Fires in the Park?

The National Park maintains a web page that reports on planned fires or fires of 1/4 acre or more in the Park. During a time when lightning strikes are common, for those who are interested, it's helpful to check the page for the latest updates. Get the Latest Updates

Reminder: Sewer Arterial Inspections Due Aug. 30th

If you have already had an inspection and want to make sure that the video and statement were received, call Speero at 530-385-1462 x3025. 

Aug. 15, 2020 COVID-19 Update

Tehama County on the Watch List for Elevated Disease Transmission

For additional and historical information, visit our Public Health page.

Cases

In Tehama County, there have been 318 confirmed positive cases and 7,231 negative tests. Of the positive cases, 275 have recovered, 41 are active in isolation, there has been 1 death and there is 1 currently hospitalized. Of the positive tests to date, 237 were symptomatic, 78 were asymptomatic and 3 were unknown if they were symptomatic. During the last 14 days, there have been 85 cases. Cases have doubled in less than a month.

Demographics

The demographics show that cases are represented at each age range. The most affected group is aged 20-29 with 68 cases. The second most affected group is aged 30-39 with  57 cases. The third most affected group is aged 10-19 with 54 cases. Those three categories make up 179 cases. All other ages make up the remaining 139 reported cases.

Watch List

Tehama County remains on the watch list for elevated disease transmission.  The watch list threshold for 7 day average positivity rate is greater than 8%.  Tehama County has an average positivity rate for a 7 day average of 16%. The watch list threshold for case rate per population (actual / per 100,000 in the last 14 days) is greater than 100.  During the last 14 days, Tehama County has an average case rate per population of 131.

Multi-Use Path Survey

Caltrans would like the community's opinions about the new multi-use path. "We want to give the community every opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about the current travel through Mineral and how the proposed path from Battle Creek Campground through Mineral along State Route 36 to State Route 172." - Christina Prosperi , Trinity County Area Manager, Caltrans District 2. Please respond to the survey at this link by Aug. 20th. 

"A Collaborative Approach to Meadow Restoration"

Bennie Johnson Howell's abstract starts "Collaboration is defined as the action of working with someone to produce or create something." It also includes, a familiar list followed by "can make even the simplest of projects difficult to implement." The Childs Meadow example of collaboration is useful to read, as Mineral's residents and partners work together on community, conservation and preservation projects. Read the abstract.  

"The Cascades frog has a green to brown color on its back and a light yellow on its throat and belly. A range from a few to about 50 gray spots are located on its back. The Conservation Status is Near Threatened (Population Decreasing). Read more about the Cascades Frog.

PG&E Reminds Us of Potential Power Outages and Public Safety Power Shutoff Notifications

Residents may have received brochures in the mail reminding us of potential precautionary power outages. "If extreme fire danger conditions threaten a portion of the electric system serving your community, it may be necessary for us to turn off electricity in the interest of public safety. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. When possible in advance of an outage, we will send notifications to the phone and email contacts we have on file. Update your contact information now or call 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours."

Tehama Together Volunteers Orientation on Aug. 20th

Tehama Together Volunteers is a group of community members committed to assisting Tehama Together when needed. 

With an increase in program activities, Tehama Together's volunteer, working board is forming a formalized group of volunteers to provide assistance and support during the coming year. Volunteers will be given a wide-range of possible activities from which to choose. Tehama Together has been approved by the Tehama County Health Officer for meeting with up to 14 people when following Covid-19 safety guidelines. The first meeting of this group will be August 20 at 10:00 am at 332 Pine Street. For planning purposes, please contact us to confirm your attendance. Attached is further information regarding this program." - Orle M. Jackson Volunteer Executive Director Tehama Together, Inc. 332 Pine Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080 Office - 530-527-2223 Cell - 530-736-5200 www.tehamatogether.org tehamatogether@gmail.com

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REMOVED FIRE FUELS THIS SEASON & ON DUMPSTER DAY!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO REMOVE NEIGHBORS' FIRE FUELS, TOO! THANK YOU TO GREEN WASTE FOR DONATING THREE 20-YARD DUMPSTERS AND ONE 40-YARD DUMPSTER!  TOGETHER, WE REMOVED 100 CUBIC YARDS OF FIRE FUELS FROM MINERAL AND STRINGTOWN!

Park Headquarters  Utility Projects

"The contract to move propane infrastructure at HQ underground is being advertised, with the solicitation closing August 27.  The focus will be HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zones) contractors, and work will likely occur in September/October.

The NPS is in negotiations with weekly phone calls with PG&E about the project to move all power and communications underground.  Construction is planned for Fall of 2020 into Summer of 2021." - Dacite Chronicles 8/2/2020  

George Perkins, Long-Time Mineral Resident, Passes Away at Age 90

Jo Ann Perkins wrote in to let us know that her ex-husband and long-time former residence passed away at age 90 on July 27, 2020 in Chester.

Aug. 8th & 29th Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Dispose of HHW at the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill HHW Facility. Read more.

As COVID-19 Positives Rise, 30-day COVID-19 Disease Hospitalization Forecast Decreased

July 25, 2020 Update - The 30-day forecast has been increased to 12 hospitalizations, but no related hospitalizations have yet been reported.

