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Chico Enterprise-RecordPosted:   03/13/2014 08:01:01 PM PDTCommunity members may help at the Oak Way Community Garden work day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at 1400 W. Eighth St. Volunteers should bring gloves and drinking water. Cultivating Community North Valley and the Butte Environmental Council are hosting the work day. Information about this event and others scheduled for the future are available online at cultivatingcommunitynv.org.

I was happy to see the Enterprise-Record's Friday editorial about the proposed delta water tunnels. These tunnels, if built, will drain the water in our north state rivers and aquifers, and will change our landscape and lifestyle forever. Like Lake Oroville and the California Aqueduct, once built there is no going back. It's critical that we, the citizens of the Northern California counties, take action to prevent the construction of these tunnels and the destruction to the north state that they will cause. A great deal of information has already been learned about the impacts of sending more of our water south. That information can be found on the websites of two excellent organizations in Chico. Both have been monitoring water policy in California for years and have been working to protect our water supplies. They are Aqualliance (www.aqualliance.net) and the Butte Environmental Council (www.becnet.org). Aqualliance was formed by local citizens, ranchers and farmers who realized the risk to our water supplies and who have been fighting to protect our water. BEC advocates for our natural resources and is actively working to inform citizens about current water plans and fighting powerful Southern California interests.

Pay attention, learn the facts, find out what you can do, and support the groups that are working very hard for us. A great deal is at stake but by working together, we can

protect our water and our way of life in Northern California. — Nancy Praizler, Chico

Put a hold on water transfers out of the area. That's the proposal being made by Tony St. Amant, a citizen who follows Sacramento Valley water closely. He's bringing the idea to the newly formed Northern Sacramento Valley Integrated Regional Water Management Group (www.nsvwaterplan.org). The regional water planning board, with members from six counties, has no authority to make rules on water transfers, St. Amant states in his letter. But it could ask water districts, including two planning transfers this year, to halt those deals until regional guidelines for water transfers are developed.

Already, the Butte Environmental Council has drafted a letter (http://goo.gl/gFU5r) to the regional planning group, urging the members to adopt St. Amant's plan.

Here are some newspaper stories published this week in years past: 25 years ago

The project, south of the Skyway and east of Highway 99 between Chico and Paradise, would include 4,500-residential units for up to 20,000 people, four elementary schools, a junior high school, senior high school and a 100-acre town center.

Kelly Meagher of the Butte Environmental Council said "What we saw tonight was the unveiling of a new city. ... This is only the first round, he said. ...

John Scott was recently appointed to the nine-member Butte County Water Commission. He'll take the seat of Mark Kimmelshue, who served on the commission for the past 16 years, including serving as commission chair. The decision was made at the most recent meeting of the Board of Supervisors, with supervisors Doug Teeter, Maureen Kirk and Bill Connelly voting for the change.

Scott has been a regular attendee of the meetings of the Water Commission and has championed the cause of groundwater protection for Butte Valley, near Butte College. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Butte Environmental Council since 2009: www.becnet.org/board-directors. Of the nine seats on the Water Commission, five are appointed by members of the Board of Supervisors. Four seats are "at large," including two that are filled by people who use groundwater. Scott will take over a four-year term for an "at large" groundwater position.

CHICO — Water exports and the Sacramento Valley will be the topic of a discussion tonight, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Chico Branch Library, 1103 Sherman Ave. Guest presenters include: * Ashley Indrieri, executive director of the Family Water Alliance, in Maxwell, a coalition that focuses on private property rights, agriculture, and "a balance between man and nature." * Carol Perkins, water policy advocate for Butte Environmental Council, whose mission is "to protect and defend the land, air and water of Butte County and the surrounding region."

The event is part of Code Blue, a series organized by the Butte Environmental Council to generate discussion about water issues developing in Northern California.

Chico Community Rising Against Fracking: 2-6 p.m. Music and nationally known speakers kick off a west coast tour of California Community Rising Against Fracking. Put on by Chico Community Rising Against Fracking and Butte Environmental Council. Includes speakers, film. Music by Los Cabillitos de la Cancion at 5 p.m. Free. Arc Pavilion, 2040 Park Ave. Butte Environmental Council at 891 6424 or www.becnet.org.

CHICO — Kite flying, Frisbee throwing, face painting and live music will be a part of Earth Day festivities Sunday at Wildwood Park, put on by Butte Environmental Council. The free event for families will go 3-7 p.m. with music starting at 5 p.m. with Lisa Valentine, followed by The Railflowers. Picnic areas and barbecues will be available, and food trucks will be onsite for those who wish to purchase a meal. This year's celebration has been moved from its traditional location in lower Bidwell Park, to Wildwood Park at the entrance to upper park, a place that offers a wide view of Bidwell Ranch property, land that BEC took part in protecting from development decades ago. Tours of the adjacent property will begin at 3 p.m. at the east end of Wildwood Park, guided by biologist John Aull and Park Commissioner Mark Herrera.

CHICO — Music and nationally known speakers will kick off a west coast tour of California Community Rising Against Fracking during a free event Sunday at Arc Pavilion, 2040 Park Ave. Put on by Chico Community Rising Against Fracking and Butte Environmental Council, the event 2-6 p.m., is the start of a state tour that will end up in San Diego on Earth Day, according to Dave Garcia, a member of BEC. Tour locations are communities that are near the largest shale oil regions in the state, including San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, he said.

