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Killing the Clams: A diver secures thick rubber sheeting to the lake bottom to suffocate the clams beneath. |
CommentsSpot News Briefs: Nevada County
12 August to 15 September 2010
Published: August 15, 2010
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Spot News Briefs: Nevada County
Longtime Officeholder Dave Cox Dies
State Senator and former republican assembly leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks died July 13 after a long bout with prostate cancer. He was 72. Cox, who served more than two decades, was known as a “fiscal conservative and political tough guy who savored a good joke and loved to laugh — even at himself,” according to a remembrance in the Sacramento Bee.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set Nov. 2 for the primary election to fill the vacancy left by Cox, the same day as the statewide general election. A special election would take place Jan. 4 if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary. Cox represented the 1st Senate District, which includes parts of 12 Sierra and foothill counties. His death leaves two vacancies in the 40-member senate chamber.
Airport Will Get Major Upgrade
The Truckee Tahoe Airport will have a new 12,000 square foot administration building by October 2011, if all goes according to plan. The new building, designed by Ward Young Architects of Truckee, has been a part of the district’s long term master planning process for years and represents a $7.5 million total capital expenditure.
The prevailing wage project was advertised for pre-construction bids in the spring and eventually awarded to GLA Morris Construction of Truckee. GLA will serve as general contractor, responsible for hiring the many subcontractors needed during all phases of construction.
Once the new administration center is substantially complete, the existing 4,500 structure, which has been in use for four decades, will be demolished. A groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 20. Info: truckeetahoeairport.com
New Principal for Truckee High School
Dr. David Putney, most recently from Petaluma, Calif., has taken the helm as the new principal of Truckee High School. Putney holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and planning and a master’s degree in educational administration from Sonoma State University, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Dominican University. Additionally, he was recently awarded a Doctor of Education from University of California, Davis.
Putney was principal of San Antonio High School and Valley Oaks Independent Study School for the Petaluma City schools before taking the spot in Truckee. He also served as principal of Carpe Diem High School and Crossroads Community Day School in Petaluma, and Helen Lehman School in the Santa Rosa City School District.
A musician and a triathlete, Putney has a passion for the outdoors and fitness. In his youth, the California native often visited the Tahoe/Truckee area with his family. His early teaching experiences included collaborating with universities and the Nature Conservancy and facilitating environmental education out in the field for students in grade school through high school. Info: ttusd.org
TDPUD Buys into Wind Power Project
In a unanimous vote at their Aug. 4 meeting, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors approved a power contract with the Horse Butte wind project in Idaho. Priced at $76 per megawatt hour, the wind contract means that up to 15 percent of the district’s future energy supply will come from wind. The 50 to 100 megawatt wind project is in the final permitting stages and is expected to be running by early January 2012.
“I don’t believe you’ll ever see a lower price for a new wind project than this,” said the district’s Power Supply Engineer Steve Hollabaugh.
The TDPUD is striving to put contracts in place which will ensure that a minimum of 21 percent of the district’s power supply will come from renewable resources by the end of this year. Info: tdpud.org
Invasive Species Community Forum
Friday Sept. 3
(Editor's Note, 31 Aug. 2010: A deadline for applying for Truckee River Fund monies was moved up from Nov. 17 to Sept. 14, causing the Truckee Region Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program to shift their priorities. Due to this deadline change, this Sept. 3 meeting has been cancelled and will be held at a later date.)
Learn about the Truckee Region Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program and provide input on the draft strategic plan. The plan will recommend required mandatory inspections of all motorized watercraft to launch on Donner, Boca, Stampede, or Prosser beginning as early as next season. According to TRAISPP Program Coordinator Craig Threshie, “the possible consequences to the community and the environment are too great to recommend anything less.”
Forum starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Truckee Community Center. Info: Craig Threshie, cthreshie@tahoercd.org, (530) 550-5252
Spot News Briefs: Placer/Washoe County
Aggressive Asian Clam Control Project Started At Lake Tahoe
Beginning July 9, Lake Tahoe agencies launched an attack on aquatic invasive species with the first phase of a large-scale Asian clam removal project.
Researchers discovered the Asian clam in Lake Tahoe in 2002, and over the last two years the population has exploded. The clams need to be controlled because they are associated with algal blooms and can cause harm to the lake’s fragile ecosystem. In addition, the presence of the clams could make the lake more hospitable to the quagga mussel, which agencies are working diligently to prevent from being introduced to the lake.
The project involves laying up to an acre of thin rubber matting on the lake’s bottom at two sites in the southeast region of the lake in order to kill the clams by starving them of oxygen. The mats, which are typically used to line man-made ponds, will remain in place until October to ensure the clams are dead. The mats do not pose a navigational hazard.
Next year, the group plans to expand work into Emerald Bay, where the Asian clam was recently spotted. Info: Jeff Cowen, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency communications representative, jcowen@trpa.org, (775) 589-5278
Placer Assessor Office Closed Temporarily
The North Lake Tahoe office of the Placer County Assessor closed temporarily on July 16. A new office on the North Shore will open later this year. The office is moving temporarily because their current lease has expired and new office space is not yet ready for occupancy.
In the interim, Assessor staff will be available by telephone. Those needing documents or other services typically provided over the counter can be conducted either by mail or at the counter at the Auburn office. Info: assessor@
placer.ca.gov, Tahoe office, (530) 889-4300; Auburn office, 2980 Richardson Drive, fax (530) 889-4305
Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus Found in Western Placer
This season, five mosquito samples have tested positive for the West Nile virus in the rice-growing region of western Placer County.
“It is not unusual for us to have positive samples out in the agricultural areas at this point in the season,” said Joel Buettner, general manager of the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District. “We are responding as we normally would when addressing mosquito issues in this part of the county.”
Because of the WNV positive samples in this area, the district scheduled an aerial spray for the evening of July 31 on rice fields in Roseville and Sheridan. The district also conducted mosquito larva control that morning in the same areas.
The Placer Mosquito and Vector Control advises the public to implement the 3 Ds of protection:
• Drain any standing water that may produce mosquitoes.
• Defend yourself and your home by using an effective insect repellent and dressing protectively when outside, and making sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition.
• Contact the District for any additional help controlling mosquitoes around your home.
Info: Office hours, Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., (888) 768-2343, placermosquito.org
To Consolidate or Not?
Washoe County voters will be considering a controversial ballot question on Nov. 2. The question posed: “Should the separate local governments of Reno and Washoe County pursue a consolidation of the two governments if such consolidation can be shown to save money and/or improve service?” The State Legislature believed the consideration of such a measure was timely and prudent, given poor economic conditions in the region and Reno’ญญญญs massive $619 million dollar debt. Ultimately, the voters will decide. Info: co.washoe.nv.us.com
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