It’s been six years since the city of Eureka launched its program to adorn those big, ugly utility boxes that stand on sidewalks all around the city, and by now most Eurekans are accustomed to having those spaces decorated by artists, hundreds of whom have dressed all of them up with little mini-murals.
Now the city, armed with a new grant from Caltrans, is ready to redo a bunch of those boxes — basically, all the ones along the Highway 101 corridor through Eureka. Work is scheduled to begin on that in the spring. And some of the artists involved are currently a little peeved that their work may be painted over.
“My concern is that there is much really fine art that they are planning on painting over,” writes muralist Debbi Sholes in a letter to the Outpost. “My initial reaction was that there seems to be a large lack of respect for the time and energy to create many truly fine art pieces. Would this not qualify as a vandalism of our local art?”
That’s certainly the opposite of the intention, according to Sarah West, an economic development coordinator with the city of Eureka who is heading up the project.
A few days ago, West sent an email to all of the artists who currently have murals up on the utility boxes targeted for repainting. Though some of the artists were alarmed, the email noted that the city has opened a special Call for Proposals for people who already have art up on the boxes. If they like, artists can simply re-submit their original plans, and if the Arts and Culture Commission chooses those designs again they may not have to do anything more than touch up their original work.
Submissions are due by the end of the year, and can be sent in via this link. Proposals must conform to Caltrans numerous transportation art guidelines — for instance: no business logos, no advertisement, and no words whatsoever — and artists must be available to perform the work in the spring, whenever the rains slow down. There is a $1,000-per-project stipend available.
Though you’d probably think that public art as something designed to last longer than five or six years, the utility boxes are kind of a special case, according to West. Being working pieces of equipment, they do get a lot of wear and tear, and being at street level means they are prone to graffiti and other forms of defacement.
Though the utility box project was pretty novel at the time, one of the city’s original descriptions of the program foresaw that the murals would be more temporary than those you might see on the side of a building. Utility box murals would be maintained for a minimum of three years, it reads, and ones in the downtown core would be “refreshed” every three to five years to “promote economic vitality by
attracting new and visiting populations.”
Nevertheless, West said maintaining good relations with the region’s artists is a top city priority, and she’s encouraging existing muralists who have any concerns about the program to give her a ring at 441-4178.
“We want to be as sensitive to their beautiful work as we can be,” West said.
Press release from the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation:
Alegria Sita. Image: Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation
EUREKA, CA – The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation (SPZF) is honored to announce long-time local business owner, non-profit executive, and community organizer, Alegria Sita, as our Executive Director. Alegria brings a unique mix of talent and expertise to the position. This includes more than a decade of successful entrepreneurship, years of leadership in the Humboldt County non-profit community, and experience working in education and local government. Alegria along with her dedicated SPZF team and this amazing community, endeavor to continue the Foundation’s support of the ongoing transformation of our esteemed Sequoia Park Zoo. “On behalf of the City of Eureka and Sequoia Park Zoo, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to Alegria Sita as she steps into the Executive Director role at the philanthropic Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation,” says Zoo Director, Jim Campbell-Spickler. “I have enjoyed getting to know Alegria during her years of service as a volunteer Board Member of the Foundation, and I am excited to continue the long history of successful collaboration and innovation between our organizations.”
SPZF Board President Michale Dearden said, “The entire Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome Alegria to lead us into a new era at the organization. Her gifts and experience ensure continuity of leadership and vision as the new chief executive of our non-profit. Alegria’s passion for our community and our world-class Zoo radiates. We hope you will join her in her efforts to support Sequoia Park Zoo and Foundation for many years to come.”
Alegria received her Bachelor of Arts in Youth Advocacy from Cal Poly Humboldt. She spent her early professional career working throughout Humboldt County schools and within the non-profit sector, developing programs, projects, and events fostering youth empowerment. She is the founder and owner of the award-winning event planning company, Gala Events and Weddings, which continues to serve individuals, couples, and businesses with event-planning and officiant services. Alegria has supported local businesses with consulting, marketing and communications, event management, membership management, and hospitality. She has served on several local non-profit boards including the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, and currently serves on the Fuente Nueva Charter Council. Alegria is a Humboldt County resident of 25 years and currently lives in Eureka with her daughter. “My daughter, Jamilah, and I are fortunate to make and share lifelong memories at our neighborhood zoo which holds a special place in our hearts. It is an honor to accept this opportunity to contribute to the long-term vision and legacy of Sequoia Park Zoo as Executive Director of the Foundation.”
