State, Feds Make Initial Allocations
Tulare County - Growers and water users were not pleased with the initial allocations of water deliveries made by both state and federal water officials last week
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said the Bureau of Reclamation's Initial Water Supply Forecast is for farmers to get just 5 percent of their average allotment, but that could grow to as much as 40 percent if the storms keep coming into the state.
At the same time, the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) increased its planned deliveries to California's water contractors from 5 to 15 percent, still the lowest allocation percentage in the project's history.
For Eastside growers served by Friant Dam, the news was better than for the Westside growers who left hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland fallow last summer because of the lack of water.
“The Westside continues to be in dire straits, but on the Eastside, we still have challenges, but at least they're much more manageable,” said Ron Jacobsma, manager of the Friant Water Users Authority.
Salazar said Friant users will get 100 percent of their Class 1 water, about 800,000 acre feet, explained Jacobsma. That would be about two-thirds of their historical average, but he said the feds were not really clear exactly how much water will be released to the Eastside growers.
“There's a level of uncertainty and it's creating some confusion,” said Jacobsma, saying the feds need to clarify their announcement.
Tom Birmingham, head of the Westlands Water District, called on Reclamation to modify its announcement so farmers can go to banks with an assurance of enough water to grow crops this summer.
“The livelihoods of farmers, farm workers and farm communities in the Central Valley hang in the balance,” said Birmingham.
Democratic Congressman Jim Costa agreed with Birmingham.
“I recognize the continuing efforts of Secretary Salazar and his team in addressing the ongoing drought. However, the fact remains that you can't take a press release to the bank for a loan to start planting crops. This is the problem facing our farmers right now. If the weather cooperates, the possible 40 percent water supply allocation is good news. The big 'if' is whether or not the Department of Interior will do everything in their power to provide it.”
Costa, Birmingham and others want the feds to increase the water supply now, instead of waiting another four to six weeks.
The snowpack across the state is the best it has been in three years. As of Monday, at Farewell Gap at 9,500-feet above Visalia there was more than 10 feet of snow on the ground, a gain of nearly 4 feet since Feb. 19. At Quaking Aspen, at 7,200-feet above Porterville, there is more than 7.5 feet of snow on the ground.
Jacobsma said this has been a good weather year, with precipitation on the Friant watershed already 75 percent of the April 1 average and more than 100 percent for this time of the year. Statewide, the snowpack is 106 of average and 93 percent of the April 1 average. On the Valley floor, rainfall is above average to date.
“This is a welcome start compared to the past three years,” agreed Jacobsma.
However, those snowpack figures are also puzzling ag water users who cannot understand why the state and feds are allocating so little water in a fairly average rain year.
“As the Department of the Interior points out in its press release, however, the water supply conditions in California are much improved compared to the last three years. Interior expects that this will be an average or above average water year. Moreover, Shasta Reservoir is presently at 98 percent of the historic average of storage on this date,” noted Birmingham questioning why the allocations are so low.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has been working to increase the water supply, was encouraged by the fed's initial allocation.
“Given all the recent precipitation, and the likelihood that it will continue, I believe this means that South of Delta Agricultural water users will receive at least 30 percent of their contractual federal water allocation. In addition, the Department has confirmed with me that it is working to achieve the equivalent of an additional 8-10 percent further allocation through various administrative actions which are all consistent with, and within, the Biological Opinions. This is very good news,” she said in a release.
However, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, is not so encouraged. In his blog he noted, “This miraculous change of heart on the part of Obama Administration is an acknowledgement that there is water available for Valley farmers — even under the draconian Delta smelt biological opinion. This concession is an indictment of the Administration's 2009 actions that resulted in food lines and economic devastation in communities throughout the San Joaquin valley.”
Nunes, a very vocal critic of the Administration and Democrats, said, “San Joaquin Valley residents are again being sold short by Dust Bowl Democrats. This year, we have over 120 percent of average snowpack and some dams are preparing to spill water that cannot be stored.”
