Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release:

Since early January 2022, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating Sara Jean Gibson (35 years old from Eureka) for transporting fentanyl into Humboldt County. Agents conducted surveillance on Gibson and learned she was occupying a room in a motel in the 1300 block of 4th street in Eureka. As a result of their investigation agents received a search warrant for Sara Gibson and the room she was occupying.

On February 15th , 2022, HCDTF Agents with the assistance of the Eureka Police Department Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team, served a search warrant on Gibson and her motel room. Agents located a half pound of fentanyl in various colors (red, green, white, purple, pink and orange) and approximately a half ounce of methamphetamine.

Gibson was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where she was booked for the following charges:

• H&S 11352(b) Transportation of fentanyl for sales
• H&S 11351 Possession of fentanyl for sales
• H&S 11378 Possession of methamphetamine for sales

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

California’s indoor mask mandate is gone, for now. So is Humboldt County’s local mask mandate. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to wear a mask anywhere ever again. Some institutions – schools, for now, and the court – are going to keep requiring masks. Some of the businesses you frequent regularly are going to require masks.

This latter bit is going to cause some chaos. First of all, there’s still a mask mandate in effect for people who haven’t gotten vaccinated. If you were to Venn Diagram the state of play, we all know that you’d see strong overlap between the people who don’t want to get vaccinated and people who most eagerly don’t want to wear their masks.

So for this reason and probably others, certain private establishments are going to keep requiring you to mask up. And this, in turn, is going to return us to the bad old days of the early pandemic, when these private businesses are going to require their employees to serve as bouncers, enforcing their policy against the sometimes unruly patrons who insist that they get to decide what policy is valid and what is not.

That’s on top of the everyday confusion that we’ll all experience – mask here, not there, etc. When should I wear a mask? When should I not? Mask on, mask off – auugh!

We propose, to people of good faith, that there is a very easy law to live by, with antecedents stretching all the way back to the Golden Rule. Look at the workers. If you go into a business and a worker is wearing a mask, then you are wearing a mask.

Wear your mask if for no other reason than to show solidarity with your neighbors. The reason they’re wearing a mask is so they don’t risk showering germs on you. Either they’re doing this by choice or because they were ordered to. Doesn’t matter. What you can do – vaxxed and unvaxxed alike – is wear a mask so you don’t risk showering germs on them.

Pretty simple, right? 

What if one worker is wearing a mask and the other isn’t?

Wear a mask.

But what if that mask-wearing worker is unvaccinated? I feel like since maybe she refused the vaccine she is getting what she deserves. That thrills me a little bit, and I feel like it’d be good to rub her face in it by showing her the freedom that the vaxxed have earned.

Listen to yourself.

What if the sign outside says “No masks required! Come in and live free!” but the workers are wearing masks?

Wear your mask.

What if it’s a grocery store, and like 15 workers aren’t wearing masks but one is?

OK, that’s a gray area.

What if the workers are masked but I can’t wear a mask because the point of this business is to sell me stuff to put in my mouth?

Another gray area. Everyone understands that. Just be respectful. Wear a mask when you’re not at your table.

What if I have a local radio talk show and my whole brand is to be a big oversized baby and to whine and cry about masks and government overreach and the way things used to be?

WWJD? If the workers were wearing masks, then he would wear a mask. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” – Matthew 25:40.

What if the workers aren’t wearing masks but I’m unvaccinated?

Sorry, buddy. Wear a mask.

What if the workers aren’t wearing masks and I am vaccinated?

Head on in and party like it’s 2019!

But I don’t want to do that! I think everyone should still be masked!

There are two things you can do, here.

One: Call up the business on the phone and ask them if they can meet you on the curb with the thing that you want to buy. I bet they’ll do it! Businesses are businesses. They like to help their customers purchase things from them.

Two: If that fails, maybe instead go to a different business, one that is still requiring masks?

