Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/633768
ther harm Northern Cali- fornia's winding Delta and the San Francisco Bay, the biggest West Coast estuary in the Americas and home to increasingly endangered native fish. On Thursday, regula- tors of the State Water Resources Control Board weighed whether it was appropriate to start its up- coming hearings regarding the tunnels when the back- ers have yet to fully specify the project's design or fin- ish legally required stud- ies of whether the tun- nels would hurt the Del- ta's wildlife, overall habitat and human users. The regulators said Thursday they would an- nounce a possible decision on the timing issue in the next week or two. Kenneth Bogdan, attor- ney for the Department of Water Resources, the main state agency involved in tunnel planning, told reg- ulators that the project's backers hope to have the needed environmental im- pact review completed in late June. The similarly named Water Resources Control Board, which is charged with approving or disap- proving changes in water intake and water quality with the project, is sched- uled to formally start its hearings at least two months earlier, in April. Bogdan told regulators that the details released so far on the tunnels' planned design and operation, and preliminary and past envi- ronmental reviews, would be enough for the hearings to start. "It's not just a matter of 'trust us,'" Bogdan told the water regulators. "We feel there is enough informa- tion" already. "Saying you don't think your conclusions will change" after a full review of any environmental im- pacts "doesn't warm any- one's heart," Felicia Mar- cus, chairwoman of the state Water Resources Con- trol Board, responded. Thomas Berliner, an at- torney for water agencies, urged the water board to stick to the planned time- line. Since water agencies are the parties slated to pay for the tunnels, "they take their chances as far as moving forward" if any of the upcoming environmen- tal reviews ultimately kill the project, he said. Brown's administration, Southern California's mas- sive Metropolitan Water District, and other backers of the tunnels say the tun- nels will provide a more reliable and earthquake- resistant conduit of Delta water to agricultural and urban water customers. Opponents say they fear the tunnels will take too much of the delta's fresh- est water, dooming the native species in the Delta and the farms and towns around it. Delta officials and other opponents al- lege the Brown administra- tion is eager for quick gov- ernment decisions on the project so as to persuade the large water agencies, which have yet to formally commit to the tunnels or to paying for them, that the project is viable. The largest bloc of speakers Thursday were opponents to the tunnels. They urged the wa- ter board to make project backers complete their de- signs and environmental reviews before weighing the water issues involved. "We don't even know what they really want to do," said Osha Meserve, a lawyer for Delta farm- ers and others opposing the tunnels. "They need to present a complete appli- cation." Water FROMPAGE1 "This is a great oppor- tunity for income qualified homeowners to greatly im- prove the quality of their residence and lower energy costs by completing energy related improvements such as window replacement, insulation and weatheriza- tion, including the installa- tion of new energy efficient heating and air condition- ing units," Stoufer said. "The city also tries to en- courage the use of local con- tractors and the purchase of materials from local suppli- ers so that the money helps improve the local economy." Other items on the list include health and safety hazards, handicap accessi- bility, electrical repairs and upgrades, lead paint abate- ment, sewer and plumbing issues, flooring and siding repairs and painting. The loan is secured by a deed of trust and pay- ments and interest are de- ferred for the term of the loan, which is 30 years, as long as the home does not change title or is no longer the primary residence of the buyer. There is no pre-pay- ment penalty. Loans are based upon the total household in- come and family size. The income maximum ranges from a family of one set at $30,650 to a family of eight at $57,750. All loan funds must be expended and all projects must be finished prior to Jan. 31, 2017, Program Op- erator Joann Anders said. "To date we have not re- ceived any applications for the loans," Stoufer said. "Whatever funds are not expended through the loans will have to be returned to the state in 2017. So to try and assist qualified appli- cants within the city lim- its the city will hold a free public workshop on Feb. 18, at City Hall, 794 Third St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide details on the pro- gram and assist with filling out the loan applications." Applications are being accepted and homeowners within the city are encour- aged to stop by City Hall and pick up a brochure on the program or attend the workshop for information and free assistance with filling out the loan applica- tion. Spanish interpretation will be available at the Feb. 18 workshop. For more information, call 824-7029 or 272-5395. Loans FROM PAGE 1 Friday,January29 8:00AMGELDINGS-Cut- ting, Snaffle Bit/Hackamore, Stock Horse & Team Roping Contests. SELECTION OF THE CRAIG OWENS IDEAL RANCH HORSE, Pauline Davis Pavil- ion. 9:00AM Trade Show and Art Show Open. Art Show closes at 7:00PM, Trade Show closes at 9:00PM. 11:00AM Clinic presented by Zoetis. Don Smith Pavilion. 