RAISE SHASTA ? The 90-day public comment period opened this week on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation (SLWRI), a study which examines the impacts of raising Shasta Dam.The Draft EIS evaluates six alternative plans to modify the existing Shasta Dam and Shasta Reservoir Project, located near Redding. The proposed project is intended to increase survival of anadromous fish populations (salmon) in the upper Sacramento River as well as increase water supply and water reliability for agricultural, municipal and industrial, and environmental purposes.
The 90-day comment period on the investigation begins July 1 and runs through Sept. 30. Three public workshops on the investigation are scheduled in mid-July. Formal public hearings on the proposal will be held in September. The dates of the formal hearings will be announced in August.
The three public workshops will be held at the following times and locations.
· Tuesday, July 16, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Inn, Palomino Room, 1900 Hilltop Drive, Redding.
· Wednesday, July 17, 1-3 p.m., Cal Expo Quality Inn Hotel & Suites, Conference Room, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento.
· Thursday, July 18, 6-8 p.m., Merced County Fairgrounds, Germino Building, 403 “F” Street, Los Banos.
2013 CALIFORNIA ALMOND FORECAST DOWN
USDA says California’s 2013 almond production is forecast at 1.85 billion meat pounds, down 7.5 percent from May’s subjective forecast and 2 percent below last year’s crop. The forecast is based on 810 thousand bearing acres. Production for the Nonpareil variety is forecast at 650 million meat pounds, 4 percent below last year’s deliveries. The Nonpareil variety represents 35 percent of California’s total almond production.
After a very cold winter, the 2013 almond crop began bloom 2 weeks later than normal. Bloom was strong and fast, which shortened overlap and pollination time. High winds in early April knocked nuts and branches off trees, as well as knocking down some trees. Water has been an issue as well. The average nut set per tree is 6,686, down 5 percent from 2012.
FIGS GO SOLAR
Valley Fig growers will install enough solar power panels for their processing to cover 60% of the power needs the co-op announced this week., The co-op’s board of directors approved investing $1.4 million in the 625 kilowatt photovoltaic electrical generation system to be install the panels on the roofs of all warehouses.
ORGANIC MILK SALES
Fluid milk sales are on the wane except for the organic category says the state. The CDFA reports California fluid milk sales listed as organic are up 18.5% this year from January thru May compared to the year before.
$5 Corn?
More good news this week as the price of corn for delivery in December dropped to $5.01 a bushel today.