Whether the Sutter Buttes could be inundated by giant steel towers up to 150 feet tall by 2014, probably depends on how convincing property owners can be in regards to the cost being substantially more than the $1.5 billion estimated by the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC).
Of course, of uppermost importance to multi-generation property owners is not the cost, but the natural habitat and what the affects of power transmission lines and substations would have on the private property.
Land owners were not notified in advance by TANC or the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) of upcoming meetings. Middle Mountain Foundation board members just happened to hear about the proposed 600 mile connection from Lassen County through Shasta, Tehama, Glenn and Butte Counties and south.
The TANC Transmission Project (TTP) involves building and upgrading high-voltage electric transmission lines and substations in northern California. It would increase California's electric system reliability and provide increased access to local California-based renewable energy resources.
A meeting was held on April 14, 2009 in Williams where materials were handed out to 100 people who attended, from the aforementioned counties.
Property owner Richard Campbell attended, as did Middle Mountain Foundation (MFF) Executive Director Cory Wilkins.
In a phone interview this weekend, Wilkins stated, "A board member in Chico got wind of this through an acquaintance. It was stated that agencies were notified but MMF did not receive any word of it in advance.
"I think they are being sincerely honest when they say they are going to listen to us. They (TANC) weren't aware of the issues with duck clubs, etc. It seems they didn't do much research. I am confident they are going to reroute, but property owners need to have letters into TANC.
"MMF submitted a letter through email and comment cards at the Williams meeting. We gave concerns about waterfowl, duck clubs, Gray Lodge, the Sutter Buttes and the significance with the Native Americans. This is not the place to run power lines.
"State Parks has written a letter. The more they hear from us, the better off we will be. The proposed route runs through the North foothills, almond ranches and down the east side. This is all through the foothills, not through the center.
"Middle Mountain Foundation is pro-ag. I hate to see anybody's land affected. It is sad we weren't made aware of this earlier, but there is still time. The good thing is, we still have time to put our comments on record and we have a leg to stand on" Wilkins stated.
In the materials given to people attending the meeting, an Environmental Studies Scoping Information handout was included that contained potential issues or impacts.
Just some of the issues or impacts included from TANC and WAPA:
Temporary and permanent loss of native habitat, including habitat for special status species;
Impacts to known and unknown prehistoric and historic resources and archaeological sites, which may be determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP);
Hydrological impacts to creeks and rivers and flood control channels;
Impacts from improper storage or handling of hazardous materials and/or hazardous wastes during construction, operations, or maintenance activities.
Impacts from leaking or spilling of petroleum or hydraulic fluids from construction equipment or other vehicles during construction, operation or maintenance activities;
Impacts from the inadvertent uncovering of hazardous materials during excavation activities, causing toxic releases to the environment;
Bird electrocution and collision resulting from contact with overhead transmission lines.
These are just a few of the many items listed in the three page list of concerns.
Richard Campbell's family has owned the property in the Sutter Buttes since 1913. His great-grandparents, Richard W. Campbell, Sr., and Florence Bigelow Campbell purchased the property that is now farmed and enjoyed by their great-grandson and his family.
Campbell stated, "The Sutter Buttes overlay should be protected so future generations can continue to enjoy a vision of the past. It would be a shame to spoil the terrain with the project that TANC is proposing through our region. They will interfere in my aerial spray applications of my almond orchards. Also, these high power lines, would interfere with the migratory bird flight.
The Shaeffer family has owned property at the Sutter Buttes for over 100 years and Tyrone Shaeffer is the fourth generation to farm there, along with his brother Garry.
In speaking with Tyrone he stated, "We understand the need for power. They need to have alternatives, but the Pacific Flyway is not one of them.
"The alternative should not be to destroy this valley and ruin the beauty of the Buttes.
The Shaeffer's own property on the north side of the Buttes, which would be affected by the transmission power lines, but they have not received any letters or notice from TANC, only the MMF, alerting them to the proposed project.
Shaeffer also expressed concern for the historical areas of the Buttes, such as the rock walls placed by early day settlers to form property lines.
Shaeffer knows all about the Pacific Flyway, because of his eighth grade teacher, Gerald Slagle, some 50 years ago.
"He had an affect on so many students. We visited Gray Lodge and went to the Sutter Buttes to study wildflowers. The amount of information he provided left quite an impression on me.
No doubt the information is coming in handy as Shaeffer finds himself concerned about his family's property on the north side of the Buttes.
"Why would they (TANC) even consider electrifying birds with power lines? The environmental and physical impact is tremendous. The beauty would be gone with power lines strung across the Buttes," he stated.
Shaeffer also stated that Yuba, Sutter and Butte Counties, all promote the Sutter Buttes in informational literature promoting the area.
Power lines are a whole other subject, especially for Sutter Buttes property owner Charles Etchverry. Etcheverry lost two very close friends, both crop dusters, when spraying on his property. Norman Bowles died in 1983 and John Morris died in 1995, making the same pass at the same location, 12 years apart because, as Etchverry pointed out, when transmission lines split, such as on Loop House Hill, 300 to 400 feet apart, it is extremely dangerous.
"Both men flew under the first set of wires and when jerking back up, forgot about the second set of wires. It is dangerous when the wires don't run parallel," he explained.
Of course the need for crop dusters in the Sutter Buttes is paramount, because of the vast amount of almond orchards.
Representatives of California Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and the State of California Parks and Recreation attended the meetings held by the two groups, TANC and WAPA.
Letters of concern need to be sent to Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630 or emailed to TTPEIS@wapa.gov, or provide comments online at www.wapa.gov/transmission/ttp.htm. by April 30, 2009 to be within the scoping period.
Comments can also be faxed to 916-353-4772.