We hope to see you at one of our many upcoming exciting events! Join us this holiday season for a stroll through the zoo at night during the inaugural Zoo Lights: Holiday Extravaganza presented by First 5 California and powered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company on December 16/17 from 5:15 PM-7:17 PM at Sequoia Park Zoo.
Help fulfill the mission of Sequoia Park Zoo and Foundation; reach out to Alegria at spzf@sequoiaparkzoo.net to get involved today!
On November 16, 2023, the Eureka City Schools (ECS) Board of Education appointed Gary Storts as the new Superintendent for Eureka City Schools. In August 2023, the Board commenced an extensive search and recruitment process for the Superintendent position and received application packets from many qualified applicants across the State of California and other parts of the Country. Ultimately, the Board determined Storts to be the best candidate for the position.
Storts, who has been serving as the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Education Services since November 2021, expressed his gratitude for the appointment, saying, “I feel extremely blessed to be able to give back to the community who helped shape me into the person I am today. Serving as the Superintendent of Eureka City Schools is both an honor and a responsibility that I take very seriously.”
“We are excited that Gary has accepted the role of Superintendent, a position he is extremely qualified for and passionate about,” stated the Board President, Mike Duncan. “The selection process for this critical role has been thorough and thoughtful, reflecting the board’s commitment to finding the right leader to build upon our district’s successes. We believe Gary is the right leader for Eureka City Schools.”
As the newly appointed Superintendent, Gary Storts has outlined his top priorities, emphasizing a strong focus on early literacy, creating a sense of belonging on campus, and preparing students for future success in the workforce.
Storts remarked, “Investing in early literacy is fundamental to building a strong foundation for our students. Additionally, I am dedicated to fostering an environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and is celebrated for their unique strengths. We aim to create an inclusive community that nurtures the potential of each individual.”
Recognizing the importance of preparing students for the future of work, Storts highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to education. “Our students deserve a well-rounded education that not only imparts academic knowledge but also equips them with the skills and mindset necessary for success in the rapidly evolving world. We are committed to providing a learning experience that prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Eureka City Schools looks forward to the positive impact Gary Storts will bring to the District and the community. His leadership, combined with a deep understanding of the local context and a passion for education, is poised to elevate the educational experience for all students in Eureka.
Van Vleck. | File photo by Andrew Goff.
The Board of Education also extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Fred Van Vleck for his leadership and dedicated service as the Superintendent of Eureka City Schools for the last 12 years. In June 2023, Dr. Van Vleck advised the Board that he would be leaving the superintendent position in January 2024. Dr. Van Vleck’s unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and community has left an indelible mark on our District.
As we transition to this new chapter, we remain steadfast in our dedication to providing the highest quality education to the students of Eureka City Schools. Our commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and academically enriching environment will continue to guide our actions and decisions.
The ECS Board of Education expresses its deepest gratitude to Dr. Van Vleck and extends a warm welcome to our new Superintendent Gary Storts, who will assume the role of Superintendent in January 2024. We look forward to the continued growth and success of Eureka City Schools under the leadership of Superintendent Storts.
Dozens of local scientists took to the streets of Eureka this morning to demand higher wages for state-employed workers.
The California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), a union representing more than 5,000 state scientists working across 50 departments, called for a rolling three-day strike following three years of stalled contract negotiations with the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), the bargaining arm for the Newsom Administration. CalHR accused the union of bargaining in bad faith following the union’s request for the declaration of an impasse in bargaining talks. Subsequently, CalHR filed an Unfair Practice Charge with the Public Employment Relations Board in an attempt to quash the strike.
Monty Larson, a senior environmental specialist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the state has been “an unwilling partner” in the recent negotiations.