I don’t know. I feel you. You’ve done everything you’re supposed to do, and the pandemic is still an inconvenience. Just please don’t take your cues on how to behave from the maskholes. You don’t need to flip out and rage around town screaming at everyone to put their masks back on. Right? You’re better than that.

We’re all better than that. We have it in us!

A life well lived! John Robert Winzler Sr. passed away on December 25, 2021 at the age of 91, surrounded by his family.

John was preceded in death by his three siblings Beverly Winzler Peterson, Lt. George Winzler Jr. (Bub), and Lura Winzler.

John was born to parents George and Ruby Winzler on May 5, 1930, and lived in Eureka his entire life, never wanting to live anywhere else. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1947. He attended Humboldt State University for 2 years, transferred to UC Berkeley where he graduated, Cum Laude, in 1951 with a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture. John was proficient in many technical disciplines over his lifetime. He was a registered civil engineer, registered traffic engineer, registered mechanical engineer, licensed architect and licensed land surveyor.

After college, John returned to Humboldt County, married his high school sweetheart, Flora Pinochi, and together raised their four children. They were married for 46 years. Flora died in 1997 after a long battle with cancer.

In 1951, John and his father, George Winzler, started an engineering business “Winzler and Winzler.” When his good friend, and fellow graduate, Robert (Bob) Kelly returned from the Korean War, Bob joined the firm and the name changed to “Winzler, Winzler & Kelly.” Eventually, after the death of his father the firm become “Winzler & Kelly Consulting Engineers.” John loved working and spent long hours building a successful business. John served as the president and/ or principal engineer of “Winzler and Kelly” for over 40 years, continuing to work into his 80s. He and Bob grew the company into a multi-disciplinary engineering firm with 285 employees that included 10 offices in the Western United States and the Pacific Islands (Guam and Saipan).

In 2011 Winzler & Kelly merged with the international company GHD, a company of over 6500 employees. His greatest concern at the sale of the business was that all the W & K employees would be able to keep their jobs. He felt a great responsibility for the welfare of his employees and their families. If he could write this now, we know that our dad would want to say a very heartfelt “THANK YOU” to all the “Winzler and Kelly” employees that helped to build such a successful business. He knew that the employees were the foundation for the success of Winzler and Kelly and he greatly respected and appreciated them.

John loved everything about Humboldt County and supported and served the community in many ways. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Eureka (50+ years), Ducks Unlimited and the Native Sons. He has served on the board of directors for St. Joseph Hospital (13 years), the Clarke Historical Museum (51 years), the Ingomar club and the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce. John was one of the co-founders of Humboldt Bank and served on their board of directors for 17 years. He was the principal engineer for the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and was recognized in 2006 for his 46 years of service to the District, with the dedication of the District’s Operation Facilities at Essex as the “The John R. Winzler Operations and Control Center.” He was very proud of his long relationship with the Water District.

John was also one of the key individuals in bringing modern wastewater facilities to communities in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties: including Redway, Garberville, Miranda, parts of Eureka and Cutten, Blue Lake, McKinleyville, and Crescent City. He was also involved in updating Woodley Island Marina to provide safe harbor facilities for commercial fishermen and boaters.

Over the years John received many professional honors, awards and acknowledgements, including: an appointment to the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, by then-governor Ronald Regan, and served as its President; an appointment to the National Board of Engineering Examiners, which sets licensing standards throughout the USA; receiving the Engineers of the year, Public Service Award of the California Council of Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor; receiving the Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Private Sector Award of the San Francisco Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2006.

John is survived by his four children, Dr. John Winzler Jr. and wife Janet, James Paul Winzler, Debra Winzler Friedenbach and husband John, and Julie Winzler Siqueira and husband Keith. Grandchildren, Kalie Iorg, Jay Winzler and wife Sarah, Melina Winzler, Gregory Friedenbach, Charles Friedenbach, and Natalie Friedenbach. Great-grandchildren Madison & Kyle Iorg, Iyla and Kaia Winzler. He is also survived by nephews Jack Peterson, Rick Peterson, Rob Peterson; nieces Susan Arthur and Patricia Moore as well as cousin Marilyn Cesaretti.

