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2023

156-home project approved for Valley Springs
A proposed Valley Springs development with 156 building lots cleared its final hurdle last week when the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors approved the final map for North Vista Plaza Subdivision. The 35.5-acre development is located off Vista Del Lago West in between Quail Oaks and Rancho Calaveras subdivisions. Click here for article—The Valley Springs News, March 24, 2023

Big Trees Town Hall reveals progress, plans for more fire fuel reduction
An ambitious 1,520 acres of forest are slated to be burned this year at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. A prescribed burn plan for 1,300 acres in the South Grove area of the park is already approved, pending millions of dollars in contract negotiations with partners to prepare roads and create a defensible perimeter around the area first. Then, it's up to the elements. Click here for article—Calaveras Enterprise, March 24, 2023

County selects Kern staffer for top post
Calaveras County's fourth executive officer in a four-year period has been announced. Teresa Hitchcock, an assistant county executive officer in Kern County, has agreed to accept the top administrative post in Calaveras County effective March 25…Hitchcock is replacing Christa Von Latta who resigned last July. The year before, Albert Alt resigned after two years at the post and Timothy Lutz stepped down as CAO in January 2019. Craig Pedro, who retired as Tuolumne County's CAO, has been Calaveras County's interim CAO since August of last year. Click here for article—The Valley Springs News, February 24, 2023

Drop in County, State Population
The latest Census figures show more people are leaving California and Calaveras County. California's population declined in both 2021 and 2022. Over the two-year period, through July of 2022, the population dropped by more than 500,000 people… The latest statistics from the California Department of Finance note that Calaveras County's population was at 44,883, a decline of 180 people from the prior year. Click here for article—The Valley Springs News, February 22, 2023

Calaveras County's first Registered Consulting Arborist weighs in on tree mortality
Calaveras County is one of 10 high-priority California counties identified by the United States Forest Service in 2017 via an aerial study of forested land. According to that study, Calaveras County lost a cumulative total of more than 3.2 million trees between 2010 and 2017... Thousands of these trees were likely affected by the Butte Fire…but were also already stressed by drought and beetle infestation. Click here for article—The Calaveras Enterprise, February 16, 2023

Flood control cited as reason for releases from New Hogan
The large volume of water released the past month from New Hogan Lake has been attributed to maintaining enough room in the reservoir for flood control. "…space for potential future inflows from rain and snowmelt, which helps reduce the chance of uncontrolled releases out of the reservoir." Releases reached a high of 4,446 acre-feet a second on Jan. 23 and were down to 172 acre-feet as of Tuesday. Click here for article—The Valley Springs News, February 8, 2023

Calaveras In No Rush To Push Cannabis Tourism
Leaders in Calaveras County expressed that they want to take a slow approach when it comes to changing any existing rules that would open the door to becoming a hub for cannabis tourism. The county's Planning Director Gabriel Elliott led a presentation to the board of supervisors yesterday with the goal of gauging interest on whether there is a desire to change existing regulations that would allow the cannabis industry to hold events, and things like farm tours… Cannabis is currently not considered an agricultural product in the county, so agritourism opportunities allowed by other types of farms and wineries are not legal under existing rules. Click here for article—MyMotherLode.com, January 25, 2023

Who can stop the flooding? Officials discuss decades of failed efforts to protect La Contenta homeowners
After two major floods in Valley Springs with many calling the most recent one the worst yet, many residents have expressed frustration, demanding answers from county officials as to who is responsible for preventing such a disaster from happening again…District 1 Supervisor Gary Tofanelli and Director of Public Works Robert Pachinger about the ongoing issue…La Contenta residents write letter to Board of Supervisors. Click here for article—The Calaveras Enterprise, January 24, 2023

Tuolumne County supervisors ask staff to evaluate inclusionary housing ordinance for possible changes
Mike Lemke, of Lemke Homes, a former member of the county Housing Policy Committee, disbanded by the board in December, helped build the Sierra Meadows subdivision off Jamestown Road, approved by the county in March 2008, and its 45 homes include five that were built as affordable housing…Lemke and Ron Kopf, a development manager and consultant, spoke to the board and recommended doing away with the current terms of the ordinance…In November 2013, the county Board of Supervisors voted to amend the county's inclusionary housing ordinance by converting it from a mandatory to a voluntary, incentive-based system. Click here for article—The Union Democrat, January 19, 2023

Storm System Causes Flooding And Traffic Impacts
Emergency officials have been busy…The Calaveras Consolidated Fire Department reports that on Saturday evening there was widespread flooding in parts of Valley Springs, including at the Ace Hardware store, Alpine Gas, and multiple homes and condos along Highway 26, Grouse Drive and St. Andrews Drive. Emergency officials rescued some citizens trapped in vehicles and homes. Click here for article—MyMotherLode.com, January 15, 2023

Homeowners displaced, frustrated by Valley Springs flooding - Residents say decades-long dialogue with county failed to prevent disaster
The overflowing [Cosgrove] creek not only affected La Contenta homes but surrounding trailer parks and apartments as well. Several houses sit empty after being red-tagged by the county, while many have sandbags braced up against their walls… A recurring theme from every homeowner was a history of dialogue with the county over who is responsible for maintaining the creek. Click here for article—The Calaveras Enterprise, January 11, 2023

At least 50 homes flooded in Valley Springs -- New Year's Eve deluge leaves some stranded, requiring rescue by raft
Valley Springs and Copperopolis residents have shared photos of submerged backyards and flooded roadways…CalCo reported multi-agency efforts to rescue 15 people by boat from "catastrophic flooding in Valley Springs," including Castle Oaks mobile home park and "multiple homes and townhouses flooded in La Contenta". Click here for article—The Calaveras Enterprise, January 5, 2023

'WATER: OUR GOLD' -- UWPA launches campaign to preserve Calaveras County's vital flume system
With increasing environmental hazards such as drought and wildfires posing a major threat to the flume system, the UWPA has been focusing resources on the maintenance and protection of the water system... runs through Murphys Creek and that without it, the creek would run dry most of the year. The system is vital for local agriculture including ranches and vineyards as well as residential areas. Not only does the system provide water to the residents of Murphys and Angels Camp, but power is generated through two hydroelectric powerhouses. Click here for article—The Calaveras Enterprise, January 3, 2023

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