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THE M O T H E R
L O D E ' S LE A D IN G IN F O R M A T I O N S O U R C E • S O N O R A , C A L I F O R N I A
lake Don PedroCommunitv ServicesDistrict
IODAYS RiADERDO ARD
V
BRIEFING
may pack
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manager said this week. The Lake Don Pedro CSD service area includes portions of Coulterville and La Grange, between the TuBy GUY McCARTHY olumne and Merced rivers. The Union Democrat About 3,200 people there rely on water from McClure People who are served by Reservoir, which is managed the Lake Don Pedro Com- by the Merced Irrigation Dismunity Services District trict. "I'm going to recommend are likely facing mandatory
distri ct's board of directors voted unanimously Feb. 19 to directhim to prepare stiffer conservation requirements due to impacts on the district's water supply. The Merced I r rigation District earlier this month was able to get a 40 percent reduction in mandated pulse flow releases from McClure for salmon spawning
under the pumps," Kampa said. "MID got a reduction thatequates to 160 acre-feet per day. Before the reductions, MID was releasing the equivalent of close to our district's annual demand in a single day." M cClure Reservoir i s currently holding about 8 percent of its 1.02 million acre-footcapacity,according
50 percent water conserva-
we go to 50 percent conserva-
g rounds downstream, a c-
to the state Department of
tion restrictions come April 1, and a ban on outside watering could extend beyond thatdate,the districtgeneral
tion measures to deal with cording to Kampa. Water Resources. McClure "There's water in McClure is among the state's largest this disaster," Lake Don Pedro CSD General Manager where our pumps are right Pete Kampa said Friday. His now, about 50 feet of depth See WATER/ Back Page
PUBLIC HEARING: Set for 6 p.m. March 9, Don Pedro High School Multipurpose Room, 3090 Merced Falls Road, La Grange.
Calaveras TreasuresAngels Camp volunteer Vicky Corey goes the extra mile.A2
News Notes —Upcoming events in the Mother Lode. A2, A3
Storm
Permit lottery
opens Sunday
$4.50, which is nonrefundable. Submissions can also be made by call ing 877-4446777. Hours are between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The cost to enter by phone is $6.50. Winners are charged an additional processing fee Ifyou miss the pre-season lottery, still about 50 permits per day are availSee PERMITS/Back Page
Council
faces packed agenda PUBLIC MEETING: Sonora City Council, 5 p.m. Monday, City Hall, 94 N. Washington St.
v
By ALEX MacLEAN The Union Democrat a
Building permit fees, the Mother Lode Roundup Parade and possible funding
f.;,' QP
p~ /
for waterprojects are on the File photo /Union Democrat
Applications for a lottery for Half Dome cable permits can be submitted beginning Sunday. The cables aid hikers up to the top of the granite dome.
Burn to reduce forest fuels near Long Barn By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
Burn area The project area is on Forest Road
FEAntRES: features4uniondemocrat.com
Burn bosses with the Stanislaus Na3N90 near the 3N01 intersection. tionalForest are planning a prescribed Officials emphasize that this is a fire south of the Long Barn area and planned burn and ask people to reHighway 108, starting Monday — if frain from reporting it as a wildfire. conditions permit. The seven-day burn is planned on about 170acres and it's described as material below 6 feet in height without a "broadcast underburn." That means burning full-grown trees in the area, fire crews will be targeting flammable said Fuels Officer Scott Cones of the for-
SPORTS:sporteluniondemocrat.com
EVEMrsANDWEEKENDER: weekenderluniondemocrat .com LEtTERS:lettereluniondemocrat.com CALAVERAS NEWS: 770-7197 NEWSROOM FAX:532-6451
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:533-3614
Calendar............ •
Sonora
of $8.
NEWS: editor@uniondemocrat.com
•
SeeWEATHER/Back Page
online to www.recreation. gov. The cost to enter is
PHONE:770-7153; 588-4534
•
is expected to arrive tonight, with the bulk hitting Saturday. In the foothills, rain is forecast.
Sunday marksthe start of the pre-season lottery for Half Dome hiking permits. Yosemite National Park issues a maximum of 225 permits per day. Permits are required while the Half Dome cables are in place, usually between Memorial Day in May and Columbus Day in October. Those who apply for permits in March can pick up to seven preferred dates and then are entered in a lotteryfor those days. Those who secured permits are notified in midApril. To enterthe lottery,go
NEWS TIPS?
•
•
weather.
down from western Canada,
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Cliff Edson sits down for a QIkA with Union Democrat staff.A4
• MEASLES:Officials issued a second warning this month that BART commuters may have been exposed to measles.AS • INTERNET:The FCC voted to impose the toughest rules yet on broadband service to prevent slowing or blocking web traffic.A6
Central Sierra residents and travelers should be prepared this weekend for a sustained blast of wintry
The Union Democrat
HALF DOME
OPlnlOn — Calaveras
NEWS ELSEWHERE
The Union Democrat
By CRAIG CASSIDY
week's photo opinion asks, "lf you could live one day of your life in a movie, which movie would you choose?"A3
• GYM-TASTIC:Eight members of the Sonorabased American Sports Acro Gymnastics team won third place at the Xcel Xtravaganza competition in Stockton.C1 • SOCCER GIRL: Summerville's PetersonWood commits to Colorado Mesa.C1 • ACKERMAN: Frey, Degough win bass tourney.C1
By CRAIG CASSIDY
The National Weather Service is still forecasting the arrivalofa largish storm system this evening, which, by Saturday, could drop snow levelsto 3,500 feet.That's about the elevation of Twain Harte on Highway 108 or Hathaway Pines on Highway 4. The heaviest snow is expected tofall at elevations above 5,500 feet. The Weather Serviceforecasts 4 to 8 inches of snow there, and up to a foot along the Sierra crest. Mountain travelers without snow tires or four-wheel drive should carry tire chains or cables, because controls are likely to be in effect. The cold storm, sweeping
Seen and Heard — Thls
SPORTS
winter wallop
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est's Mi-Wok Ranger District. The project area is a half-mile south of Long Barn on Forest Road 3N90 near the 3N01 intersection, Forest Service officials said in an announcement. Smoke may be visible &om Highway 108 in the Mi-Wuk Village and Long Barn areas. "Prescribed burns are conducted under preciseweather and fuel moisture conditions designed to meet both fuel See BURN/Back Page
....... Cs
See COUNCIL/Back Page
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agenda forthe Sonora City Council next week. According t o M o nday's meeting agenda, the council will vote on an ordinance that repeals and replaces various city building codes, including provisions on building permits, inspections and general administration. The changes are intended to bringthe city's codes into conformance with n e wer state codes. Community Development Director Rachelle Kellogg said the changes are mostly administrative and will not affect people. In addition, the council will vote on four changes to the
Saturday:High 56, Low 35
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sunday:High ss, Lowaa
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