I am sending this to a list of my emails because I am happy to announce that we have started what I hope will become standard practice ….. These where two intense days which were not just spent on “coordination” issues or “dam” issues but rather on all resource issues including timber harvest, groundwater, travel management, agency cooperation and other economic development / natural resources legal strategy. 

Press release: The importance of this planning session to the citizens of Siskiyou County is that in the past we have been reactive …. this is a planning session to become proactive and expand ways to encourage State and Federal agencies to discuss their actions impacts while still in the development stages. 

In picture left to right:  Brian Morris, County Resource Attorney; Ric Costales, County Resource Specialist; County Supervisor Michael Kobseff; Fred Kelly Grant, resource attorney; County Supervisor Jim Cook. Not shown was County Counsel Thomas Guarino

County conducts two day legal planning session. 

County Supervisors and natural resources staff recently spend two days reviewing and developing legal strategies concerning county natural resource protection and utilization. The strategies being developed are for consideration by the full Board over the course of 2012.

Included in the two day session was Fred Kelly Grant, an Idaho attorney, well known for his work on resource issues throughout the western United States.

Numerous topics were reviewed and discussed including travel management and harvest management on Forest Service property, Klamath Dam issues, Coho plans, NOAA/NMFS relations, and surface and groundwater use as well as other resource issues.

Due to California Brown Act restrictions this two day session only included Supervisors Jim Cook and Michael Kobseff.

“The legal options and strategy developed with staff and Mr. Grant will need to be thoroughly reviewed, vetted and adopted by the full Board of Supervisors as well as affected by input gathered from citizens of the County throughout the coming year. This intensive session should help County staff develop and present legal options for the full Board to consider,” stated Jim Cook, who was the Board Chair when the meeting date was established.

Both Supervisors Cook and Kobseff praised County staff for their dedication and thanked Fred Kelly Grant for his insight and perspective regarding the natural resource legal issues besetting the County.