The Newsletter of
the Conservation Committees, Angeles
Chapter, Sierra Club
The Conservation Committees provide
forums for Club members to discuss impending conservation issues and to
coordinate efforts of conservation subcommittees with groups and sections.
They meet monthly every third Tuesday Orange County) and third Wednesday
(Angeles Chapter). Contact the Conservation Committee Chairs by the end
of the previous month for a place on the agenda. Deadline or newsletter
articles is 10 days before the first meeting. Email
items or articles to Robin Ives, Editor, at ivesico@earthlink.net
Quote of the Month
The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to (the earth the earth which bore us and sustains us), the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need—if only we had the eyes to see.
Edward Abbey
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Reply to Representative George
Radanovich’s Attack on the Sierra Club Built prior to establishment of the National Park Service, the Memorial Lodge served as Yosemite's first visitor center, providing information to new arrivals in the valley. During the 1920s, renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams served as caretaker of the lodge each summer for several years. It is truly a remarkable place, one that welcomes and inspires thousands of Americans, but apparently only incurs the wrath of a congressman hellbent on discrediting and harming the Sierra Club.
Threatens Park
Last month, by a one-vote margin, the House Resources Resources Committee passed a bill (HR 2715), sponsored |
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BLM
Plans for Alaskan Oil Coastal
Commission Supported Environmental Resolution Passed:
Desert Comm Report
Housing Project Approved for Newport Beach Wetlands Illegal
Wetlands Destruction at Ballona New
Member Recruitment
Angeles Chapter Conservation Mgmt Committee
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by Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa, that would pose grave threats to Yosemite National Park. One of the most controversial provisions of his bill would remove the LeConte Memorial Lodge. The congressman's motives for doing this are highly suspect
In a letter sent to me and several members of the press, Rep. Radanovich admits the immense values of the memorial: "I'm sure that the curator and volunteers that staff the lodge provide a legitimate and valuable service to the public and are dedicated in their service to visitors."Rep. Radanovich cannot ignore that the memorial welcomes 15,000 visitors every year—visitors who come from all over the world to participate in lectures, nature walks and musical performances free of charge.
Rep. Radanovich's main objection concerns the "Sierra Club sign in front of the lodge" because he has personal differences with the Sierra Club on matters unrelated to this public facility. Ironically, if the memorial were used solely for private purposes or threatened the ecological integrity of an area, the Sierra Club would have advocated that the lodge be moved long ago.
The Sierra Club formerly owned a campground at Tuolumne Meadows that was voluntarily turned back to the park service because we thought a private use that excluded the public was inappropriate inside a national park. We removed a ski hut at Donner Summit because it was just inside a wilderness boundary.
For the congressman, having the spotlight on LeConte Memorial Lodge serves as a convenient distraction from the other controversial provisions in his bill to prohibit funds for shuttle buses, to put campgrounds back into sensitive, flood-prone areas and to vastly increase vehicle traffic, parking and air pollution in Yosemite Valley.
His Plan
These changes contradict Yosemite's 1980 General Management Plan, which had broad public input and was widely accepted as a giant step forward in how the park should be managed.
That plan sought to reclaim priceless natural beauty, reduce traffic congestion, allow natural processes to prevail, reduce crowding, and promote visitor understanding and enjoyment. The bill also rejects a key element of the 2000 plan, which wisely opted for relocating campsites washed out in a previous flood outside of the floodplain. Rep. Radanovich, who doesn't like the findings, wants to script his own plan for the park.
Rep. Radanovich's latest attack on the valley plan would take Yosemite back toward an era of more pavement and congestion, negatively impacting both the natural resources and the visitor experience. Rep. Radanovich simply doesn't get it. Americans love Yosemite National Park. They overwhelmingly support reduced traffic and moving campgrounds away from the floodplain. They support reducing commercialism and crowds in the valley.
And, above all, they don't want a vindictive politician employing blackmail and other bully tactics to realize his political ambitions. In waging this battle, Rep. Radanovich obscures the truth and plays politics with a historic landmark that is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.
'Political Hostage'
It's sad that Rep. Radanovich has chosen to pick a fight with the Sierra Club rather than address important stewardship issues in one of America's most treasured National Parks. The historic and beloved LeConte Memorial Lodge should not become a political hostage. Americans deserve better.