July 23, 2020 - Two weeks after the 30 day forecast of 26 hospitalizations, Tehama County has no hospitalizations in its 76 available hospital beds. The 30-day forecast has been reduced to 11 hospitalizations. Read more...

Catalog Recycling Issue

If you no longer wish to receive catalogs, or are moving, please contact the company and ask to be taken off of the mailing list. Gary Mott says that just at the Park Headquarters alone, they deal with hundreds of pounds of catalogs that need to be recycled each year. Just a few minutes here and there can make a difference.

Part-time work with Lassen Association

Seasonal Part Time Sales Associate The Lassen Association is looking for a seasonal part time Sales Associate for the Loomis Museum. Pay will be $13 hr. and days and hours may vary. Please email lassenassociation@yahoo.com with your resume. Individuals living near the north side of the park are desired due to commuting distance. 

Weekend Ramblings from Mineral

June 14, 2020 - Although it was raining at first, the weekend is full of warm sun. Sounds of children playing and laughing can be heard. A child was seen swinging on a tire swing. The Lodge restaurant and store are open and there are cars in the parking lot. A man and his father were seen sitting on the bench in front of the store, drinking cold sodas out of bottles in the afternoon. There is more traffic passing through on the highways than in recent weeks. Families are driving by; sometimes several cars caravaning, either coming, going or out for adventures. People and dogs are out in the early morning and late afternoon; staying inside during the warm afternoon sun. The streams are flowing and they make a faint sound as you walk by. The white daisies are starting to pop up everywhere and green groundcover is flourishing after the rain, and in the sun. Pockets along the streets are still filled with pine needles, keeping their trees cool, but inviting potential fire danger. Families are in their yards, laughing and playing games. By the sounds of glee, different teams are winning. Some families are trimming branches of low-hanging trees, showing the next generation about conservation. Kayaks and canoes have been seen being loaded off cars in driveways. While walking by, people are starting to talk about the website, newsletter, community call and upcoming conservation opportunities. We are disappointed to hear the official word that the pancake breakfast is cancelled for 2020, but donation information is on the VFD page. Although we looked forward to a summer full of events and now find ourselves social distancing, family summer fun is still finding it's way to the homes and hearts of Mineral.

Tehama County's Roadmap to Recovery

On May 26th, Tehama County announced that it had received a variance from the State concerning re-opening of businesses. The county's Roadmap to Recovery lists the types of businesses that may now re-open and those that must remain closed for the time being.  See the list here.

June 2020 Newsletter

Read the June 2020 issue of Mineral California News here.

Welcome Visitors!

Memorial Day weekend usually starts the summer season in Mineral, but we were uncertain if this year would follow suit. The campground has a few families, widely spread throughout. The store is open. The Lodge restaurant is serving with modified practices to help keep people safe. Cool Air seems full of visitors, but less than usual. Families are out walking. The weather this spring has been quite variable, with unusually late rain and periods of anomalous heat. On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 6th, the National Weather Service reported that it was 87 degrees, with snow forecast three nights later on Saturday, June 6th! So bring some warm layers of clothing if you plan to be here this weekend. There have been bear sightings just east of the campground, so be cautious of your surroundings and avoid leaving food and trash out. Welcome back to Mineral! We're glad you're here.

SARS-coV-2 Testing in Mineral

Tehama County Public Health will provide free molecular testing for SARS-cov-2 in Mineral on Monday, June 15th. Read more here.

Sewer Improvement Project & Rate Study Community Meeting

A meeting is scheduled on July 5, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at Mount Lassen Conference Grounds.  Tim McSorley, Director of Tehama County Public Works, and Laurie McCollum, Senior Engineer at PACE Engineering of Redding, will host a community meeting here to discuss repairs and improvements to Mineral’s sewer system and how to pay for them. Read more about it.

Multi-Use Path Coming to Mineral

A trail from the Post Office to the USFS Battle Creek Campground. At this time, the plan is for a paved path. There will be work done on the Highway 36E and Highway 172 intersection to correct traffic flow. The trail system will provide a safe route for pedestrians and bicyclist to be off the roads. It will help to separate small children and animals from the flow of traffic. More news on this topic will be coming soon.

Morgan Summit Project

Cal-Trans began a $6.4 million curve realignment project on Hwy. 36 just east of Hwy. 89 (the Park Road) on April 13th, which is estimated to be completed sometime around the Father's Day weekend. Plumas News reported about this on April 10th. See their story here.

Lassen Volcanic Maintenance Crew Work Updates

Dacite Chronicles reports "Maintenance Chief, Gary Mott's team is deep into projects and there are so many going on that he prepared a document to highlight all the great work his team is accomplishing. Highlights include: Water systems preparation, Volcano Camp pavilion preparation, roofing, upgrading security systems and window rehab. " Read the details here. 

Counting Cars

Rumor has it that Caltrans was collecting data about traffic levels and speed on the Mill Creek Road on May 21, 2020 and that a  Curvy Road Ahead sign is going up near the 1 mile marker. 

