MSCHA Newsletter
Highlights
Welcome to the first edition of the Mill Creek Summer Homeowners’ Association Newsletter! The goal of the newsletter is to provide cabin owners with up-to-date information about the work of the Board and useful information about community matters. We welcome your feedback and invite your participation in our periodic Board Meetings. Dates and agendas are posted on the Board’s website.
In this issue learn more about planned and ongoing work in response to the Dixie and Park Fires and get community info to stay in the know. Read on!
West Lassen Headwaters Project
Contributed by Sierra Institute
The West Lassen Headwaters Landscape Restoration Project (WLHP) is an initiative with three major goals aimed at improving forest resilience, watershed health, and community protection across 172,765 acres southwest of Lassen Peak, including the Mill Creek watershed. Approximately 101,000 of these management acres are on the Lassen National Forest.
The Mill Creek watershed is a critical resource for anadromous fish such as the spring-run Chinook salmon, winter-run steelhead trout, and fall-run Chinook salmon. The WLHP encompasses the headwaters of Antelope, Deer, Battle and Mill Creek: four anadromous watersheds at the nexus of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada that provide irreplaceable water resources for fish and wildlife. Other unique hydrological properties of the watershed, including extensive meadow ecosystems, will be the subject of restoration efforts on both public and private lands.
This project helps respond to the growing wildfire risk in the region, highlighted by the 2024 Park Fire which significantly impacted Mill Creek. Around a third of the project area falls within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and the terrain and dominant weather patterns create the potential for fast-moving wildfires that would threaten the communities of Mineral, Mill Creek, Childs Meadow, and other more dispersed communities.
To reduce the threat of future wildfires, the WLHP will focus on fuels reduction and reforestation efforts. These actions aim to restore areas burned by past fires, protect the remaining healthy forests in the project footprint, safeguard local communities, and reduce the chances of catastrophic wildfires in the future. By restoring fire as a natural process and reducing fuel loads, the project will improve forest health and reduce the risk of future large fires. This effort is essential to safeguarding the Mill Creek watershed and ensuring the safety and well-being of local residents.
Local involvement is a cornerstone of the project. The WLHP actively seeks input from the community through public meetings, workshops, and engagement with entities like the South Lassen Watersheds Group, facilitated by Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. This collaborative approach ensures that the project reflects the needs and values of those who live in, and around, Mill Creek as well as other communities within the project footprint. Overall, the WLHP will help protect Mill Creek from future wildfires, restore the forest’s natural resilience, and improve the health of both the watershed and local community, benefiting wildlife and residents alike.
If you have questions about the project, please reach out to Vincent Vitale with Sierra Institute, at vvitale@sierrainstitute.us.
*The Sierra Institute is private, non-profit organization that promotes ecologically and economically healthy rural communities in forested areas. The Sierra Institute is working with the US Forest Service Lassen National Forest, Almanor District on projects related to recovery from the Dixie and Park Fires, ecosystem restoration and wildfire reduction and preparedness.
PG&E Activity in Mill Creek
PG&E has been removing trees in the homesite due to hazards to the power lines. PG&E tries to contact homeowners to be sure they are informed. PG&E work will continue into the Springtime. Please be sure your contact information with the HOA is current.
Update your contact information! Send updates to Mill Creek HOA Board secretary, Bill Loker, at wmml3@yahoo.com.
Community Spotlights
The Mill Creek Summer Homeowners Association recently established a Welcome Committee to help orient new cabin owners to the Mill Creek community and the policies in place to uphold community values. The Welcome Committee has posted a “Quick Start Guide” to Mill Creek on the community’s homepage.
Dumpster Use
The Mill Creek Cabin Owners’ dumpsters will return around May 1st (weather permitting!) Remember, the dumpster is for household garbage and trash only. No construction debris, old furniture, and no tires! Green Waste Tehama will charge us extra for tires and other inappropriate deposits. Consider taking recyclables (bottles, cans, cardboard) home with you. Also, never leave trash piled up around the dumpster. If the dumpsters are already full, (like 4th of July weekend), take your trash home with you.
