Local News
07/24/2011
Paloma, CA - A grass fire that has been burning in an isolated area of Calaveras County is now contained.
CAL Fire reports that the Paloma Fire was 100 acres and located near the Middle Bar Bridge. Officials have been investigating the cause. The fire started Friday afternoon.
Coulterville, CA -- Air resources from Columbia helped to extinguish a fire on Highway 49 in Coulterville this afternoon.
The CAL Fire Division in Mariposa County reports that a structure was destroyed and the fire spread to a half acre of grass. It is unknown whether the structure is a home or shed. The fire was contained shortly before 1pm. The cause is unknown.
Caltrans At Work In Tuolumne County
Sonora, CA-- Caltrans roadwork continues this week in Tuolumne County.
On Highway 49 from Fraguero Road to Mormon Creek Road, maintenance crews will be doing erosion control. 10 minute delays are expected and one-way traffic control will be conducted.
On Highway 108 from Leisure Drive to Mi-Wuk Village, crews will be doing paving work. Motorists should expect delays up to 15 minutes.
Also on Highway 108 from Mono Road to Cow Creek Road, paving will be completed. One-way traffic control will be in effect and 15 minute delays are expected.
Finally on Highway 120 from Evergreen Road to the west boundary of Yosemite National Park, crews will be performing various maintenance work. Motorists should expect 15 minute delays.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
July is Smart Irrigation Month
This year, between the high-elevation snowpack and our late, cool spring with frequent rains, we have ample water supplies. We can be grateful that the drought is over, for now.
However, the Water Conservation Act of 2009, also referred to as SB (Senate Bill) x7-7, or "20 by 2020," mandates that California will reduce urban per capita water use by 20% by the year 2020. It also requires all water suppliers to increase water use efficiency (http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/sb7/)
It's estimated that 50% of California's residential water is used outdoors-to water lawns, ornamental plantings, and vegetable gardens and in swimming pools. Our water use practices can always become more efficient.
To help us become more aware of our watering practices, July is designated as Smart Irrigation Month. July is the month in the foothills when our plants typically use the most water.
In a recent presentation in Groveland, Brad Lancaster, the author of "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond" asked the question, "why do we use treated drinking water to irrigate our lawns?" The number one use of energy in California is to pump and move water. Any water we save on our landscapes is definitely money in the bank!
In honor of Smart Irrigation Month, the University of California Cooperative Extension Natural Resources Program and Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD), our county's largest water supplier, will host a "Save Water, Save Money" Fair. On Saturday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. information and activities will be available, free to the public, at the TUD facility at the corner of Tuolumne Road and Nugget Blvd.
Come tour the water-wise landscape plantings and find out how to test your own sprinkler system for efficiency. There will be hands-on examples of drip irrigation components and information about "foothill-friendly" gardening techniques that use less energy, less water, fewer pesticides and require less maintenance. Vendor coupons and information about the water-saving toilet rebate program will be available. Kids' activities will take place on the lawn.
In addition to attending the First-Annual, "Save Water, Save Money" Fair, UC Cooperative Extension and TUD encourage you to efficiently use water:
- Check the depth of your watering.
- Add organic material to your soil.
- Plant closely enough that plants shade the soil.
- Mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch.
- Consider replacing some of your plantings with drought-tolerant natives.
- Consider reducing the size of your lawn. Grass is one of the biggest water losers around.
- And one last tip-check your sprinklers for leaks, broken heads, misaligned spray patterns and run-off. If you're getting run-off, schedule your sprinklers to run more often for shorter periods of time.
Go to www.ipm.ucdavis.edu and click on "UC Guide to Healthy Lawns" to learn more about irrigating your lawn. Go to www.tuolumneutilities.com and click on "Water Conservation" to learn more about water savings. And come to the "Save Water, Save Money" Fair.
Rebecca Miller-Cripps is Natural Resources Program Representative for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Tuolumne County.
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