Ted Williams @teddotnet

lostcoastoutpost.com/2026/jun/16/el…

Mendocino County Planning & Building Services is now moving into the next phase: development of the Sea Level Rise Resiliency Strategy and Local Coastal Program policy updates. Project page: mendocinocounty.gov/departments/pl…

Mendocino County Planning & Building Services has also released a memo comparing the hazard mapping used for the study with newer CoSMoS mapping that became available after the project began. Memo: mendocinocounty.gov/home/showpubli…

Mendocino County Planning & Building Services has released the Final Sea Level Rise Analysis and Risk Assessment as part of the County’s Local Coastal Program update. Report: mendocinocounty.gov/home/showpubli…

Mendocino County roadside mowing is for visibility and traffic safety, not large-scale fire fuel reduction. We start inland because vegetation dries out first. The coast is typically mowed later. April rains delayed inland work this year, but crews will move to the coast as soon as they can.

Animal-proof trash receptacles are being installed in the town of Mendocino. My hope is that they will help reduce litter on our streets, much of which is spread by raccoons, birds, and other wildlife. Thank you to Deirdre Lamb for the photo, DOT Deputy Amber Fisette for seeing the project through to completion, the MHRB for its thoughtful approval, Penny and other community members for their continued support, and my colleagues for saying yes.

One of the most important discussions we’ve had in years. At the June 2 budget hearing, former SF Controller Ben Rosenfield presented a roadmap to strengthen Mendocino County’s financial management and reporting. Better financial systems support better decisions about services, infrastructure, staffing, and public resources. youtube.com/watch?v=TBcoPU…

Societal challenge youtu.be/2YOGLIqKrDc?si…

For the Hopland Sidewalk Project, Caltrans has distributed a flyer with a QR code that links to the project website, where traffic updates and project information are being posted regularly. Caltrans will also be sending out messages through social media, keeping QuickMap updated, and maintaining the weekly District 1 Road Information Bulletin. Caltrans construction staff are establishing a landline phone number to receive and track comments, concerns, or complaints, and they will continue providing updates at the monthly HMAC meetings. In addition, the contractor, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., will designate a public coordination contact who will conduct door-to-door outreach to communicate construction schedules, dates, and impacted areas with the community at least one week in advance of work.

Discussion and possible action by Mendocino County to formally support Assemblymember Chris Rogers’ AB 2494, which would modernize the operations of the demonstration state forest system, will be heard at the Tuesday, March 24 Board of Supervisors meeting. The agenda, including Zoom and phone participation details, is expected to be published by Thursday evening, March 19.

Pomo). "EPIC thanks Assemblymember Rogers for his leadership on helping California reach its 30x30 goals by modernizing how we manage our own forests. California’s state-owned forests should be managed for all of its people. Under state law, however, these lands are directed to be cut and sold by private timber companies. AB 2494 would enable CalFire to manage our forests to help meet California’s 21st Century priorities by redirecting management towards objectives that benefit all—protecting wildlife, sequestering and storing carbon, and providing recreational opportunities—while still allowing for timber production that is a byproduct of forest restoration activities. This legislation would also open the door for state demonstration forests to count towards 30x30 —which Gov Newsom has championed on the global stage and is more important now than ever before as we continue to grapple with the climate crisis. As long-time supporters of 30x30 and forest protection, we are proud to support this bill,” said Melodie Meyer, Conservation Attorney, EPIC. ###

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) introduced AB 2494 to modernize the operations of the demonstration state forest system. In California, there are 14 demonstration forests managed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including two within Assembly District 2. The management principles for the demonstration state forest system have not been modified in decades and current regulations do not reflect the state’s climate resiliency goals. The updated management principles in this bill align with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20 and help meet California’s 30x30 initiative by encouraging ecological restoration and building resilience to climate change and wildfires within demonstration state forests. This bill ensures that the protection of ecological conditions within demonstration state forest lands are prioritized by declaring that these lands be used primarily for research, recreation, and demonstration purposes. The updates under this bill are critical to support rural economies in transitioning away from dwindling extractive economies and instead enhancing ecotourism in these communities. “Our demonstration state forest system contains precious old growth redwoods and allows for innovative research around wildfire resiliency and watershed restoration,” said Assemblymember Rogers. “This bill aligns with Governor Newsom’s 30x30 conservation framework and prioritizes the environment, recreation, scientific research and addressing climate change as the main focuses for the state to manage our public lands.” AB 2494 moves the state away from relying solely on timber harvesting to manage the demonstration state forest system. Under AB 2494, the sale of timber and other forest products will still be allowed, but as a biproduct of ecological restoration or research projects. This bill will also allow funds from the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund to be used to maintain demonstration state forests. “I commend Assemblymember Rogers leadership in aligning California’s management of its demonstration forests with the priorities shared by the state and Mendocino County,” said Supervisor Ted Williams, Fifth District Supervisor for Mendocino County. “Like many rural communities, Mendocino County is struggling. As we transition away from an economy that relies primarily on extractive industries, which no longer provide sustainable support for our residents, we must expand opportunities for revenue and job creation. By directing the state to manage demonstration forests for public access, tribal co-management, climate resilience, and biodiversity, we can attract additional user groups such as mountain bikers, mushroom foragers, hikers, birdwatchers, and others to help steward our public lands and support resilient rural economies.” "Tribal nations and Indigenous communities have long faced barriers to caring for their ancestral homelands since colonization—including being shut out of true co-management and limited in bringing Traditional Ecological Knowledge into California’s State Demonstration Forests. Updating the State Demonstration Forests Act is a major step toward changing that. I’m thrilled to see Assemblymember Rogers push for greater inclusion of tribal sovereignty in how our state forests are managed. This is an impactful step towards educating the public regarding Tribal Sovereignty and historical trauma and its effects today, as well as providing acknowledgement of those Tribes and once known villages impacted by antiquated laws. Inviting and including Native voices through partnership and co-management is how we will make systemic changes in land management,” stated Buffie Campbell (enrolled member Sherwood Valley, descendant of Noyo Reservation and Yokayo Rancheria; Northern