In a questionable last minute appointment by Davis, Northcoast timber lobbyist and Davis fundraiser Doug Bosco was named to the California Coastal Conservancy. The Conservancy plays a critical role in protecting coastal wetlands and watersheds and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last thirty years providing acquisition and restoration funds to land trusts and nonprofit community organizations. Bosco's claim to fame is his ability to steer public dollars toward his business clients. As early as 1994, consumer activist Ralph Nader, noting his $180,000 annual lobby salary paid by Pacific Lumber Co., called Bosco a "tool of the timber industry."
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
Terry Tamminen, head of Environment Now and an "unabashed tree hugger" will head the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA). Tamminen's appointment was universally praised by environmentalists, although it was quickly apparent that he is to be surrounded by anti-environmental polluters. Following Tamminen's appointment, Schwarzenegger appointed Pacific Lumber Executive James Branham as Cal-EPA Undersecretary and Maureen Gorsen at Cal-EPA Deputy Secretary. Pacific Lumber is known for violating more timber harvest practice laws than any other tree-cutting firm in state history. Gorsen is a LA lawyer who counsels corporations and developers on how to avoid environmental compliance laws.
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
In what should be an agenda topper for establishing new Governor Schwarzenegger's priorities, the Public Policy Institute of California has just released a new survey that demonstrates, once again, overwhelming public support for coastal protection and the Coastal Commission. Support for coastal protection in California is so high, the report shows, that 69% of those surveyed support protecting the last open coastal land, even if it causes housing costs to rise. Similarly, 77% support protection of the last coastal wetlands, even if it means decreased commercial and recreational opportunities. And, 38% of those asked believe the Coastal Commission is not strict enough in protecting the coast. (31% said the Commission is just about right, and only 11% answered that the Commission is too strict on developers.)
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
Malibu Residents Crush Measure M
The results are in and Jerold Perenchio's efforts to develop downtown Malibu are, at least temporarily, dead. Measure M, the effort by billionaire developer Perenchio to construct hundreds of thousands of feet of new retail and office buildings in downtown Malibu, along with a giant taxpayer subsidized sewage treatment plant, went down in ball of flames, with 58% of voters saying no and only 41% of residents willing to welcome more traffic, pollution and development. Malibu environmentalists cheered and declared the victory just the first step toward 2004 City Council elections, where they intend to replace the City Council-members who used City Hall to push for the development.
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
Coastal Commission Approves Residential Housing
Project
in Wetlands for Newport Beach
On November 5, 2003, the Coastal Commission again reviewed the proposal to build a seniors’ housing project in Newport Beach, Orange County. The project had been postponed in July in order to more fully evaluate and protect several wetlands on the site. Previously, the project had consisted of three buildings and 150 units across 15 acres located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Streets in the City of Newport Beach. In the interim the project had been revised and reduced to consist of two 3-story buildings and 120 units, a community center, administrative offices, a pool/patio area and 146 parking spaces on the lower 5 acres of the property with a park and bike path on the upper 10 acres of the property. In addition, 38,162 cubic yards of grading was proposed (reduced from the original 100,000 cu. yards of grading).
Controversy involved delineation and protection of three wetlands discovered on the property. Previously the City and developer had argued that no wetlands whatsoever existed. When coastal staff and the Commission's biologist Dr. John Dixon concurred with Sierra Club scientists that wetlands plants, soils and water were indeed present, the City then set about their own wetlands delineation aimed at diminishing the importance of the now confirmed wetlands.
Interestingly, the scientist hired by the City was Charles Newling, a wetlands scientist from Poolesville, Maryland and Tacoma, Washington. Among other things, Newling disagreed with California's long established wetlands protection protocol and analysis, namely, that the presence of wetlands plants, soils or ponding water is evidence of wetlands. Newling argued that instead of using California's wetlands identification protocol, the Commission should abandon our standard and adopt his preferred US Army Corps. of Engineers standard, which requires the presence of two or even all three factors, including up to 30 days ponding. Essentially, wetlands scientist Newling asked the Commission to find that nearly all California wetlands are not wetlands at all.
Newling demonstrated no familiarity with California wetlands or California's dry, arid frequently droughted climate. Weirder yet, Newling was described as Dr. Dixon's former teacher. The City had apparently scoured the entire United States and located a former professor of the Commission's biologist!
