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VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 8 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024
CALDOR FIRE RECOVERY
Relief to come from tiny homes Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Photo by Gary Andrew
El Dorado Ranch’s 7,179 acres abuts the Cosumnes River. The land is being acquired by the American River Conservancy to establish the county’s first wildlife area.
Conservation project closing in on 7,000-acre El Dorado Ranch American River Conservancy News release
The American River Conservancy has announced the purchase of another 1,025 acres protecting riparian habitat and important oak woodland habitat near the Cosumnes River in El Dorado County. Since 2012, ARC has been working to permanently protect a stretch of land along the Consumes, called El Dorado Ranch, and establish the first wildlife area in the county. Previously slated for residential subdivision, this conservation project is located between existing public lands and two neighboring large ranches, also permanently protected by conservation easements, providing critical habitat linkages and preserving wildlife corridors.
To date, ARC has acquired and permanently protected 4,182 acres of the 7,179-acre El Dorado Ranch. “El Dorado Ranch is part of an important north-south wildlife corridor in the Cosumnes River watershed,” stated ARC Director Elena DeLacy. “This acquisition helps protect extensive oak woodland and wildlife habitat, safeguards the quality of water flowing downstream to Sacramento, ensures the protection of cultural resources and protects working agricultural lands. This region is the ancestral homeland of the Miwok people, and this area is of particular significance to local tribes.” ARC raised $4.7 million from three sources to purchase El Dorado Ranch Phase 4: Wildlife ■ See EL DORADO RANCH, page A6
El Dorado County is one step closer to drafting a tiny homes ordinance that will make it easier for property owners to build small dwelling units for emergency purposes. A draft of the ordinance is being finalized by county staff, with more recommendations from the Board of Supervisors to be approved at an unspecified future date. The ordinance, which is derived from a similar one out of Butte County’s struggles with wildfire disasters, will help assist victims of the Caldor Fire who had inadequate or no insurance and do not have the means or desire to live elsewhere, according to county Planning and Building Director Karen Garner. Planning checks, inspections and county fees will be waived since the structures would be placed under the county’s Caldor Fire Urgency Ordinance. The tiny homes ordinance would be enacted where the county declares it is needed, and apply to rural parts of the county. “This is meant to help those that probably had a modest home before and that is all they are looking for now,” Garner said. The ordinance would apply to about 20 people in the Grizzly Flat area, Garner told the Board of Supervisors during its Jan. 9 meeting. During a presentation to supervisors, Garner said the ordinance is not intended to assist those with adequate insurance, those who purchased property after the fire or those who want to construct larger homes. “This is another tool in our tool box and we will continue looking as we move forward with things like pre-approved ADUs that might be something else that can assist people in this area,” Garner explained. The tiny homes are meant to be safe, livable structures meeting basic needs, with exemptions from certain conditions of California’s building codes. Some of the exemption recommendations discussed came out of an earlier meeting of the Grizzly Flat Community Services District, county staff and firefighting personnel. ■ See TINY HOMES, page A6
Family responds to discovery of Donna Lass’ remains Tahoe Daily Tribune staff
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
The family of Donna Lass was able to end 2023 with some closure, after law enforcement
agencies identified the remains of their longmissing relative. A skull found in Placer County in 1986 was identified as that of the Stateline, Nev., nurse, reported missing in 1970 and long thought to be a victim of the Zodiac Killer. Lass’ family met with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and Placer County Sheriff ’s Office last week to discuss details involving the case. With the help of South Lake Tahoe police, the family of Donna Lass shared the following statement with the Tahoe Daily Tribune: “The family of Donna Lass is very grateful for all the efforts of the
South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Placer County Sheriff ’s Office and others that have worked to help to find our beloved Donna over the past 53 years. The recent identification of Donna’s remains has provided some long-awaited closure to our family. Donna, a 25-yearold registered nurse, was a beautiful, responsible, caring and compassionate person who remains deeply missed by her family and friends. We remain hopeful that ongoing investigative endeavors will yield additional information and, ultimately, justice for Donna. We continue to ask
that anyone who has information regarding the disappearance of Donna Ann Lass contact the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.” SLTPD officials added, “The SLTPD, along with the entire investigative team in El Dorado and Placer counties, cannot express enough gratitude for the support of Donna’s family. We will continue to work together as this case progresses.” Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to email South Lake Tahoe Police Department Detective Division at crimetips@ cityofslt.us and reference case 00706436.
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