John remarried in 2001 and is survived by his second wife, Sandra McKenzie Winzler. They enjoyed 20 years together. He considered himself very fortunate to have such a large extended family and so many close friends. He loved to travel and he did so both for his business and for personal enjoyment. John and Sandy enjoyed some great vacations together.

John also loved the outdoors. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting, fishing, clamming, skiing, golfing, and gardening. He particularly loved spending time at the family cabin in Redway amongst the redwoods and swimming in the Eel River. In his later years, he enjoyed watching football (Go Bears!), time with family and friends and sharing a good cocktail and a lively discussion about politics and world events. He was a great story-teller and lived during one of the most interesting times in history. He always said that he had had a great life despite the ups and downs that came with it. He was very appreciative of his many close friends that enriched his life over the years, and he looked forward to their phone calls and visits. He was a firm believer and supporter of a good education for all. Dad was a great patriarch for our family and we will miss him dearly.

The Winzler family would like to thank all the wonderful people involved in our father’s care, especially Alisa Osburn for her outstanding care and kindness, Dad always enjoyed your company and valued your help tremendously. A special thank you to Lucy Vianuku, Leua Vianuku, and Sam Ily for your gentle, skilled care and all your kindness. He could not have had better caregivers at the end of his life. Thank you, also, to Agape and Hospice for your much needed care and help

Family and friends and business associates are invited to attend a celebration of life, February 26, 2022 1-4 p.m. at the Ingomar Club in Eureka. Donations in John’s honor can be made to The Clarke Museum, Hospice of Humboldt or to a charity or organization of your choosing.

Donna Ann Mitchell
Aug. 16, 1940-Jan. 28, 2022

“You would find my mom sitting outside on a warm and sunny day like today out in the yard, painting her nails. You’d never hear a bad word spoken of Donna. I have always heard nothing but nice and kind things said about my mother. She was always highly thought of and well respected.”

– by Reneen, Donna’s daughter

Donna Ann Lipscomb-Mitchell, former resident of Blue Lake, passed away due to natural causes at her home on the evening of January 28, 2022. She was born on August 16,1940 in Eureka to her parents Hazel (Hawkins) and Randolph Lipscomb. She grew up with three brothers and one sister. She was very close with her siblings, especially her twin brother Don Lipscomb. Growing up in Arcata, she attended Arcata and Blue Lake Elementary. She graduated 8th grade from Blue Lake School in 1954 and graduated from Arcata High School in 1959. She had a great childhood growing up here in northern Humboldt – from going to Clam Beach with her Dad and siblings and learning how to razor clam, to walking up town to go see a picture at the show for a nickel. She and Don were always having fun and cracking jokes. She would grow up with giggles and laughter, and continue to carry that humorous side with her throughout the years.

While Donna was in high school she would babysit on the weekends. Soon she would be a bookkeeper at the E&O bowling alley in Glendale, during and after high school. She went to work in the restaurant there in her 20s in the 1960s. She would also pick up a job working at the logging mills here in the area, such as Bonnie Stud and Cal Pacific. She would be a custodian at the Blue Lake School in her 30s and an employee for Deluxe Cleaners in Arcata. In her 30s she also worked at the E&O Market for some time in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was a dietitian at Mad River Hospital for 10 years. You’d catch her serving food in the cafeteria.

Donna liked to volunteer her time cooking ham and sausage for Sunday breakfast at the Mad River Grange. She enjoyed getting to greet people and starting up conversations. Donna would be hired on in housekeeping for the Blue Lake Casino. She would maintain her position, finding herself promoted to the lead in her department. Donna received many recognitions and was awarded employee of the month more times that you can count. She was employed at the Blue Lake Casino for 18½ years, hoping to make it to her 20th year anniversary.

