UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Board of Trustees approved the naming of “Pomo Plaza” at their monthly meeting held May 10.

Mendocino College established a monument to recognize the Pomo communities and help create a more culturally respectful and inclusive campus climate as part of their continued equity work.

This initiative aligns with the Board of Trustees’ goal of strengthening the college’s inclusive, equitable and ethnically diverse culture to be more welcoming to all students and increase access and support for underrepresented groups including American Indian students. 

Pomo Plaza will be located on the Mendocino College, Ukiah Campus in the area between the Library Learning Center and the Lowery Student Center.

The location will be prominently marked with a stone monument that acknowledges and highlights the experiences and numerable positive contributions of American Indian people as well as the importance of the Pomo cultures in our communities.

Mendocino College plans to hold an unveiling and naming ceremony upon completion of the project.

Jessica Silva is director of community relations and communication at Mendocino College.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest has released its draft environmental impact statement, or DEIS, on the Pine Mountain Late-Successional Reserve Habitat Protection and Enhancement project.

The DEIS is posted online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=13615 .

The proposed action involves fuels reduction and habitat enhancement treatments on approximately 8,000 acres southwest of Lake Pillsbury in the Pine Mountain vicinity.

The project area was chosen for treatment based on past fire history and the need to improve forest health and resilience to fire, insects and disease.

Comments on the proposed action and preliminary alternatives will be accepted for 45 calendar days following publication in the Federal Register on May 5, 2017.

This period is intended to provide an opportunity to comment on the project prior to the development of the final EIS.

For information contact: Frank Aebly, Covelo and Upper Lake district ranger, at the Upper Lake office, 10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95458, by phone 707-275-1401 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center is pleased to present Gregory Graham Winery and R Vineyards for the third in the 2017 series of Palette to Palate, “Seeing Red,” an evocative pairing of wine and art.

Two dynamic husband and wife teams, Marianne and Gregory Graham and Monica and David Rosenthal, will pour and share stories for MAC’s newest exhibit “Seeing Red.”

Join them on Saturday, May 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. as they learn of winemaking and growing in the Red Hills Appellation and also taste wonderful reds, include Reba Red from R Vineyards.

Your $10 cover fee provides wine tastings from Gregory Graham and R Vineyards. Additional glasses of wine will be available for $5 per glass.

Join them for a great experience sipping wine, viewing art, enjoying light refreshments, and be immersed in the idea of red, from color to emotion, with our winemakers and participating artists.

Palette to Palate is a new series recognizing that wine makers and artists share the same creative impulse.

A vine is planted and nurtured, a concept composed; harvest and crush, forms blocked in; varietals are blended and seasoned, colors and textures stroked onto canvas; through creative alchemy a uniquely flavorful elixir, or work of art, comes into being.

Gregory Graham wines are grown in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County and did well at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot noir and the 2012 Estate Syrah both won Best of Class and Double Gold. The 2012 Grenache and 2012 Magma Red got Gold, and four more wines got awarded a Silver medal. Their Gold-winning Grenache just earned a 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast. 

Mature, deep, well drained and often rocky, the Jafa soils on the North slope of Mt. Saint Helena inform the wines of R Vineyards. Known for their signature Viognier, R Vineyards also produces zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and other varietals. Reba Red is new introduction and will be one of the wines featured at this Palette to Palate.

MAC’s current exhibit, “Seeing Red” is on view through Monday, May 29, then the MAC readies the next exhibit “eco-centric” a continuing thread carried over from the annual EcoArts Sculpture Walk which was discontinued due to the Valley Fire which destroyed the Middletown Trailside Park.

Proceeds from Palette to Palate support the Middletown Art Center, a non-profit dedicated to providing art opportunities, art education, cultural enrichment, and ecological awareness contributing to the social and economic well-being of Lake County, California.

All donations to the MAC are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.

MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.

