Kaweah runoff estimated at 160% of average
Kaweah Dealt Water Conservation District general manager Mark Larsen estimates this year’s runoff on the upper Kaweah is around 160% of average. That’s a fine number compared to last year when runoff was just 60%of average. Most recently the biggest year was 2017 when its hit 200%
Larsen says this year Terminus Dam’s Lake Kaweah has been on flood release for some 60 days, with storm after storm necessitating making room in the reservoir .”We should be able to stop flood releases in the next 10 days” he says adding they feel the now that the reservoir capacity can hold the melting snow pack.
Farmers will see water deliveries for crops in early May.
Lemoore protests Tachi move to take city lots
The Santa Rosa Rancheria wants to fold several commercial properties into their trust jurisdiction despite the fact they are in the heart of both Hanford and Lemoore‘s commercial district and some 6 to 9 miles away from the Rancheria.
Altogether the request dated in mid-March is to acquire some 8 acres of commercial properties in both Hanford and Lemoore.
The Hanford land includes the tribal owned Sequoia Inn hotel
The Lemoore properties include the KFC restaurant (APNs 021-380-016-000 and 021- 380-017-000) and the vacant lot north of 7-Eleven (APN 021-300-007-000). If the Santa Rosa Indian Community is successful in the acquisition of these properties, the City writes that they will no longer have jurisdiction over this land, which could have economic and other implications says a letter from city to the federal Department of the Interior protesting the plan.
The letter from the City of Lemoore points out that “The land is located approximately 6 miles or more outside of the tribe’s current land reservation and is located within the City limits of the City of Lemoore. If granted the City would lose needed revenue to the community, in the form or taxes and other fees. Property taxes alone for the requested land is approximately $12,093.40.”
Also, the City “would be unable to enforce local laws, regulations or requirements on sections of land located within one of the City’s business areas. These segmented lands could potentially create unique safety issues for the City due to the fact that the adjacent land could also be affected.”
Sporting goods store heading for Visalia Mall
Retailer Hibbett Sports will open a 5000sf store in the Visalia Mall this summer.No comment from the mall management. The mall has lost a few smaller spaces recently but they insists it is an opportunity to attract some new blood. The sporting goods retailer company has locations in Hanford and Manteca.
Cell phone towers slated for Sequoia Park
The National Park Service has approved the plan this month for a right-of-way permit to Verizon Wireless to construct, operate, and maintain a wireless telecommunications facility providing cellular service near Wuksachi Village within Sequoia National Park.
Cellular coverage in Sequoia National Park is very limited. The wireless telecommunications facility would provide year-round cellular coverage in the vicinity of Wuksachi Village and surrounding areas, including Wuksachi Way and portions of the Generals Highway.
The NPS held several meetings and field trips with Verizon, starting in 2015, to identify potential tower locations and evaluate the feasibility of the facility installation. Following these meetings, Verizon Wireless submitted an application to Sequoia National Park on March 2, 2017, to install a wireless telecommunications facility near Wuksachi Village and potential tower locations in the Lodgepole and Wolverton areas.