Index - February 2005

Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park
Channel Islands Fundraising Trips
Chaparral Management
Community Town Meeting
Crystal Cove Report
Defend Clean Air
Furnace Creek Threat
Governmental Reduction Plan
"Healthy Forest" Plans Hemorrhage Red Ink
"John Muir in Yosemite" Quarter
Logging Plan Challenged
Oil on Ice House Parties
Organizational Changes Recommended
ORV Conference
Suit to Get Water in Lower Owens River
State of the Union Address

Environmental Resolution Passed (1/30/05): Dana Point Headland Resolution

Useful Information
Chapter Conservation Committees Calendar
Chapter Conservation Mgmt Committee
Chapter Conservation Grants Committee
Chapter Conservation Committee Agenda
Orange County Conservation Committee
Orange County Conservation Agenda

Who Speaks for the Chaparral?
by Richard W. Halsey

January 14, 2005

I live in San Diego County's wildland-urban interface, the fuzzy boundary between civilization and the natural landscape. I awaken each morning to a view of old-growth chaparral coating a nearby mountain like a carpet of green velvet.

The recent heavy rains have inspired an explosion of manzanita and ceanothus flowers to powder the hillsides. The first sound I usually hear is that of the wrentit, a secretive, little bird with a descending whistle that mimics the beat of a bouncing Ping-Pong ball.

This is my home, not in terms of ownership, but by providing a sense of place. Chaparral is distinctly Californian. It is our own native wilderness and defines who we are. Both the landscape and our lifestyle have been shaped by the same natural forces, drought and fire.

Yet many of us have unconsciously disconnected from the land in which we live because our hectic lives leave little room for such things. Hours on the freeway and trying to deal with everyday demands of civilization buries our innate love of nature with mountains of unfinished tasks, increased emotional tension and a sense of isolation.

Consequently, chaparral, our region's most characteristic wilderness, is viewed as something unknown, unimportant, and because of the 2003 fires, dangerous and in need of removal. The pejorative description of chaparral used in recent news stories reflects this perspective.

According to some reports, despite the large 2003 fires, "San Diego County still has tens of thousands of acres of brush and dead trees that could fuel wildfires." Funding from the so-called Healthy Forests Restoration Act would go to communities threatened by wildfires, "including chaparral-choked areas of San Diego County."

Old-growth chaparral stands are referred to as "decadent" or "scrub-invested savannas." It is time for all of us to get out of our cars, throw a rock through the television set, get outside and look around. Our landscape is being misrepresented and condemned. We need to come to its defense. This is not about hugging trees; it is about planning for the future.

Forget politics for the moment, and how you may view preservation efforts by environmental groups. Ask yourself, how much natural, Southern California heritage do we want remaining 100 years from now? Is the wildfire problem really about native shrubs or poor land planning? Do we really want to grind up and remove tens of thousands of acres of native landscape or do we need to help citizens understand they have a personal responsibility in maintaining a low-fire risk environment around their homes?

To answer these questions it is important to understand the truth about chaparral. Old-growth chaparral in excess of 100 years old is not trash. It remains a productive, dynamic ecosystem. There is no scientific evidence to support the notion that native shrublands have become "decadent" or unhealthy due to overgrowth. In fact, seeds of many chaparral plants actually require 30 years or more worth of accumulated leaf litter before they will successfully germinate.

Yes, many chaparral plant species require some fire cue for germination, but their seeds will survive in the soil until the next blaze, be it 30 years or 100 years from now. The idea that "chaparral-choked areas" are responsible for causing large fires is related to one of the most repeated misconceptions regarding the system: past fire suppression efforts have allowed an "unnatural" accumulation of brush. This belief is based on the misapplication of studies relating to dry ponderosa pine forests that have nothing to do with California shrublands.

There are seven major types of chaparral in San Diego County, each with its own growth cycle. The accumulation of dead and living plant material varies significantly between each type. Mixed chaparral on north-facing slopes can accumulate more plant mass in 10 years than a stand of chamise chaparral will on drier, south-facing slopes in 80 years. Shrubs grow. It is a natural process. Those that die are replaced by others.

Fire suppression is not responsible for this pattern and fires have not been excluded in the chaparral of Southern California. In fact, not only has the amount of acreage burned here per decade remained relatively unchanged for the past century, but fire frequency has been increasing in lockstep with population growth. This process is threatening to convert many of our native shrublands to desolate patches of non-native weeds.

Although sponsors of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act promoted the notion that dying trees fueled the 2003 fires, this was not the case. Of the total acreage burned in the 2003 firestorms, only 5 percent involved forested land. With 88 percent of the Cleveland National Forest composed of chaparral and related shrublands, the preserve is obviously misnamed. There is no question chaparral is extremely flammable, especially during dry weather conditions. It is a byproduct of the Mediterranean-type climate we enjoy so much.

However, the wildfire discussion needs to be refocused. We must begin to embrace the fact that we are part of nature. Our homes burn because we've allowed ourselves to forget our connection to the natural world. The chaparral is seen as the enemy when in fact it remains our last chance to reclaim Southern California's wildness and preserve the quality of life made possible by the region's natural, open spaces.