This is a thoughtful and overdue modernization of forest policy. By aligning state forest management with climate goals and Mendocino County’s legislative platform, AB 2494 positions Jackson Demonstration State Forest not only as an ecological asset, but as a long-term economic driver for our county through recreation, restoration, and sustainable resource management. I want to thank Assemblymember Chris Rogers for coming through for Mendocino County by advancing legislation that reflects our local priorities and long-term economic interests.

youtube.com/live/UClLBmYYF…

The County received notice today that the US Census Bureau has created the Gualala Census Designated Place and it will be included in partnership shapefiles released in January 2026. (Thank you Mendocino County staff for following through on my Feb 27, 2024 agenda item: Direction to Staff to Complete Process to Initiate an Update of Boundaries, Features, and Landmarks for Census Designated Places in Relation to Gualala)

Discussion and Presentation Regarding the Mendocino County Health Summit - Part 1 of Health Summit Series Discussing State and Federal Policy Changes to Health Programs and Services LIVE NOW youtube.com/watch?v=NwDJP5…

WOW! TOMORROW HISTORY WILL BE MADE. KaroLYIN LEAVITT WILL HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR THE SUPPOSED “FAKE MEDIA” ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEAUTIFUL MAPS. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE THE GREATEST MAPS EVER CREATED — EVEN BETTER THAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'. DONALD “THE FAILURE” TRUMP BE WARNED, TOMORROW MAY BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. ALL BECAUSE YOU “MISSED THE DEADLINE.” LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA!!! — GCN

AS MANY KNOW, DONALD “TACO” TRUMP — AUTHOR OF THE ART OF THE "DEAL" (A BOOK HE SHOULD RETURN TO THE LIBRARY) — JUST MISSED THE BEST DEAL IN HISTORY. HE ALWAYS “CHICKENS OUT” (TARIFFS, CHINA) — BUT EVEN A “CHICKEN” SHOULD KNOW A GOOD “DEAL” WHEN HE SEES ONE. I, YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR, GAVIN CHRISTOPHER NEWSOM, OFFERED THE BEST, MOST “AMAZING DEAL” IN HISTORY: STOP RIGGING TEXAS MAPS AND CALIFORNIA WON’T MAKE OURS MORE “BEAUTIFUL.” SADLY — BUT NO SURPRISE — DONALD WAS TOO WEAK (LITTLE HANDS) TO EVEN WRITE ME BACK. NO DEAL! AND NO DEAL = PERFECT, BEAUTIFUL MAPS THAT WILL “END” HIS PRESIDENCY. SOON HE WILL NOT BE “47.” PATRIOTS WILL TAKE BACK CONGRESS. MANY SAY I SHOULD RUN FOR SPEAKER (I WON’T!!!). MAKE THE MAPS GREAT AGAIN! LIBERATION DAY TOMORROW!!! THANK YOU! — GCN

MendoParks and State Parks Present the 2025 Coastal Cleanup Day! MendoParks and State Parks are thrilled to present this year’s California Coastal Cleanup Day – Saturday, September 20, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. First organized by the Coastal Commission, California hosted its first cleanup day in 1985. Close to 2,500 Californians participated in the initial Cleanup, and the program has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since. Since its inception, more than 1.8 million volunteers have removed over 27 million pounds of trash from beaches and inland waterways across California. In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the California Coastal Cleanup Day as the “largest garbage collection” ever organized. This incredible day is a way for people to get together both to pick up trash from Mendocino’s coastline, but also to contribute data to science, creating awareness about the dangers of marine debris. This year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will also become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trash" items will be hidden at cleanup sites all across the state. If you find one of them, you can redeem it for valuable prizes! The Coastal Cleanup will take place at multiple sites along the Mendocino Coast, each with its own Site Captain. For more information and to register, visit mendoparks.org/coastal-cleanup. As a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN#68-0049014), MendoParks receives no government funding or tax dollars for operations. Since 2004, MendoParks has donated over $1.4 million dollars in support of State Parks in Mendocino County - all of which remains local. *** Media contact: Sid Garza-Hillman, MendoParks Executive Director, 707-972-5028