Costa and Birmingham said time is running out.
“Secretary Salazar must recognize that the increase in water supply is worthless if our farmers receive it months from now. As we speak, farmers are putting plans together for this upcoming growing season. Further delays are unacceptable and will keep our farmers from doing what they do best: putting food on America's table and creating jobs for some of the hardest working people in the country,” said Costa.
“Westlands understands that any allocation is subject to change based on updated hydrologic information. If future conditions are drier than forecasted in the 50 percent exceedance forecast, it may be necessary to reexamine the allocation and potentially reduce it,” said Birmingham.
The state said is projection was based on a “dry year.”
“As winter progresses and the Department has a clearer picture of water conditions, the allocation can be increased. There is a 90 percent chance that the allocation will improve by late spring. If average precipitation continues, the final allocation will likely be in the range of 35-45 percent of requested amounts. That spread is based on how the biological opinions to protect fish species are applied and how much flexibility the Department has to pump water,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin.
In 2009, the State Water Project delivered 40 percent of customer requests. The federal Central Valley Project was only able to deliver 10 percent of contracted amounts to some agricultural areas in the San Joaquin Valley.
The reduced deliveries
were due both to dry weather and fishery agency restrictions
on pumping to protect fish species; principally Delta smelt,
salmon, and longfin smelt.
Jacobsma said solutions, both short-term and long-term,
need to be found quickly.
He said there has to be an ongoing dialogue and political pressure to get as much flexibility as possible as it relates to pumping restrictions.
“On the more immediate term, we need to get opinions on the pumping. We need to review the science and have it be done as timely as possible. Long-term, we need to find out what's effecting these fish populations. I think the pumps have disproportionately been blamed,” he said.
Tulare County - The reaction to the California Public Utilities Commission's selection of an Elderwood area route for Southern California Edison's high voltage transmission line in Tulare County is mixed.
In its final EIR released last week, the PUC rejected other alternative routes backed by opponents of Edison's first choice, Route 1, a 19-mile route along Highway 198 and dissecting the area of Exeter and Farmersville. Despite relief that Route 1 basically is dead in the water, members of PACE (Protect Agriculture Communities Environment) expressed disappointment, but not surprise, that their suggested choices, including Route 3 along less populated and more remote areas, were rejected.
The report cites environmental issues, such as vernal pools and the protected fairy shrimp habitat and the prohibitive high cost of by-passing those areas as factors in rejecting the most northern route around Stokes Mountain. That route, Route 3 revise, generally referred to as 3A, was the top choice of those who opposed Routes 1, 2 and 3.
While the demise of the Highway 198 route, Route 1, seems certain, there is little cheering by opponents who also have fought the PUC choice of Route 2, while pushing for the Stokes Mountain route which they say would have less human impact. Those backing that plan claim environmental issues could be resolved, a premise SCE rejects citing excessive costs and construction issues.
Tricia Stever, executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau, said she has had limited opportunity to review the document, but said she was disappointed with the findings.
“The document is very inadequate in that it does not provide a reasonable analysis of the 3A alignment that was submitted by PACE and supported by Farm Bureau. We are very disappointed with the superficial analysis of the merits of the 3A alternative,” she said.
Stever added it is unfortunate that the document disregarded the pleas and comments of hundreds of local landowners and still identifies Route 2 as the preferred alignment, adding that route “will disrupt many acres of productive farmland and jeopardize family farms.”
The city of Visalia, which did not take a stand on a route, is still studying the EIR, said Deputy city Manager Leslie Caviglia.
While the EIR has been released for public scrutiny, in the end it will be up to Administrative Law Judge Hallie Yacknin who reportedly could make her ruling possibly as soon as May.
The final decision rests with the PUC, but generally the judge's rulings are followed, according to those familiar with the PUC process.
Judge Yacknin conducted public hearings in Visalia attended by about 300 persons and also received an estimated 600 letters and e-mails on the project, almost all in protest of various route choices.