Larson
“We’ve been out of a contract for over three years, and in negotiations for over three and a half,” Larson told the Outpost during this morning’s demonstration. “About 25 percent of scientists work side by side with engineers, but they get paid up to 40 percent more. It’s embarrassing, you know, working with the same people on the same projects – often interchangeable between staff – and there’s no difference in what they’re doing, except for a giant disparity in pay.”
At this point, the state has offered a three percent salary increase for all state employees, Larson said, emphasizing that state-employed scientists have been out of a contract for more than three years.
“I’m a topped-out state scientist, so my pay hasn’t increased in a couple of years,” Larson continued. “Myself and many of my colleagues have been losing buying power since we’ve been out of a contract. We’re asking for pay equity between ourselves and our engineering counterparts.”
Keep scrolling for more pictures of today’s demonstration.
Jeez! Skim that before you put it in your body, and don’t put the skimmings down the drain. Photo by Jonathan Cooper via via Pexels
Press release from the City of Arcata Environmental Services Department:
The Environmental Services Department encourages residents to properly dispose of cooking grease this holiday season and all year long.
Many people celebrate the holidays by preparing traditional feasts including turkey, ham, gravy, stuffing
and desserts. As delicious as these foods may be, they are typically prepared with fats, oils, butter and
grease which can wreak havoc on drains and the City’s wastewater system if not disposed of properly.
When residents pour fats, oils or grease down a sink or toilet, it increases the chance of clogged drains
resulting in costly plumbing problems or sanitary sewer overflows. Sanitary sewer overflows are a
public health concern and can cause serious environmental issues.
The Environmental Services Department has some helpful tips for all community members to help avoid
clogging sewer drains with fats, oils and grease:
Avoid pouring cooking grease or oil down the sink or toilet.
Do not dispose of food through the garbage disposal.
Wipe greasy dishes and pots with a paper towel or napkin to absorb cooking oil before
washing them in the sink.
Scrape vegetable scraps from dishes for composting and scrape greasy food residue into
the garbage prior to washing dishes. Outdoor compost bins can be purchased from the
City of Arcata’s Environmental Services Department for $35. Residents can also utilize
a local compost company such as The Local Worm Guy or Full Cycle Compost. Visit
this link or call (707) 822-8184 for
more information.
Cooled and solidified cooking grease or oil should be placed in a sealed container and
then put in a solid waste garbage bin. Alternatively, pour fats and oils into cat litter until it
is absorbed and dispose the litter into the trash.
To report sanitary sewer overflows and for more information regarding fat, oil and grease disposal
and proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste, please call the Environmental Services
Department at (707) 822-8184 or email eservices@cityofarcata.org.
Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury — a key component of the Potter Valley Project. Photo: PG&E.
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Press release from Rep. Jared Huffman:
Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) released a statement praising Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) initial draft plan to remove two dams on the Eel River. The plan also sets the stage for negotiating a new diversion from the Eel to the Russian river.
“PG&E’s draft surrender application is a major step forward to achieving the Two-Basin Solution I’ve advocated for years. The plan includes full and expedited removal of two dams that harm salmon on the Eel River while allowing for a modern fish-friendly diversion to provide water to Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties. I’ll be working to ensure that both elements are completed in a way that best protects communities, tribes, and natural resources in the Eel and Russian river watersheds,” said Rep. Huffman.
Congressman Huffman has played an active role in this matter, having facilitated initial discussions to create a Two-Basin Solution for the project and establishing the Potter Valley Project Ad Hoc Committee in 2018 when they learned that PG&E was surrendering the license. The committee, made up of a wide range of tribes, stakeholders, agencies, local governments, and PG&E, formed the basis for negotiations surrounding dam removal and water supply in the two watersheds.
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Press release from the Friends of the Eel and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations:
For
well over a century, Eel River dams have blocked salmon access to
hundreds of miles of cold water habitat in the Upper Eel River
watershed, but not for much longer. Today PG&E unveiled their
initial draft plan for removing two Eel River dams and surrendering
the utility’s federal license for the 100 year old Potter Valley
Project. One alternative would simply remove Scott and Cape Horn
dams; the other, advanced by Sonoma Water, would move forward with a
new diversion to the Russian River during the dam removal process.
