Sunday, 19 May 2024

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The Eureka Slough Bridges. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

Caltrans invites you to participate in a virtual meeting on March 12 to discuss the proposed replacements of the Eureka Slough Bridges along U.S. 101 in northern Eureka.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12.

Join the meeting at tinyurl.com/eurekasloughmeeting.

The project aims to replace the northbound and southbound Eureka Slough Bridges located near Target.

These replacements are intended to address seismic deficiencies and improve the function and geometrics of both bridges. The project involves replacing the existing bridges with two new, mirrored structures.

Each bridge will feature two traffic lanes, standard inside and outside shoulders, and a separated bicycle and pedestrian path on the outside edge.

The project is currently in the environmental phase and construction is targeted to commence in 2029.

For more information about the project, visit tinyurl.com/eurekaslough or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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A rock slide on Highway 70 in Butte County, California, has resulted in an extended closure. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Caltrans is alerting motorists that State Route 70 (SR-70) will continue to be closed from Jarbo Gap to the Greenville Wye in Butte County after another large rockslide in the area this morning.

The closure is expected to extend for an additional two weeks. Once the boulders have been cleared and the road is safe for travel, Caltrans will reopen the route to one-way traffic control.

Neil’s Controlled Blasting, in collaboration with Caltrans' Geotechnical engineers, is actively scaling the mountainside along SR-70. Caltrans assures motorists that safety remains paramount during these operations and every endeavor is directed toward restoring the highway to save travel.

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).
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CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork is announcing the Urban Agriculture Grant Program — awarding $11.67 million to 33 projects across California that enhance the viability of urban agriculture.

“Urban agriculture provides places for community gathering, skills-sharing, workforce development, agricultural literacy, and increased food security,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This investment by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature brings a much-needed boost to local, innovative projects across the state dedicated to creating and enhancing local food production.”

Two types of grants have been awarded. Track 1 is the Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant for community organizations, which will provide between $5,000 and $60,000 to urban agriculture projects in their regions.

Recipients of this grant include $783.933 to Agroecology Commons in the Bay Area to uplift and reduce barriers for marginalized farmers by providing farm seed grants, mentorship, and technical assistance.

Track 2 is the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Grant for direct funding to urban agriculture projects. The funded projects include infrastructure, workforce development, community engagement, community gardens and more. Track 2 grant awards include:

• $300,000 for Black Thumb Farm in Los Angeles County to provide an enriching after-school experience for BIPOC youth to learn sustainable farming approaches to improve food equity through mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on training workshops.
• $246,689 for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County to increase indigenous food sovereignty through the creation of cultural demonstration areas, hosting gatherings to educate on traditional food production/harvesting methods, providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, highlighting traditional food pathways, and restoring landscapes to include edible native vegetation.

All funded urban agriculture projects are either led by or serve priority populations as defined by the California Climate Investments Priority Population mapping tool.

This means 100 percent of the funding will serve communities that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and include disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.

More than $68 million was requested during the application period, highlighting the interest and need for urban agriculture across California.
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The greater sage-grouse. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking data and public comments on a petition to list the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) under the California Endangered Species Act, or CESA.

On Nov. 21, 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list the greater sage-grouse as a threatened or endangered species under CESA.

The commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as a threatened or endangered species on June 30, 2023.

As a result of the status review process, the greater sage-grouse now receives the same legal protections afforded to an endangered or threatened species until that process is completed.

CDFW has 12 months from June 30, 2023, to conduct a status review that will inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list the greater sage-grouse under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management, and recommendations for management of the species.

CDFW requests that data and comments be submitted before April 12, 2024, to allow sufficient time to evaluate this information during the status review period.

Please submit data and comments to CDFW by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include “greater sage-grouse” in the subject line.

Data or comments may also be submitted by mail to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity Program, Attn: CESA Unit, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will include a recommendation as to whether the petitioned action to list greater sage-grouse as threatened or endangered under CESA is warranted. The report will be publicly available on CDFW’s website for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition.

The commission, which is a legally separate entity from CDFW, is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as threatened or endangered under CESA. CDFW serves in a scientific advisory role to the Commission during this process. See the California Fish and Game Commission webpage for details on submitting comments to the Commission and receiving email alerts for upcoming Commission meetings.

The listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the listing process are available on the Commission’s website.