Officially known as the Cross Valley Loop Transmission Project, the line will carry electrical power from hydroelectric facilities in the Sierra to the Rector Substation near Visalia. Route 2 is about 23 miles long and begins at the Rector Substation. It continues north for 11 miles within SCE's existing right-of-way and replaces the two existing single-circuit 220-kilovolt with two double-circuit single pole lines. The remaining 12 miles of the proposed transmission line will be constructed with a 100-foot wide right-of-way to be acquired by SCE. It would run until the line intersects with the Big Creek-Springville line about two miles north of the City of Woodlake, near Elderwood.
As PACE members prepared to meet this week to plan potential actions, SCE officials termed the EIR as “a positive step toward building needed electric transmission facilities in Tulare County.”
Just how soon the project could get underway is just a guess, but it seems likely the original target date of 2012 will be hard to meet.
The EIR says Route 2 provides less environmental impact than other alternatives including two, dubbed Alternatives 5 and 6, both of which are north of Highway 198 and Alternative 1. The report cites a number of mitigation factors SCE will have to address but states it is the best choice.
Edison's top choice, Route 1, was billed as the cheapest, about $96 million, as of about two years ago. But in response to an aggressive campaign by PACE, the cities of Visalia, Exeter and Farmersville and numbers of farmers and other property owners from around the proposed project site, that plan lost power.
Brian Blain, one of the PACE organizers, believes the likelihood of a PUC decision being changed now that the EIR is completed is practically nil. Although the PUC considered two additional routes, Alternatives 5 and 6, from its originally application, and accepted Alternative 3A offered by PACE, Edison's second favored route won the EIR support. When the PUC staff listened to the 3A proposal there was some hope the groundswell of support could sway a decision away from Route 2. It didn't.
Blain said he has yet to study the actual EIR but based general comments of those familiar with the conclusions, environmental considerations were too heavily weighted compared to human, economic, social and other considerations including project costs.
The lengthy EIR document stipulates a number of mitigation factors to be imposed on SCE, including the colors, texture and finishes on the huge towers to be erected, control of lighting, dust and noise control during construction and wildlife issues.
It cites consideration and methods of dealing with plants and other vegetation on the routes.
The final EIR is very specific about habit of birds and other wildlife, prior to, during and after construction.
“Whenever feasible, construction near recently active nest sites shall start after the active nesting season. The nesting period of the golden eagle is generally (from) March 1 to August 15.
The kit fox also is cited in the report and subject of mitigating actions. A qualified biologist must conduct a survey 14 to 30 days before construction starts along the route. Construction can be delayed if certain kit fox dens are found, the EIR states.
Money Would be Used to Build Lab
An assessment ballot was mailed to approximately 56,000 voters who reside within the mosquito control district's boundaries seeking approval of a 10-year assessment to pay for the construction of a laboratory.
“We are proposing to improve our services by building a lab,” explained Yolanda Lourenco, assistant manager of the district that includes the communities of Dinuba, Orosi, Visalia, Farmersville, Exeter and Woodlake.
She explained the lab will allow the district to determine if mosquitoes are carrying deadly viruses such as West Nile much quicker than it can do today. Right now, sample mosquitoes are sent to the state for testing and if the assessment is approved, the district will be able to do that testing at their site in Visalia.
“If we had our own lab it would be a 24-hour turnaround,” she explained. Right now, it takes three to seven days to get back test results.
“It will help us to respond more quickly,” she said, explaining it will allow them to notify the public if there is a problem or if West Nile has been found in a certain area.
Because mosquitoes can multiply quickly, a fast response is necessary. “It will allow us to nip things in the bud more quickly,” said Lourenco.
Mosquitoes can carry many life-threatening diseases, but the biggest threat the past several years has been West Nile Virus. Four deaths in the past year in the state were attributed to West Nile and mosquitoes. Tulare County reported four cases of West Nile Virus in 2009.