“Either
way you look at it, the Eel River Dams’ days are numbered,”
remarked Friends of the Eel River Executive Director Alicia Hamann.
“We prefer the most straightforward and quickest path to dam
removal possible – the fish can’t afford any delays.”
The
Eel River was once a prolific salmon producing stream with upwards of
a million fish returning annually to spawn and provide an abundant
food source for Native American Tribes. Later, after the early 1900’s
in-river canneries closed, the Eel supported a carefully managed
ocean commercial fishing economy “These dams helped put a lot of
commercial fishermen out of work,” notes fisherwoman Vivian
Helliwell. “If we bring back the salmon, we can bring back the
local food-producing jobs.”
The
Eel River dams are part of the Potter Valley Project (PVP) which
diverts Eel River Water through a tunnel to the adjacent Russian
River Watershed. However, the PVP no longer generates power, or
profit, for PG &E. The power plant is in disrepair as is Scott Dam
and its reservoir, which cannot be filled due to seismic risks, and
thus offers little benefit even to water users.
Eel
River advocates are excited about PG&E’s plans to remove the
dams, but they have concerns regarding the alternatives put forth by
Sonoma Water et al.. While Sonoma’s draft Plan accepts the removal
of Scott Dam and Cape Horn Dam, it also vaguely describes the
creation of a new governmental entity that would build new diversion
infrastructure to maintain an out-of-basin diversion. Sonoma’s plan
leaves some of the most difficult questions unanswered, such as who
will pay how much for diverted Eel River water.
And
a number of groups, including the Pacific Coast Federation of
Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), question whether the historical
water diversions from one river (the Eel) to an entirely different
river (the Russian) should continue to exist, especially if that
water is needed for Eel River salmon and steelhead recovery. “All
the downstream water users on the Eel River have been deprived of
“beneficial use” of the diverted water for 100 years,
including “Tribal beneficial use,” recreation, domestic,
municipal, ranching and farming, and fish and wildlife that rely on
plentiful cold water, instead of warm water from the reservoir that
promotes predatory pike minnow and toxic algae,” PCFFA’s
Helliwell stated.
Sonoma
Water has had plenty of time to put forth a plan to maintain the
diversion. “Sonoma Water’s Plan looks like a last-ditch effort to
delay dam removal while they try to find political support for
subsidizing the wine industry. While we will listen to any creative
solutions to meet the region’s water needs, we will oppose anything
that adversely impacts Eel River fisheries or delays dam removal,”
said Hamann.
Members
of the public interested in supporting the most beneficial option for
Eel River fish can submit comments to PG&E by December 22. Visit
eelriver.org
to learn more.
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NOTE:This post originally stated in its headline that PG&E intended to remove the dams in 2028. However, Paul Moreno, a spokesperson for the utility, later clarified, “The only timeline is that our application is due to FERC [in] January 2025. PG&E believes the earliest we would see FERC issue an order [for dam removal] would be 2028. This does not mean construction would occur in 2028, nor is there any regulatory requirement for FERC to act in a specific time.”
Shasta Dam. Photo: Bureau of Reclamation, via Flickr.
As forecasts tease California with rainstorms this week, the state’s reservoirs are already flush with water.
It’s a big departure from a year ago: The state’s major reservoirs — which store water collected mostly from rivers in the northern portion of the state — are in good shape, with levels at 124% of average. In late 2022, bathtub rings of dry earth lined lakes that had collectively dipped to about two-thirds of average — until heavy winter storms in January filled many of them almost to the brim.
Yet healthy water levels don’t mean California’s reservoirs are full. Most of California’s large reservoirs are operated for flood control as well as water storage, with space kept empty to rein in winter storm runoff.
The wet season has arrived in California, with El Niño conditions projected to continue strengthening. But for the Golden State, with its unpredictable swings from dry to wet and back again, El Niño doesn’t guarantee heavy rainfall.
And as California’s water managers plan for the water year ahead, they’re faced, as always, with their dueling responsibilities: forestalling floods while preparing for possible scarcity in a state where water supplies are often stretched thin and long droughts are common.
When state climatologist Michael Anderson looks into California’s water year ahead, he says the crystal ball is cloudy.