When we don't know someone, it is easier to create prejudicial caricatures. Dismissive generalities are easy. However, once we actually meet them, know their name and spend some time understanding their place in the world, it becomes impossible to ignore them as individuals.

The same applies to learning about places we are unfamiliar, places like the chaparral. Take some time this spring, which begins in California while much of the rest of the country is snowbound, and follow a trail into our local foothills. Learn some of the names and habits of our region's wild citizens. Take a deep breath and smell the sage-flavored air. Sit quietly and listen.

Better yet, bring along someone under 12 years old. Little people have an uncanny ability to help us remember what is really important. Welcome home.

(Halsey coordinates research through the Southern California Chaparral Field Institute (www.californiachaparral.com)).

Developer Proposes A Golf Course In Wilderness Park

The Los Angeles Times reported on January 17, that the developer of the beachside Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach has told county officials that he wants to build an “environmentally sensitive” golf course that would extend into Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. This wilderness park is a county-designated wildlife sanctuary, preserved for hikers and bikers. The developer proposes that Orange County lease or sell him part of this public land for an 18-hole golf course.

Environmentalists are concerned that this would set a dangerous precedent—the first time that wilderness land would be turned over to a developer.

"Here we are working so hard to preserve the land, and the county is considering ceding preserved land to a golf course," said Mary Fegraus, executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, that raised funds to set aside the 6,600-acre Laguna Coast Wilderness Park in Orange County. "It will destroy our credibility," she said. "How can people trust that preserved land will stay protected?"

In 1997, the county Board of Supervisors declared Aliso & Wood Canyons a wilderness park. To push forward with the golf course, the Montage would have to persuade the supervisors to redesignate Aliso & Wood Canyons, or a portion of it, as an urban regional park.

Host an Oil on Ice House Party!

Emboldened by the election, President Bush and his allies in Congress have renewed their call to open up the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The choice is clear. We can either put our nation's energy future in the hands of the oil companies or we can aggressively pursue a clean energy policy. On Saturday, March 12th, people will be getting together in homes across the country to watch the new Sierra Club documentary, Oil on Ice, a compelling new film that connects the fate of the Arctic Refuge and the communities that depend on it to the decisions America makes about energy policy.

Host Your Own Party! - Email us at global.warming@sierraclub.org if you are interested in hosting a house party. We'll send you a DVD of Oil on Ice and a host of materials to help you and your friends take action and move America towards energy freedom.

Owens Valley Committee Files Suit to Get Water
in the Lower Owens River

The Owens Valley Committee and the Sierra Club filed a petition for injunctive relief against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in January 14, 2005 with the Superior Court of California.

The lawsuit alleges that LADWP has failed to comply with the terms of a 1997 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would have rewatered approximately sixty miles of the Lower Owens River by June 2003. Among other things, the petition alleges that the current plan for the Lower Owens River Project restricts or eliminates the use of seasonal habitat flows to manage the health of the river, fails to describe adequate monitoring and adaptive management techniques to ensure the success of the project, doesn't follow consultants' recommendations for the project, reduces water flows to water habitat in the Delta Habitat Area, and includes no final monitoring plan for the project.

The suit notes that, although the City of Los Angeles acknowledged many years ago that groundwater pumping from 1970 to 1990 had caused significant environmental impacts, and although they agreed to the Lower Owens River Project as partial mitigation for some of that damage, LADWP continues to export water while mitigation projects languish. The suit seeks an order from the Court that would both require LADWP to meet its MOU obligations and to provide a plan for the Lower Owens River Project that would satisfy those obligations.

Off-Road Vehicle Conference — February 26 & 27

Come to the Joshua Tree Community Center on February 26 & 27 for an important citizen-driven conference on the growing problem of irresponsible ORV use on public and private lands. Join other concerned citizens and activists to share experiences, learn about some local successes in curbing abusive ORV use, and to discuss ways of bringing about improvement at the local, state and federal levels. Though this conference focuses on the ORV problems in the desert, folks from all communities are welcome.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Howard Wilshire, respected scientist and co-author of the landmark book: "Environmental Effects of Off-Road Vehicles: Impact and Management in Arid Regions"

When: Saturday (9:00 am to 6:00 pm) and Sunday (9:00 am to 12 noon), February 26 and 27, 2005 at the Joshua Tree Community Center.

Directions: Traveling east on Twentynine Palms Highway (highway 62) from Joshua Tree, turn left (north) on Sunburst and follow to the Sunburst Park Community Center on your right. Turn right and continue to the end of the driveway.