The district is holding a special mail-in vote where property owners are sent a ballot, then asked to mark it and mail it back. All ballots must be received by April 14, said Lourenco. Only a simple majority is needed for passage and if approved, the assessment will go into effect on July 1, 2010. The assessment would only be for 10 years.
The proposed assessment is $6.50 for single family residences on lots smaller than an acre. Other assessments are based on the number of dwelling units and size and commercial, industrial and agricultural properties will be assessed according to size, location and property type.
If approved, the assessment is designed to generate $473,000 a year, or roughly $4.7 million over the 10 year span of the assessment. That money would be used to construct the lab and purchase the needed equipment. Lourenco said the district already has the staff to do its own testing.
Once the balloting ends, the ballots will be turned over to the Tulare County Elections Department to be counted.
“Growers are very concerned. They should be,” said George McEwen with Leffingwell Ag Sales. “This is our livelihood. This takes everything out,” he said as he returned from Washington D.C. where he and other citrus growers were lobbying for the feds to come up with $58 million to continue the fight against the psyllid.
The psyllid carries the disease huanglongbing (HLB) that has already devastated more than 150,000 acres in Florida where the disease has around been for about 12 years. HLB is also in Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana.
Two weeks ago McEwen updated about 200 area citrus growers on the disease and the efforts to keep it in check. The Asian Citrus Psyllid has been discovered in Southern California, but not yet in the San Joaquin Valley. And, so far, the disease it carries has not been found in the state, but no one is relaxing.
“We don't have the disease here,” said McEwen, “but we really don't know.” He said the disease went undetected for quite a while in Florida and the concern is that someone smuggling in fruit from infected areas will bring the disease to the Valley.
The disease, also known as greening disease, weakens and eventually kills the tree it infects. It can take three or four years for a tree to die.
“It is very critical for us,” stressed McEwen, adding a 17-member statewide committee has been formed to monitor the moving of the psyllid and the disease and to set policies on how to deal with the pest.
The psyllid is not much larger than an aphid. It was first discovered in the US in 1998.
McEwen said the disease has gotten so bad in Florida that some growers have abandoned entire orchards, which had made the efforts to control the pest more difficult. He predicted the citrus industry will be gone in that state within five years if a cure or some way to control the disease is not found.
Growers are hoping the feds will continue to step up. Last year it put up $45 million to combat the pest and the disease and this year they are asking for $58 million.
He said the government is also working with Mexico that reportedly also has the pest and the disease.
Solutions for now are to control the psyllid through treatments in back yards.
“If we can control the psyllid and keep it down, we can control the disease,” he said. He added this summer will be important because the pest is more prolific in warm months.
Research is ongoing to find a solution. One solution might be genetics or the development of a resistant type of rootstock, but that would mean replacing every tree in the state. For now, diligence in keeping the pest from making its way into the Valley is best defense.
Foreclosures Down, Prices Fairly Steady
“The trend is positive in this area,” said Bill Jordan of Century 21 Jordan-Link Real Estate in Visalia.
However, over the past
several months the real estate industry has at best been
treading water. Sales are steady, but fueled mostly by bank-own
property sales and foreclosure sales. There are buyers,
but nothing like four or five years ago
On the positive side, and there is definitely a positive
side, the number of foreclosures is dropping, there are
fewer bank-owned properties being sold, home prices have
been rising slightly and there are buyers.
“It's actually pretty good,” said Jordan, adding that inventory is low, interest rates are low and, “We are selling everything we can get our hands on under $200,000.”
As home prices fell, affordability increased. Last month, the quarterly National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index found that Visalia's affordability was at 72.5 percent, up from 65.9 percent in the second quarter of 2009. In the Hanford metropolitan area, affordability was at 71.1 percent. That means that 7 out 10 people can afford a home in Visalia or Hanford.
Both Visalia and Hanford had more affordable housing than Fresno where just 67 percent of residents can afford a home.