1:00PM WORKING OF STOCK DOGS - Final Round - Work outside. 3:30PM SALE OF STOCK DOGS, Don Smith Pavilion. 3:30PM DOORS OPEN FOR GELDING SALE, Pauline Davis Pavilion. 4:00-7:30PM Ag Social Sponsored by Chico State College of Agriculture, Fair- grounds Cafeteria. Information: Sarah DeForest (530) 898-3737/ Shelley Macdonald (530)527-1941. 4:00PM Vic Woolery's Famous Tri-Tip BBQ before & during the Gelding Sale. $10.00/person. Pauline Davis Pavilion. 5:30PM SALE OF QUARTER HORSE & PAINT GELDINGS, PRESENTED BY ROLLING HILLS CASINO. Pauline Davis Pavilion. Animals sold in computer drawn order. Admission is $10.00/person. Tickets avail- able at door, or call office. Saturday,January30 9:00AM Trade Show and Art Show open. Art can be removed at 2:00PM, Trade Show closes at 7:00PM. 9:30AM SALE OF ALL BULLS, PRESENTED BY ZO- ETIS, Don Smith Pavilion. 7:00PM CINCH JEANS PRESENTS RED BLUFF'S BUCKIN' BEST BULL RIDING featuring Top Cowboys going head-to-head with the rank- est bucking bulls & broncs Schedule of events TheAssociatedPress LOS ANGELES Big surf, rain and snow are head- ing toward California, including the first sig- nificant rains predicted for the southern half of the state since early this month, forecasters said Thursday. Breaking waves up to 25 feet were predicted through week's end and beyond for parts of the Mendocino coast, with not quite as big — but still double-digit heights — south through the San Francisco and Central Coast regions and surf up to 9 feet along parts of the Los Angeles-area shoreline. Heavy surf could spell more trouble for Pacifica, 10 miles south of San Francisco, where crash- ing waves and heavy rains have eaten away coastal cliffs and put residences in danger. U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier and other officials vis- ited the city Wednesday and pledged to seek state and federal assistance. On Monday, officials tagged an apartment complex of about 20 units as un- safe, ordering people to pack their things and be out by sunset. Residents scrambled to find some- place to go. Flash flood watches were to go into effect starting late Thursday for the state's northwestern coast and interior, and on Friday in vast forest fire burn scars in the Sierra Nevada Gold Country. The National Weather Service also issued winter storm warnings for the Southern Sierra from late Friday to Monday morn- ing. Snow accumulations could range from 5 inches to 15 inches, and up to 20 inches above 7,000 feet. The snow level will drop to 4,000 feet or lower by early Sunday. Continuing to build a significant Sierra snow- pack is vital to Califor- nia's water supply after years of drought. Run- off from the vast moun- tain range fills major res- ervoirs as snow melts in the spring. Recent storms fed by the El Niño warming phe- nomenon in the eastern Pacific have boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 115 percent of normal — more than the drought- stricken state has seen in five years. State water mangers hope the snow- pack to reach 150 percent of normal by April 1. Southern California, meanwhile, has been missed by most storms this winter except for an El Niño-powered system that brought heavy rains during the first full week of January. WEATHER Surf, rain, snow heading toward California HEATHER HOELSCHER - DAILY NEWS Participants confer with one another prior to entering the ring at the 2016Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale Stock Dog trials Wednesday at the Tehama District Fairground. BULL SALE For booking during this event! 1860 Hilltop Drive, Redding 3PM-7PM • THURSDAY, FEB. 4 TH DOOR PRIZES • GIVEAWAYS Over 40 Cruise Lines and Tour Companies represented. FREE EVENT www.avantitravel.com Presented by: Book Your Dream Vacation Now! It's Easy and Affordable! HoneymoonRegistryandWeddingDestinationSpecialistsAvailable 2025 Hilltop Drive, Redding CST#200749540 Ask about our FREE vacation layaway plan 244-1400 FUNK HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING & SHEET METAL 13111 BAKER ROAD OVER30YEARSEXPERIENCE AirConditioning—Heating—SheetMetal—HeatPumps Cal.Lic. #233456 527-5828 •PVCPIPE,FITTINGS& HARDWARE • DRIP, MICRO, SOLIDSET SYSTEMS • PUMPS, PIVOTS, WHEELLINES, • AG WELL TESTING SERVING CALIFORNIA NEVADA AND OREGON • DESIGN SALES RENTAL AND LEASING Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm Sat. 8am-12pm ALSCO, INC. Since1948 Lic#381307 535 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff (530) 527-4001 http://www.alscoirrigation.com Smog Check (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. starting at $ 29 95 + $ 8 25 certificate Shop Equipped With 4SmogMachines For Fast Service No appointment Needed Round Up Saloon Round Up Saloon 610WashingtonSt. (530) 527-9901 Come join us for BBQ & Football on Sunday's LIVE MUSIC CALL FOR DATES WeDo Alignments, Brakes, Shocks, Struts, Oil Changes, Suspension, Trailer Repairs, Batteries & Wipers 1375MontgomeryRd. Red Bluff, CA 530 529-0797 | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 8 A