She would always have a great time getting dressed up and looking nice getting to take her daughter and then grandchildren to the employee Christmas parties at the Elk Lodge in Eureka and going to the employee BBQs. She got joy by seeing her fellow employees and peers every day at work. She showed great customer service and great teamwork with her fellow employees. Making long-lasting friendships in the workforce was a great trait of Donna’s character, displaying kindness and generosity.

Donna was married twice in her life, to her first husband in 1961, living in Alabama for a couple years then moving to Redway She would find herself returning back home, and meeting her second husband Joe Mitchell, resident of Fortuna. Together they would have their only child, Renee Sue Mitchell, in 1971. Donna would separate from Joe in 1974 and remain good friends with him ‘til the day she passed. Donna would always take good care of Renee, taking her to play in Willow Creek to her parents’ house to spend time with her nieces and nephews. Donna would always help out on her mom and dad’s 8-acre property, helping in the yard and garden. Donna would take much pleasure hanging out with her best friend Billy Goodwin, dressing up as Dolly Parton and the Hell’s Angels, winning first prize numerous times at the MnM club. She had such fun times with her good friend Billy, even sharing being pregnant together and having their daughters grow up close with each other.

Donna knew the significance of being a part of a small town and community, and did anything she could for her family and friends. At the age of 27 she donated one of her kidneys to her twin brother Don, after being told by doctors the possibility of her carrying a child was very low. That didn’t stop her, for she loved motherhood and was very close with her daughter, and did everything she could to make sure she was well taken care of.

Donna would go on to have three granddaughters by Renee — Lindsay Arnold, Sharon Plumlee and Bobbie Dawn Plumlee. She loved being Grandma Donna, taking her girls out to eat at the local Denny’s and Pantry for a bowl of clam chowder soup on the weekends, then later taking her great-grandkids out to eat as well. She enjoyed taking them shopping and going to yard sales and thrift stores with her daughter Renee. What kept her going was her great-grandkids. She loved seeing them play at the park, and making hotcakes for them in the mornings or taking her great-granddaughter Kharmah to the Sizzler to have shrimp. She loved being a part of their lives, as much as they loved being a part of hers. She would be at every sports game of theirs, cheering them on like the proud grandma she was.

Donna enjoyed baseball. She was a big SF Giants fan. You could catch her listening to the game in her car on the radio or getting in the car with her family and going on a drive, enjoying the pink and yellow sunset in the evenings. She would always be up for Yahtzee or a game of cards, teaching her daughter and grandchildren how to play rummy and beating them every time. She looked forward to going to Annie and Mary Days in Blue Lake with her family to watch the parade go by, and also working in the parade at times.

She enjoyed getting to go on one last road trip with her granddaughter Sharon and her two great grandchildren to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho for Thanksgiving in 2021. She got to visit her granddaughter Bobbie Dawn and her son Jeremiah, along with her son in-law Bob Plumlee. Donna very much enjoyed seeing all the scenery and getting to spend time visiting with her granddaughters and helping put the babies to sleep. Cooking one last turkey dinner for them, she took much delight in making her great-grandkids smile and laugh, always talking with them, showing them nothing but love. Donna has always been such a constant in her family’s lives and will be missed dearly.

We had a wonderful grandmother, one who never really grew old Her smile was made of sunshine and her heart was solid gold Her eyes were bright as shining stars, and in her cheeks fair roses you see We had a wonderful grandmother, and that’s the way it will always be.

Donna is preceded in death by her mom and dad, Hazel and Randolph Lipscomb; her older brother, Richard ‘Dick” Lipscomb; her twin brother Don Lipscomb; younger twin siblings Phil and Phylis Lipscomb; and her granddaughter, Lindsay Ann Arnold.

