Supervisors say county is meeting with tribes, water resources about Middle Creek/Clover Creek project

Supervisors reported that county staff, tribal representatives and project partners held preparatory meetings about the Clover Creek diversion and Middle Creek levee work to clarify cultural-resources processes and avoid later conflicts when construction work begins.

Supervisor (speaker 1) said county water-resources staff, county counsel (identified in the discussion as “Jackson”), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) and representatives from the tribe met to review how cultural-resources concerns would be addressed during design and implementation of the Clover Creek diversion and Middle Creek levee work. The supervisor characterized the meeting as “really, really good” and said the early coordination aimed to ensure language and expectations were aligned before the project advances.

Why it matters: supervisors said early, sustained consultation with tribal partners and consistent terminology can reduce later disputes or delays on projects that affect cultural resources. At least one supervisor noted that cultural-resources reviews are governed in part by California law and that early engagement can smooth later permitting and review steps.

Details: speakers named several participants in the coordination: county counsel “Jackson,” Angela DePalma Dow, and Terry Logston, along with tribal representatives and water-resources staff. A supervisor said the county has been meeting monthly with THPOs and historic-preservation officers as part of ongoing outreach. The supervisor said this preparatory work should help prevent confusion that sometimes arises when cultural-resources engagement occurs only after design is advanced.

Ending: Supervisors described the coordination as proactive and continuing, with further THPO meetings and regular monthly check-ins planned before formal project milestones.