Speakers will include: Doug Shields, former member of Pittsburgh, Penn., city council, featured in the film, "The Sky is Pink"; Shannon Biggs, director of Community Rights with Global Exchange, who will talk about community rights initiatives; Andrew Grinberg, Oil and Gas Program Coordinator of Clean Water Action, who will talk about water issues and new proposed state fracking regulations; Speakers from Chico Community Rising Against Fracking and BEC, on concerns of what local fracking for oil operations may cause to the surrounding agricultural economy. Also, there will be a showing of "The Sky is Pink," a film by Josh Fox as a follow-up to his Oscar-nominated "Gasland," about misinformation from the hydralic fracking industry.

Music by local band, Los Cabillitos de la Cancion, will start at 5 p.m. Robyn DiFalco, BEC's executive director, said the

CHICO -- A vision has sprouted for another Chico community garden, with hopes a new crop of urban farmers will be tending seedlings by next spring. Mark Stemen, a board member with the Butte Environmental Council, went public last week with the idea for the Oak Way Community Garden. A one-acre vacant lot at the northwest corner of Eighth and Nord avenues, the space is slated for an eventual fire station. But until then it could be a great spot for people to grow their own food, he said.

"It would be a great alternative use," Stemen said. "People think it's a great location and it's clearly an unused space." Having spent the morning checking on seedlings at the Humboldt Community Garden, Stemen smiled last week as his dirt-stained fingers unfurled a canvas mockup of gridded plots, a model orchard and a looped walking path. The location has many perks, he said, including it's on the other side of town from the Humboldt garden, it has nearby parking and water hookups and it provides easy access for those with disabilities. It's also near a park operated by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District, which could prove mutually beneficial.

Like the Humboldt garden, the city would lease the property to the Butte Environmental Council, which would charge gardeners a small amount to cover water and insurance costs. And volunteers will fundraise for piping, fencing and other materials. Robyn DiFalco, executive director of BEC, said she is excited by the prospect of

shows, music, local food vendors, demonstrations, more. Walking, biking or bus transportation to the event encouraged. Hosted by Butte Environmental Council. 891-6424.

CHICO — Nestled inside lower Bidwell Park is where the wild things were during the 34th annual Endangered Species Faire Saturday. Some children, adults, and furry and scaly creatures were in attendance at the fair that ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cedar Grove. Butte Environmental Council's event, which began in 1979, is the longest running environmental fair in northern California, said Robyn DiFalco, BEC executive director. The fair is meant to give schools, government and environmental organizations, and community groups a forum to present information on ecology wildlife and environmental issues, according to the BEC. It also allows those who attend to appreciate and broaden their knowledge of nature.

Dozens of dirt diggers are still gazing at frost-damaged plants in south Chico. But there's an eye toward spring. The Humboldt Community Garden is in the middle of an expansion. Winter weeds are being turned over to create new working space for nine new garden plots. This will add to the 45 areas that have already been cultivated at the 14-acre garden spot at El Monte Avenue and Humboldt Road. The Butte Environmental Council — http://goo.gl/wwyrP — spearheaded the garden last spring across from Marsh Junior High School. The city of Chico leased the land, and organizers charge $30-$70 a year for water.

Dr. Mark (Stemen) phoned this week to say there was a tractor working at the Humboldt Community Garden on El Monte Avenue and Humboldt Road. Within minutes, my rubber chicken and I were at the garden gate. The garden is in the middle of a grand expansion, and one gardener was busy making new garden plots using a small tractor. I've been to the garden before, once when the land was an open field, and again after plants had been put into the ground. My, how things have grown. The raised beds are noteworthy, as are two teepees and trellises for beans.

A free workshop on how to make the large and small puppets featured in the Procession of the Species, an annual puppet parade that is part of the Butte Environmental Council Endangered Species Faire, will take place Jan. 26 From noon to 5 p.m., master puppeteers Kathy Faith, Jessica McDougal and Cheetah Tchudi will give instruction and assistance in designing and creating puppets ranging in size from hand-held papier-m chŽ stick puppets to multi-person puppets that tower more than 10 feet.

Participants are encouraged to bring materials and art supplies, cloth remnants, glue, newspaper, dowel roads and other craft elements. Instruction will also be offered in mask- and costume-making. The session will be held at Habitat Lab, 199 E. 13th St. This is the third year the Procession of the Species (www.facebook.com/ProcessionOfTheSpecies) will be part of the faire, put on by Butte Enviornmental Council's on May 4. Besides puppets, there will be costumes and masks that represent the most vulnerable creatures. The workshop is open to all ages. Pre-registration may be done at susan@turkeytailfarm.net or by calling 781-4122.

councilors voted 5-2 to approve a final draft of the Climate Action Plan

Sustainability Task Force and the Chico State University Institute of Sustainable Development

goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 2005 levels in the next eight years.

BEC tests: Dioxin levels remain high in some areas of south Oroville

Preliminary results indicate that dioxin levels are still high in some areas of south Oroville, 25 years after a large fire at the Koppers Wood Treatment Facility, according to the Butte Environmental Council, even though the average overall levels appear to have decreased.

dioxin in eggs of chickens