During the directors’ comments portion of the Idyllwild Water District’s board meeting last week, Director Steven Kunkle began to discuss the difficultly he has encountered trying to get information about the district’s wells.
Director John Cook, who was acting as president during the meeting, replied that it was unfair to ask a question of staff and expect a response by the next Monday.
However, Kunkle’s initial request for a list of the district’s wells - and for those that are operational and those not, including their output - was made on May 5, nearly six weeks prior to the June 15 session.
Well output is used to calculate monthly production, but was not available to a director.
Although Foster Lake remains empty, water supply comes from wells. IWD can divert water into Foster Lake from Strawberry Creek but has not made a diversion for several years. However, Fern Valley Water District has found the creek’s flow sufficient to divert water for its use. In May, wells supplied only 10 percent of the FVWD production.
In response to Kunkle’s request, Lynch replied that “… we are short on staff, so this special request for detailed information will take some time to put together.”
Brendan Steele posted a 2-over-par 38-35 -- 73 on the Congressional Country Club course at the Quicken Loans National tournament in Bethesda, Maryland, Thursday, to drop two shots below the projected cutline going into Friday's play.
Early in his round, two three-putts -- one from 35 feet and another from 12 feet -- contributed to his undoing, along with a water ball, but the native Idyllwilder collected himself over his last seven holes, draining birdie putts from 15 and 11 feet, to give himself a chance at the weekend going into round two.
The Gold Spotted Oak Borer continues its invasive spread northward from San Diego County. It is now found in both Orange and Riverside counties, infesting and ultimately killing coast live oak and California black oak.
GSOB-infested firewood is suspected to be the transportation agent, since beetle flight could not account for the significant distance jumps from points of infestation in San Diego County to Riverside and Orange counties locations.
The beetle, which has already killed 100,000 oaks in San Diego County, first reached Idyllwild in 2012. It was discovered in one tree on Highway 243 in Idyllwild’s downtown corridor. In the succeeding four years, GSOB spread has been gradual and relatively modest — to about 112 trees in Idyllwild and 15 on U.S. Forest Service land in the San Jacinto Ranger District. It reached Weir Canyon in Orange County in 2015 and currently infests more than 100 trees.
These figures are courtesy of Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Division Chief Forester Greg Bratcher and John Miller, USFS public information officer.
Bratcher credits the slower spread on the Hill to the fact that Idyllwild has a mixed forest of oaks and conifers, in contrast to San Diego County’s concentrated oak woodlands. A varied forest acts to impede beetle flight, since oaks are not necessarily contiguous as they are in oak woodlands.
“In Idyllwild, GSOB spread has been gradual and in spurts,” said Bratcher. “If GSOB could make the jump [from Idyllwild] into the oak woodlands in Banning and Beaumont, the results would be catastrophic.”
Dr. Tom Scott, University of California, Riverside, adjunct professor, said statewide damage could be immense. “This may be the biggest oak-mortality event since the Pleistocene [12,000 years ago],” he said. “If we can keep firewood from moving out of the region, we may be able to stop one of the biggest invasive pests to reach California in a long time.
“Quarantines don’t work,” said Scott. “But enlightened self-interest could keep oak woodland residents from importing GSOB-infested firewood.”
But, regardless of the severity of the threat and a public education campaign against importing firewood, GSOB now infests more than 100 trees in Idyllwild and in Orange County — in the Weir Canyon Nature Preserve on the Irvine Ranch, north of Tustin and south of Anaheim.
Damaged trees can be identified by crown thinning, smaller leaves of less robust color, bark staining on the main stem, and D-shaped exit holes on the main stem and larger branches of the tree. According to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program, trees with excessive crown thinning and dieback, and more than 100 emergence holes on the lower trunk, are considered severely infested and will die.
Current best practice is to remove severely infested trees to prevent GSOB spread to contiguous oaks. Prophylactic spray treatments can help prevent tree death on oaks that still appear healthy and where dieback evidence is less than 40 percent, according to latest research. “Spraying trees is not a one-time treatment,” said Bratcher, “because trees will continue to have hot spots.”
