Kevin L. Hoover Mad River Union ARCATA – With the Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean lapping thirstily at its southern edges, Arcata’s low-lying lands are facing eventual inundation. It likely won’t happen overnight, and property in the area may still see use, and even fresh construction, for decades to come. But preparing for the…
Sea level rise response requires radical rethinks
Patrick Evans Mad River Union ARCATA – Arcata is almost an island in a photo taken after heavy winter rain in 1975. Water laps at the edges of U.S. Highway 101 and Samoa Boulevard and connects the Mad River to Humboldt Bay via the Arcata Bottom. The photo is a preview of the city’s future,…
Agencies preparing response plans for dam failures, massive floods
Jack Durham Mad River Union NORTHERN HUMBOLDT – There are several nightmarish scenarios – including the failure of a dam holding back Ruth Lake – that would result in a wall of water washing over homes and businesses in several communities, including Blue Lake and Arcata. In preparation for such disasters, the Arcata Fire District…
Surviving Ruth Lake’s wrath should the dam fail
Note: This is a revised version of an article which first appeared in the Union in June 2015. Jack Durham Mad River Union MAD RIVER WATERSHED – Emergency personnel are planning for a highly unlikely but nightmarish scenario – the failure of the R.W. Matthews Dam, the earthen structure that holds back Ruth Lake. Should…
Big storm coming; flood watch issued
Mad River Union HUMBOLDT – A gnarly storm is going to hit Humboldt tonight with a promise of heavy rain, high winds and a threat of flooding. Rain this morning and in the afternoon may be wimpy, at best, with the National Weather Service forecasting a 60 percent chance of rain, with less than a…
Coast Guard saves flood survivor
U.S. Coast Guard MCKINLEYVILLE/EEL RIVER – Friday night at 12:34 a.m. the U.S. Coast Guard received a request from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to assist a man who was dangerously close to being washed into the Eel River by raging floodwaters. Sector Humboldt Bay in McKinleyville dispatched RESCUE 6558, a MH-65D helicopter, with four…
MY SIDE OF THE STREET: Taxpayers can expect to bail out flood plain residents
Those of us who believe there is a place for reasonable limits on development of private property were concerned when two new Humboldt County supervisors were elected who do not share our views. Mark Lovelace is now a lone voice in the wilderness as the rest of the board works to dilute the general plan…
GPU: Flexibility for flood plain subdivisions
Wary of approving a draft General Plan Update policy that would prohibit residential subdivisions in flood plains, a majority of the Board of Supervisors supports conditionally allowing them. Supervisors reviewed the update’s Safety Element last Monday and debated a policy that bans new residential lot splits in areas that are entirely within 100-year flood plains.…