With respect to the wetlands at the project site, the City agreed to preserve two of the three wetlands. However, with respect to "wetland area C" the City relied on Newling's claim that despite a variety of obligate wetlands plants for him there was insufficient water and unfavorable soils. Ta-da, not a wetland.
Newling visited the site once, on August 5, 2003. Not surprisingly for the middle of summer, the site was dry. Unfortunately, Newling's analysis appeared to influence Dr. Dixon, who found that even though wetland plants in Area C were the best on the entire site, they just weren't wet enough and the soils just weren't hydric enough.
Dixon's conclusion, while useful, is not the Commission's standard. Nor is it the law in California, where the existence of wetlands plants in coastal zone wetlands is conclusive evidence of the wetlands' existence.
The Sierra Club urged the Commission to strike Newling's report and avoid any reliance on it whatsoever, given that it would undermine and compromise the entire California coastal wetland protection scheme.
Commission Wan sought to prohibit use of pesticides and herbicides in the adjacent park. Wan also asked about the grading, and if the upper bluff portion of the property would still be graded and how that would impact the Coastal Act's prohibition against significant landform alterations. Staff confirmed the City would still be cutting off the top 4-feet of the bluff, but that additional grading originally proposed to improve views of Newport Bay from the highway had been abandoned.
Commissioner Nava, addressing Newling's analysis, asked that the faulty report be struck from the staff report. Commissioner Executive Director Peter Douglas concurred that the report would be removed.
Commissioner Iseman addressed the parking issue, and urged that the age of residents be raised from a proposed 55 to 62 or even 65 on the grounds that older people tend to have fewer cars and the project would therefore need less parking. The developer agreed to raise the age limit of residents to 62 years old. Commission Chair Reilly opposed the new wetlands standard, and the project itself.
Commissioner McClain-Hill then moved that the project be approved, and Commissioner Iseman provided the second.
A subsequent vote resulted in the approval of the project 7-4, with Commissioners Hart, McClain-Hill, Burke, Woolley, Potter, Iseman and Kruer in support and Commissioners Reilly, Nava, Wan and Desser in opposition.
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
CALTRANS Admits to Illegal Wetlands Destruction
at Ballona,
Yet Commission Fails to Protect Them
CalTrans admitted they destroyed wetlands at Los Angeles' Ballona wetlands in order to facilitate construction of the proposed Route 90 Highway extension in Marina Del Rey. CalTrans did the wetland kill after a long fought battle in front of the Coastal Commission (and a subsequent Sierra Club lawsuit) in which the Coastal Commission had specifically recognized and mandated that the wetlands in question be protected. CalTrans acted out against the vegetation following the Commission's approval of their project last summer.
What CalTrans didn't count on was that the wetlands would return with such vigor — the wetland area is now much larger than when CalTrans first attempted to annihilate them.
So last week CalTrans sought to avoid having to acknowledge the reality of yet more wetlands by first admitting to the original slaughter and then asking that the Commission permit CalTrans to fix and restore only that wetland area initially destroyed. In essence, CalTrans was asking for permission to destroy yet more wetlands — in the new area!
The Sierra Club's Ballona Wetlands activists asked the Commission why no penalties were being imposed on CalTrans for the deliberate wetlands wipe out?
More importantly, activists asked that the Commission not approve any CalTrans restoration and mitigation plans until a new wetlands delineation was completed to take account of the larger wetlands area.
Then a very curious thing happened. The Commission appeared poised to require a new delineation and require that all the wetlands be mapped and protected. Their staff said that it was a close call, so they had decided to save resources by not even going out to look at the new expanding wetlands. A discussion ensued about delegating authority to Commission biologist John Dixon to map the wetlands. Staff explained that normally the applicant, or CalTrans, would have to undertake the actual delineation and that Dixon could thereafter insure it was accurate.
Commissioner Wan then made the motion for the new delineation.
Then Commission ex officio member Rick Vargas of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency expressed frustration over a collateral issue—whether the wetlands destruction had occurred with power mower or just shovels. Vargas seemed to be arguing that it was a lesser crime to destroy wetlands by hand than by power machine. In the end all parties seemed to agree that regardless of the method, the wetlands vegetation had been "scrapped" to the soils.
Then no other Commissioner would second the Wan motion on the delineation. The motion failed.