Rainbow trout/steelhead vs coastal cutthroat trout, eating fresh-caught fish at sea,

Question: I have a question regarding regulations on non-adipose fin-clipped (“wild”) rainbow trout/steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout in tributaries on the North Coast (e.g. the lagoons in northern Humboldt County).

Anglers are not permitted to keep wild rainbow trout/steelhead but are permitted to keep wild coastal cutthroat trout. However, these two species are well known to hybridize and hybrid offspring are reproductively viable.

Hybrids also exhibit a continuous spectrum of phenotypic expression that runs from the rainbow phenotype (few spots below the lateral line, small head, maxillary terminating before the rear of the eye and no throat slashes) to the cutthroat phenotype (heavily spotted including below the lateral line, large head, maxillary extending past the rear of the eye and throat slashes present).

These phenotypes are what the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website recommends for identification of the two species, but there is no reference to the basibranchial teeth that are specific to cutthroat.

Therefore, if an angler catches a non-adipose fin-clipped trout that has no throat slashes, no spots below the lateral line, a small head and a maxillary that does not extend beyond the rear of the eye, but has basibranchial teeth, is the angler allowed to keep the trout? The fish described is likely a hybrid “cuttbow.”

Alternatively, if an angler catches a trout that outwardly looks like a coastal cutthroat but does not have basibranchial teeth, is the angler allowed to keep the trout?

Again, this fish is likely a cuttbow. (Brian P., Sacramento)

Answer: According to CDFW Environmental Program Manager Roger Bloom, it is true that rainbow trout/coastal cutthroat hybrids exist at some low level in sympatric populations.

However, based on a recent scientific study, the practice of using phenotypic traits to distinguish hybrids is not very effective.

Although the presence of basibranchial teeth are a strong indication of a cutthroat trout lineage, it should not be used exclusively as a definitive sign to retain/harvest a fish.

From a regulatory/enforcement perspective, field identification of coastal cutthroats should be based on commonly agreed upon morphology of red/orange slashes found under the jaw.

If there is a question about a fish being a hybrid coastal cutthroat crossed with a rainbow trout, anglers should err on the side of caution. It must have observable red/orange slashes if the trout is to be considered a coastal cutthroat for harvest.

Interestingly, some Central Valley hatchery steelhead may exhibit orange/yellow slashes which could stem from genetic influences via ancestral redband trout.

Hence, if an angler encounters an adipose-clipped fish that looks like a rainbow trout but has these characteristics, it can be retained/harvested as there are currently no hatchery coastal cutthroats with clipped adipose fins.

Eating fresh-caught fish while at sea?

Question: Is it legal to eat just-caught fish while still at sea? For example, if I catch a tuna, fillet it into six pieces and later that day have one piece for dinner, would that be a criminal offense under the new fillet rules? (Jim K.)

Answer: No, you are welcome to cook sport-caught fish on a vessel as long as the fish is counted toward the angler’s individual bag limit and the vessel’s boat limit.

The fish must also meet the fillet length requirements and any skin patches must be left on until the fish is prepared for immediate consumption (Fish and Game Code, sections 5508 and 5509). This applies regardless of which species is taken, and includes the new tuna fillet rules.

Remember, you cannot catch another fish to replace the one that has been eaten once the bag/boat limit has been filled for that type of fish for that day.

Ranching wild pigs on private property?

Question: Are there circumstances under which a California rancher or even a private resident can keep live wild pigs on their property? I haven’t found any regulations that specifically address this. (Mike A.)

Answer: No, it is not lawful for any California resident to possess wild pigs (Sus scrofa) (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 671(c)(2)(Q)). However, there is an exception for Sus scrofa domestica, also known as the domesticated pig one commonly sees on a farm (CCR Title 14, section 671(c)(2)(Q)(1)).

Crab hawk

Question: Is it legal to use the device called the “Crabhawk” to fish for Dungeness crabs? (Forrest L., Watsonville)

Answer: This device, which attaches to the end of a fishing line, is not legal in California.