Cleaning Lots
A fire wise reminder: All cabin lots must be cleared of debris 100 feet from all buildings and branches should be trimmed up to 6 ft from the ground by July 5 – the date of our Annual Meeting. More information is available at https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace. If you plan to burn debris: (1) be sure you have a safe place on your property to do so; (2) get a permit, available online; (3) follow all Tehama County regulations and never burn on a red flag day. Call 530-527-3717, option 4 to find out if burning is allowed on any given day. Never leave a burn pile unsupervised! As an alternative to burning, debris can be hauled away to the Chester dump.
Water Board Update – Tom Childers- Water Board Chair
The Water Company board and manager had concerns about ground stability above our springs after the fire in August. With the help of the Forest Service, wattles have been installed to mitigate erosion, and they are working well. There have been no significant issues with the water system so far this winter.
We have also been following the progress of the West Lassen Headwaters Project and have informed the team of the sensitivity of our groundwater supply, and our concerns about using defoliant chemicals anywhere above or around our springs and our community.
VERY IMPORTANT: Whenever you leave your cabin after a visit, turn off your main water valve. Please notify the Water Company as soon as possible about any difficulties with the water system: a break, a loss of pressure, or no water at your cabin. All these things may indicate a far bigger issue with the water system.
WATER FLAGS: Water flags are posted on street signs along Highway 172
- Blue or NO flag – water quantity is sufficient and is SAFE to use
- Yellow flag – water is safe, but reduced supply, need to CONSERVE
- Red flag – BOIL water until flag is removed
- Black flag – DO NOT USE WATER
Architectural Review Board Update
The Architectural Review Board is tasked with overseeing and approving any building, repair or replacement to the cabins in our community. If you are planning any exterior projects, please visit the ARC section of the website to submit an application. Feel free to reach out to a member of the committee with any questions or concerns.
- Craig Faniani: cfaniani@pacbell.net (chair)
- Mark Murphy: troutman53@gmail.com
- Pat Gleason: pgelason132@gmail.com
Roads Update
Soon the snow will melt, and our Mill Creek community roads will be fully accessible. Please remember that we fund our road repair and replacement with our membership dues which means we need everyone’s help to keep them in good condition. We have secured funds from PG&E to repair a large pothole caused by their contractors on Birch and will be evaluating other areas that need attention this Spring. As traffic increases in the community, please remember that our roads are multi-use (walking, biking, etc.) so drivers are asked to drive cautiously and keep speeds under 10 mph.
Mill Creek Resort Updates
Mill Creek Resort has a property cleanup and tree planting event coming up. The resort would love to spread the word to the community. It will be held on April 19th from 10-3pm with potluck to follow. Click the links for a flyer and to RSVP. Event Details RSVP HERE
Current events calendar for Mill Creek Resort, which includes the gatherings planned for this summer, can be found at the following link: Mill Creek Calendar
Quick Reminders
- Quiet time is between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Please respect your neighbors.
- Dogs must be under control at all times. Please don’t let them chase wildlife.
- Make sure guests understand the rules regarding noise, bright lights at night, water conservation, and disposal of garbage.
- Septic systems should be checked and monitored on a regular basis.
- Never leave a campfire unattended!
Mark your calendar!
Event |
Date |
How to participate |
Board Meeting |
April 22, 2025 | Agenda and Zoom link will be posted on the website and emailed to members. |
Annual Meeting of Members |
Saturday,
July 5, 2025 |
In person meeting for all members. Agenda will be posted on the website and emailed to members. |
Mineral-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department Pancake Breakfast & 4th of July Parade |
Sunday,
July 6, 2025 |
Donate a raffle prize, participate in the parade, and enjoy breakfast. |
Labor Day Potluck |
Sunday,
August 31, 2025 |
Watch your email for more information! |
About us
Current Mill Creek Summer Homeowners Association Board Members
Betsy Karle, Cabin 93, President betsymkarle@gmail.com
Sandi Kolakowski, Cabin 9, Vice President, dskola@comcast.net
Mark O’Sullivan, Cabin 121, Treasurer, legfixer@hotmail.com
Bill Loker, Secretary, Cabin 40, wmml3@yahoo.com
Kathy Carpenter, Cabin 66, kathycarpenter63@gmail.com
Mill Creek Summer Homeowners Association website: https://www.millcreeklassen.com
Mill Creek Summer Homeowners Association email: