFW’s wolf management plan can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf.

MARYSVILLE, Calif. — Caltrans is alerting motorists about a winter storm on its way to the Sierra Nevada that could create challenging mountain travel conditions today and Thursday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting up to 10 inches of snow above 4,000 feet with gusty winds up to 45 mph affecting several mountain passes over the next two days.

A winter weather advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. today through 10 p.m. Thursday. Motorists should be prepared for potential chain controls, additional travel times and possible delays.

In the Sacramento Valley, the best chances for rain are forecast north of I-80 with precipitation amounts between 0.1 and 0.5 of an inch, with upwards to an inch of rain possible in the foothills.

Motorists are encouraged to check Caltrans’ QuickMap before traveling for current road conditions and chain requirements or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.

Road information is also available on Caltrans’ website or by calling the California Highway Information Network automated phone service at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. The department will issue updates on X @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook CaltransDistrict3.

A condor, called “prey-go-neesh” by the Yurok Tribe, that’s set to be released on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program.

The Northern California Condor Restoration Program, or NCCRP, will attempt to release three prey-go-neesh, or California condors, into Yurok ancestral territory at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

After assessing each of the new condors, NCCRP biologists deemed that all are ready for release.

NCCRP biologists will wait for previously released prey-go-neesh to be present and feeding at the condor management facility before initiating the release of the young condors.

The proximity to free-flying prey-go-neesh will signal to the new birds that it is safe to leave the secure flight pen.

The release attempt can be viewed live here.

For the initial release of new condors, the NCCRP utilizes a “soft” approach. The program intends to open the flight pen to give the three birds and a mentor from the first cohort the opportunity to leave the facility at their own pace.

“We always hope the birds will immediately depart the flight pen, but it is out of our control. After we open the gate, we are on condor time,” said NCCRP Manager and Yurok Wildlife Department Senior Biologist Chris West. “If the birds remain in the flight pen for several hours, we will reevaluate and possibly reinitiate the process on another day.”

On Oct. 9, the NCCRP received the three approximately year and a half old condors from the Los Angeles Zoo.

The two females and one male, include, 1140, wing tag B0 (female); 1148, wing tag B1(male); and 1151, wing tag B2 (female).

The three prey-go-neesh were hatched and reared at the Los Angeles Zoo. At the zoo, the birds were also vaccinated against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI. They will be the first condors vaccinated for HPAI to be released into the wild.

Condors are extremely social animals. During the last month, the new condors have been regularly visited by free-flying birds, laying the groundwork for their integration into the population.

NCCRP biologists expect the eight free-flying birds to aid the new condor cohort in getting acquainted with their new environment.

Last year, the NCCRP, a partnership between the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National and State Parks, released the first eight condors to fly over far Northern California in more than a century.

Overall, the birds are doing very well in their new home. The birds are exhibiting positive behaviors, such as eating, soaring and resting in protected roosts.

They have explored much of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, including excursions as far south as Hyampom and as far north as the Notchko area on the Yurok Reservation.

To date, the longest distance traveled from the release site is 52 miles.

Yurok connection to the condor

The restoration of this sacred species reflects the Yurok Tribe’s cultural obligation to maintain balance in the world.

It is also a component of the tribe’s plan to restore as much fish and wildlife habitat as possible in Yurok ancestral territory.

The tribe’s terrestrial territory extends from Damnation Creek in Del Norte County to the Little River in Humboldt County on the coast and heads up the Klamath River for 44 miles from the ocean to the confluence with the Trinity River.

In addition to the reintroduction of the critically endangered condor, the tribe is currently rebuilding fish and wildlife habitat on significant portions of the Klamath River, Sacramento River and Prairie Creek as well as other Klamath tributaries.

The tribe is also integrally involved in the ongoing removal of the four Klamath dams, which represents the most ambitious salmon habitat restoration project in US history. The removal of the dams will also benefit many other fish and wildlife species, including condors.

The Yurok Tribe initiated the condor reintroduction project in 2008 with funding support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Redwood National Park, as well as the Administration for Native Americans, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Global Conservation Fund, the National Park Foundation, and many more corporate, agency, and private supporters and citizens.

The Yurok Wildlife Department performed an immense amount of work to prepare for the reintroduction of this imperiled species.

The California Transportation Commission on Thursday awarded more than $300 million to 15 projects across California that will make the state’s transportation system more resilient to the impacts of climate change while also encouraging more walking and biking and enhancing public health.

The investments made by the commission total $309.2 million and will help fund projects with a total cost of more than $1.1 billion in climate-vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

Projects funded through the program will make surface transportation infrastructure more resilient to sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events and other natural hazards exacerbated by the changing climate.

“Communities across California are experiencing the impacts of climate change,” said Commission Chair Lee Ann Eager. “The extreme storms, flooding, and devastating wildfires we see year after year have become the norm, and we must invest in our transportation infrastructure today to avoid costly repairs and preserve access and mobility options for Californians in the future.”

“The initial investments we are making today represent a critical first step in ensuring California’s transportation system can withstand the impacts of climate change,” said Commission Vice Chair Carl Guardino. “We look forward to working with Governor Newsom and the Legislature to ensure sufficient funding is available to keep our entire transportation system functional and safe for future generations.”

The adopted program includes the following projects:

Addressing Climate Change, Emergencies, and Sandstorms (ACCESS) Project (Coachella Valley Association of Governments)

This $75 million project will construct two all-weather bridges on Indian Canyon Road, which is often impacted by severe flooding and blown sand. These improvements will increase the resiliency of local disadvantaged communities by increasing their access to key destinations that are critical to their livelihood and well-being. The project also includes improvements to make walking and bicycling safer along the route.

