GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. XXXII
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
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AGRICULTURE
Farmers and Ranchers Await Water Curtailment Orders
Largest Water Cut-Offs in California History Continues By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
CALIFORNIA — On Aug. 3, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) voted 5-0 to follow through with an emergency curtailment order, eliminating the 2021 surface water supply to agriculture for the majority of the State. The order is now the largest water cut-off in California history, with over 5,700 water rights holders affected with roughly 12,500 water rights from north of Lake Shasta to Fresno. Specifically, the order prohibits water rights holders from diverting surface water for farming or agricultural use. The SWRCB voted to curtail water from farmers on the basis that there is not enough water flow for endan-
gered fish and preserve water flows for drinking water. Particularly, the agency’s officials said river flows must be maintained to prevent saltwater from the Pacific from contaminating the Delta. Official curtailment orders were meant to be sent out and implemented two weeks following the vote. However, no notices have yet been received. Of course, this is not the first time a curtailment order has been put into action. Those along the Russian River in Northern California are no strangers to it. However, no order has ever affected this many farmers and included pre-1914 appropriative and some riparian water rights holders. Many are arguing whether the State has the jurisdiction to place any order on pre-1914 rights holders. California was granted statehood, but the current water pre-1914 water rights and typically do not require a Types of Water Rights rights system wasn’t established until 1914. permit. Anything acquired after is a post-1914 water A riparian water right applies to a landowner whose An appropriative water right means the water right right. property borders a river and has the right to use this was “appointed” to the owner of the right, in contrast to The oldest rights are referred to as senior water rights. water on his land. riparian rights where the water right stays with the land. These rights were recognized back in 1850 when Appropriative rights acquired prior to 1914 are called CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
EDUCATION
INSTALLATION
Monolith Rebuilt After Vandalism GoFundMe campaign raised $1065 of $4500 goal By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@atascaderonews.com
Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS) Chair Nicole Hider (left) and Lori Bickel (right) presenting 2020 Fundraising Grant to AUSD Superintendent Tom Butler (middle). Contributed Photo
2021-22 AUSD School Year Off to a Great Start School Board reacts to the enthusiasm and camaraderie of children back in school By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting. Nicole Hider, the chairperson for Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS), announced that the organization is raising funds
for Atascadero teachers and students with an online auction. A large variety of items are being auctioned off, including wine, home decor, ziplining, kayaking, an escape room, shopping, a Traeger grill, and more. The auction is open now, and the last day to bid is Aug. 22. Visit atascaderocaps.org to browse and bid on items. There are items for all budgets, with the lowest items starting at $15. This year marks the 15th anniversary of this event, and this year’s theme is “Calling All Superheroes.” The online auction provides CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Atascadero monolith restored, thanks the team of artist who originally created it. Photos by Raymond Johnson
ATASCADERO — On Monday, Aug. 16, reports came in that the giant steel “monolith” at the summit of Pine Mountain had been vandalized. Local resident Raymond Johnson stated that he was hiking the mountain that morning and noticed that the monolith was vandalized; just a bit later, a team of guys arrived and were replacing and welding it back together again.
A “Go Fund Me” campaign to help repair the monolith was started by Melissa Kenney on Monday afternoon. In the description, Kenney explained, “I am the wife of one of the artists that built the Monolith on Pine Mountain in Atascadero, California. The reason for this GoFundMe is due to an act of vandalism for a second time. The monolith was stolen on Dec. 3, as seen here on YouTube. The artists and several of their friends rallied together and put it back up, but it was destroyed late last night on Aug. 15...” The campaign has raised $1065 or the $4500 CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
CITY
Atascadero Creek – Help Keep It Clean Earthshine aids City in two major creek clean-ups By RACHELLE RICKARD Atascadero City Manager
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tascadero Creek has always been one of the treasured jewels of our community, meandering its way through town to eventually flow into the Salinas River and helping to provide the source of Atascadero’s water supply. Many residents fondly recall hot summer days
spent fishing or frolicking in the Creek. Protection of Atascadero Creek’s water quality and natural beauty is vital to the physical and mental well-being of our community. Keeping Atascadero Creek and the nearby community pathways clean, attractive and inviting is a continual challenge, despite multiple and ongoing City and volunteer efforts. The City performs regular creek clean-up activities, which include encampment clean-ups as well as annual brush CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Protection of Atascadero Creek’s water quality and natural beauty is vital to the physical and mental wellbeing of our community. Contributed Photo
TEMPLETON
TCSD Discusses the Wastewater Discharge Program
meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. for closed session and 7 p.m. for open session, with nothing to report on closed session. Director Debra Logan made a motion to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Director Wayne Petersen, and the motion was passed 5-0. By MELISSA GUERRA The first item of business was melissa@atascaderonews.com the award of the engineering contract for the Evers Sports TEMPLETON — The Park improvement. This was Templeton Community Service presented by Melissa Johnson, District held a regularly scheduled which explained how the design
New penalty fees will be added to address smaller violations
COMMUNITY
PROJECT
costs came in above the originally estimated 10 percent. In order to compare proposals, the costs were separated by construction costs, bids, and other items to compare accurately. After review, it was suggested that the MIG proposal be the one accepted. Discussion on the topic addresses the increased costs of construction in general and how those aspects could be responsible for the higher-than-expected bids. Director Geoff English moved approval of staff ’s recommenda-
ENCOUNTERS
tions approving the contract to MIG, which was approved 5-0. The next item was the update on the wastewater discharge source control and to consider directing staff to bring back an Ordinance modifying the District regulations and penalties for non-compliance. Tina Mayer presented the topic, which addressed the current penalties, which all focused on major violations, and introduced a new penalty process in which minor violations could have systems of recourse.
SUPERIOR COURT
Debra Logan recommended that the Board come back with the appropriate ordinance at a later date. The goal of the program is education and compliance, not to make money off penalties. Customers showing good faith efforts to be compliant within the time frame would not be penalized for being unable to achieve the results within the set time frame. The General Manager, Jeff Briltz, gave his report, which touched on the fire and emergency management committee meeting
coming up next Wednesday, which would focus on some of the efforts from the master plan. Briltz talked about the IWMA and rumors of fraud and embezzlement, and the styrofoam ban that failed. The Board of supervisors voted to withdraw, which has not yet formally occurred. Ordinarily, Templeton would have little interaction with IWMA, and the withdrawal would not be significant, but TCSD is in the midst of CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
WEATHER
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THE SANDWICH TRUCK GROUND BREAKING MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS WITNESS TESTIFIES donates food and funds to ECHO to kick off and roadwork in Atascadero part of reported by residents as livestock and Paul Flores Confessed to Burying their Community Giving Program | A3 Pavement Rehabilitation Project | A4 pets go missing | A5 Kristin Smart in Huasna | A13
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