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SACRAMENTO (AP) — Amid severe drought conditions, California offi- cials announced Friday they won't send any water from the state's vast reservoir sys- tem to local agencies begin- ning this spring, an unprece- dented move that affects drinking water supplies for 25 million people and irri- gation for 1 million acres of farmland. The announcement marks the first time in the 54-year history of the State Water Project that such an action has been taken, but it does not mean that every farm field will turn to dust and every city tap will run dry. The 29 agencies that draw from the state's water- delivery system have other sources, although those also have been hard-hit by the drought. Many farmers in Califor- nia's Central Valley, one of the most productive agricul- tural regions in the country, also draw water from a sep- arate system of federally run reservoirs and canals, but that system also will deliver just a fraction of its normal water allotment this year. The announcement affects water deliveries planned to begin this spring, and the allotment could increase if weather patterns change and send more storms into the state. Nevertheless, Friday's announcement puts an exclamation point on Cali- fornia's water shortage, which has been building during three years of below- normal rain and snow. ''This is the most serious drought we've faced in modern times,'' said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Con- trol Board. ''We need to conserve what little we have to use later in the year, or even in future years.'' State Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said there sim- ply is not enough water in the system to meet the needs of farmers, cities and the conservation efforts that are intended to save dwin- dling populations of salmon and other fish throughout Northern California. For perspective, Califor- REDDING – A big rig crashed into the Harntell Avenue overcrossing of Interstate 5 Thursday night, causing damage that will require major repairs. Caltrans Bridge Engi- neers completed their inspection Friday of the overcrossing in Redding. They have determined the structure is stable, but will need major replacement and repair. The city of Redding is expected to partially re- open Hartnell Avenue to traffic by noon Saturday. The two eastbound lanes will be opened to two- way traffic. The west- bound lanes will remain closed for the duration of the repair. Caltrans crews will perform preliminary maintenance work 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and early Sunday that will require closing the south- bound I-5 #1 and #2 lanes as well as the southbound Cypress Avenue on- ramp. Work on the structure is expected to begin as early as next week and will take between 30-45 days to complete. During construction, work will be performed seven days a week from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Two of the three southbound lanes of Inter- state 5 will be closed at that time. Caltrans engineers are working on the design and estimate $1 million for repairs. Weather forecast 6C Sunny 59/33 N EWS D AILY $1.00 FEBRUARY 1-2 2014 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 WEEKEND HIRING EVENTS! Call Center Positions through Wollborg-Michelson Personnel Service, Inc. Monday, February 3rd , 9am – Noon & 1pm– 4pm Firestorm Wildland Info Meeting Tuesday, February 4th, 10am – Noon Job Training Center 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 Bull Sale Section Pages 1B-4B Dry Martini Daily News photo by Andre Byik The Corning City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance that bans smoking and open containers of alcohol at the downtown Martini Plaza park. Corning bans smoking, drinking at downtown park By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer CORNING — What to do with Martini Plaza? The small park is nestled in downtown Corning and city officials say it is home to drug deals, vandalism and other nui- sances. The City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance, effective immediately, that bans smoking and open containers of alcohol at Marti- ni Plaza at any time. Offenders may be cited or escorted off park grounds. In a staff document submitted to the City Council, it is stated that adults have been congregating at the park during daylight hours to smoke and drink. "The behavior has intimidated others from using Martini Plaza as the urban park it was intended to be," the document states. City Manager John Brewer said during the meeting that the ordi- nance may be a way for the city to influence behavior at the park. He also floated that security cameras may be an option in the future. Through a combination of these things, Brewer said, "Maybe we can restore that park to the lion's share of the citizens." Regulars at the park on Friday were skeptical that the ordinance would effect change. "I think it's a Band-Aid on an otherwise bigger picture," said Eliz- abeth Mehringer, a 26-year-old who says she visits the park every morn- ing. Mehringer said those that tag park tables and trash the bathrooms are one-off visitors who view new rules as a challenge and do their damage after nightfall. "They couldn't care less about the park, and then all the regulars gotta suffer and live with it," Mehringer said. Update expected on River Park boat ramp By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff City Council will receive an update on the yet to be built Red Bluff River Park boat launch when it meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, as well as discuss changing its meeting time to 6 p.m. in the future. The existing boat launch at River Park hasn't been usable since the summer of 2011 when the gates at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam were permanently raised by court order. At that time the city began working on a two-phase plan that would install a temporary boat launch at the facility to be followed by a permanent construction. New jail plan pushed ahead By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama County offi- cials are pushing forward with the preplanning process of an expanded Jail and Community Re- entry and Day Reporting Center despite receiving only a portion of the funds needed to pay for the pro- ject. On Jan. 16 the Califor- nia Board of State and Community Corrections awarded Tehama County $6.526 million for the project. The county had been seeking $20 million. The state board award- ed $500 million to 15 counties for projects to meet the state's prison and public safety realignment program. Tehama County was the last designated small- county to receive an award and received the remainder of the $20 mil- lion cap not sought by Napa County. County officials would like to build a new 64-bed county jail facility and a Probation Department Day Reporting Center as well as additional correc- tional facility program space. The project would be at the site of the Red Bluff branch of the Tehama County Library, and involve closing a portion of Madison Avenue. Tehama County Chief Administrator Bill Good- win and Sheriff Dave Hencratt attended the Jan. 16 meeting in Lynwood to formally accept the award. At the meeting they read a prepared state- ment seeking additional funding in the future. "We remain concerned that only full funding will provide the facilities Redding repairs close I-5 lanes Amid drought, California agency won't allot water 'This is the most serious drought we've faced in modern times' — Felicia Marcus, chairwoman Water Resources Control Board See DRY, page 5A See RAMP, page 5A See JAIL, page 5A See DROUGHT, page 5A