For Conference Information, or to Register, please contact Byron Kahr, 951-781-1336, email byron@calwild.org <mailto:byron@calwild.org>

Little Hoover Commission Testimony

by Bill Allayaud, Sierra Club California State Director

Government Reduction Plan #1 includes the elimination of:

Boating and Waterways Commission; Colorado River Board; Electricity Oversight Board; Board of Forestry and Fire Protection; Board of Geology; High Speed Rail Authority; Integrated Waste Management Board; Interagency Aquatic Invasive Species Council; Off Highway Motor Vehicle Commission; Pilot Commissioners for SF, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays; State Mining and Geology Board; Seismic Safety Commission; Reclamation Board; Recreational Trails Commission; Structural Pest Control Board; Water Commission.

The Legislature must accept or reject the reorganization plan as a whole. So, if there is one commission, like Forestry, they really don't want to see eliminated, they reject the plan, and therefore "save" all the other boards and commissions too. The Governor could come back with specific legislation or a different reorganization plan if one is rejected.

Basic reasons to reject this plan:

1. This will not save California taxpayers much money.
2. This will reduce public input, allowing bureaucrats (some of which are no doubt competent, other who are too sympathetic to big business) to make decisions behind closed doors in Sacramento.
3. For the most part, there is no analysis to support these proposals (you can look back to the CPR report for some of them).
4. We are looking for more transparency and performance in government; these proposals will serve to bury decision further back into departments.

Furnace Creek Threat Escalates

The Inyo National Forest and Ridgecrest BLM are proposing to build a road through Furnace Creek — sacrificing a rare desert stream to accommodate less than a handful of motorcycles and ATVs a year!

Your comments are more critical than ever.

Background: Furnace Creek is a perennial desert stream draining the eastern slope of the White Mountains. This desert oasis of cottonwoods, willows, and desert wetlands has been seriously impacted by past off-road vehicle abuse. Furnace Creek has been protected by a hard won interim closure for the last year.

The Inyo National Forest & the Ridgecrest BLM have just released the long-awaited Environmental Assessment to determine the future of Furnace Creek. A cover letter accompanying the document states that the agencies believe that building a new road up this rare desert oasis is the best course of action!

To put the issue in perspective, less than 2% of the entire Inyo National Forest support the streamside and aquatic habitat (riparian) vital to nearly all wildlife! With over 8300 miles of road on public lands in the Eastern Sierra, there are plenty of places to drive, but very few places for deer to drink, birds to feed & nest, and countless aquatic creatures to live. Despite an abundance of places to drive and a scarcity of streams for desert wildlife, the agencies are proposing to sacrifice the critical ecological link of Furnace Creek in favor of a new road that will be used by less than 20 motorcycles and ATVs a year! For more background information and photos of Furnace Creek, please visit www.friendsoftheinyo.org.

Written Comments Needed by February 17!

Points for your letter:

Building a new road up Furnace Creek is unjustifiable. A new road through Furnace Creek will sacrifice this rare desert oasis to accommodate a tiny minority of off-road vehicle users. The road will cause permanent damage to rare habitat critical to desert wildlife. By building a road through this desert oasis, the agencies are placing promotion of off-road vehicle use over protection of our public lands!

There is no need for the Furnace Creek road. The agencies estimate that fewer than 20 vehicles a year drive in Furnace Creek. Anyone who has visited Furnace knows that this is a high estimate - there are 17 year old water birch and willow trees growing right where a route used to be. Why is the Forest proposing to build a road that they have stated is "not a cost effective use of federal or state funds" and will "likely wash out time and time again."

There are other places to drive, but only one Furnace Creek. With 200 miles of road along the eastside of the Whites and over 3500 miles of road on the Inyo National Forest, there is no need to sacrifice rare habitats like Furnace Creek for a handful of damaging recreational vehicles.

Building a new road up Furnace Creek will impact the Forest Service proposed Wilderness in the Whites as well as habitat for the Federally Threatened Paiute Cutthroat Trout. The Agencies erroneously claim that building a new road up a canyon that the Agencies acknowledge has been "impassible" for nearly 20 years will not impact the Forest Service proposed Wilderness beyond the natural closures. This new road will allow vehicles to tread deep into the wild heart of the Whites, impacting the Forest Service proposed wilderness and Paiute Cutthroat trout due to increased vehicle use and the illegal use that will undoubtedly follow.

Building a new road through locally-limited and critical habitat requires full study as an Environmental Impact Statement, not the current inadequate Environmental Assessment. Building a new road through this desert gem is serious and should receive full study. The current EA is inadequate. Early reviews indicate that it contains faulty wildlife information, much of which was derived without any credible studies in Furnace Creek. How can the Agencies propose to sacrifice the integrity of Furnace Creek if they don't even know what lives there?

Comments should be sent to comments-pacificsouthwest-inyo@fs.fed.us with FURNACE CREEK ROAD in the SUBJECT line.

Written comments should be sent to: Gary Oye, District Ranger, Furnace Creek Road Project, Inyo National Forest
351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514

For those who would like their own copy of the Furnace Creek EA, please call or email Rich Hatfield with the Inyo National Forest at 760-873-2452 or hatfield@fs.fed.us. The document is over 100 pages long.

