Sierra Nevada Alliance Annual Conference

My husband and I are ranchers in Plumas Co. We have a 400 acre ranch in Indian Valley, near Taylorsville. My husbands' family has ranched here since the 1860's. My concern is with the stream restoration projects that are going on now and some 80 more to start in the near future. They are on our watershed and although I have nothing against them, I am concerned about the POND and PLUG technique that is used. The water is basically stopped and held in ponds and diverted throughout the valleys. What happens is the temperature is raised and the water subs out into the valley. We are always asked to comment on these project and then that is it. Our water rights are not being consisered and they are being affected. The government should have to have permits or attain water rights to do this. There is so much money for these projects now that many people are planning to live off these for many years. The down stream water right users are told that in the fall all the water that is stored in these valley projects will be released just as in an over filled sponge. There is no proof of this and it is silly to even think it. Bassically the streams are being damed up for benificial use of the projects, without a right to it. It is going to be a tough year for ranching as the snow pack is so low and it is already so hot, and then to have the upper streams dammed up for gov. projects is going to make a difficult summer worse. Heather Kingdon

This is a very good idea. Many cities should start to do the same thing to help protect the environment and pressure it for future generations.

Christy K. CSUS Student