Submitted by Sheryl Wilkins, Scott River Watershed Community Outreach Coordinator
“The 2023 Youth Environmental Summer Studies (YESS) program is one for the books! I feel incredibly grateful to have spent 6 weeks with these inspiring young adults.”
According to YESS Supervisor, Shannon Wedgley,

& Coordinator, Shannon Wedgley
A summer of hard work and bonding began in the majestic Marble Mountains. The crew’s first tasks included improving wildlife habitat at Big Meadows by thinning and piling Alder encroaching conifers and repairing wildlife guzzlers on Forest Service land.
Using time-tested tools from the Scott River Watershed Council’s Tool Kit, great headway was made in habitat creation, gravel surveys, stream analysis, and groundwater monitoring. The invasive Marlahan Mustard took a big hit as the tenacious crew plowed through a variety of areas in Scott Valley. And, the second week of a six-week program concluded with a visit to the Yreka Community Garden where the young group learned about permaculture and community health from a wise man known as ‘Flik’.
Identifying fish and improving cold water refuge – a crucial habitat to the lifecycle of the beloved salmon, kicked off the third week and concluded with the Salmon River Restoration Council doing invasive plant species removal.
Week four included enhancing pre-established Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and conducting Alder transact and groundwater surveys at Meek’s Meadows.
The final two weeks were spent in the woods and on the river sleeping under the stars. A ‘Zero Electronics’ policy was implemented during the first week while backcountry trails were cleared and spare time was spent building forts, playing cards/games, and bonding in old-fashioned style.
The grand finale of the summer was the participation in the historical Salmon River Salmon Survey Dive – the largest of its kind in the world followed by a well-earned Klamath River rafting trip.
stated YESS Supervisor, Shannon Wedgley.
“I’m so proud of these young adults, I could not have asked for a better crew. The YESS season was an enlightening experience for all of us. Their bright attitudes, playful nature, and willingness to work hard are a testament to their character and are a feather in the cap of their generation. I feel confident that with continued support by the community through programs like this, we can feel good about passing the torch to these highly inspirational young adults,”
- FERC Response to KRRC ‘re’ Request to Start Drawdown January 2024This is also about continued blasting process and its use to remove Copco 1. FERC is still acting as though KRRC is a responsible agent even though they continue to cut corners. I would hope that our Board of Supervisors would insist on having an evaluation by an outside expert for the County’s benefit to… Read more: FERC Response to KRRC ‘re’ Request to Start Drawdown January 2024
- Wild Horses Coevolved with Wildfire on The North American LandscapeScience and empirical experience suggest the proper management of wild horses benefits public lands, ranchers and mitigates wildfire Paleontological science and DNA studies have proven that all horses in the world originally evolved on the north American continent millions of years ago. About 1-million years ago, during the time there was a land bridge… Read more: Wild Horses Coevolved with Wildfire on The North American Landscape
- Various Cemetery District Vacancies terms ending in 2028Laura Bynum, Clerk of The Board of Supervisors announces that there are scheduled vacancies on various Cemetery Districts for terms ending January 3, 2028 as follows: Etna Cemetery – 2 vacancies Fort Jones Cemetery – 2 vacancies Happy Camp Cemetery – 2 vacancies Henley-Hornbrook Cemetery – 3 vacancies Lakeview Cemetery – 1 vacancy Picard Cemetery… Read more: Various Cemetery District Vacancies terms ending in 2028
- Siskiyou Land Trust invites you to an evening slideshow: “So Far… Nature Stories and Photos,” by Mount Shasta local Mike HuppThursday, December 77:00 PMMt Shasta Sisson Museum Join us on a visual journey with Mike Hupp as he shares his favorite images and rich natural history from the rivers and open spaces of the American west to the rainforests and rugged coast of Tasmania. Through his photographs, he’ll showcase starry night skies, sublime landscapes, and… Read more: Siskiyou Land Trust invites you to an evening slideshow: “So Far… Nature Stories and Photos,” by Mount Shasta local Mike Hupp
- Brenda Jean MoweryNovember 19, 1968 – November 20, 2023 Brenda Mowery Obituary 55 year old Yreka resident, Brenda Jean Mowery, passed away on November 20, 2023 at Fairchild Medical Center. Brenda was born November 19, 1968 in Oregon to Jim and Linda Carlson. Brenda worked for years as a migrant working, traveling constantly to wherever the work took her… Read more: Brenda Jean Mowery