In the region, Visalia ranked 28th in affordability and Hanford 33rd. San Luis Obispo is still one of the least affordable areas in the nation, ranked third.
Housing affordability in California continued to fall throughout most of the state during the fourth quarter of 2009, the California Building Industry Association said.
The Index found that homes were less affordable in 22 of the state's 28 metro areas included in the report.
Foreclosures Down
For the third month in a row the number of foreclosure proceedings begun in Visalia was well below 400. Several times in the past year that figure had topped 400.
In January, RealtyTrac reported the number of foreclosure proceedings in Visalia was 303, down from 329 in December and way below 448 recorded in April of 2009.
In Tulare County, the total number of foreclosure proceedings was 748, about the same as December but down considerably from November.
Tulare saw 130 foreclosures, Porterville 107 and Farmersville 33.
In Kings County, the total number was 187, the first time that number fell below 200 in more than a year. Hanford had 106, followed by Lemoore with 39 and Corcoran at 29.
“We still will have foreclosures,” predicts Jordan, “but less of them.”
He also does not believe there is another large wave of foreclosures on the horizon as some predict.
Home Sales
According to DataQuick, 259 homes were sold in Tulare County in January at a median price of $135,000 down 8.8 percent from the $148,000 median price in January of 2009. That price is down from December, when the median price was $140,000. The January price is the lowest it has been in years.
Jordan admitted that sales were off a little in January, but overall they have been good the past several months.
He said even the traditional seller and buyer are returning to the market. That traditional seller is a homeowner looking to sell their existing home in order to buy a newer or larger home.
“It's kind of a gradual thing and that's encouraging,” said the owner of Visalia's large real estate firm.
He said that he is seeing home owners more able to compete in the market against the foreclosures and bank-owned houses being sold.
There are still plenty of homes being sold by the banks at less than what is owed on them. Jordan said the Obama Administration has put pressure on banks to avoid foreclosure and that in the long run the banks are better off selling a home for less than what is owed rather than go through foreclosure.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
Pricey election. The final numbers are in and the nine candidates for Visalia City Council spent a collective $116,600 in the November election. The three winners – Mike Lane, Warren Gubler and Steve Nelsen – all spent more than $20,000. Jesus Gamboa spent the most, according to the filings, at $33,581, followed by Lane at $27,130, Gubler at $24,449 and Nelsen at $22,259. Greg Collins reported spending less than $8,500.
Ruiz Foods in NASCAR. Ruiz Foods, founded in Tulare with is headquarters and main plant in Dinuba, is in NASCAR – at least on a NASCAR race car. In Sunday's race in Las Vegas, Ryan Newman's No. 39 Chevrolet had Tornados written across the back quarter panel of the car as it made its way around the mile and half track at speeds around 200 mph. Ruiz has signed on to be one of Newman's sponsors this year. Tornados adorned the No. 39 Chevrolet at Las Vegas for the first time as a primary sponsor for SHR and in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Tornados, a bold-tasting treat featuring meat, cheese and sauce rolled into a crispy crust, will sponsor Newman's No. 39 for nine races in 2010.
Kristin Hollabaugh, currently director of the COS Foundation, will be recommended to the COS Board of Trustees to serve as Provost for the Hanford College Center, college President Dr. Bill Scroggins announced.
Sales are Up. Target Corporation had net earnings of $936 million for the quarter ending Jan. 30, compared with $609 million in the same quarter last year. Sales increased 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $19.7 billion in 2009 from $19.0 billion in 2008, due to the contribution from new stores and a 0.6 percent increase in comparable-store sales. At Macy's, improved fourth quarter results exceeded expectations and represented a strong ending to the fiscal year. Sales in the fourth quarter of 2009 totaled $7.849 billion, a decrease of 1.1 percent, compared with sales of $7.934 billion in the same period last year.