Donna is survived by her sister in-law, Sonja Lipscomb of Willow Creek; sister in-law Donna K Johnson of Fortuna; daughter Renee Plumlee of Blue Lake; granddaughters Sharon Plumlee of Eureka, Bobbie Dawn Plumlee of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; her five great-grandkids — Kharmah W., Oliver G., Daisy C., Jeremiah K. and Sekoya A. – along with her 11 nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and -nephews. She truly was the best grandma, and she was our grandma.

Donna’s memorial service will be held at the Sapphire Palace in Blue Lake On March 5, 2022 from 1 to 4 p.m. We ask that masks be worn and that people social distance. The family of Donna Mitchell would like to thank Paul’s Chapel in Arcata for their services, as well as the Blue Lake Casino and Hotel for all of their support and generosity in helping with the services at this time. Everyone who knew and loved Donna is welcomed and encouraged to stop by and help with honoring her life. Food will be provided by the Blue Lake Casino/Hotel. We ask for you not to bring any perishables of your own inside the Palace, for they will be discarded.

Cards and flowers for the family are welcomed. We thank you for loving and caring for our beloved Donna, and for the respect and kindness shown to her family in this time of grief.

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On the day before New Year’s Eve 2021, Linda Friend passed away at home in Rio Dell, after a long battle with liver disease, with her partner Jimmy and her friend and caregiver Jan by her side.

Linda was born in Arkdelphia, Arkansas on December 6, 1957 to Rachel Taylor and Frank Hale. Her early years were spent in Arkansas. The family, which now included three younger siblings, moved west in the 1970s, first to Oregon, then on to Humboldt in the early ‘80s.

After high school, Linda returned to Arkansas, where her daughter Mindy was born. She traveled west again to Oregon and Northern California, and remained here thereafter, residing in Rio Dell for the last 30 years.

Linda spent many years as a waitress at local restaurants and cafes. This was the perfect job for her, with her friendly nature and cheerful demeanor.

Linda was a dedicated shopper of yard sales, thrift stores and the dollar stores, always with an eye for a good deal. She had a fashion sense that was on a level of its own. Her sister-in-law Trina remembers with a laugh when Linda dressed her young nieces and nephews in “matching outfits.” She loved camping with family and friends, especially at Hell’s Gate on Highway 36. Linda loved watching NCIS — Leroy Jethro Gibbs was her “secret TV husband.” She never missed and episode.

Linda was full of life and energy, had the greatest dimples and frequently a twinkle in her eye. She had a wicked sense of humor and was also known for telling you “how it is.” She would frequently poke fun at herself. When hanging out with family and friends there was lots of laughter when Linda was around, and a good cup of coffee.

In the last number of years, Linda faced multiple serious and debilitating medical conditions. She met these challenges with an incredible positive attitude. She remained upbeat no matter what the doctors were telling her. Even as her illness advanced, she would call her family and friends regularly to catch up. Linda, we will all miss you so.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Rachel and Ray Friend, brother Gillman Friend, infant daughter Shannon and beloved Uncle Boots.

She is survived by her life partner Jimmy Hicks of Rio Dell, brother Tim (Trina) Friend of Red Bluff, sister Micki (Dee) Gensel of Alturas, her daughter Mindy (Raymond) Griffith of Lampe, Missouri, granddaughter Candice (Roger) Thomas of Kirbyville, Missouri, great-grandbabies Diesal, Nova and Elijah, numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and many friends. Also, her cat Stella, who misses her every day.

A celebration of life for Linda will be held in Ferndale on Saturday March 5, at noon. Please bring a story and an appetizer to share. Masks will be optional outside, required inside. Call Donna at 707-786-9100 or Tim 530-585-2341 for details.

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Most of Humboldt County is in moderate drought conditions, with portions of the county’s northeast and southeast areas experiencing severe drought. | Image via the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Humboldt County hasn’t seen any significant rainfall since early January, and according to Kathleen Zontos, a National Weather Service hydrologist who addressed the ongoing drought at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, if the next two and a half months remain dry, Northern California may wind up having the driest three-year period on record.