Paul McFarland, 275 South Main Street, Suite C, Bishop California 93514, (760) 873-6400, www.friendsoftheinyo.org

Logging Plan Challenged in Giant Sequoia National Monument

Groups Point to Neighboring National Park for Better Way to Manage National Treasure

San Francisco, CA — Conservation organizations challenged the Bush administration's decision to log Giant Sequoia National Monument in federal court earlier today. The groups also encouraged the administration and the court to look to neighboring Sequoia National Park for a better way to manage the rare forest.

The Sierra Club, Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign, Earth Island Institute, Tule River Conservancy, Sequoia Forest Keeper, and Center for Biological Diversity jointly filed the complaint in San Francisco Federal District Court.

"These magnificent giant Sequoia forests are found nowhere else on earth," explained Bruce Hamilton, Sierra Club Conservation Director. "It makes no sense for the Bush administration to sacrifice such a spectacular national treasure. It also happens to be illegal."

Giant Sequoia National Monument boasts two-thirds of all the Sequoia redwoods in the world, with most of the remainder found in the adjacent National Park. The popularity and awe-inspiring beauty of the Sequoia forest and its wildlife led President Bill Clinton to permanently protect the forest as a National Monument under the Antiquities Act. Earlier, President George Bush Sr. had proclaimed the Sequoia groves off limits to commercial logging.

Earlier this month, the Bush administration officially reversed those policies by finalizing plans to allow what amounts to commercial logging in the Monument, including the prized Giant Sequoia groves. The administration's plan would allow 7.5 million board feet of timber to be removed annually from the Monument, enough to fill 1,500 logging trucks each year. This policy would include logging of healthy trees of any species as big as 30 inches in diameter or more. Trees that size can be as much as 200 years old.

"This plan opens up huge areas to logging and specifically targets trees big enough to sell, undermining the whole purpose of the Monument. The Bush administration is shirking its responsibility to current and future generations to take care of this ancient and treasured forest," added Carla Cloer, representing the Tule River Conservancy.

As a model for better management, the Sierra Club and others are asking the Bush administration to look to nearby Sequoia National Park, where innovative conservation and fire prevention strategies have reinvigorated the Sequoia groves and made nearby communities safer. "In stark contrast to the very successful management techniques used for decades by the National Park Service in the Sequoia National Park," reads the complaint, "[the Bush administration] approved a Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan... that would permit extensive logging and cause the degradation of old forest habitat and irreparable harm to the Monument’s wildlife, directly conflicting with the purposes of the Sequoia Monument."

"The plan proposed by the Forest Service reverts back to an outdated strategy that ignores the clear recommendations of fire scientists on the Monument Science Advisory Committee, that fire risk reduction is not about logging large trees," stated Craig Thomas, Director of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign.

To view maps of the areas within the Monument where logging will be permitted, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/sequoiaplan

Defend Clean Air

The Bush administration announced plans this week to remove large sections of the Clean Air Act and replace them with the industry-friendly "clear skies" initiative. Please take action yourself and forward this email to your friends and relatives, especially in other states.

The administration is promoting a plan that will actually result in more pollution than if we simply enforced the existing Clean Air Act. This so-called "clear skies" initiative will place communities at risk, particularly children and the elderly who are significantly threatened by air pollution.

The Bush administration's proposed plan will allow 520% more mercury pollution. The plan calls for loosening the cap on NOx (smog) which will allow 68% more NOx pollution. Finally, the Bush administration plan weakens protections to allow 4.5 million tons of SO2 (soot and acid rain) by 2010, allowing a 225% increase of SO2 pollution.

Despite election rhetoric claiming that he would put forth legislation that would address CO2 emissions, the Administration's plan fails to set any limit on carbon dioxide emissions. Instead the administration has called for a voluntary approach that will likely increase heat-trapping CO2 that causes global warming.

Send a message to President George W. Bush and your senators today, asking them to vote for truly healthier and cleaner skies by voting against this so-called "clear skies" initiative and keep the Clean Air Act intact.

US Mint, Governor Launch "John Muir in Yosemite" Quarter

United States Mint, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger And First Lady Maria Shriver Launch California Quarter Celebrating "John Muir, Yosemite Valley and California Condor"

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, 1/31/05 - United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore joined Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver at the California State History Museum to launch the California commemorative quarter-dollar today. The reverse design on the new quarter depicts naturalist and conservationist John Muir admiring Yosemite Valley's Half Dome. Soaring amid the scene is a California condor. The coin bears the inscriptions "California," "John Muir," "Yosemite Valley" and "1850."

"The California quarter honors California's varied and profound natural beauty and John Muir, whose appreciation for the State's dramatic landscape became his lifelong work and passion," said Director Fore. "Today and for many years to come, this quarter will remind us of California's promise and spirit."

Following the launch ceremony, coin collectors of all ages exchanged their coins and bills for rolls of California quarters. Peter the Mint Eagle, the United States Mint's mascot, was on hand to celebrate with the crowd.