Bratcher noted, even with more than 100 trees identified as infested in Idyllwild, some landowners remain reluctant to permit inspection. “People are afraid Cal Fire will come out and remove their trees,” he said. But failure to remove severely infested trees will result in further GSOB spread, said Bratcher.
The farther north one goes in California, the greater the risk of massive GSOB damage. Riverside and Orange counties have relatively modest acreage in oak woodlands — 72,000 acres in Riverside County and 40,000 in Orange County. By comparison, San Luis Obispo County has 724,000 acres of oak woodlands and Monterey County has 921,000. San Diego County, where the beetle was first identified, has 320,000 acres in oak.
Currently, no financial assistance is available for removing infested oaks but Bratcher said there could be some coming. If you need further information or suspect your oaks are infested, contact the GSOB hotline at 951-659-8328 to arrange inspection.
General Manager Steve Erler (center) received proclamations from Jeff Stone, California state senator, and Chuck Washington, Riverside County supervisor, and a plaque from members of the Fern Valley Water District on his retirement from 22 years of service. Here, Director Richard Schnetzer (left) helps Erler hold up Stone’s proclamation, while board President Jim Rees reads it to the other board members. Photo by Tom Kluzak
At its June 17 meeting, the board of the Fern Valley Water District passed several resolutions. These included adopting the fiscal year 2016-17 budget, establishing an appropriations limit and authorizing a change in signatures for the bank account.
The latter really addressed the significance of the meeting. This was General Manager Steve Erler’s final board meeting. He retires as of June 30 and Victor Jimenez is the new general manager.
Before the meeting adjourned, the directors took turns complimenting Erler’s career and wishing him well in the future.
“Steve is one of the few people who works as hard at his job as anything else,” said President Jim Rees. “He is one honest and hard-working guy. I’m extremely jealous he’s retiring earlier than me.”
“I’m sad Steve is leaving, but happy Victor is here,” added Director Robert Krieger. “We have a smooth transition worked out for the district.”
In water business, Erler reported well production is less than 10 percent of total production and less this spring than in 2015. Strawberry and Tahquitz creeks had a better flow this year, allowing the district to withdraw more surface water.
Over the past month, well levels have shown minor increases and some decreases, according to Erler. But well levels are higher than one year ago, he added.
The weekend was hot, with temperatures in the low 90s; but on Monday, June 20, the first day of summer, the temperature reached 97 degrees. This set a record for Idyllwild. The previous high temperature here on this date was 95 degrees.
Idyllwild was one of dozens of Southern California communities setting record-high temperatures Monday. Palm Springs in the desert recorded 122 degrees, 4 degrees above its previous high.
While temperatures are expected to moderate this week and drop into the 80s, 90-degree weather may return during the weekend and early next week.
The San Jacinto Post Office is hosting a Passport Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25. The fair will offer passport information to U.S. citizens and accept passport applications.
Families and individuals will be able to apply for passports on a walk-in basis without taking time off from work, school or other weekday activities. No appointments are necessary.
Individuals will have the option of applying for a passport book (good for all international travel) or a passport card (good only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda).
To obtain a passport for the first time, applicants need proof of U.S. citizenship and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. A certified copy of a birth certificate (not a California abstract or photocopy) or naturalization certificate is the best proof of citizenship.
One photograph is required, and can be taken at the passport event.
The fee for a Passport Book for first-time adult participants is $110 and $30 for a Passport Card. The fee for minors under the age of 16 is $80 for a Passport Book and $15 for a Passport Card. There also is a $25 processing fee per application.
Parents applying for Passport Books/Cards for children under the age of 16 must both be present, along with the child. An expedited service fee of $60, plus Priority Express Mail postage, will reduce processing time to less than three weeks (normally it is four to six weeks). Passport photos are $15. Payment is accepted in the form of cash, check or money orders.
To apply for a passport, travelers need to complete Passport Application Form DS-11 (unsigned) and provide one of the following: a U.S. birth certificate from the Department of Vital Statistics (not a certificate of birth) or naturalization papers. Applicants also must show either a valid driver’s license, a previous or current U.S. Passport Book or Card, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, military I.D. or a federal, state or municipal government employee I.D. card. Applicants ages 15 and under must be present with both parents unless consent is given; ages 16 and 17 require only one parent be present.