“So we’re kind of coming into the 11th hour as far as reaching where we want to be,” Zontos told the board.

The board voted to continue the ongoing state of local emergency at Tuesday’s meeting, following the advice of staff with the Office of Emergency Services and the Humboldt County Drought Task Force.

Yana Valachovic, a forest scientist with the University of California Cooperative Extension, said animal agriculture operations across the western United States are seeing high demand and limited supply of hay, alfalfa and other products. Many local and regional producers have reduced the size of their herds due to such drought-related challenges, she said, noting that last year’s relatively cold spring also slowed grass growth.

As you can see from the chart below, Eureka experienced a strong start to the water year, which runs from October 1 to the end of September, but precipitation flatlined shortly after the New Year.

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Much of the meeting’s drought discussion wound up focusing on cannabis. Staff asked the board to decide whether irrigation water for permitted weed grows, including the permitting of wells, should be curtailed. The board also considered creating a new position of resiliency coordinator for the Drought Task Force.

Planning and Building Director John Ford said staff wasn’t recommending curtailment action just yet, in part because the outlook for summer will grow clearer in the coming months. Staff in his department has been working with consultants to analyze the cumulative impacts of permitted wells on surface water, though at the moment permit applications are still being considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with hydrogeologists. 

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell noted that there’s talk in the community about wells running dry but little in the way of confirmation.

“When we’re processing applications, nobody really wants to admit that a well has run dry,” Ford said.

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson later noted that local residents are reporting dry wells to their well drillers, if not to county permitting authorities. 

During the public comment period, a number of cannabis folks argued that the industry is being unfairly singled out, and they urged the board not to enact any irrigation curtailment measures.

“Cannabis water use is more regulated, measured and tracked than any other agricultural industry and uses significantly less water than any other industry,” said Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA), a cannabis industry group. Her organization supports increased water storage capacity but is waiting for the state to release funds for that endeavor, she said.

Ross Gordon, the HCGA’s policy director, said the state needs to allow for fallowing of cannabis farms during dry years, letting cultivators cut back on their production without permanently forfeiting their license. He urged the board to advocate for that at the state level.

After the public spoke, Ford said the focused discussion on cannabis operations was not so much about singling the industry out for extra scrutiny; rather, it’s about clearly communicating regulatory issues. 

“We are in a place where we need to know, what is the effect of wells? Are they hydrologically connected to surface water,” Ford said. “There’s been a lot of struggle with questions as to whether adequate investigation has been done. Really, it’s a prudent approach to make sure we’re not approving things without adequate information.”

As for the proposed resiliency coordinator position, Mario Kalson, supervising environmental health specialist with the county, said staff and the board need to consider both the scope of the role and potential sources of funding. Locating the job within the Office of Emergency Services could open up emergency mitigation funding and grant opportunities, Kalson explained. Staff plans to bring the matter forward for more discussion next month.

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The real drama in Tuesday’s meeting came later in the morning as the board considered an appeal of a Planning Commission decision to require a second water source as a condition of approving 64,800 square feet of commercial cannabis cultivation near Petrolia by Humboldt’s Own, LLC.

Ford explained that the question at hand was whether the existing well on the property might be hydrologically connected to nearby wells, wetlands or surface waters including Mill Creek.

Certified Engineering Geologist David Lindberg had assessed the well and submitted a letter with his conclusion:

“In our opinion, the subject well is not hydrologically connected to, or influencing surface water flows or nearby wells, Mill Creek tributaries, or ephemeral wetlands,” the letter states. He submitted a follow-up letter to county staff last week, reasserting his finding that the well is “hydrologically isolated” from surface waters and wetlands.

Lindberg was on hand via Zoom to answer questions from the board, and Madrone certainly did. 