The greater sage-grouse is found in sagebrush habitat throughout two distinct areas of California. The bi-state sage grouse population consists of birds from Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties, while the northeastern California population occurs in Modoc, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties. Greater sage-grouse are lekking birds, which means males perform elaborate displays to attract mates at communal breeding sites.

The birds’ primary food source is sagebrush, but they also eat a variety of other plants, including chicory, dandelion, clover, buckwheat, yarrow and milk-vetch. Insects like grasshoppers, beetles and ants are an important food source for chicks and hens. Threats include the loss, modification and fragmentation of habitat, as well as predation, climate change, loss of genetic diversity and disease.
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Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) expressed their thanks to Fresno County voters for strongly opposing an effort to bypass state law and Fresno County supervisors’ efforts to continue using an offensive and derogatory slur against Native American women.

The Fresno County Registrar of Voters reports Measure B failed on a 63.75% to 36.25% vote.

Ramos, who successfully authored AB 2022, the law banning use of the word said, “We are appreciative that Fresno County voters opposed efforts to circumvent a law that removes the ‘S word’ as a place name. As a state we stand opposed to a word that demeans women and Native Americans.”

He added, “This is a word that contributes to making Native American women appear less than others. That ignorance and bigotry is a factor in the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. I am happy to see that voters chose to close the door on this painful chapter of Native American history.”

Ramos, the first and only California Native American elected to the state legislature, is chairperson of the California Native American Legislative Caucus.

Arambula stated, “The people have spoken. Today’s results ensure that California’s first people are listened to and respected now and in the future.”

Caballero commented, “I sincerely want to thank Fresno County voters for rejecting a misguided effort to continue using the ‘S’ word. The ‘S’ word evolved in another century when violence and bigotry prevailed in the treatment of Native Americans. This word was used to demean and devalue Native American women and deserves to be banned and regarded as unacceptable expression of hate.”
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Charger locomotive leading a Siemens Mobility Venture trainset. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.

Train passengers traveling in Northern California and the Central Valley will be able to enjoy a more comfortable and modern ride with the launch of new Venture Passenger Rail Car trains unveiled during a Caltrans and San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission event today at the Stockton Regional Maintenance Facility.

The single-story, fully ADA-accessible passenger cars provide wider aisles, accessible restrooms and fully-automated doors, continuing California’s expansion of comfortable and convenient options for travelers and commuters.

“Our goal is to make traveling throughout our beautiful state by train as accessible, convenient and comfortable as possible, and these new train cars have us on the right track,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “I thank the Federal Railroad Administration, San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, Siemens, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, and our many other partners who have worked tirelessly over the years to help improve passenger train travel for all Californians.”

“These trains are a giant leap forward in passenger experience,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “In addition, they have been built in California, providing economic prosperity to our region. They show our commitment to combating climate change and improving the multimodal transportation network for all Californians.”

“For decades, the San Joaquins has been a backbone of our regional transportation network,” said Pat Hume, Sacramento County Supervisor (D5) and Chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors. “We are committed to providing our riders with the highest quality service, equipment, and amenities. These new Venture Rail Cars move us forward into the next era of rider experience, comfort, and reliability. We are also pleased to have sourced the Venture Cars from Siemens, who manufactured these cars in Sacramento, one of our corridor cities. Local manufacturing not only contributes to the character of our service, but also to the local economy.”

The trains will be used on the Amtrak San Joaquins line, which runs five daily roundtrips between Oakland and Bakersfield, and two daily roundtrips between Sacramento and Bakersfield. The first six-car set is in operation on the Oakland-Bakersfield route and helps restore service to pre-pandemic levels and sets the course for future service improvements. These new rail cars are the first upgrade to the passenger riding experience on the Amtrak San Joaquins line in nearly three decades. They allow wheelchair users to move easily between cars.

Siemens Mobility, under contract to Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, built the rail cars at their facility in Sacramento, with finish work performed at the in Stockton Regional Maintenance Facility, owned by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. Caltrans purchased the new rail cars with a $132 million in federal and state funds.

All seven trainsets are expected to be in operation on the San Joaquins line by the end of 2025. The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority manages the Amtrak San Joaquins service.

Upcoming Calendar

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
25May
05.25.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
27May
05.27.2024
Memorial Day
28May
05.28.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
1Jun
06.01.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
4Jun
06.04.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at Library Park
8Jun
06.08.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile

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