After the fire in Paradise, a bittersweet back-to-school for a town still reeling
Community lost four of its nine school campuses
PARADISE – No one has yet erected an official memorial on the Paradise High School campus to mark the hideous fire that burned down most of this town in November. But the signs are here.
Scorched pines ring the expanse behind one end of the football field. A burned stump outside the campus has been carved into the school ‘s bobcat mascot. And in Room 117, where Josh Bullock teaches social studies, there ‘s another marker of the day no one can forget. The date on the whiteboard reads, “11 /8 /18.”
“I didn ‘t have the heart to erase it when I came back here in January or February, “Bullock told his students Thursday. “We are all still dealing with that day in some way. We are all in different places. So I am going to leave it up for today ... and then at the end of the day, I am going to erase it. And then we are going to move on.”
The moving on began this week as students and
“Right now, we are pumping groundwater into the lake, which has a fair amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, which is feeding the algae,” Whitmore said. “Yuba River water is very low in those nutrients, so we believe that we would reduce the amount of algae in the lake during the summer months by diverting water from the river.”
Algae, naturally occurring, grows in water, and blooms occur when algae grows rapidly and can be seen without a microscope. Certain types of algae can pose risks to humans and animals that come into direct contact.
Whitmore said despite their offer, the city declined to give them the go-ahead, opting to continue with their plans of conducting a pilot aeration study in the near future to see how that can reduce the algae.
“We are very frustrated that it has taken this long to make a decision. We need to keep different options open. We are willing to jump in and do something about the river pump because that’s the way the lake was kept fresh for many decades,” Whitmore said. “We need to do something here to fix the problem.”
City Manager Marti
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Brown wrote in a letter to council members ahead of Tuesday’s meeting that outside legal counsel brought up a number of potential issues with the proposed pump project. She said it would require oversight and/or permits from multiple jurisdictions and could jeopardize the city’s good standing with the State Water Board and result in further fines and penalties.
And there are officials from the Yuba Water Agency, which watches over operations on the Yuba River. On multiple occasions the agency has let the city know that the equipment used to pump water into Ellis Lake from the river is an unauthorized diversion point that would need the proper regulatory permits before it would be legal to divert again.
Marysville Mayor Ricky Samayoa said the council agrees that something needs to be done to improve the water quality in Ellis Lake. He said diverting water from the river could end up being a solution down the road, but council members want to make sure the proper studies are done first to ensure that’s the most viable option.
“Bottom line, everyone can agree we want a healthier lake, and when you walk around the lake, especially these last few
Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust Calendar Exhibit will be hosted from August 17 - September 22. The calendar is an annual publication of and fundraiser for the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust. This exhibit celebrates and shares the work of photographers chosen for inclusion in the 2020 Sutter Buttes Calendar. For more information, call 822-7141 or visit suttercountymuseum.org.
Yuba-sutter-colusa United Way’s 9th annual Community Resource Fair will be hosted from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Gauche Park, C Street, Yuba City. Dozens of exhibitors with information on free and low cost services, free barbecue lunch, provided by the Early Risers Kiwanis Club, along with drawings for prizes and children’s activities. For more
days, it looks like a soup out there right now,” Samayoa said. “Something has to be done; a solution has to come out. We all share the goal of creating a beautiful Ellis Lake. How we get there is the real question, and it will probably require multiple solutions because there are multiple issues.”
Ad hoc committee
Earlier this month, the Yuba Water Agency approved the appointment of two of its members to an ad hoc committee with Marysville officials to oversee and provide guidance to city staff on the development and completion of an Ellis Lake master plan. The city has plans to develop a master plan that addresses the lake’s water quality issues.
“Everyone wants a long-term sustainable master plan for the lake, something that looks at everything from the ballpark and the lake’s walkability to its attractiveness and recreational opportunities; things that add value to the city,” Samayoa said. “The water agency has expressed their desire to be partners on that, and we are going to take that opportunity. With the agency’s support, I think we will be able to do a lot of good things.”
Yuba Water Agency information, visit www.yscunitedway.org, email terry@yscunitedway.org or call 7431847.
Yuba City Certified Farmers Market, will be hosted from 8 a.m.-noon, at the Town Square, Plumas Boulevard and C Street, Yuba City. Local and regional produce, arts and craft vendors. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Yuba City Certified Farmers Market Facebook page or call 671-2003.
Executive Director Curt Aikens said considerable investigation will need to be done to determine the best source of water for Ellis Lake. He said part of that study will be focused on figuring out how much the cost of water would be if it were diverted from the river.
“Without the proper researched plan, it is difficult to say how much something like the proposal to divert water from the Yuba River would cost in the shortrun and in the long-run,” Aikens said. “River diversion capital and operation costs along with well water costs are representative of the type of information needed to develop a plan.”
Two members of the YWA board will begin meeting with Samayoa and City Councilman Bruce Buttacavoli in the coming months to begin working on a master plan.
“We have committed to working with the city on this significant and valuable project and believe it’s important that the problem be thoroughly studied by professionals who can propose a way to fix this once and for all, so that we can all enjoy that incredible asset once again,” Aikens said.
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Sutter County K-9 Association and Sutter Sheriff’s Posse are having a Mexican Dinner Fundraiser from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds, 442 Franklin Ave., Yuba City. For more information visit Sutter County Sheriff Reserve Facebook page or online at www.sutterreserves.org.
“Mamma Mia” at The Acting Company will start at 7:30 p.m., 815 B Street, Yuba City. ABBA’S songs tell the story of a young woman’s search for her birth father. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Directed by Foster Campbell-mcmanus. Cost is $20. For more information, visit www.actingcompany.org or call 751-1100.