The exchange started politely enough, with Madrone asking Lindberg about his credentials, including whether or not he’d obtained his master’s degree, as Madrone himself did. But the Fifth District supervisor quickly transitioned to a more confrontational approach, like an attorney cross-examining a witness on the stand.

Referring to Lindberg’s recent letter to the county, Madrone said, “You’ve got a statement in there that says — it’s in the first paragraph and it says, ‘Note the water surface of the river is approximately equivalent to the depth of the well.’ Do you still stand by that statement?”

Lindberg confirmed that he did. Madrone then proceeded to challenge that conclusion, running through measurements and geological descriptions from in the letter and saying that, based on Lindberg’s own information, the bottom of the well must be 20 feet deeper than the surface of the Mattole River, some 3,200 feet to the south.

Madrone | Screenshot

“So I find it very difficult to understand how, number one, you can make a false statement … ,” Madrone said. “I don’t see any evidence in this report that can substantiate that this bottom 20 feet of this well is not tapping into the aquifer of the river. I realize it’s 3000 feet away, but these aquifers can be extremely expansive, as we’ve seen in all of our books that we studied when we went to school. The water in the river doesn’t just end at the banks of the river.”

Board Chair Virginia Bass asked Madrone if he’d reached out to Lindberg ahead of the meeting to address these issues, “because it feels like we’ve got a game of ‘gotcha’ going here, and it bothers me.”

Madrone said he had not reached out to Lindberg earlier because he wanted to have an unbiased opinion when he considered the matter.

“And so, no, I didn’t reach out,” Madrone said, “and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, that’s really the appropriate way to behave in these situations. And Mr. Lindberg has every opportunity here, today, to respond to this. And he had an opportunity with the letter that he submitted, and his letter simply has false information in it.”

Bass said Lindberg should be given a chance to respond to the accusations, and Madrone bristled. 

“They’re not — Madam Chair, they’re not accusations,” he said.

“There were some comments made,” she countered.

“I don’t appreciate you couching my input as accusations,” Madrone said. “I presented information that is based on factual information presented by Mr. Lindberg. They’re not accusations, please.”

Lindberg said he didn’t know where to even begin responding. He went on to describe the area’s geology, saying the Mattole river is eroded into a channel of Franciscan bedrock while the well to the north taps into sandstone. He sounded flustered as his telephone rang in the background and an answering machine message played.

Finally he said, “It’s hard for me to visualize any way that the drawdown of the well expands the cone of depression from which it draws 3,200 feet away to the river. It just seems like quite a stretch of the imagination.”

“Well, my question didn’t get answered,” Madrone said. He ran through his analysis of the figures again. “The facts suggest that the well is drilled 20 to 40 feet below the surface of the river, not equal to it. And you didn’t answer that question.”

“I said it was approximately equivalent to [the river level],” Lindberg said.

“Yes, but it’s not,” Madrone said. “It’s 20 to 40 feet deeper than. That’s not ‘approximately equivalent to.’”

“We have a difference of opinion, I guess, on what ‘approximately equivalent’ means at this scale,” Lindberg said.

Bushnell then cut in, asking Ford to reiterate what exactly the board was supposed to be considering. She said applicants are required to conduct due diligence on matters such as this hydrology question, and that’s exactly what this letter represents. 

“If you accept the report, yes,” Ford said. He went on to ask Lindberg to corroborate his understanding of the science — namely, that the water that flows into the Mattole goes along the top of the Franciscan layer while the well likely pulls from a deeper, isolated aquifer in a more permeable layer of fractured sandstone. 

Lindberg said that was indeed his conclusion, but Madrone was not appeased. He said there’s still “zero information” about the geologic layers between the well’s location and the banks of the river. The board should not approve this project without substantial evidence that the well is not pulling from river’s aquifer, he argued, because the salmon and steelhead populations there are threatened and endangered.

“The river goes low, these fish need this water,” he said. “We as a board are supposed to look to the larger issues within our community and not just special interests.”