The first quarter released in 2005, honoring California, is the 31st in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program. California was admitted into the Union on September 9, 1850, becoming our Nation's 31st State. In 1849, the year before California gained statehood, the family of 11-year-old John Muir emigrated from Scotland to the United States, settling in Wisconsin. In 1868, at the age of 30, Muir sailed up the West Coast and landed in San Francisco. He made his home in the Yosemite Valley, describing the Sierra Nevada Mountains as "the Range of Light... the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I have seen." He devoted the rest of his life to the conservation of natural beauty, publishing more than 300 articles and 10 books that expanded his naturalist philosophy.

1890, Congress established Yosemite National Park, and, in 1892, John Muir helped form the Sierra Club to protect it, serving as that organization's president until his death in 1914.

The California condor, with a wingspan as long as nine feet, is also featured on the coin in a tribute to the successful repopulation of the bird that was once nearly extinct.

Reaction to State of the Union Address
from Carl Pope, Executive Director

"While President Bush's State of the Union address indicated that he understands Americans want cleaner energy, his speech misrepresented the true thrust of his polluting energy initiatives. President Bush highlighted small parts of his energy plan while glossing over the unpopular centerpiece of his efforts—drilling for oil in special places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And his ludicrous assertion that nuclear power is "safe and clean" completely ignored the fact that there is still no way to safely transport and store nuclear waste.

"President Bush also failed to mention that strong enforcement of the existing Clean Air Act would do more to cut power plant pollution than his proposed legislation, which favors big energy companies. Similarly, while America does need energy policy that provides security while decreasing our oil dependence, the energy plan that Vice President Cheney developed behind closed doors with the energy industry will not get us there.

"We can free ourselves from dangerous nuclear power and the polluting industries of the past. We need to invest in modern, 21st century solutions that will produce real increases in efficiency, fuel economy and reliance on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. By investing in modern technology, America could cut its dependence on dirty fossil fuels while saving consumers money, preserving treasured places, and keeping our soldiers safe at home. We don't need to sacrifice Americans' lives, health or lands to meet our nation's energy needs.

“Healthy Forest” Plans Hemorrhage Red Ink

Green Alternatives Nixed Even Though Billions Cheaper

WASHINGTON -- January 31 -- The first national forest plans deeloped under the Bush administration’s “Healthy Forest” rules are big money losers for the taxpayer, according to agency documents compiled by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Plans from just three Rocky Mountain forests would cost in excess of $1.5 billion from unprofitable timber sales and associated expenses—an amount more than four times the total US commitment for tsunami relief.

In each case, the Forest Service rejected the “environmentally preferred alternative” identified in the required review under the National Environmental Policy Act even though the environmentally preferred alternative was significantly less costly. Instead, the Forest Service selected the more intensive and expensive alternatives favored by the timber industry. In the new zero sum budget reality, every dollar lost on the national forests is a dollar that cannot be spent on medical research, education and housing,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting the Bush administration promises to reduce discretionary domestic spending. Realistically, these ‘Healthy Forest’ plans are nothing more than healthy corporate subsidies at taxpayer expense.”

The forest plans cost so much because they involve vast “vegetation management” operations to clear out wide swathes of land in the name of fire and insect hazard management.” These sales lose money because taxpayers foot the bill for building roads and other operations that make the extensive logging possible.

For example—Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota has proposed an amendment of their Land and Resource Management Plan that would run up net losses of $969 million in the coming decade; Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest is proposing to eliminate more than three-quarters of its inventoried roadless area at a net loss of $218 million; and ONE single project, the East Fork Fire Salvage in Utah’s Wasatch-Cache National Forest, proposes to exacerbate already serious water quality and soil erosion problems by cutting dead trees at a final cost of $325 million to the taxpayer.

Even some of the smaller “Healthy Forests” salvage sales are lavishly expensive. For instance, the Duck Creek Fuels Treatment Project in Utah’s Dixie National Forest proposes to lose $10.9 million, or $5,000 for each and every “structure” (such as a retirement cabin) in the planning area.

“The environmentally preferred alternatives are greener in both an ecological and an economic sense,” Ruch added, pointing to logging roads as both expensive to build and maintain (with an estimated system-wide $8.4 billion backlog of in deferred maintenance) as well as the primary source of sediment in forest streams from erosion. “We already have more roads through our national forests than exist in the entire nation of Russia—386,000 miles in our forests versus 368,000 in Russia.”

For background information on the Forest Service’s money-losing timber program, see this “Green Scissors” report http://www.greenscissors.org/publiclands/timber.htm

February 2005 Community Town Meeting

Town Meeting: "Growing Pains: Health and Community Impacts of Goods Movement and the Ports"

Note: Jesse Marquez, Co-Chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter's Harbor Vision Task Force, will be speaking at this event.

Date: Friday, February 25 - Saturday, February 26, 2005

Location: First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach California

The Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (SCEHSC) at the University of Southern California will host a Town Meeting, "Growing Pains: Health and Community Impacts of Goods Movement and the Ports," to address some of the health, economic, environmental, and community issues that arise from global trade throughout the Southern California region.