First Community Call

Mineral held its first Zoom community call on May 13, 2020.  It was a resounding success, with 23 members of the community checking in, sharing valuable information, and planning for the future. All agreed that the calls should continue regularly. The second call on May 27th brought in 9 community members, who focused on specific issues brought up in the first call. Notes on both meetings will be shared soon. The next call is scheduled for June 10, 2020. Find the login and call-in information here.

Stage 2 Reopening

The Red Bluff Daily News reported that as of May 13th, Tehama County is at Stage 2 reopening. Read the article and learn more about what that means here. Highlands Ranch Resort reopened May 22nd. Mineral Lodge will be open over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, then on weekends only until Father's Day, at which point they will re-assess. Mill Creek Resort will open May 29-31 and weekends until Father's Day for take-out restaurant food only. The store is closed. They will reassess after June 21st. 

Covid-19 Test Sites Near Mineral

The State of California's Covid-19 website provides comprehensive information, including the locations of test sites around the state.  Click here to see the three facilities in Red Bluff.

You will see 3 markers on the map that indicate the type of testing center. The tests at these three sites are "molecular," meaning that the PCR method is being used; i.e., these are NOT antibody testing sites.

In the dialogue box to the left of the map, scroll down for details about each site: Quest Diagnostics, Red Bluff Community Center, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Quest and St. E's require doctor referral, not the community center site. All require an appointment.

Small Fire Causes Power Outage Throughout Tehama County on Tuesday, May 12th

The Red Bluff Daily News is reporting that PG&E turned off power quickly to residents throughout Tehama County due to a small fire. Read more.

Lost and Found

Have you lost something? Have you found something? Click icon in the top right corner of the folder located here to upload a document that includes a description of the item, the date lost or found, contact information, reward offered, etc.

Construction Near Martin Creek Dam

The National Park Service contractor is back to work on the construction of an infiltration gallery near the Martin Creek Dam beginning Monday, May 4. This will mean large trucks on Husky and Beresford Ways until at least early June. The gallery’s underground intake will supply Park Headquarters, Battle Creek Meadow Ranch, and Mineral County Water District with less turbid raw creek water and fewer interruptions in flow, since it will bypass above-ground structures that require frequent cleaning. The gallery installation is the third and final phase of the Park’s water infrastructure replacement project, which is part of a larger utilities replacement project that began in 2010. 

Quarantine Survivalist Guild Challenge (QSGC)

Do you want to join in a QSGC project and enter to win cryptocurrency? This project seeks to increase methods for how communities engage and support each other. Round one involves making a video talking about our resources as a local community and what else we might need to be doing.  Prize rewards would be deposited in each of the 5 participants cryptocurrency wallets. and can be used for personal purposes or contributed for Mineral conservation projects. Read more about the challenge here.  To participate, email mineralcalifornia@gmail.com as soon as possible.

NPS Jacob Wahler's Leadership Program Presentation

As an active participant in the 2020 GOAL Academy, 9-month leadership program for NPS employees, Jacob Wahler says, "Class projects will be presented in May and I would be honored if you could attend the Plant a Park project presentation via webinar on May 14, 2020 at [1 pm PT] 4:00-4:45 EST. For more information about the GOAL Academy class projects and links see the attached Presentation Schedule."

Take the SUMMER WISHLIST Survey

Help make Mineral California News and www.mineralcalifornia.com more relevant to our community by completing a brief survey. 

Green Waste Options

Perhaps you would rather haul landscape debris to a Green Waste transfer station than burn it on your property. Read about the Green Waste Transfer Stations.

Licensing Your Dog

Since Animal Services has been closed recently for in-person visits, you can pay for license renewals via phone. Vaccination information can be mailed or faxed. Read more on Tehama County Animal Services website.

The Bears Are Awake!

For tips on preventing bear problems here in Mineral, see the “Residential Areas” section on the Forest Service page, Be Bear Aware. 

UPDATE on "2019‒20: Abysmal Water Year So Far"

UPDATE:  Recent rains have brought the amount of recorded precipitation up to 31" as of May 21st, still well below the tally for the same day in 2015. The 4" jump in precipitation amount is both good news and bad, because while these rains will supply additional water to our state's reservoirs, they also help to build the fuel load by increasing plant growth--thus contributing to summer wildfire spread and intensity. The unusual late-spring rains this year mean that it is even more important to remove excessive fire fuels from our community. See the article below for free assistance from the Tehama Conservation Fund. 

Posted April 30,  2020:  According to the California Data Exchange Center, as of April 29th the Mineral weather station has recorded 27” of precipitation for the water year beginning October 1st. This is 6” less than the same date in 2015, the worst water year of the State’s latest multi-year drought (2012–16) and of the 2000s.

Tehama Conservation Fund Offers 2 FREE Wildfire Readiness Assistance Programs 

• Read more about Defensible Space support

• Read more about Community Chipping Day

Emergency Housing

If you or someone you know needs emergency housing, Tehama County Fairgrounds is offering free emergency housing. Read more.

Mineral, a Summertime Escape From the Heat 

Jean Barton's March 27, 2020 article in the Red Bluff Daily News

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