Next thing the Commission approved the limited project unanimously. CalTrans will now be permitted to replant only the destroyed wetlands and not account for nor protect the new wetlands. Commissioners Desser, Hart, Iseman, Kruer, McClain-Hill, Nava, Potter, Wan, Woolley, Burke and Reilly all voted for CalTrans.
California Coastwatcher, November 2003
Bureau of Land Management Plans for Alaskan Oil
On Thursday, November 20, the Bureau of Land Management (under the auspices of the Department of the Interior) announced plans to move forward with the release of 8.8 million acres of Federal land in Northwest Alaska to the oil and gas industry for oil development. Apparently, the administration found in its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that this pristine wilderness is valuable only for its potential oil revenue, and not for the extraordinarily diverse wildlife currently residing there. While this decision strikes us as extremely reckless, short-sighted, and irresponsible, it is, alas, not surprising. The Bush administration's shameless efforts to turn millions of acres of public lands — including very sensitive wildlife habitats — into corporate favors appears to know no boundaries.
"If we are saying that the loss of species in and of itself is inherently bad, I don't think we know enough about how the world works to say that." Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of Interior (LA Times, Nov. 14, 2003)
This quote may look familiar, as it led off RAW issue #6 on November 19. While we at RAW prefer not to repeat ourselves in separate issues of this newsletter, we think this statement does a better job than we ever could of explaining how the Bush administration values the natural world when corporate dollar signs at stake. In this case, wildlife ranging from millions of migratory waterfowl and golden eagles to polar bears, caribou, and even potentially endangered bowhead whales take a backseat to black gold. And the oil gained will be a drop in the bucket compared to what we could save with even the most modest energy conservation goals.
The Department of Interior must wait until the end of December to finalize this decision, so while the Bush administration's agenda is clear, it technically not yet set in stone. It should come as no surprise, however, that the Bush administration ignored over 95,000 Americans who strongly opposed drilling here.
(From RAW, the Sierra Club's twice weekly email update to further equip you in the ongoing effort to educate and inform others of the devastating breadth and ferocity of the Bush administration's assault on our environment.)
Membership in the Sierra Nevada Alliance (Robin Ives)
The Angeles Chapter will renew its annual $100 membership in the Sierra Nevada Alliance.
[ackground, arguments for and again have been deleted from the on line version.]
OMB Says Environmental Laws Pay Off
The Office of Management and Budget (a body charged with evaluating the economic impact of legislation—overseen by the White House) released a report stating that environmental standards return benefits five to seven times greater than their costs.
The study found that during the past decade the public saved at least $146 billion through fewer hospital visits, lower medical costs, and work days that might have been lost. Industry, meanwhile, paid between $36 billion to $42 billion to meet the more stringent rules. This does not factor in economic benefits of lower costs for resource rehabilitation and resource loss as well as aesthetic values.
If Mr. Bush would, for a minute, drop his obsession with his pas de deux with industry (he need not shed his wand, tiarra, or tutu) and do some reading produced by his own White House bookkeepers; he may find himself rethinking some of his positions. Would he stop dismantling environmental protections? Probably not. Hope (or fantasy) lives.
Read the report at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/regpol-reports_congress.html.
"The US Forest Service made an intensive effort in the 1950s and 1960s to kill porcupines, one of the Pacific Fisher's preferred prey items. The rational was that porcupines kill small trees. The program was successful, and porcupine density has been drastically reduced. As a result, the small trees are now the targets of the fuels treatments, and the Fisher has declined throughout most of the Sierra Nevada."
From a US Forest Service Report
Saturday, December 13, starting at 9 am
Topics:
Join us for a joint meeting of the Angeles Chapter’s Forest Task Force and the Southern California Forests Committee on Saturday, December 13, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Sierra Club offices on Wilshire Blvd.John Monsen and Bill Corcoran will give us a progress report on the newly launched Southern California Forests Campaign, the outreach program to make our voices heard in shaping the long-range plans for the four national forests in Southern California. Learn how we can all help in the months ahead.
The recent wildfires that burned through parts of our national forests left a cleanup and restoration job, and questions about reducing future fires. Hear about some of the efforts and plans.