It will focus on impacts on workers and residents near the Ports/rail yards/freeways/distribution centers. Speakers from diverse backgrounds will represent a wide range of stakeholders who have unique interests in international trade issues. The meeting will focus on the impacts of trade through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and its footprint throughout the region— in San Pedro/Wilmington/Long Beach, up the 710 Freeway, at the rail yards in Carson/Commerce/East LA/Inland Counties, at distribution centers... and more.

Sessions will also provide ideas for solutions to reduce air pollution, protect health, and improve the quality of life in affected communities. Attendees may participate in the discussions through open microphone sessions scheduled throughout the two days and through a workshop session on Saturday afternoon. Admission is free, but registration is required.

Contact Information: To register or get more information, see http://hydra.usc.edu/scehsc/TownMeeting2005 <http://hydra.usc.edu/scehsc/TownMeeting2005/index.asp>

Questions or Concerns? Contact scehsc@usc.edu or call Outreach Coordinator Alyce Belonis at (323) 442-2745.

Organizational Changes Recommended by SF Bay Chapter

The Executive Committee of the San Francisco Bay Chapter on December 13, 2004, adopted a resolution asking the National Sierra Club Board of Directors to reconsider its decision to eliminate the Regional Conservation Committees. We also stated our intention to work with Sierra Club California to continue the work of a California Conservation Committee without the RCC structure, if that should be necessary.

With the action by the National Club on RCCs, there is now an opportunity to strengthen the leadership and effectiveness of the Sierra Club at the state level, to address the urgent environmental problems facing California. To that end, we recommend the following changes in by-laws and procedures that would, we believe:

• Establish an active conservation program in Sierra Club California, in addition to its current lobbying program.
• Streamline the statewide organization so that it is more understandable and accountable to Sierra Club members and chapters.
• Enhance member and chapter participation in the annual convention and the issue committees.

Environmental Resolution Passed by Angeles ExComm (1/30/05)

Dana Point Headlands

The Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club recommends to the National Legal Committee that the Sierra Club join the lawsuit on the Dana Point Headlands.

Channel Islands Fundraising Cruises
Proceeds will benefit the chapter political committees. To reserve space, send a check for $100 payable to Sierra Club, & SASE to leader, Joan Holtz, 11826 The Wye, El Monte CA 91732. For more information, call Joan or Don (626) 443-0706 or email jholtzhln@aol.com.

National Park and Marine Sanctuary/Whales, Pinnipeds, and Wildflowers (March 17-21 $650). This 4-day, 4-island cruise will visit San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa Islands aboard the 65’ twin diesel Truth, departing from Santa Barbara on Friday, March 18 returning Monday afternoon, March 21.  A ranger/naturalist will travel with us to lead hikes and to point out whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions, as well as numerous species of birds. The islands should be ablaze with wildflowers this time of year. Kayakers welcome. Photographers will enjoy the “magic hours” in the seas that surround these pristine islands.The cruise is strictly informal. Each guest will have an assigned a bunk equipped with a privacy curtain and a reading light. The cost includes bunk, sumptuous meals and snacks, & guide. Guests are encouraged to board the boat Thursday evening, March 17, in preparation for a 4:00 am departure.
  
Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary/Whales, Pinnipeds, and Wildflowers (April 29-May 1 $470). This 3-day, 3-island fundraising cruise will visit San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands aboard the 65’ twin diesel Truth, departing from Santa Barbara on Friday, April 29 returning Sunday afternoon May 1. A ranger/naturalist will travel with us to lead hikes and to point out whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions, as well as numerous species of birds. The islands should be ablaze with wildflower this time of year.  Kayakers welcome.  Photographers will enjoy the “magic hours” in the seas that surround these pristine islands. The cruise is strictly informal.  Each guest will have an assigned a bunk equipped with a privacy curtain and a reading light.  The cost, $470, includes bunk, sumptuous meals and snacks, & guide.  Guests are encouraged to board the boat Thursday evening, April 28, in preparation for a 4:00 am departure.

Whates, Pinnipeds, and Wildflowers. Island Hopping in the Channel Islands National Park (August 26-30 $775). Here is your chance to join us in a visit to all five islands of Channel Islands National Park. This 5-day, 5-island trip departs from Santa Barbara on the twin diesel Truth early Friday morning, August 26, returning Tuesday afternoon, August 30.  All participants are encouraged to board the boat Thursday, August 25 to facilitate an early Friday morning departure. Each island is unique and offers its own special charm.  San Miguel for its white, sandy beaches & huge congregation of elephant seals; Santa Rosa for its rare Torrey Pines forest; Santa Cruz for high mountains, deep valleys & the famous Painted Cave; Anacapa for the west coast brown pelican rookery, steep cliffs, a picturesque lighthouse, and excellent snorkeling waters; tiny, but pristine, Santa Barbara Island for rocky shores home to a colony of friendly sea lions and a rolling grassy landscape shelter for a plethora of sea and land birds. All islands have rugged shorelines, dotted with sea caves, & inhabited by an abundance of wildlife. This cruise will be strictly informal.  Each guest will be assigned a bunk with reading light and privacy curtains. The price, $775, includes sumptuous meals, snacks, and guided tours.  A park ranger will travel with us to lead hikes & to help identify the dolphin, whales, sea lions, seals & numerous species of bird & plant life.  Other activities may include kayaking, snorkeling, beachcombing, or just relaxing at sea.

