NEWS

2022

This summer, we've been planning community events in the spirit of summer camp. Join us for s'mores, crafts, conservation, holidays and more!

The Spirit of Summer Camp in Mineral

This summer, we are celebrating community by creating a series of camp-like activities for neighbors and visitors to gather, meet each other and enjoy the spirit of Summer Camp in Mineral. Events include conservation activities, arts & crafts, s'mores, Bingo, softball with community picnics and many, many more. In addition, local venues and organizations are hosting events, too. Find a comprehensive event calendar on this website, but you can also add it to your Google calendar. To consider the Mineral activities when planning your schedule, click on or off the Mineral calendar (on the left of your Google Calendar under My Calendar). Always check the www.mineralcalifornia.com website in case there are last minute changes.

Summer Bingo

Read more about the recent summer bingo in July 2022. Stay tuned for Fall and Winter Bingo at the Lodge!

Summer Arts & Crafts in Mineral

Camp Mineral Community, Conservation & Crafts Stations

Join the community at conservation and crafts events this Summer at both the Volcano Country Campground (behind the Post Office) and Mill Creek Resort (between the RV and Camping signs along Highway 172). Check the Mineral Community Calendar at www.mineralcalifornia.com for the latest information about upcoming events. Look for the banner!

In the spirit of Summer Camp, you will find arts and crafts stations at the following locations:

S'mores at Volcano Country Campground (behind the Post Office)
S'mores at Mill Creek Resort (new firepit built for us!)
Camp Mineral Conservation & Crafts Station & Workshop at Mill Creek Resort (between RV and Camping signs)
Softball and Community Picnic (every other Tuesday 5 PM at Schneider Stadium Ballfield next to the Park Headquarter's Campground)

Check the community calendar at www.mineralcalifornia.com for the latest dates.

Feel free to bring supplies, get supplies at Mineral Lodge Store or Mill Creek Resort store and some supplies will be available for those who need them. A tip box to help cover supply expenses will be available for those interested in tipping, but do not feel obligated to tip to participate.

See below for how-to and idea videos for crafts that we will have available this Summer.

Softball and Community Picnic

This year's bi-weekly softball event now has a bigger than ever community picnic, too. More than 37 people attended on a recent Tuesday. Come to play, play games, eat, make s'mores, rake and visit with neighbors, or any of the above. Bring food to share and/or just join in the fun, every other Tuesday from 6 PM to 8 PM. The last date of the summer is September 6, 2022.

TinderSmart Tree Grant Program

A note from Firewise...

"As one of the Mineral Community Firewise representatives I wanted to take this opportunity to make you aware of a recent update on the tree removal project for our area of Mineral.

Yesterday we had a ZOOM conference with representatives of the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) (they are the Contracting Authority responsible for the oversight and project management of all work to eventually occur over the next several years). Many of you have already met with one of their foresters on a walk through to discuss possible tree removal for your specific property.

Recent decisions have been made that outline actual work for the remainder of this year and that work will begin shortly.

Our area of Mineral, on both sides of Highway 36, will not be a part of project tree removal for this year. Initial focus and activity will take place in Stringtown beginning this month. Work in our area will likely begin next spring and initially will focus on trees in the county road right of ways and in former Water Company easements in Cool Air. Those of you on the North Side of Hwy 36 will eventually see tree marking along right of ways either later this year or next year.

Everyone still has the opportunity to submit an 'Inquiry Form' to schedule a personal appointment with an RCDTC forester for a courtesy review of your property. Since work will begin in Stringtown this visit and review may need to occur later this fall or next spring but you are encouraged to complete the form if you have any trees or vegetation that you wish to have removed. This will be the only chance residents will likely have that is FREE for the removal of trees. If you have any questions on completing the form please feel free to contact myself or Jim Richardson and you may also give us any completed forms and we will submit them to RCDTC. No trees will be removed from private property without the consent of the owner. However, separate from this project, CalFire may contact owners and make them aware of conditions on their property that present a hazard to the property or property of neighbors. CalFire also has authority to issue citations to property owners if specified corrections are not adequately addressed.

There is an information board near the flagpole at the Post Office to provide current information on the project. That board will be moved under the PO porch when fall/winter weather begins. Also please share this information with any of your neighbors..."

