July
Koi Nation files suit against the city of Clearlake for CEQA violations
The Koi Nation contends the city violated their obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because of its proposed Arrowhead to Burns Valley Road Rehabilitation and Burns Valley Sports Complex, among other projects planned near to Tribal Community lands.
Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora expressed doubt at the time if the case had legal merit.” I don’t know when the issue will go to court at this point,” Flora said in an email message. Flora referred to a copy of the lawsuit in an email message which the city’s attorney sent to the tribe, which he shared with this newspaper, regarding what the city referred to as frivolous.
According to the document sent to the City of Clearlake, the Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Mandatory Relief, the Koi Nation sought to compel defendants, the city of Clearlake and City Council of Clearlake to comply with their obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15000.
The Koi Nation’s contention was that the city was proceeding with this and other rehabilitation projects, by improperly filing for CEQA exemption status, prior to the project’s approval. As a result, the city improperly failed (Koi alleged) to analyze, disclose and to mitigate the significant adverse environmental impacts associated with the city’s development plans.
Also, Koi Nation maintained, construction significantly impacted Tribal Cultural Resources (TCR’c) and irreparably harmed the Koi Nation, its ancestors and its cultural artifacts and it harmed archeological, historic resources, which are potentially eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources Register. Meanwhile, William Chisum, attorney for the Koi Nation, addressed a letter to city of Clearlake, which indicated there were several inappropriate actions on the part of the city, he maintained.
—William Roller
AUGUST
Science Symposium a big draw for Water Resources
On August 15 to 16, the Lake County Water Resources Department held their first Clear Lake Integrated Science Symposium in over 25 years. The free event sold out, drawing in over 200 scientists and interested individuals from far and wide.
Throughout the event the itinerary included a comprehensive list of key note speakers totaling over 60 discussions covering topics such as “Environmental Permitting 101” moderated by the AES; “In Lake Mercury Studies” presented by Charlie Alpert from the United States Geological Society; “Geology, Alpine Geysers, Groundwater” moderated by Mitchell Breedlove from the Lake County Watershed Protection District, and also “Clear Lake Hitch Status and Conservation” by Felipe La Luz from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.” These speakers filled the day and were hosted by both the Robinson Rancheria Casino Conference Center in Nice and also the Habematolel Meeting Hall in Upper Lake.
Organizers stated in a social media post, “We are pretty proud of these accomplishments! Thank you for making the symposium a HUGE success. If you were not able to attend, the sessions are available on the County of Lake YouTube channel!” Video will also be available on the Lake County PEG You Tube page.
—Nikki Carboni
A view to Guenoc Valley development
The planning documents required for a multi-billion-dollar development project in California are extensive. That means that it’s challenging for members of the impacted community to navigate filings that accompany a project of such scope. Just one of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) documents is 385 pages, without a searchable index. Gail Wright mentioned that the challenges of finding what one is searching for, “…almost seem intentional….” The concerns of an ultra-luxury resort for the super-rich can seem foreign to the residents of southern Lake County. “You have to think in a different mentality than some of us live,” Bill Wright pointed out. How many horse trailers would be traveling down Butts Canyon, fetching strings of polo ponies for the uber-rich flying in on seaplanes and helicopters? How will that impact their lives?
The Hodges are concerned about the heliport’s impact on the raptors and the noise level they will have to live with. The 2020 EIR shows modelling of 10 flights per day, counting both landing and take-off, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The report states that in other Maha resorts, only 40 percent of their visitors travel to and from the resort by automobile, so chopper flights from Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose airports are planned in addition to seaplane commuting. Kevin Case, a representative for the Guenoc Valley Project responded to the request for a response to these concerns.
“The Guenoc Valley Project’s design is guided by a vision of conservation and respect for the land where it will be built. The potential for noise impacts from the use of the proposed float plane dock and heliport were assessed in detail in the project’s 2020 Environmental Impact Report. The assessment found that, with the inclusion of mitigation measures to reduce noise such as limiting aircraft and non-emergency helicopter flight times, there would be no significant impact to special-status wildlife in the area.”
Community benefits cited in the EIR include 500 construction jobs over 10 years and 300 hospitality jobs for a county in need of employment opportunities. Numerous building and school impact fees, modifications to Butts Canyon Road along with property taxes should boost local and county coffers. The Wrights and Hodges acknowledge the benefits along with the impacts. But Connie’s parents bought their property 50 years ago, and the Wrights took residence in the 1980s. They were scarred by the Valley Fire when it swept through and they value a stronger community, but they have mixed views of the fancy flights planned by their new neighbors.
—Frederic Lahey