For a one day mini tour, consider: Birds, Flowers & Sea Life on Santa Cruz Island (April 2 $175):  Spring is a perfect time to board the Truth to see the Channel Islands National Park’s largest island. Bird lovers will enjoy stalking the many sea & land birds including the endemic Santa Cruz Island Jay. Animal lovers will be thrilled by up-close looks at a variety of sea mammals.  Flowers should be in full bloom. $175 covers breakfast, gourmet lunch, leisurely cruise viewing the spectacular coastline including world famous Painted Cave, & hike led by a ranger/naturalist. Early comers are welcome to spend Friday night aboard the Truth to prepare for the 7:00 am departure from Sea Landing, Santa Barbara. Proceeds will benefit the Sierra Club. To reserve space, send a check, payable to Sierra Club, & SASE to leader: Joan Holtz, 11826 The Wye, El Monte, CA 91732.  For more information, call Joan or Don (626) 443-0706 or email: jholtzhln@aol.com.

Useful Information

Sierra Club Links
Sierra Club World Wide Web: http://www.sierraclub.org
Angeles Chapter site:http://angeles.sierraclub.org
Angeles Chapter Conservation Newsletter: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/newsletter/
Sierra Club California: http://www.sierraclub.org/ca/
Sierra Club Vote Watch Website: http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/
National site main page: http://www.sierraclub.org/
National Clubhouse activist resource site: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/
Need help contacting your US representatives or finding out about legislation?
US House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
US Senate: http://www.senate.gov/
California State Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/
California State Senate: http://www.sen.ca.gov/
California State: http://www.ca.gov/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp
California Legislative Information: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/
California Secretary of State voter information: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm
This Electronic Conservation Committee Newsletter is sent free, automatically, on email to all activists who hold any of the following positions in the Angeles Chapter or its entities: Executive Committee Member; Entity Chair or Conservation Chair, Political, and Newsletter Editor, Conservation Subcommittee or Task Force Chair. In addition, many activists throughout the Chapter and state receive it free by email, either by request or by position.  Distribution is approximately 350 by email, and 45 by postal 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. If we do not have your email address - please let us know. If you wish (and tell us), it will be tagged "private" and not printed or given out. The Newsletter (without upcoming resolutions) is available on the Chapter website at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/home.html Paper postal copy is available ($20/year payable Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club) 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 to (almost) cover printing/mailing costs to Conservation Newsletter, 112 Harvard Ave PMB 297, Claremont CA 91711
National's GoldBook provides information to chapters and groups on the differences between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) funds; how to utilize and access charitable 501(c)(3) funds; how to get a project approved; fundraising 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.
The California/Nevada Directory (RedBook) is now available online. It also includes the Handbook of Sierra Club California Bylaws and Standing Rules (GreenBook). Contact Lori Ives for the online address and password. Send your membership number, your position in the Club, and your reason for needing the information. The paper edition ($20) is available on special order. Contact Lori for information.
E-Mail Lists: There are four important discussion lists for Angeles environmental activists:
Angeles Chapter Cons Listserve mailto:<angeles-conservation@lists.sierraclub.org>and
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: mailto:calif-activists-request@lists.sierraclub.org
For either list, 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 mailto:listsserve@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 mailto:to<listserv@lists.sierraclub.orgIn the text of your message (not the subject line), write: "signoff calif-activists" or "signoff angeles-conservation" or "signoff angeles-alerts"
The Angeles Chapter's website is http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org/

Angeles Chapter Conservation Management Committee
Gordon LaBedz/Chair 562-494-6368, Bonnie Sharpe/Vice Chair/Grants Chair
Jay Matchett/Treasurer, Al Sattler/Secretary, Robin Ives/Newsletter
Marcia Hanscom, Faramarz Nabavi, Dean Wallraff
Lori Ives, Publisher/Webmaster/Circulation (non-voting)
Johanna Zetterberg and Rachel Myers/Conservation Coordinators (non-voting)

Angeles Chapter Grants Committee consists of the voting members of the Conservation Management Committee plus Judy Anderson and Rudy Vietmeier.

Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 320, Los Angeles CA 90010-1904

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..." To find out more about voting requirements and representatives, consult the Angeles Chapter website Conservation Committee.

AGENDA — Wednesday, February 16, 2005

7:30 Approval of Agenda/Introductions

7:40 Staff report on 2005 work plans

7:50 Chapter Priority approval

Chapter Conservation Priorities 2005
The Angeles Chapter will focus its resources, staff, publicity, and funding on the following major objectives:

1. The preservation and restoration of open spaces, watershed, and wild places of Los Angeles and Orange Counties
2. The preservation of the 500 year flood plain of the Santa Clara River
3. The restoration of the San Gabriel River from the Angeles Forest to the Pacific Ocean

In the process of this campaign we will stress those environmental programs that emphasize "smart growth". Most importantly, we will stress urban infrastructures that facilitate a high quality of life in built-up urban areas.