The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter offices are at 3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 320. The meeting is open to all Sierra Club members and parking is free. Bring a sack lunch or you can make a quick trip to a local take-out restaurant between noon and 1 p.m. Contact Don Bremner at donbremner@earthlink.net, or Joyce Burk at joyceburk@earthlink.net for details.
Suggested Ways to Recruit New Members
Every Sierra Club entity should have a series of activities for new members. Activities should stress "entry level" type activity that requires no experience.
Entry Level Activities:
New Member Meetings can serve as activist recruitment.
Action Directory
Sierra Club Legislative Hotline: (202) 675-2394
Sierra Club National: (415) 977-5500
Sierra Club Sacramento Legislative Office: (916) 557-1100; fax (916)
227-9669
Sierra Club World Wide Web: http://www.sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Vote Watch Website: http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/
White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111
White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461
President George W Bush president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Dick Cheney: vice-president@whitehouse.gov
White House Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
To contact your senators: Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510 http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
To contact your representative: House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515
http://www.house.gov/writerep
California Capitol Switchboard: (916) 322-9900
The Conservation
Committee Newsletter, now electronic,
is sent automatically and free electronically to all activists
who hold any of the following positions in the Angeles Chapter or its entities
(and on email):
Executive Committee Member
Entity Chair, Conservation Chair, Political, and Newsletter Editor
Conservation Subcommittee or Task Force Chair
In addition, many activists throughout the Chapter and state receive it by email free, either by request or by position. Distribution is approximately 350 by email, and 43 by hard copy.
If you no longer hold the Club office with the automatic pull and wish to continue to receive it, email ivesico@earthlink.net
The Newsletter (without upcoming resolutions) is available on the Chapter website at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/home.html
Paper postal copy is available (for a fee) for those who are technically challenged or simply don't want to be bothered. To receive The Newsletter by first class mail, send a donation of $20/year to (almost) cover printing/mailing costs (payable Angeles Chapter) to Conservation Newsletter, 112 Harvard Ave PMB 297, Claremont CA 91711.
Some AOL.com subscribers have reported difficulty receiving the full text of the Conservation Newsletter. The following message was distributed by the Sierra Club list serves: "Due to recent spam filter changes by AOL, "some" (by no means all) messages to "some" (again "not all") AOL subscribers were not delivered by AOL. Lists with only a few dozens subscribers were mostly unaffected." National is in the process of reconfiguring their systems and lists in a way that they hope will prevent AOL from incorrectly considering our messages to be spam. The best way to determine if you have not received messages is to have a look at the "web archives" of your list at : http://lists.sierraclub.org/archives/index.html. Complaints should be addressed to aol.com.
National's GoldBook provides information to chapters and groups on
plus much, much, more material on the Sierra Club.
It is now available at the Clubhouse
website. Go to http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org;
follow the instructions for obtaining the password. The GoldBook can
be found by clicking on A - Z List of Materials box, then on "G" under A-Z
List of Documents, then on GoldBook, Educational Project Guidelines.
California/Nevada Regional Directory (RedBook)
is now available free in electronic form (html), with extensive linking
of information. The paper edition ($20 each) is available on special order.
The electronic version is updated continuously, and will be re-distributed
on demand. Both hard and electronic copy are available only from Lori
Ives. Contact her for details.
Sierra Club California's GreenBook,
the handbook of bylaws and standing rules, is available (in Word).
Contact Lori for this also.
Weeknights: You may park free inside the building after 5:30 pm. Be prepared to show your membership card or one of our parking passes, available at the front desk in the Chapter office. Take a ticket when you enter through the gate; present it at the parking office near the elevators, and sign it. The ticket machine at the front gate may be turned off after 6 pm. If so, buzz the attendant and say you are going to a Sierra Club meeting. There is no entry after 8 pm.
Visitor parking on Saturday is limited to 8 am to 4 pm inside the building with attendant on duty. Arrangement for Sunday parking inside for Sierra Club meetings is pending at press time. Linda Hoyer
E-Mail Lists:
There are four important discussion lists for Angeles environmental
activists:
Angeles Chapter Cons Listserve angeles-conservation@lists.sierraclub.org
Angeles-Alerts Listserve angeles-alerts@lists.sierraclub.org
California/Nevada Listserve calif-activists@lists.sierraclub.org (moderated list for announcements)
California/Nevada
Listserve calif-activists-forum@lists.sierraclub.org
(unmoderated discussion list)
Subscribe to California Activists:
calif-activists-request@lists.sierraclub.org
Subscribe to California Activists Forum: calif-activists-forum-request@lists.sierraclub.org
For both lists, send your name, email address, Sierra Club membership
number, your position in Club (how are you active?)