Bohn asked Ford whether the county has ever required an applicant to have test wells dug between their well and a river to study the underlying geology. Ford said no. 

Senior Planner Cliff Johnson said the applicant, Jason Goforth, has 75,000 gallons of water storage onsite and is willing to provide more if he can get the necessary funding. Goforth, via phone, said he just can’t afford it right now.

Bushnell asked a few questions of staff and the applicant, and then she offered an apology “for the hostility on this board,” an apparent reference to Madrone’s interrogation. “It made me super uncomfortable. I just have to say that. I understand everybody wants to make their point, but I am not very comfortable with it.”

Bass said she had tried to steer away from the hostility but it wasn’t working so well.

During the public comment period, cannabis project consultant Steve Breitenstein said that while he appreciates the value of healthy debate, “the implications of this discussion extend well beyond the specific appeal… .” Many of his clients have been frustrated by the county’s lack of clarity on water sourcing requirements.

“Most of my clients are not hydrologists or engineering geologists; they’re farmers,” he said. “They rely on — and pay substantial amounts of money to — qualified professionals for assessments and have no choice but to trust their findings.” The Planning Commission seemed to base its approval on those findings as well, he said, but now Madrone had offered a second opinion. The county should have clear guidelines, Breitenstein argued.

“That’s the only way to avoid the repetition of this exercise for dozens and dozens of future projects. I alone have at least 10 different clients who are awaiting hearings on wells, and I have no idea what to tell them. Should we hire a geologist? Should we hire two? Should we consult with Supervisor Madrone?”

When the matter came back to the board, Madrone defended himself, noting that he’s a subject matter expert, not only in regards to hydrology and water but also fisheries in the Mattole. 

“And, you know, calling it ‘hostile’ or ‘accusations’ I find to be really disrespectful,” he said. “You can call it ‘passionate.’ I would accept that. I am very passionate about protecting our fisheries and our fishing industry on the Mattole River. Yes, very passionate. But I was not hostile.”

He said his initial questions still hadn’t been answered to his satisfaction. “And it would seem to me that my other supervisors don’t seem to think that’s important, you know, and they’re willing to just write that off,” he said. “I find that to be really just amazing to me, and frankly a violation of our code of conduct that says we’re supposed to look out for the greater community interest, not just for a special interest. I think that’s really what’s going on here. And that’s not meant to be an accusation or be hostile. I’m just making my statements.”

He went on to suggest that applicants would be better off spending their money on rainwater catchment systems, which the Planning Commission readily approves, rather than expensive consultants.

While the discussion had been tense, that latter comment served to illuminate a path forward. Bushnell noted that the applicant had already stated a desire to provide more storage. She did take issue with Madrone’s suggestion that she and the other supervisors were catering to a special interest at the expense of greater community interests. She said she was merely trying to follow the rules of the county’s cannabis ordinances. 

Wilson said he appreciated where the Planning Commission was coming from by encouraging water storage.

Eventually, the board landed on common ground, opting to approve the applicant’s appeal while requiring them to get the Planning Commission’s additional water storage in place by 2025.

Madrone commended the board in the end, saying they’d landed on a good compromise.

Press release from the Superior Court of California:

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has provided updated guidance for the use of face masks effective February 16, 2022.

In accordance with the updated guidance from CDPH, Humboldt Superior Court issues the following mask requirements effective February 16, 2022:

Masks are required while in courtrooms, while in Jury Deliberation Rooms, while in the Jury Assembly Room on the Ground Floor of the courthouse and when conducting business at the Clerk’s Office public counters.

Judges will have full discretion during courtroom proceedings to allow individuals addressing the court to remove their masks if individuals cannot be clearly heard. Any individual experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness should not come to court.

The Humboldt Superior Court Clerk’s Office Lobby located at 421 “I” Street in Eureka is open to the public for walk-in service from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Clerk’s Office staff continues to be available by phone at (707) 445-7256.