The San Jacinto Post Office is located at 315 E. Esplanade Ave. in San Jacinto.
Check the U.S. State Department’s consular website at http://travel.state.gov for more passport information.
The May Valley Trail Project is highlighted in a map of the San Bernardino National Forest. Map courtesy U.S. Forest Service
Three years after initially requesting public comment on the proposed May Valley non-motorized trail project for the San Jacinto Ranger District, the U.S. Forest Service has just completed an Environmental Assessment of the project and its alternatives.
The May Valley area contains about 55 miles of both unclassified or unauthorized non-system trails and classified or authorized national forest roads and trails. Many are popular with mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers, according to the EA.
The FS evaluated adding non-motorized trails to the national forest Transportation System as well as rehabilitating unauthorized trails in the May Valley area.
The proposed action would incorporate 3.7 miles of existing authorized forest system trails; adopt 23.3 miles of presently unauthorized trails; reroute and construct 2.2 miles of new trails; and rehabilitate (remove and restore to natural vegetative state) 12.1 miles of unauthorized trails. All adopted and existing system trails in the project area would be managed as shared use, meaning they are open to all non-motorized users.
This alternative and two others would continue to support mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use in the area, but the amount of activity will be decreased due to the reduction in unauthorized trails in the allotment area, and increased enforcement to reduce user-created trails.
Also, constructing mountain bike and equestrian access (bicycle and walk-through cattle guards, equestrian gates) on trails where they intersect livestock fences will help reduce conflicts between the different recreational users and livestock grazing.
An unauthorized trail on forest lands is not managed and maintained by the FS. An authorized trail — also known as a classified or system trail — is included within the system of trails authorized, managed and maintained by the FS (National Forest System Trail).
Many of the unauthorized trails are well established and some of the trails have been used for mountain-bike events under special-use permits during the past 12 years. Federal funding cannot be used to maintain unauthorized trails; therefore, these unauthorized roads and trails have not been adequately managed and the network has not been adequately maintained.
The 2006 San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan “restricts non-motorized vehicle travel to Forest System roads and trails.” This limits mountain bikes and other non-motorized vehicles only to system roads and trails.
This restriction has created concern within the local and national mountain bike communities, according to the EA authors. The International Mountain Biking Association appealed the Forest Plan decision based on this concern. A settlement agreement was reached in which the FS would resolve unauthorized routes over time.
Two other alternatives were evaluated with the proposed action. Alternative 3 responds to two of the key issues brought up during the scoping process. First, the proposed action would reduce recreation opportunities for technical challenge, variety, different skill levels, experiences, variety of terrain and aesthetic values.
Secondly, the proposed action reduces the number of trails, which forces user groups to share trails mountain-bike riders presently use. This could cause trail congestion and other user conflicts.
This alternative maximizes approval of the existing forest system and unauthorized trails in the project area. In addition to the actions described in the proposed action, the Forest Service would adopt 11 more unauthorized trails.
Of the 37.2 miles of trail comprising this alternative, 17 miles would be Class 2 trails of which 16.6 miles would be adopted and 0.4 mile would be constructed. Another 20.2 miles would be Class 3 trails of which 14.5 miles would be adopted and 5.7 would be constructed.
The fourth and final alternative was developed to minimize area disturbance and resource effects, and still meet the purpose and need of the project. It was developed in response to the issue of stream sediment, which was brought up during scoping.
In addition to those trails that would not be adopted under the proposed action, the 18 other unauthorized trails also would not be adopted. They would be rehabilitated and removed from the landscape.
Of the approximately 12 miles of trail that would exist in this alternative, 0.1 mile of trail would be Class 2 and 11.9 miles of trail would be Class 3 trails.
The project documents can be viewed on the San Bernardino website at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/sbnf/landmanagement/projects. The 30-day review period will end on July 15, said SBNF Public Affairs Officer John Miller.
Only those individuals who submit timely, project-specific written comments during the scoping and the 30-day Draft EA public comment periods, are eligible to participate in the pre-decisional objection process. Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting comments must sign the comments or verify identity upon request.