Subscription is processed by one of the list owners,
usually the same day.
Subscribe to Angeles-Alerts: email listserv@lists.sierraclub.org
with the message "subscribe angeles-conservation"
or "subscribe calif-activists" or "subscribe angeles-alerts" Note:
it's "listserv," not "listserve."
To leave a list, send an e-mail to listserv@lists.sierraclub.org
In the text of your message (not the subject line), write: "signoff
calif-activists" or "signoff angeles-conservation" or "signoff angeles-alerts"
Extraordinary Orange County Events
**NEW** MON, DEC 15 -- Deadline for articles for the Orange County Edition insert in the February Southern Sierran. The insert will cover three months. Please also send any hi-res pictures you may have to Bob Hansen (949) 586-4928.
SAT, JAN 10, 1-4PM -- Rally for the Headlands, Dana Cove Room, Dana Point Youth and Group Facility, Dana Point Harbor. Contact Celia Kutcher.
WED, JAN 14 OR THURS JAN 15 -- California Coastal Commission Public Hearing re: Dana Point Headlands, Montage Resort, Laguna Beach. Contact Celia Kutcher. Also, Laguna Beach LCP. Contact Penny Elia.
Angeles
Chapter Conservation Management Committee
Angeles Chapter Grants Committe
Gordon LaBedz/Chair 562-494-6368
Bonnie Sharpe/Vice Chair/Grants Chair, Jay Matchett/Treasurer, Jeff Yann/Secretary,
Robin Ives/Newsletter
Judy Anderson, Faramarz Nabavi, Lynne Plambeck, Rudy Vietmeier
Lori Ives, Publisher/Webmaster/Circulation (Non-voting)
Johanna Zetterberg; Rachel Myers, Conservation Coordinators (Non-voting)
Motions should be submitted in advance, together with objective background material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor, for distribution with the agenda. Other motions will be postponed for action at a later meeting unless the motion is submitted in writing and unless the Committee votes an exception to ordinary procedure. Motions needing further action by the Angeles Chapter ExComm or some higher level of the Sierra Club should start out: "The Angeles Chapter Conservation committee recommends that the Sierra Club...
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 320, Los Angeles CA 90010-1904
The Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee
will not meet in December, 2003
Next meeting is January 21
Grants deadline is Friday, January 23, 2004
Orange County Conservation Committee
Orange County Agenda - December 16, 2003
Inn at the Park in Irvine
From the north, come down 405 to 73 and off at University. Turn left
and pass Campus and turn right on Harvard. Follow Harvard as it bends; look
for Marquette. The Inn is at 10 Marquette, on the corner of Harvard and
Marquette behind a steel fence.
From the south, get off 405 at Culver and go left. Follow Culver
past Michelson and University and turn right on Harvard. Take Harvard to
Marquette. It's on your right.
7:00 Welcome, Introductions, Approval of Agenda
7:10 Approval of Minutes for 11/18/03
7:20 Announcements/Old Business
7:25 RESOLUTION regarding a segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Regional Bikeway through the O'Neill Regional Park wilderness area. (Opposition to Paved Trails in the Arroyo Trabuco Wilderness
The Orange County Conservation Committee recommends that the Sierra Sage Group Executive Committee adopt a resolution opposing the pavement of trails (bike or other) in the Arroyo Trabuco Wilderness, which lies within O'Neill Regional Park.
Background, arguments for and against deleted from the on-line version.
7:30 Special Guest Speaker: Jeff Yann, Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Task Force, will give a PowerPoint presentation on the San Gabriel River Campaign.
8:10 Joint meeting with the Orange County Open Space Campaign to discuss the video flyover and PowerPoint for our Orange County conservation campaigns. Deadline for Task Force Chairs to submit your info for the flyover is Dec 16.
8:50 Saddleback Canyons Task Force -- Rich Gomez/Gloria Sefton
9:00 Treasurer Report for 2003 - Jay Matchett
9:05 Adjourn
Next OCCC Meeting is Tuesday, January 20.
