Read our brochure:
The American Legacy of Wilderness: Honoring 50 Years of Preservation, use and Enjoyment
Environmental Protection Efforts
Our chapter works diligently through our volunteer leaders on behalf of clean air, clean water, protection for our wild forests and wildlife, and for solutions against sprawl.
CHAPTER ACTIVIST SUMMARIES
The following describes some of the major environmental protection efforts of the Kern Kaweah Chapter, and introduces the key activists working on these issues on behalf of the Chapter. Contact the appropriate person below for more information about any of these issues.
FOREST AND GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT
1. JOE FONTAINE – Joe works on several public lands issues for the Kern-Kaweah Chapter. As a member of the Sequoia Task Force, he is monitoring the efforts of the Sequoia National Forest to write a new management plan for the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The Sequoia Task Force will be looking at the new management plan closely when it is released and is keeping in touch with Sierra Club attorneys so that we will be prepared to again take legal action if the new plan does not comply with the requirements of the Proclamation that created the Monument. He is working with other Chapter activists to monitor management of Sequoia/Kings Canyon national Park. The Sierra Club is creating a new Resilient Habitats campaign to combat the expected impacts of climate change on the ecosystems found there. Joe is also part of that effort.
CONTACT: (661) 821-2055, P.O. Box 307, Tehachapi, CA, 93581, or email: joe.fontaine@sierraclub.org
2. ARA MARDEROSIAN – Ara’s efforts are centered on Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument issues, such as logging, fuels reduction, trail plans, and meadow restoration.
CONTACT: ara.marderosian@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org
GLOBAL WARMING AND URBAN SPRAWL
1. GORDON NIPP – Gordon’s efforts center around local sprawl impacts. Focuses include global warming, energy, air pollution, and farmland preservation. Most local successes in these areas have resulted from litigation and/or negotiation with individual development projects, and some of these successes have involved precedents that led to wider applications. For more information, seeGordon Nipp's profile on Sierra Club Faces.
CONTACT: (661) 872-2432 or email at gordon.nipp@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org.
2. STEVE MONTGOMERY – Steve’s efforts are focused on urban planning. In additiion, he is an advocate for architectural historical preservation.
CONTACT: steve.montgomery@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org
RENEWABLE ENERGY (WIND, SOLAR, ETC)
1. PAUL GIPE –Paul is an energy policy and renewable energy policy specialist.
CONTACT: 606 Hillcrest Dr., Bakersfield, CA, 93305-1413, (661)325-9590 or 472-1657 (cell), paul.gipe@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org, www.wind-works.org, Wind Energy Basics, 2009
2. GEORGETTE THEOTIG –Georgette monitors wind energy projects in the greater Tehachapi wind resource area. In addition, she also monitors and comments on Bureau of Land Management land issues near Tehachapi, at the western edge of the California Desert Conservation Area.
CONTACT: georgette.theotig@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org, or P.O. Box 38, Tehachapi, CA, 93581.
WATER ISSUES/ TULARE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN / YOKOHL VALLEY NEW TOWN
1. RICHARD GARCIA – Richard is involved in water Tulare County water issues, such as recharging aquifers, restoration of riparian habitat, and San Joaquin River restoration. Featured on Sierra Club Scrapbook: Richard Garcia (September, 2011)
CONTACT: richard.garcia@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org
CITY AND COUNTY PARKS
1. LORRAINE UNGER – Lorraine monitored the Kern County Parks Committee plus Bakersfield City parks. For any state park activity throughout the state, she has been the Kern-Kaweah Chapter contact. Also, she followed Kern County transportation issues and kept abreast of regional road and transit issues. Unfortunately, Lorraine passed away this spring. We are grateful for her work and hope to continue her work in the same successful way, she has done for so many years.
2. Eddy Laine – Eddy is working on water conservation issues at Hart Park and other projects that affect the Kern River and the nearby vegetation, and often represents the Kern-Kaweah Chapter at meetings of the Kern County Board of Supervisors together with Sharon Briel.
CONTACT: eddy.laine@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org
WILDLIFE
1. RICHARD GARCIA – As Chair of the CNRCC California Black Bear Task Force, Richard works to protect California black bears, as well as other sensitive forest species.
CONTACT: richard.garcia@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
1. STEVE MONTGOMERY - (SEE ABOVE)
If you wish to make a donation to the Kern-Kaweah Chapter to assist in our conservation efforts, your financial help is greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to:
SIERRA CLUB, KERN-KAWEAH CHAPTER (not tax-deductible)
or
to the SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION (tax deductible). Please specify in the memo line of your check.
Mail donations to: KERN-KAWEAH CHAPTER, SIERRA CLUB, P.O. BOX 3357, BAKERSFIELD, CA, 93385.