Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lassen County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
9 issues in environment
Water transfer to Southern California
The board wants to oppose a plan to transfer Sacramento Valley water south, arguing it should recharge Lassen-area groundwater instead.
Wildlife overcrossing on Highway 395
The Lassen County Transportation Commission is leading a $6 million, fully grant-funded effort to build wildlife crossings; Red Rock has become problematic due to BLM delays, so Bass Hill may be designed instead to 65% engineering by March.
Lassen National Forest update
District Ranger Michael Rahe reported on timber and reforestation projects, grazing allotment changes, storm-damaged roads and campgrounds, and a public 250th anniversary event at Frenchman Lake on June 27.
ESJPA solid waste representation
Supervisors want the people who actually run the dump representing the county on the regional solid waste board — Amy Schmidt got the seat today, and a designee question goes back to November.
Dyer's Woad declared a public nuisance
The board made it official: keeping the invasive noxious weed Dyer's Woad is now a public nuisance subject to county enforcement, with discussion of how abatement, private property rights, and pesticide use fit together.
Biscart Fire and federal communication breakdowns
Supervisors ripped BLM's communication during the Biscart Fire, saying even the sheriff was left in the dark — though contacts are finally open now. Fire camps setting up at the fairgrounds will bring the county some revenue.
Sierra Pacific groundwater export to Nevada
SPI wants to pump groundwater from its ranch land straddling the California-Nevada line to irrigate Nevada acreage, and the county initially moved to oppose it. After hearing SPI's hydrology case, supervisors instead recommended approval conditioned on SPI going through Lassen County's water export permit process.
BLM land acquisitions and disposals in Lassen County
The State of California offered to sell the old Armory at 205 Russell Avenue — next to the fairgrounds — back to the county. The Board authorized the CAO to negotiate, seeing potential for fair and health-services uses in the large, sound-roofed building.
Plumas National Forest post-fire restoration and timber
The forest is ramping up to 45 million board feet of timber sales this year, signed two big post-fire recovery decisions, and is doing prescribed burns — but a resident demanded the Forest Service chief see the damage firsthand.