Mineral is on Backup Power

Time Literally Slows Down in Mineral: The Clocks Are Falling Behind: PG&E Converts to Generator for Power

Since recent power and emergency outages (mid-May), PG&E installed 4 generators (2 of which we have heard are operational) which can send power to Mineral while they replace lines with insulated lines to protect from fire from Sky Ranch to Mineral. As a result, notice that clocks plugged into the wall may be losing time. Generators are expected to be used through August 2022.

Message from Taylor Helmes at Action News Now About Sewer Rates

I work at Action News Now and I'm doing a story about the county/public works increasing annual sewer service rates for single-family homes in Mineral. I'm *specifically* looking for AirBnb, VRBO, rental property owners and want to know how this will affect them, if it'll cause rental property rates to increase to pay for the increased sewage rates. (I thought this would be an easier way to contact property owners rather than book/cancel a bunch of reservations just to message them and ask.) If you, or anyone you know, rents property in Mineral, Tehama Co., please reach out! You can PM me here on FB, call (530) 343-1212 or email me thelmes@actionnewsnow.com. Thank you in advance!!!

Fire Prevention / Defensible Space Grant Program

Need help preparing your property's defensible space? Jim Richardson shared with the community on July 2, 2022 at the Schneider Stadium Ballfield about the TinderSmart grand and RCD also updated about the separate defensible space grant and how the community can access these resources. A local committee of neighbors, Firewise and RCD are working to implement 3-year plan to reduce fire fuels around all structures in the greater Mineral region.

Request services and read more: https://www.tehamacountyrcd.org/notices

Yard Waste Dumpsters No Longer Available...

It Was Nice While It Lasted ... Thank You Park and Green Waste!

Throughout the Summer, we were able to take yard waste to the Park Headquarters where Green Waste of Tehama County provided the community of Mineral with a dumpster specifically for yard waste and replaced it each week. Neighbors generously helped other neighbors bring green tarp bags when others couldn't physically bring them. Thank you volunteers!

Rising Tide

Anderson Reggae Fest

Sunday, August 14th 2-10 PM

Anderson River Park

Mineral's own Marcus Urani co-founded the group (he is pictured second from the right).

Click here for directions, details, and ticket purchase options

50% Sewer Rate Increase Is Effective July 1, 2022

Click here for details and background information

CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Program Grant Q&A

Mineral-Mill Creek have won a multi-year CAL FIRE California Climate Investment (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant starting in 2022.

Jim Richardson, who directs TinderSmart in Mineral, held the first Q&A about the projects slated for 2022 on Saturday, July 2nd.

CAL FIRE
Active Incidents

As fire season heats up, it's a good idea to keep tabs on area and/or regional fires. Check here for fires assigned to Cal Fire.

Steps you can take now:

Prepare for Evacuation

Just In Case: Get Ready to Go!

Read the Calfire Ready for Evacuation Guide

Be Prepared:

Sign up for TEHAMA ALERT for emergency notifications from the Sheriff.
If a fire is close, neighbors will likely come around with a PA to let people know, but don't wait. Be on the lookout and aware of fires and smoke.
Lightning fires can happen quickly. It is suggested that you pack your car and are ready to go.
If you need to evacuate, consider where the fire is and the direction of the wind.

Tracking Wildfire Precursors/Conditions

Summer and Autumn are the season for thunderstorms in Northern California, and lightning is a major cause of wildfires. Rapid spread of fire after down strikes is possible, depending on terrain and local conditions, so it is advisable to have you car packed and ready to go . Here are some links to help you keep ahead of the curve:

- My Lightning Tracker - Live Thunderstorm Alerts in Google Play or Apple Store
- Lightning Alert Google Play
- A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Check National Weather Service forecasts here.
- Sign up for TEHAMA ALERT for emergency notifications from the Sheriff.
- Check PG&E for announcements of related Public Safety Power Shut-offs here.

PG&E's Community Wildfire Safety Program

With the increased wildfire threat in California, PG&E is enhancing and expanding their efforts to reduce wildfire risks and keep residents and communities safe. Half of PG&E's service territory is in high fire-threat areas. The PG&E Community Wildfire Safety Program includes short-, medium-, and long-term plans to make their system safer. reducing wildfire risks, improving situational awareness and reducing the impact of PSPS (safety shut-off) events.