A murky forecast, both near and far
Threats of a major storm dissolved into showers in parts of California this week, with another surge of rainfall expected to wrap up this weekend. Rainfall is only expected to reach 1 to 2 inches statewide through Saturday morning, with light snowfall predicted in the Sierra Nevada mountains at higher elevations.
“Overall this is looking to be a beneficial rainfall event for Southern California, which is definitely welcome during the typical peak of our fire season,” the National Weather Service office for San Diego reported earlier this week.
But in California, the connection is more tenuous. Of seven El Niño events over the past 23 years, Anderson said, two have been dry, three have been roughly average and two have been wet. One recent study reported that El Niño accounts for only about 25% of the year-to-year variability in California’s rain and snowfall during the winter.
“What that tells me is anything goes,” Anderson said. “El Niño by itself doesn’t define our water year.”
“It’s like you’re playing poker, and you’ve got a good hand — that’s El Niño for us. But we haven’t finished the round of the game, and we still have to draw a couple cards,” Ralph said. “But we might not draw the good cards.”
Waste not, want not?
With seasonal outlooks unable to reliably say whether a winter will be wet or dry, water managers must plan for both.
Fortunately there’s some wiggle room this year, according to Jeanine Jones, the Department of Water Resources’ interstate resources manager. Last year’s massive snowpack and abundant rainfall filled the state’s reservoirs enough that even if this rainy season leans dry, she said, “We’re going into next year with a cushion, which is always good.”
The water that flows into rivers and streams and out to the ocean is often bemoaned aswater wasted. But waste is in the eye of the beholder, said Jay Lund, vice-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis.
“Water that’s ‘wasted’ is always water used by somebody else,” Lund said.
The list of benefits for fishing, conservation, Delta farmers, water quality and healthy shorelines is lengthy. Water allowed to flow out into the San Francisco Bay, for instance, washes away salts and pollutants, transports sediment and sand necessary to maintain marshes and restore eroding beaches, assists salmon in migrations and helps maintain healthy ecosystems.
Still, the Public Policy Institute of California reports that California could have socked away more water last year, had there been better ways to ferry water from full rivers to groundwater recharge sites, and better coordination among landowners, local agencies, and others.
“I tend to think that there is room for capturing more surface water … if you could afford the cost of capturing it,” agreed Lund. “That, to me, is the biggest problem.”
The controversial Sites Reservoir project, for instance, is projected to cost more than $4.4 billion. The reservoir, planned in the western Sacramento Valley, would store as much as 1.5 million acre-feet of Sacramento River water, alarming environmental groups that say drawing more water from the river will imperil its already-struggling fish.
“I tend to think that there is room for capturing more surface water … if you could afford the cost of capturing it. That, to me, is the biggest problem.” — Jay Lund, Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis
In the meantime, researchers like UC San Diego’s Ralph, along with local, state and federal agencies, hope to operate the state’s reservoirs more nimbly by incorporating new weather forecasting tools into decades-old rulebooks governing when to hold onto water and when to release it.
The program allowed the Russian River watershed to hold onto about 7,000 to 8,000 acre-feet more water in Lake Mendocino this past year, and an additional 19,000 acre-feet more in Lake Sonoma, according to Donald Seymour, deputy director of engineering with Sonoma Water. The Department of Water Resources announced that it is expanding the effort to two major reservoirs, Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar, as well.
Many are looking down rather than up for opportunities to store more water. The Department of Water Resources estimates that about 3.8 million acre-feet of water was captured through groundwater recharge by last summer.
The Southern California water import giant, the Metropolitan Water District, also recently announced a $211 million groundwater bank in the Antelope Valley. The bank can store 280,000 acre-feet of water, enough to fill Castaic Lake, the largest State Water Project reservoir in Southern California. Though construction to allow withdrawals hasn’t been completed yet, the bank stands ready to accept deposits.
The bank is aimed at providing a little more net for the tightrope walk that California’s water managers start anew every water year.
“We always plan for it to be potentially very dry, or very wet,” said Brad Coffey, Metropolitan’s water resources manager. “No matter what kind of year we had this year.”
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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