Conservation Committees Calendar
| DECEMBER 2003 | |
| Sat Dec
13 |
Combined Forest Task Force and Southern California Forests Committee. Chapter Office |
| Sat Dec 13 9:30 am | Friends of the Foothills Planning Meeting. Contact (949) 361-7534 |
| Sun Dec 14, 2:45 pm | Harbor Vision Task Force, 2nd Sun, San Pedro Public Library, 9th and Gaff |
| Tue Dec 16, 7:00 pm | Orange County Conservation Committee Meeting, Inn at the Park, 10 Marquette, Irvine (corner of Marquette and Harvard). Contact Gail Prothero, Chair. Jt Mtg with OC Open Space Campaign, Jay Matchett, Chair. (Coordinated media, video fly-over, powerpoint, OC Edition of Southern Sierran, etc.) |
| Wed Dec 17, 7:30 pm | !! CANCELLED !! Chapter Conservation Committee, 3rd Wed, Gordon LaBedz, GLaBedzMD@aol.com |
| Wed Dec 17, 7:15 pm | Santa Ana River Estuary and Bluffs Task Force, 3rd Wed, Terry (949) 548-5636 |
| Wed Dec 17, 7:30 pm | The Banning Ranch Park and Preserve Task Force regular monthly meeting. Contact Terry Welsh. |
| Wed Dec 17 7:00 pm | Friends of the Foothills Steering Committee. Contact Bill Holmes (949) 361-7534 |
| JANUARY 2004 | |
| Thu Jan 1 | Deadline for articles/calendar in the FebruarySouthern Sierran about our conservation efforts. Write up what you're doing, attach a digital photo, and e-mail to Dominique at /td> |
| Fri--Sun Jan 2-3-4 | Angeles Chapter Annual Retreat, Harwood Lodge. Contact Virgil Shields (213).387-4287 ext 260 messages |
| Mon Jan 5, 7:00 pm | Saddleback Canyons Task Force and Conservancy Mtg, Silverado Community Ctr. Contact Rich Gomez. |
| Thu Jan 8, 7:10 pm | OC Political Committee, 1st Thu, Unitarian-Universalist
Church, 25801 Obrero, Mission Viejo, Alex Mintzer (714) 288-2829 |
| Sat Jan 10 9:30 am | Friends of the Foothills Planning Meeting. Contact (949) 361-7534 |
| Sun Jan 11, 2:45 pm | Harbor Vision Task Force, 2nd Sun, San Pedro Public Library, 9th and Gaff |
| Mon Jan 12 | OC Native American Sacred Sites TF 2nd Mon, Rebecca Robles (949) 369-0361 |
| Mon Jan 12, 7:15 pm | Orange Hills TF, 2nd Mon, 217 E Chapman Ave, Orange, Chris (714) 606-0453, ckoontz@usc.edu) |
| Mon Jan 12, 7:30 pm | Transportation Subcommittee, 2nd Mon, Chapte Office |
| Mon Jan 12, 7:30 pm | Santa Monica Mountains TF, 2nd Mon, Chair Mary Ann Webster (310) 559-3126 |
| Tue, Jan 13, 7:30 pm | Air Quality/Global Warming/Energy SubCommittee, Chapter Office, Jan Kidwell (818) 506-8731 |
| Tues Jan 20, 7:00 pm | Orange County Conservation Committee, Inn at the Park, 10 Marquette, Irvine (corner of Marquette and Harvard). Contact Gail Prothero, Chair, gprothero@cox.net. Joint Meeting with Orange County Open Space Campaign Meeting, Jay Matchett, Chair.. (Coordinated media, video fly-over, powerpoint, Orange County Edition of Southern Sierran, etc. |
| Wed Jan 21, 7:30 pm | Chapter Conservation Committee 3rd Wed, Gordon LaBedz, GLaBedzMD@aol.com |
| Wed Jan 21, 7:15 pm | Santa Ana River Estuary and Bluffs Task Force, 3rd Wed, Terry (949) 548-5636 |
| Wed Jan 21, 7:00 pm | Friends of the Foothills Steering Committee. Contact (949) 361-7534 |
| Tue, Jan 27, 7:00 pm | Sierra Sage General Program on the Southern California Forests Campaign with guest speaker John Monsen. Unitarian/Universalist Church, Mission Viejo. Refreshments will be served. Contact Paul Carlton. |