05/23/2026
GREEN WASTE ISSUES were reported on by Sierra County Public Works Director Josh Handel during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held May 19th in Loyalton. Handel stated Sierra County Environmental Health determined they may not be in compliance with ash, unburned material, and the amount kept at transfer sites. A corrective action plan detailing options for disposal of the material is due by June 8th. He said there was a Solid Waste Task Force meeting on May 26th to discuss next steps, adding it will cost money to dispose of this material. He also planned to meet with Intermountain Disposal and was seeking input from others. Handel said each site has a different amount of material but all sites are affected. Supervisor Lee Adams stated if there is a monitory impact he hoped it wouldn’t be “herculean,” mentioning a possible Prop 218 election. Vice Chair Sharon Dryden suggested this be on the next agenda. She said the transfer sites have been increasing in green waste volume due to Firewise efforts. She didn’t want to discourage residents, but it comes with a cost.
DATA CENTER RUMORS brought out many Loyalton and area residents during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, May 19th. During public comment attendees approached the podium to protest against a rumored Data Center coming to Loyalton’s mill site. Many voiced worries over the possibility. Resident Pat McCarthy asked about regulatory process. Andrea Dose suggested a countywide ban. Sierra Valley resident Mary Genasci reported Washoe County was the first county in Nevada to put a moratorium on Data Centers. She asked the board to get ahead of the project and not fall behind. Laura Sexton had huge concerns, adding we can’t support it, and reported Utah approved one twice the size of Manhattan. Loyalton City Council member Sue McIlravy had a lot of calls over this topic, and felt this could happen here as Data Centers are going after small vulnerable cities. She stated the mill can produce energy and encouraged the current owner to help solve the power problem.
Vice Chair Sharon Dryden told the crowd this topic would be on a future agenda so it could be fully discussed.
During Department Manager Reports, Planning and Building Director Brandon Pangman reported he was aware of the rumor but had not received an application. He reached out to the company supposedly coming in, but received no response. He explained the regulatory process of any proposal to change or expand operations would require a conditional use permit and would have to be approved by the Planning Commission, with lots of studies including CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) to be completed before they’d even get to a hearing. He stressed, “Until there’s an application it’s just rumors.”
A FOREST SERVICE UPDATE was given during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Loyalton on May 19th.
Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson reported they were opening campgrounds for Memorial Day weekend except for Jackson Meadows, which isn’t set to open until sometime in June. Under question regarding the boat fees and limited boating hours on Jackson Meadows, Hutchinson stated this was the compromise they came to with Nevada Irrigation District (NID) who manages the lake. She added without the compromise, the lake would have been closed again to boats. They are continuing to work with them for more access.
Beckwourth District Ranger Mike Rahe stated their concessionaire, got all the boat docks out early on the Forest and campgrounds will be ready for the upcoming holiday weekend. In other news, he said they have 3-4 permittees using conservation non-use due to wolf presence.
A WOLF UPDATE was provided during a Rancher Roundtable held May 6 at Sierraville School, where ranchers, sheriffs, agricultural leaders and wildlife advocates gathered to address livestock losses, public safety concerns and frustrations with state wolf management policies.
Hosted by UC Cooperative Extension with dinner provided by ranchers Paul and Sheri Roen, the meeting focused heavily on the challenges ranchers face as California’s wolf population continues to expand. According to Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) estimates there are at least 90 wolves statewide, though many attendees believe the actual number is higher.
Sheriff Fisher explained that they have spent more than a year working toward data-sharing agreements with CDFW that would improve coordination on wolf tracking and management. Although no wolves in Sierra Valley are currently collared, neighboring counties still have collared animals.
Local leaders stressed that ranchers currently lack effective legal tools to deter wolves before attacks escalate. Fisher said he hopes to secure “injurious harassment” authority that would allow ranchers and officials to alter wolf behavior early using nonlethal deterrents such as rubber bullets, bean bags and pepper-ball launchers.
Currently the law restricts possession of many of these deterrents to peace officers. Fisher said he is working with Assemblymember Heather Hadwick to pursue penal code changes that would expand access to ranchers.
Participants noted that many recommended deterrents promoted by CDFW — including fladry fencing, lights proved ineffective last summer. Plumas County Supervisor and rancher Dwight Ceresola said Siskiyou County is now experiencing the same problems Sierra Valley faced last year, and they are being given the same deterrents.
Officials repeatedly emphasized the importance of thorough documentation when livestock depredation occurs. Fisher urged ranchers to consistently report incidents and collect photographs with clear timestamps, GPS coordinates and scale references such as knives or pens.
As wolves reportedly began raising pups in the region, ranchers described a shift in attack patterns, with some calves being almost completely consumed, leaving little physical evidence behind. Ranchers said several cases last summer were ultimately labeled “undetermined” due to insufficient remains.
Without collared wolves, DNA evidence has become increasingly important. Fisher said they will continue collecting DNA swabs to strengthen evidence linking attacks to wolves.
UC Cooperative Extension representative Tracy Schohr shared findings from interviews with 35 livestock producers examining the emotional and economic toll of wolf activity on ranching communities.
According to Schohr, ranchers reported significant stress related to livestock losses, financial pressure, family safety and declining trust in CDFW leadership. Participants also described feelings of helplessness tied to ecological changes and a perceived lack of effective management tools.
Despite frustrations, producers expressed continued willingness to collaborate on future conservation efforts if local voices are included more directly in decision-making.
State compensation programs for wolf-related losses were another major topic. Tina Saitone a University of California, Davis, professor and Cooperative Extension specialist in livestock and rangeland economics, discussed compensation efforts — outlining three current funding categories: direct livestock loss or injury, “pay for presence” programs and reimbursement for nonlethal deterrent tools.
More than $1.9 million has reportedly been spent on deterrent tools, $135,043. 95 for direct loss payments and $945,130.93 on presence-based compensation programs. However, attendees were told current funding has been exhausted, and future allocations may only cover confirmed livestock losses.
Concerns were also raised over revisions to California’s compensation framework and pending legislation, including Senate Bill 1135, the California Wildlife Coexistence Act. Agricultural groups including the Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Bureau oppose the bill in its current form and are lobbying revisions.
The meeting also featured comments from Dave Duquette (shown above), founder of Western Justice, a grassroots organization advocating for ranching and western agricultural communities. Duquette said his organization and partner group Hunter Nation are building a national coalition to support wolf delisting efforts and document the impact wolves are having on rural communities across western states.
According to Duquette, California currently has 611 independent ranchers participating in the coalition, making it one of the largest state contingents involved. He said documentary projects underway aim to raise awareness among federal policymakers and the broader public about the economic and social impacts of wolf expansion on ranching operations.
Throughout the evening, speakers emphasized unity, continued documentation and long-term persistence as essential strategies moving forward. While frustrations with state leadership and wildlife management remained high, local officials repeatedly encouraged ranchers to stay engaged, report incidents consistently and continue advocating for policy changes.
At an emergency meeting held May 13th the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District voted to pursue grant opportunities for non-lethal wolf deterrents and producer outreach.
Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891