The FS will accept comments on this proposal for 30 days following publication of the legal notice of the opportunity to provide comment in the Idyllwild Town Crier.
Comments should be sent by fax to 951-659-2107, regular mail, hand-delivery or express delivery to San Jacinto Ranger District, c/o John Ladley, P.O. Box 518, 54270 Pine Crest Avenue, Idyllwild, CA 92549 or emailed to [email protected].
I’ve never felt the need to respond to a letter printed in the TC, but Gisela Stearns’ June 16 letter came at such a timely moment.
I find it sad that Ms. Stearns sits in judgment of everyone. I’ve no desire to get a tattoo myself, but I would never judge someone for having them, as I wouldn’t judge someone for their choice of hair color, jewelry or clothing.
The gentleman you referred to may have spent a great deal of time and money on his tattoos and chooses to display them proudly by wearing a tank top. If you find them offensive, look away, or stay home.
I imagine Ms. Stearns is sincere about her deep caring for our great nation. A prized hallmark of America is our freedom and tolerance, the latter quality being in short supply in her letter.
Then you mentioned the family preoccupied with their phones. Do you know what kind of morning they may have had? That might have been the first quiet time for those parents.
Now, perhaps Ms. Stearns and I share a concern about the decline of public conversation as a result of smart phones. However, to immediately accuse these kids of lacking respect and discipline because of their devices is a non sequitur. Exactly how are kids silently absorbed in their phones undisciplined?
Would Ms. Stearns prefer loud chatter, or worse, an attempt by the family to disturb her peace and engage in conversation?
When alone at a restaurant, I often use my phone to catch up on email or news. Would Ms. Stearns, if she happened to be sitting near me, be offended? This makes me suspicious of her bandying about terms like “respect.”
Does Ms. Stearns think her judgments, and public airing thereof, represent good citizenship? Does she really believe only “dumb” people get tattoos? And that we benefit by the advertising of her distaste?
I would choose to live by these wise words: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
This is a growing concern of mine and our neighbors, although we want all who come to visit our iconic mountain town to have an enjoyable experience.
However, it has been noted that the weekend crowd who rents our neighborhood cabins (and it’s not the AARP crowd) have too good of a time.
The loud parties (and a generous serving of alcohol, etc.) continue into the night where loud cursing and the F bomb can be clearly heard.
I appreciate Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies for their rapid response, as they came within five minutes of my 911 call, as the latest pack of weekend partiers thought it best to have a bonfire. Yes, on almost the three-year anniversary of our town’s evacuation from the wildland fire.
Had the bonfire actually been lit, the deputy was ready to call the fire department, as it was dispatch who sent the sheriff’s department first.
I was curious. When people rent these weekend vacation cabins, is there something in place that they acknowledge on a rental agreement? Like, no bonfires or open flames, and a quiet time, like 11 p.m. (just like the campgrounds in town)?
If it keeps up, I’ll just keep calling Riverside County Sheriff.
Idyllwild Water District’s Mission Statement: To provide reliable water and sewer service in a safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound manner in accordance with the community needs.
Besides Idyllwild School facilities, the Idyllwild Community Playground is one of the most used recreational sites in town. It meets some of the community’s needs.
The community needs the Idyllwild Community Center built to provide more recreational facilities for the towns in this area.
Phase 1 groundbreaking is planned for September. But ICC cannot be built without a good and reliable source of water.
IWD just decided to remain in Water Conservation Stage 2 and continue not to issue any new water meters.
That creates a giant hurdle for the community in regards to the center.
Yet, if IWD decides to be conciliatory and make an exception for ICC, it will find itself between a rock and a hard place with those customers waiting to build their homes.
Right now, many empty-lot owners in the district pay yearly standby fees to IWD, waiting for the day when water meters again will be issued.
An empty-lot owner wishing to sell finds him or herself with an undesirable piece of property without water meters being issued.
IWD forced conservation on its consumers by cutting in half the minimum amout of water it would supply to each business/residence. Though its reservoir, Foster Lake, remains practically dry, IWD is not in danger of being unable to serve new customers.
IWD is acting as a planning and zoning governmental body vs. a water utility with a goal of meeting community needs.