PG&E's Medical Baseline Program offers lower energy rates and earlier notification of upcoming shut-offs. This program is offered for people with various health conditions listed on the second document on the page linked below.

See PG&E's Community Wildfire Safety Program Document with 2019 Statistics and Medical Baseline Program Document.

For more information about PG&E's planned power outages, see our website's Services > Power & Gas page.

Conservation in Mineral

Conservation

Yard Waste Dumpsters Were at the Park Headquarters Throughout Summer

It's STILL A Good Time to Reduce Fire Fuels!

Mineral California Community Organization extends a big thank you to all those who hauled fire fuels to the Green Waste dumpsters at Park Service Headquarters on June 11th, where four Green Waste of Tehama employees were on hand to assist them by loading landscape debris that filled two 20-yard dumpsters and part of another. PLUS community members and volunteers have been even busier raking and cleaning properties throughout Summer 2022 where dumpsters were filled ALL SUMMER!

Thanks to Green Waste of Tehama and Lassen Volcanic National Park Service Superintendent Jim Richardson, yard waste dumpsters for Mineral use will remain at the Park Service Administrative Headquarters ALL SUMMER LONG! This will save neighbors thousands of dollars as we work diligently to rake and clear fire fuels (pine needles, branches, landscape debris, and dead trees) from our properties in order to minimize the possibility of catastrophic wildfire sweeping through our beloved town.

Conservation - Raking Club

Yard Waste Tarp Bags

You may have seen some of the Mineral Raking Club's tarp bins around town as community members are raking up areas of potential fire danger.

Fill bags half way and leave by the road for volunteers to pick up and if you have the ability, be one of the volunteers that picks them up! When not too heavy, these bags are great for dumping into the dumpster at the Park Headquarters this Summer (thank you Jim Richardson for arranging!).

Find tarp-material yard waste bins on Amazon and soon at Mineral Lodge Store!

You may see 3 sizes around town:

132 gallons
72 gallons - these are the most popular
Carry pouch size - Only available at some large Dollar Tree stores in the garden section, hanging in bags on the wall

Hwy. 36 just east of the Spencer Meadow Trailhead near Child's Meadow/The Village on June 12, 2022 The highway was closed for two hours.

News

2022 Mud/Debris Slides Close Major Highways

The intense rain that fell across the area on the afternoon of Sunday, June 12, triggered several mud/debris slides on scars from the Dixie Fire.

A scar on Wildcat Ridge above Child's Meadow/The Village closed both lanes of Hwy. 36 for two hours. Mudslides closed Hwy. 70 between Jarbo Gap and the Greenville 'Y'.

Check Cal-Trans for road closures or restrictions before traveling in Dixie Fire territory.

On June 26th, Cal-Trans reopened Hwy. 70 with one-way traffic control in place.

Relentless Drought Continues in 2022

Watch this space: Mineral County Water District conservation requests or requirements are posted here. For more information about MCWD, click HERE.

Tree Census and a Wealth of Public Data

The USDA Forest Service is undertaking a tree census, across the country. "Researchers conducting the FIA, also known as “America’s tree census,” measure trees, collect data and catalogue sample areas in research plots all over the U.S. "

'“The data tells a story,” said Greg Reams, national program lead with the Forest Inventory and Analysis team. “Categories of data we collect include land use change into and out of forest land, soils work, carbon sequestration, and tracking wood that is on the ground, information which is critical for fire modelers to calculate wildfire risk ratings.” - Read the press release about the project.

"The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Forest Service provides the information needed to assess America's forests." Read more about the The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program.

California Data

As of 2017, California has an estimated 31,729,286 acres of forest land.

Of this, 38.67% is private, 57.87% is federal and 3.46% is state and local ownership.

Of the 31.73 million acres of forest land, there are 10.77 billion trees, representing 103.27 billion cubic feet. In 2010, there was 32.86 million acres of forest land, there are 10.95 billion trees, representing 98.83 billion cubic feet.

The annual net change is 539 million cubic feet.
Annual removals are 435 million cubic feet.
The annual mortality is 1,040 million cubic feet.
The annual gross growth is 2,014 million cubic feet.

As an average across 5-10 years:
81,570 acres of nonforest revert back to forest annually
205,461 acres of fores land convert annually to nonforest
266,524 acres of forest land are treated by cutting (harvest, thinning, etc.) annually
304,736 acres of forest land are disturbed annually by fire
144,034 acres of forest land are disturbed annually by weather events.