This includes:

   1. Clean air and water
   2. Parks, green open space, and clean beaches
   3. Mass transit, both for people and goods
   4. Local work on global/national concerns (eg. climate change, over-consumption, responsible trade)

8:00 Hybrid Autos—A Comparison, Transportation Committee Report

8:10 Urban Parks—What constitutes appropriate “open space?’

8:30 New Chapter Committees:

• Fair Trade Task Force
• LA River Committee
• Coast and Ocean Committee

Orange County Conservation Committee

Dave Perlman/Chair, TBA/Vice Chair, TBA/Secretary
Rachel Myers/Conservation Coord (non-voting) http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ocosc/
LOCATION: Inn at the Park, 10 Marquette, Irvine
DIRECTIONS: Take the 405 to Culver and go west towards the beach. Follow Culver past Michelson and University and turn right on Harvard. Take Harvard to Marquette and turn right. It's on the corner of Harvard and Marquette on the right hand side.

AGENDA: February 15, 2005

7:00 Welcome, Introductions, Announcements
7:10 Conservation Staff Report (Rachel Myers)
7:20 Sierra Sage Group, OC Political Committee, and Sacred Sites TF (Gail Prothero)
7:30 Southern California Forests Campaign Plans for 2005 (John Monsen, Paul Carlton)
7:45 57 Freeway Extension (Robin Everett)
7:55 Hobo Aliso Canyon Task Force (Penny Elia)
8:10 Proposed Office Building, Santa Ana (Bob Siebert)

8:20 Coming SAMTF projects (Paul Carlton)
8:30 Dana Point Headlands Report (Celia Kutcher)
8:40 Resolution to Establish San Diego Creek Watershed Task Force (Jan Vandersloot)
9:00 Adjourn

Sat-Sun Mar 19-20 Orange County Group FUN-raiser at Keller Hut Come play in the snow in our local mountains near Big Bear. Cross-country ski right out the door of the hut, or downhill skiing at Snow Valley across the street from the hut (weather permitting). Then return for happy hour, a gourmet evening meal, live music and a sing-a-long. Breakfast included in the morning before you head out for another day of snow fun. Don't ski?  Lessons are available at Rim Nordic and Snow Valley. Or just come up and join in on this fun weekend filled with great food, great music and great camaraderie. Send SASE with your check payable to Orange County Group for $38 (SC members) or $45 (non-members) along with H&W telephone numbers to reservationist Jacqueline Meese, 2710 W Northwood, Santa Ana CA 92704. Proceeds benefit Orange County conservation projects and publications. Band leader: Chuck Buck. Leaders: Bonnie Sharpe, Jacqueline Meese, Chuck Buck

Sat Mar 26 9:00 am Trabuco Creek Cleanup Project. Join Sierra Sage, Friends of the Foothills TF, Saddleback Canyons TF and Trout Unlimited volunteers for a stream cleanup and habitat restoration project on Trabuco Creek in San Juan Capistrano. We'll pick up trash, plant willows, sein for non-native aquatic species, and identify stands of arrundo for removal as part of a long-term project to restore Trabuco Creek steelhead habitat from the mountains to the sea. Meet at 9:00 am in San Juan Capistrano at the Trabuco Creek Bridge on Camino Capistrano. Thomas Guide Page 952, B-5.  Exit I-5 at Junipero Serra. Travel west on Junipero Serra to Camino Capistrano. Turn right (North) on Camino Capistrano approximately .25 miles to a concrete structure (look for the signs). Park along Camino Capistrano. Rain or high water levels cancel. Ldr: Brittany McKee. Asst: Ed Schlegel. To sign up, contact Gail Prothero (949) 347-1255, gprothero@cox.net

Sun Apr 17 2 - 6 pm Sierra Sage Annual Starr Ranch BBQ. Experience a beautiful wild area in Orange County that the public rarely gets to see -- the magnificent 4,000-acre Audubon Starr Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. We will celebrate with an old-fashioned BBQ and Country/Bluegrass entertainment by Chuck Buck's Saddle Mountain Band, guided hikes and bird and wildflower walks. Proceeds will benefit the Starr Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sierra Sage Group for use in several campaigns to preserve the remaining natural open spaces in Orange County. Wine & beer (small additional charge) and vegetarian burgers will also be available. Tickets must be purchased in advance — reservations will not be taken by phone. If significant rain occurs on April 17th, the BBQ will be postponed one week to April 24. Adults $25, Children under 12 years old $12.50. Call Mike or Patty Sappingfield at 949-768-3610 for further information. For tickets and a map, send checks payable to "Sierra Sage" and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: M. Griffith, 3238 Paseo Gallita, San Clemente CA  92672.