| Biodiversity Council plans meetings in Modoc Plateau and Pasadena By Erin Klaesius, Communications Coordinator, California Biodiversity Council
After the successful cross–border meeting in Yuma this past spring, the California Biodiversity Council has planned both a northern and southern California meeting for this fall. First, on August 28 and 29, the Council will travel to Alturas, the Modoc County seat.
The first afternoon will include a tour of the expanding stands of western juniper that have encroached on this traditional sagebrush steppe country with several consequences. These rather dense stands of trees draw an unusual amount of water, effectively pushing out the native plant species and greatly affecting the watershed. In a panel Thursday morning, the Council will learn about the watersheds of Modoc County. The first discussion will highlight Modoc’s “upside down” river—the Pit. In contrast with most of California’s river systems, the headwaters of the Pit have the greatest water quality problems and the lower portions are more pristine. The next watershed piece will be an overview of water management in the Klamath Basin, a highly contentious issue for the past two years. The Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service are all working on these complicated issues. The final session will focus on the Modoc County Land Use Committee. The County has developed this truly unique group to make decisions and work with the many agencies and programs in the area. On November 18 and 19, the CBC will head south and visit Pasadena, California in conjunction with the California State Associations of Counties (CSAC, page 14) Annual Meeting. On the first afternoon, November 18, the Biodiversity will take the opportunity to visit Riverside County and learn about RCIP (Riverside County Integrated Plan). The Biodiversity Council and CSAC will meet for a joint morning session and luncheon on Tuesday, November 19. The interactive discussions will address pertinent topics including permitting, LAFCOs, and large– scale planning processes like HCPs.
California Biodiversity News: Volume 9, Number 2 |
This northeastern corner of California is a result of the amazing history from the American Indians that settled the area. Since that time, this sparsely populated area has seen dramatic change. From the introduction of farming and agricultural practices to an influx of residents and vacationers, the Modoc plateau has stood fast through it all. The CBC gratefully takes this opportunity to step back and look at the history of this place and how that history has shaped the natural resources.