New home permits up. The city of Visalia issued 43 permits for new homes in February, an increase of seven over January. There were also four permits for new commercial buildings and three permits for three triplexes. Total building valuation for the month was $12,095,275, approximately 50 percent better than January.
Two-way now one-way. Monday night the Visalia City Council approved converting Main Street from two-way traffic to one-way traffic eastbound from between Garden and Santa Fe. At the same time, the council OK'd switching Garden Street to one-way traffic as well – southbound, and extended the one-way designation for Center Street from Bridge to Santa Fe.
Assemblyman Danny D. Gilmore, R-Hanford, has received the 2009 Outstanding Legislator Award from the California Sheriffs' Association.
State Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) wants a soda tax. Florez (D-Shafter) introduced legislation last month to tax sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages to fund childhood obesity programs. His bill would levy a penny for every teaspoon of added sugar in commercial beverages sold. Initial projections estimate that the excise tax on beverage distributors would raise $1.5 billion a year, with funds going directly to California cities and schools to pay for childhood obesity prevention programs throughout the state.
Speaking of Florez, he also wants to tax dog food so the state can create a registry of animal abusers—akin to what exists for sex offenders—with the names and photographs of felons posted on the Internet by 2012. To pay for the measure, consumers buying pet food would be charged an “unspecified charge” per pound of pet food purchased.
The California State Department of Real Estate (DRE) revoked a record number of real estate licenses for cause in 2009. The DRE also accepted another record number of license surrenders from licensees facing disciplinary action. All told, over 775 licensees had their license revoked or simply surrendered their licenses while facing accusations. Over the past two fiscal years, the DRE averaged 446 license revocations and 59 license surrenders. In 2009, license revocations jumped over 50%, to 672, while license surrenders jumped nearly 80% to 105. The 122 cases that resulted in license suspensions in 2009 remained relatively unchanged from the 125 license suspensions averaged in the past two fiscal years.
Water bond has opposition. The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water has come out against the $11.4 billion Water Bond that will be on the statewide November ballot. The group claims that little of the bond money would be used to improve water systems in small communities such as Tonyville in Tulare County.
A Visalia couple, Charlie and Katy Chase, who own Roger Dunn Golf Shops in Fresno and Stockton, are reopening the Visalia Roger Dunn store in Visalia at 1813 W. Caldwell Ave. Chase said the target date for the re-opening is March 19 and will have a new staff and expanded line of golf equipment and accessories.
Pipkin to the rescue. Following a rash of burglaries at South Fresno businesses, agents from the Pipkin Detective Agency and Fresno County Sheriff's deputies were able to thwart several burglaries in progress and arrest one of the suspects, reported Rocky Pipkin.
Visalia - After a year layoff because of the construction of Phase 2 of the Riverway Sports Park in Visalia, BMX racing has returned to Visalia.
Riders of all ages have been coming to the track at the northwest end of the sports park the past few weeks, with races already held.
“On average, we have about 25 kids. We'd like to have more,” said Ron Jones who runs the track in Visalia and also the one at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare. The Tulare track gets more than 80 riders out each night.
“We've been struggling the last few years with the economy,” added Jones, but said now that the track is back open he is hoping for greater use.
BMX is for boys and girls ages three on up. Jones said they have a few adults who compete, but most are children.
One of the top riders at the track is also one of the smallest riders. Brodie Spott, 8-years-old, was the 7-year-old national BMX champion from Visalia.
He won the national title in November at the nationals in Tulsa, Okla. “He bettered about 175 other riders,” said his mother, Julie Spott.
While her son is a little bit bigger than the average 8-year-old, his mother said he just loves the sport and hopes someday to compete in the Olympics. BMX racing is an Olympic sport.
“It's all about skill and knowing the track,” she said. To win, you are timed in a one-lap race with seven other riders.
Young Spott qualified for the nationals by competing in several regional races in California and Arizona. He was sponsored by Clayborne Racing.
His mother is sold on the sport of BMX.
