The Angeles and San Gorgonio Chapters
joined together in 2001 to form a new task force to work on conservation issues in the
Cleveland National Forest. Called the Santa Ana Mountains Task Force, the
group will have the Trabuco District of the Cleveland National Forest as the
heart of it's area of interest, but some private lands adjoining the Forest
will be included when appropriate. Top on the "to do" list of the
Task Force (SAMTF) are five projects of intense Sierra Club interest.
The
campaign by Riverside County to alleviate the traffic situation on the SR 91
between Corona and the SR 55 culminated in an eighteen month, $3 million
Major Investment Study(MIS) by OCTA and the Riverside County Transportation
Commission to select a means to solve this traffic problem. SAMTF policy is
that there should be no additional or improved roads over, or tunnels under,
the Santa Ana Mountains, that mass transit by rail and express bus through the
SR 91 corridor should be used to solve the problem, and that Riverside County
should increase industrial and commercial concerns in Riverside County.
SAMTF representatives have attended the Stakeholders Committee of the MIS and
spoken out in favor of the above policy. The MIS is slated to announce their
preferred alternative in December 2005. SAMTF and other environmental
organizations are now trying to form a coalition to support our policy.
A plan is underway to build a
hydropower plant and 150-acre reservoir in upper Morrell Canyon in the Forest.
This area is really pristine and has a large grove of native oak trees. It
also would be immediately adjacent to the San Mateo Wilderness Area and
visually impact the Wilderness. The plans have also included a proposal to
build an electric power transmission line through the Forest. We will work
with the Forest Service, the local water district and the CPUC to stop these
projects.
Update of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the
Cleveland Forest. This Update is done every 10-15 years and guides the Forest
Service on its management of the Forest. Our goal is to work with the Forest
Service and make a substantial input to this Update as it evolves.
SAMTF is
working with the California Wild Heritage Campaign to add four areas of
Wilderness in the Trabuco District; Ladd Canyon, Coldwater Canyon, Morrell
Canyon and the Sitton Peak addition. The Trabuco District is relatively
small, 164,000 acres as Forest Districts go, and is hemmed in by rapidly
developing urbanization on three sides. Wilderness is the best protection
for our wild areas.
Contact Paul Carlton (949-661-9505), e-mail
Paul Carlton,
Jay Matchett (714-730-7730), e-mail Jay
Matchett, or Gene Frick (909-
609-0997), email Gene Frick.