See available data sets.

Lassen Association

Join the Lassen Association and receive discounts/special pricing on merchandise, a subscription to the Park newspaper, Peak Experiences, and the Lassen Association's bi-annual E-newsletter.

Lassen Association's Nature Photography Workshop

August 5-6, 2022

Let Lassen Volcanic National Park’s stunning landscape and diversity of ecosystems inspire you to improve your photography skills. This two-day workshop combines in-class and hands-on photography experiences in the Park. You can learn about compositional principles that will enable you to make more compelling photographs of wildflowers, geological features, and grand mountain views.

The workshop will consist of a two-hour in-class presentation on the principles of lighting and composition, a five-hour hands-on field excursion, a one-hour optional session, and a post-photo shoot critique session.

Registration

This workshop is presented by the Lassen Association, a non-profit partner for the park.

For further information and registration, contact Melanie Allen, Lassen Association Director at (530) 348-2670 or lassenassociation@yahoo.com. Sign up online at www.lassenassociation.org.

Cost is $127.50 for Lassen Association Members; $150 non-members.

To receive the member discount, before you register, click here to become a member.

To add this event to your calendar, click here.

Photo Workshop 2020--BH--3-11-2020.pdf

Lassen Park Foundation

Read Mineral resident Pete Dailey's article "Lassen Volcanic National Park's Origin Story" in the September 2020 issue of the Lassen Park Foundation News.

Lassen Park Foundation Peak Auction

The Lassen Park Foundation annual auction raises funds for the Park, particularly the Volcano Adventure Camp program.

In 2020 and 2021, the auction was held online as a live, recorded event. The 2020 auction raised just under $75,000 or about 90% of the amount that would normally have been raised at an in-person event. Jennifer Finnegan, Executive Director of Lassen Foundation. said “We are incredibly grateful for the 184 people who registered online and bid on our auction packages. It was so much fun to produce the online event! It was quite the challenge for all to do something so different from our normal fundraiser, but a testament to the love our donors have for the park that it worked out so well.” You can still watch the 2020 and 2021 auctions on youtube here and here, respectively. Funds raised support Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Volcano Adventure Camp program.

Donations for Volcano Adventure Camp can be made any time online or mailed to Lassen Park Foundation PO Box 33 Anderson, CA 96007.

Shopping on Amazon? It doesn’t cost you a penny more for Amazon to donate to the Foundation each time you shop using Amazon Smile.

The Park Brochure

Printed copies of the Park Brochure are only available at Park entrance stations. An audio/text version is available here.

"The sun sets over the waters of Whiskeytown Lake" - Curt Baer

Lassen / Whiskeytown Lake Annual Pass Photo Contest

Each year, a contest is held in order to find a beautiful photo for the annual joint park pass. The winner is announced in September.

Redding local Curt Baer was the winner in 2021. In 2022, Lassen is hosting the contest.

Read more about the contest and how to purchase a pass.

Historic Videos Added to the Preservation Page of the Website

Visit the Preservation page to see old videos of Mineral and Mt. Lassen. Included are volcanic eruptions & the classic Mineral ski video.

Have videos that we should add? Email us to let us know at mineralcalifornia@gmail.com.

CAL FIRE Active Incident Reports

What is Scenario Planning?

How can it help us decide what to do during an emergency?

"Scenario planning is making assumptions on what the future is going to be and how your ... environment will change overtime in light of that future. More precisely, Scenario planning is identifying a specific set of uncertainties, different “realities” of what might happen in the future... A common trap is to be paralyzed by the multitude of possibilities. " - SME Strategy

How can we use scenario planning in an emergency? List possible options and eliminate or include them in possible options based on if this happens or if that happens. Getting everyone on the same page ahead of time is like having a mental "go bag" during a time of need.

Dixie Fire Video Updates

Watch replays of Dixie Fire news on YouTube.

The New Mineral Multi-Use Path

Thanks to Caltrans, Mineral is getting a new multi-use path along Highway 36 from Highway 172 to the Battle Creek Campground.

The Resource Conservation District of Tehama County is working the Mineral community to plan signage and educational resource along the trail.

Future Multi-Use Path & Related Activities84 new photos added to shared album

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