“This is the only sport my son does. It's an individual sport. It's all up to you. He's solely dedicated to this sport,” she said, adding he practices three or four times a week.
Jones said practices are held at the Visalia track every Monday and Thursday night from 5:30 to 7:30, then races are held beginning with registration at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. In Tulare, practices are 5:30-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday with races beginning with registration at 6 p.m. on Fridays. There is a $5 fee for practices and $10 to race. Trophies are given to first through third place finishers in the races.
Both tracks are sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association (ABA).
“As a parent, I just love it. These kids are playing with each other, then go out and race, then play again after they race. There is so much camaraderie. It's kind of what we call our BMX family. It's so awesome,” said Julie Spott.
Jones said they have bikes and helmets they can loan those who want to try out the sport before investing in the special bikes and safety gear. For more information call 627-1795 or go to tularebmx.com.
By Miles Shuper
Tulare County - Marlene Cardoza, described as one of the mainstays of the Human Services branch of the Tulare County Health and Services Agency, has retired after more than 41 years of county service.
David Crawford, assistant directory of the Tulare County Heath and Human Services Agency, said Cardoza has been instrumental in the development of several major projects including establishment of the Social Services records warehouse in 1992 and most recently the new TulareWorks (welfare) office on North Dinuba Boulevard when the agency moved from downtown Visalia.
Crawford said. “It's hard to capsulize everything that she has accomplished during the time she has been with us, but let me just say that Marlene has always done her best in whatever role she has. She has always had a positive approach to performing her duties and she will take with her a wealth of historical knowledge that can never be replaced.”
The Tulare resident began her career with the county in 1968 as extra-help in the auditor's office and became a permanent employee in 1969 as an account clerk in the Social Services department. She has served in a number of capacities including supervising clerk, principal clerk, administrative assistant, warehouse supervisor and self sufficient support supervisor. Cardoza has been recognized several times for her outstanding dedication to the county, Crawford said.
Crawford and supervisors cited her consistent positive attitude and friendly approach in addition to her skills in any task she was asked to handle.
Crawford also pointed out the changes she has seen over the years including the use of 3-by-5 index card systems for clients, mimeograph machines to copiers, Dictaphones and typewriters to personal computers.
After the presentation, Cardoza expressed her anticipation enjoying retirement and cited a whirlwind of activity on her final day of work on Monday when she was “kidnapped” from a supposed department meeting by family members who arrived in town sooner than expected and, along with friends, took her to lunch and celebration.
By Miles Shuper
Visalia - A restoration project to stabilize the banks of Cameron Creek inside Mooney Grove Park is expected to start in several weeks.
It is one of two water-related projects in the park.
The restoration work will also provide flood control by preventing surrounding sediment from filling up the creek bed and will prevent future erosion.
The $400,000 project will be done by crews from the Sequoia Community Corps, also known as the Community Services Employment Training (CSET). Funds come from Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006.
Tuesday, Tulare County supervisors officially accepted the donation from CSET. County park staff will have oversight of the project, according to Neil Pilegard, the county's parks and recreation department manager.
The project will also include construction of a concrete walking and bicycle path adjacent to Cameron Creek that will minimize the impact of future erosion from increased use of the walking path.
The project will start at the southwest corner of the park and continue to the new History of Farm Labor and Agriculture Museum and the 1911 bridge which was recently reconstructed. The bridge links the new museum with the Tulare County Museum.
The other project is the development of a five-acre ponding basin being constructed through the combined efforts of the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, Tulare County, the Tulare Irrigation District and the City of Tulare.
The pond, located in the central section of Mooney Grove, will be 16-feet deep at its lowest point and will allow recharging of the ground water in and around the park.
Aaron Fukuda, engineer for TID, said the recharge basin will have a capacity of between 35 and 40 acre feet.
The existing park lagoon at the southern portion of the park is supplied with water pumped from the TID canal which is fed in part by Cameron Creek. It also serves as a recharge basin.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
March 4, 2010