For descriptions of legal devices that may be used to take crabs, please check CCR Title 14, section 29.80. The Crabhawk does not meet the regulatory criteria.

An alternative trap that may be attached to the end of a line is the crab loop trap. These have been legal to use in California for many years.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, life coach and author JoAnn Saccato, MA will present two free 90-minute workshops on Mindfulness for Stress Reduction at Lake County Jazzercise, located at 15642 Armstrong St. in Middletown, on Thursday, May 25, and Thursday, June 1.

The workshops begin at 1 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

The workshop includes a brief history and definition of mindfulness, recent scientific findings with emphasis on stress reduction, and simple guided mindfulness exercises including sensory awareness, gentle movement and loving kindness.

The workshop is based on Saccato's eight-week course and forthcoming book, “Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

Mindfulness is a popular practice that invites one to pay kind, non-judgmental attention to their experience.

The scientifically supported approach helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

Beth Rudiger of Lake County Jazzercise is hosting the event. "I took this workshop with JoAnn last year and realized that being mindful is just being present and acknowledging what my body is telling me. We actually encourage our clients to practice mindfulness at every Jazzercise class when we tell them to engage their muscles and pay attention to how hard they’re working."

For more information on Lake County Jazzercise, visit www.lcjazz.com or call Rudiger at 707-502-3389. 

For more information on the workshop, Saccato and her work, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Sycamore Grove Campground at the Red Bluff Recreation Area will become a reservation only campground beginning Wednesday, May 17.

Reservations will be accepted online through the National Recreation Reservation Service at https://www.recreation.gov or toll free at 1-877-444-6777.

“This change is being made to streamline services and improve efficiency at the campground,” said Joe Aragon, acting Grindstone District ranger.

Sycamore Grove is located just two miles from Red Bluff off Interstate 5. It has grass lawns, paved road, paved sites, tables, grills and fire rings, toilets, showers and shade trees. Ten of the 30 sites have electricity.

Additional visitor facilities include day use areas, one group campground, four miles of trails, a boat ramp and the Sacramento River Discovery Center.

For more recreation information, please check the Mendocino National Forest Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

SACRAMENTO – On Thursday morning, Judge Charles Breyer of the United States District Court for Northern District of California approved a $250 million settlement with Volkswagen over its “defeat device” software to bypass emissions controls in its 3.0 liter diesel vehicles.

The settlement was negotiated by attorneys and technical experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice, California Air Resources Board (CARB), and California Attorney General's Office.

California will receive $66 million from this settlement among the United States, California, and Volkswagen.

Of this amount, $41 million will go to air quality mitigation projects selected by CARB and $25 million will fund CARB programs that help replace polluting cars with zero emission vehicles.

Volkswagen is also required to buy back or modify 85 percent of its polluting vehicles in California and provide fair compensation to owners.

“There is no excuse for what those at Volkswagen did,” said Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “They lied to consumers and environmental regulators. They cheated on emissions tests. They did harm to our environment. They put profits before people, and that’s inexcusable. Today's action should serve as further warning to wrongdoers who believe they can run and hide – we will hold you accountable."

“I want to thank Senior Assistant Attorney General Nicklas Akers, Supervising Deputy Attorney General Judith Fiorentini, Deputy Attorneys General Jon Worm and Laurel Carnes, and their colleagues in our Consumer Law, Environment, and Natural Resources Law Sections, for their efforts to protect California's consumers and environment in this case,” added Attorney General Becerra.

In addition to Thursday’s settlement, California has previously reached two settlements with Volkswagen: one for a landmark $14.7 billion in environmental mitigation and consumer relief related to Volkswagen's inclusion of defeat devices in its 2.0 liter vehicles, and the other for $86 million in civil penalties. 

The settlement approved Thursday is documented in two partial consent decrees, one among the United States, California and Volkswagen, and the other between California and Volkswagen. Both are available at www.oag.ca.gov/news .