Loma Prieta Chapter's eNewsletter: February, Volume 1
February 10, 2024
YOU Can Make a Difference; Read How in This eNewsletter
► Warm your heart and read about love connections made on the trail during our hikes. (Happy Valentine's Day!)
► Learn about San Benito County Planning Commission's decision against the John Smith Road Landfill expansion.
► Register for a Wilderness First Aid course and Backpacking course and be prepared to take care of yourself and help others in the back country.
► Register for the Forest Protection Forum and learn how a group of conservationists stopped a logging plan in California.
► Learn about the Bay Alive Campaigns position against the Montezuma Carbon Hub, involvement in BCDC's One Bay Vision, and feedback on OneShoreline's Millbrae/Burlingame Sea Level Rise Protection Project.
► Take a hike! See the comprehensive list of activities available with your chapter through February. Veterans, look for our Military Outdoors activities.
Loma Prieta Outings Love Connections
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we can't resist sharing some stories of love found on the trail with Loma Prieta Outings.
Learn about Despina meeting Drew at Rancho Canada del Oro in 2013, Tina meeting Lynne at Garrapata State Park in 2000, and Johanna meeting Edward at Black Mountain in the mid-1990s. Read their stories and happy Valentine's Day to you all!
In Loving Memory of Barbara Kelsey
If you've called or visited the Loma Prieta Chapter offices in the past 14 years, you heard the voice of Chapter Coordinator Barbara Kelsey. Hundreds of thousands of residents, locally and across the state, have been blessed by her laughter, kindness and organizational efficiency.
Barbara was profoundly committed to the Loma Prieta Chapter and was an immense part of our successes. I am sad to report that our dear Barbara passed last December and is deeply missed by all that knew her. Her family has invited the Loma Prieta family to join in a Celebration of Life. We hope to see you there.
Update: San Benito County Planning Commission Says No to Landfill
On January 31st, the San Benito County Planning Commission held a special meeting on the massive John Smith Road Landfill Expansion. Dozens of local residents spoke against the project, one or two people spoke in favor.
Katja Irvin, Loma Prieta Chapter Guadalupe Group Conservation Chair, told the Commission to listen to the residents and reject the project. She also emphasized the many possible environmental risks that could result from such a large landfill, and especially cautioned about the risks to water supply, which is already an issue in San Benito County.
The Planning Commission voted four to one not to adopt the proposed Use Permit that would allow expansion of the landfill. This will likely be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. Stay tuned! Read our comments submitted in advance.
Wilderness First Aid
Saturday, February 24th Sunday, February 25th 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Peninsula Conservation Center
Certification provided by the National Association for Search and Rescue, is valid for two years, and is included in the course fee. Textbook NOT included. There are two training options. 1) Basic Wilderness First Aid: Saturday only; $50 for Sierra Club members; $60 for non-members. 2) Wilderness First Aid: both days; $80 for Sierra Club members; $100 for non-members. Register today!
Forest Protection Forum
How We Completely Stopped a Logging Plan in California, and You Can Too
Featuring Ethan Arutunian
February 26th, 4:00 pm
In this talk, Ethan will describe how a grassroots campaign completely stopped the 283-acre Bootleg timber harvest plan (THP) from ever happening in the Gualala River watershed. We defeated CALFIRE, and a wealthy and reckless timber company, at their own game using CEQA, without losing a single tree to the plan. Learn more and register.
Basic Backpacking Course
This multi-part class begins on April 3rd. Learn the essentials of backcountry travel with a special emphasis on the gear, skills, and planning required to be responsible stewards. Registration required.
Lightweight Backpacking Course
April 6th and 19th-21st
Imagine backpacking, and feeling like a you're on a day-hike. How much farther could you go? How much more could you see? Find out in our class for experienced backpackers on lightweight and ultralight backpacking skills, gear, and techniques. Registration required.
Protecting Streams in the Bay Area
Following the US Supreme Court Sackett case reducing Clean Water Act protections, Sunnyvale and Mountain View are appealing the 2022 decision, claiming the creeks should not be classified as "Waters of the United States" so the Clean Water Act doesn't apply. This is the wrong approach for progressive Silicon Valley cities. Instead, the cities should be working to fix the problems that are causing the water quality violation. Stevens Creek, one of three Steelhead streams in Santa Clara County, could be impacted.
Guadalupe Group Conservation Chair, Katja Irvin, is quoted in Mercury News as saying “Stevens Creek is a major waterway for wildlife, fish and public recreation... It’s significant and we should do everything we can to protect it. If we said the Clean Water Act didn’t apply to streams like this, that would make it really, really hard to clean up nearly any streams in the Bay Area. You have to hold polluters accountable.”
Why We Oppose the Montezuma Carbon Hub
The proposed Montezuma Carbon Hub would transport compressed carbon dioxide through lengthy and potentially underwater pipelines that pass close to communities and wetland habitats, making this a concern for our Chapter’s Bay Alive Campaign. Any presence of water within a C02 pipeline can cause “zipper fractures”, leading to widespread leaks. Furthermore, the numerous fault lines within the project area make these pipelines even more hazardous.