Roe Road Phase 2 Project (Town of Paradise)

This $66 million project will provide alternative access to State Route 191 / Clark Road so residents have a second route for emergency evacuations in the event of a natural disaster. The project serves the climate-vulnerable communities south of Pearson Road which experienced the highest concentration of fatalities from the 2018 Camp Fire.

Coastal Rail Infrastructure Resiliency Project (Orange County Transportation Agency)

This $15 million project will help develop solutions to ongoing climate-related service suspensions along seven miles of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor between the cities of San Clemente and Dana Point.

The full list of approved projects can be found on the Commission’s website at this link.

The Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program provides $400.5 million over five years, with $148 million in state funding from Gov. Newsom’s 2022-23 Clean Transportation Infrastructure Package and $252.5 million from the federal Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Formula Program established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Remaining funds will be awarded by the Commission in a future funding cycle.

For more information, visit the commission’s website.

Denise Cruz. Courtesy photo.

A 43-year mystery has been solved and a family is finally getting closure thanks to a partnership between the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the California Department of Justice and Othram Inc.

On Feb. 11, 1980, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of possible human remains located in the brush off Stagecoach ROAd, near Trinidad. A HCSO detective responded and began an investigation.

A female body, described as 20 to 30 years old, with reddish-brown hair, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, was located in a sleeping bag.

During the investigation the California Department of Justice was able to recover a latent fingerprint which was run through the Automated Latent Print System with no reported matches.

A forensic dental examination was completed by a local dentist. An autopsy was completed, and the cause of death was listed as an overdose.

A DNA sample was obtained and entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index (#UP55390).

The DNA profile was routinely searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined Index System, or CODIS. No profile matches were ever made.

Missing persons cases stay open until solved. In December of 2022 the HCSO and the California DOJ partnered with Othram Inc, a forensic genealogy lab, to determine if advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the unidentified woman or a close relative.

The DOJ sent Othram a DNA extract from the unknown woman’s remains. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman.

Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads.

In August of 2023, the HCSO received the Othram report indicating the DNA profile may be that of Denise Gail Cruz, born in 1953.

The report included several genetic relatives, including a possible brother named Mark from Colorado.

HCSO investigators were able to contact Mark, who confirmed he had a sister named Denise Gail Cruz.

A DNA sample was obtained from Mark and sent to the DOJ for comparison to the unknown female. The DOJ was able to confirm that Mark and Denise were genetic relatives.

For unknown reasons Denise Cruz stopped communicating with family members. Their last contact with her was in September of 1979.

Cruz had been living a transient lifestyle and was suffering from untreated mental health issues. As the family was not sure whether the loss of contact was intentional, she was never reported as missing.

HCSO thanks the California Department of Justice DNA lab and Othram for their outstanding work and assistance in solving this case and providing the Cruz family with some closure for their missing loved one.

The HCSO is continuing its partnership with the DOJ and Othram and is reviewing several of our missing persons investigations for the use of this latest DNA technology.

Anyone with information regarding Denise Cruz and her last known activities or whereabouts prior to her death, or information that may assist in the investigation of any open missing persons cases, is asked to contact HCSO Cold Case Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday certified the Sites Reservoir Project for judicial streamlining, marking a significant step in California's ongoing efforts to expedite critical infrastructure projects that will deliver clean energy, ensure safe drinking water, and modernize the state's transportation system.

As part of SB 149 administrated by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, or OPR, the Sites Reservoir Project will benefit from California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, streamlining limiting the length of time the project’s environmental impact report can be challenged in court.

Infrastructure streamlining legislation, including SB 149 enacted earlier this year, is part of Gov. Newsom’s actions to leverage available federal investment — projected at $180 billion over the next ten years — to build and retrofit infrastructure that advances the state’s goals.

SB 149 establishes the Infrastructure Streamlining Program at OPR under which an expanded list of eligible projects — including energy infrastructure, semiconductor, or microelectronic, transportation-related, and water-related infrastructure projects — can now receive streamlined judicial review if they are challenged in court under CEQA.

Without streamlining, more contentious CEQA litigation can take upwards of three to five years before a decision is reached in California’s Court of Appeals.

“We’re cutting red tape to build more, faster. These are projects that will address our state’s biggest challenges, and the Sites Reservoir is fully representative of that goal — making sure Californians have access to clean drinking water and making sure we’re more resilient against future droughts,” said Newsom.

“California will make historic investments in infrastructure through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, as well as those investments reflected in California’s record-setting budgets over the last few years,” said Samuel Assefa, director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. “SB 149 and the Governor’s certification of the Sites Reservoir Project today put us on a path to take full advantage of these investments to build infrastructure that will benefit generations of Californians to come.”

Infrastructure projects benefiting from SB 149 are part of California’s efforts to accelerate new transportation, clean-energy, and water-related facilities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect Californians from the effects of climate change, and create good-paying jobs.
Streamlining projects that meet the state’s high environmental and labor standards can help projects successfully compete for available federal investments and catalyze projects aligned with the state’s environmental, climate, and labor goals.

The Sites Reservoir Project, a reservoir designed to capture water during wetter months and store it for use during drier periods, addresses the critical need to manage water supplies when other sources are scarce.

As part of the streamlining of the Sites Reservoir project under SB 149, OPR reviewed nearly 1,000 public comment letters from organizations and members of the public.

Upon certification by the governor, the Sites project will be sent to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for review and final approval.

Upcoming Calendar

11May
05.11.2024 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Guided nature walk
11May
05.11.2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ouroboros project
11May
05.11.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
12May
05.12.2024
Mother's Day
12May
05.12.2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ouroboros project
14May
05.14.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
15May
05.15.2024 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Free veterans dinner
18May
05.18.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
21May
05.21.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
22May
05.22.2024 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lake Leadership Forum

Mini Calendar

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