The project spans many communities from Antioch to Richmond, including many communities that are designated as “disadvantaged” by the California EPA because they are within the top 25% of communities with high pollution exposure rates combined with other vulnerabilities.
Not only will the Montezuma Carbon Hub perpetuate the fossil fuel use that causes our climate crisis, but it is also an environmental and public equity injustice.
Bay Alive Members Spoke Up For an Environmental Vision of Our Shoreline
The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has released its draft “One Bay Vision” for public review. This document will guide development of a groundbreaking Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP) and guidelines for newly required sea level rise adaptation plans in every shoreline jurisdiction. In a letter to BCDC and in public comments at several BCDC meetings and workshops, Bay Alive staff and volunteers, allies in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline Contamination Coalition, and others pushed for a vision that reflects the critical infrastructure role played by Bay habitats (carbon sequestration, flood management, water quality, etc), prioritizing and protecting those public assets throughout the region and across all topic areas. We also asked that vulnerable communities with the least ability to adapt be supported through community empowerment and coordinated regional investment in planning, infrastructure, and outcomes, including priority cleanup of contaminated sites.
Our advocacy led to staff revisions consistent with almost all of our requests, and the revised vision was well received by the Commission on February 1.
Request for Release of NOP Comment Letters submitted for the Millbrae/Burlingame Sea Level Rise Protection Project
"We appreciate the OneShoreline Board's commitment to addressing the critical issue of sea level rise protection along the Millbrae/Burlingame / San Mateo shoreline. The significance of this high-profile project, coupled with public funding, warrants a transparent and inclusive approach. The current process, so far, is somewhat lacking in the transparency and outreach expected of a project of such great impact and interest to the environmental community, regulatory agencies, the airport, property owners and the general public."
Aiden Chen, 15 year old student, artist and Loma Prieta Chapter volunteer, has a passion for birds and worries about their welfare as sea levels rise due to the progressive impacts of climate change. Aiden has found a fun way to expand his volunteer contributions and raise awareness around sea level rise impacts on birds and wildlife. He has been drawing and painting San Francisco Bay shoreline birds and wildlife in their natural, wild habitats and is writing fun facts or quiz questions to accompany his artwork. We’ll be sharing these, so keep an eye on our social media accounts, Chapter eNewsletter, and the Bay Alive Campaign and Loma Prieta Chapter websites to see Aiden’s work. Read more.
Sea Level Rise Webinar Series
How can local cities and residents use nature-basedadaptations to sea level rise? Watch recordings of our webinar series with SF Bay experts and please share with your local elected officials.
Sierra Club 30x30
Scientists have proposed the idea of conserving 50 percent of the Earth's natural landscapes as a crucial step to combat the alarming loss of biodiversity. This concept has gained significant attention and support globally, with United Nations resolutions highlighting the urgency of preserving our planet's ecological balance. California has emerged as a leader in this conservation effort by setting an ambitious target to conserve 30 percent of its land and waters by the year 2030. In October of 2020, Governor Newson issued an executive order to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and water by 2030. Read more.
Volunteer with our Event Planning Team
We are looking for enthusiastic people who love organizing parties to help us with our annual Guardians of Nature Benefit. Join our fantastic team of staff and volunteers, gain hands-on experience in event planning and coordination, and connect with fellow Chapter members. Here is your chance to make a meaningful positive impact while having plenty of fun.
UPDATED MEETING DATE: Valley Water Board to Discuss Six Topics Related to Pacheco Reservoir Project in 2024
Valley Water’s proposal to construct a huge new dam and reservoir would result in huge environmental costs and questionable benefits. The Valley Water Board of Directors is set to discuss six topics related to the Pacheco Dam project during regular Board meetings starting on February 13th: proposed operations and benefits; environmental impacts and mitigation measures; 2050 Water Supply Master Plan portfolio recommendation; project costs; partnership approach; and requirements unique to the project. Read more.
Forest Protection Forum Recording Available
Why Recent Wildfires are the Salvation of Giant Sequoia Groves
BioBlitzes (Feb. 11th and Mar. 16th), cleanups (Feb. 24th and Mar. 9th), Meditative Walk (Mar. 3rd), and Planing (Mar. 17th) from our friends at Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.
One of the best ways to safeguard a thriving and just future is by ensuring that your Loma Prieta Chapter remains a champion for the environment of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Benito Counties. Naming us as a beneficiary in your bequest will provide meaningful and enduring resources that will allow continued local and powerful environmental activism.
Please contact our Chapter Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman for the specific language for your estate planning and/or read more here. For additional information about planning a bequest please contact Julia Curtis, (800) 932-4270.
Photographers, see the great images in our Chapter Annual Summaries and help protect local nature with your images! Share with us your high-resolution photos of local nature, with or without people, to inspire local residents to support Loma Prieta Chapter work. Please contact Chapter Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman.
