Loma Prieta Chapter's eNewsletter: February, Volume 2
February 24, 2024
YOU Can Make a Difference; Read How in This eNewsletter
► Learn what we lose when we lose the dark night sky.
► Attend the annual Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry public meeting.
► Read our comment letters on Sunnyvale bird safety design, dark sky standards, and sea level rise, and the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project.
► Learn about our 30x30 involvement with Power in Nature.
► Learn about the impacts of sea level rise on burrowing owls, be inspired by the beautiful artwork from our youth volunteer Aiden.
► Take a hike! See the comprehensive list of activities available with your chapter through mid-March.
In Loving Memory of Barbara Kelsey
Please enjoy this video celebrating Barbara Kelsey, Loma Prieta Chapter Coordinator for 14 years, and her many contributions to the Chapter. The video was created for Barbara's retirement last December, we are sorry to share that our dear Barbara passed, expectedly and quickly, before the video was completed. We all sorely miss her.
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.
This video was created by Barbara's friend and Chapter volunteer, David Simon.
The Loss of Our Dark Sky
Life on Earth has a lot in common. Together we have evolved under consistent cycles of day and night. These rhythms are deeply intertwined with our most important behaviors and biological functions. Today, one thing which most living beings have in common is the loss of our dark sky. 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies, which is so extensive that the Milky Way, a band of white in our sky, remains hidden from more than one-third of humanity. The stars, which have inspired humans for generations and shaped our biology for far longer, have vanished.
What do we lose when we lose the night sky? The loss of beauty is itself worth mourning. Unfortunately, when we lose the night sky we lose a lot more than a muse; loss of the night sky is detrimental to our physical health and the health of our ecosystems. Read more.
Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry Public Meeting
Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian will hold the annual Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry public meeting with various oversight agencies at the Cupertino Community Hall on Wednesday, March 27. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the quarry and cement plant located in the Cupertino foothills.
Our Chapter was a vital player in the decision to close the cement plant. Read more.
Sunnyvale Bird Safety Design, Dark Sky Standards, and Sea Level Rise Comment Letter
"The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter and the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society support the following items. CDD 24-02: Explore the Creation of a Dark Sky Ordinance for all Private Property [...] LRS 24-01: Examine the Permanent Closure of the Interior Levees Surrounding Sunnyvale’s Wastewater Treatment Ponds [...] ESD 24-01 Evaluate the Use of Artificial Turf Versus Living Groundcover [...] We are concerned about the following items. We are concerned about item DPW 24‐04 “Evaluate Late Night Lights at Public Parks” and item DPW 20-13 “Lighting of Current and Future City Owned Dog Parks”. Both of these items could increase light pollution in Sunnyvale in parkland habitat." Read the full letter.
Our 30x30 Committee Joins Power in Nature Meeting with Staff of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
California has six years to protect six million acres of land and half a million acres of coastal waters.
The Power In Nature coalition is a statewide community-driven initiative with over 100 organizations that are committed to reaching the goal of protecting 30% of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030. The four pillars of 30x30 being equitable access, protecting biodiversity, Tribal elevation, and climate adaptation.
Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project Comment Letter
Opposition to Valley Water's Pacheco Dam Project is growing. The first of six informational topics on the Project, presented to Board of Directors on February 13, was met with several comment letters and public comments, all expressing concerns about the project. Sierra Club's comment letter was referenced several times during Board discussions, and Chair Nai Hsueh directed staff to meet with the Sierra Club to discuss the letter. We are also asking for a written response to make sure such discussions are public. Keep an eye out for further opportunities to join us and expose the problems with this project! Read the full comment letter.
Burrowing Owls at Risk
This is the first of an awareness through artwork series, by our 15 year-old volunteer Aiden Chen, that we introduced next month.
Burrowing owl nests are underground and face flooding from sea level rise. Compounded with increasing urban development, burrowing owls’ habitats along the bay are rapidly declining. To conserve and save these birds, Sierra Club's Bay Alive and 30x30 campaigns promote the use of nature based solutions to protect the San Francisco Bay wetlands, associated habitats, and human communities from sea level rise. The 30x30 campaign works to conserve 30% of California’s lands and waters by 2030.
Beneficial Reuse of Excavated Material in Tidal Marsh Restoration Project Comment Letter
"We support the project concept as a multi-benefit, innovative approach to address sediment needs for wetland restoration and sea level rise resilience, and particularly its value for sustaining wildlife habitat on the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. However, we are concerned that the soil acceptance criteria in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) may not be ecologically appropriate for the proposed use of sediment in this setting. We offer the comments below in the spirit of collaboration to strengthen the environmental review and assure long term project efficacy and sustainable benefits for Bay shoreline communities and ecosystems." Read the full letter.
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."
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.
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!
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!
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.”
Meditative Walk (March 3rd), Cleanup (March 9th), Naturalist Training webinar (March13th), BioBlitz (March 16th), and Planting (March 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.
Feb, 1818: birth of Frederick Douglas
Feb 18, 1909: birth of Wallace Stegner
Feb 20, 1902: birth of Ansel Adams
Feb 21,1933: birth of Nina Simone March is Women's History Month
March 1, 1872, 1st National Park, Yellowstone, established by President U.S.Grant
2024.02.10 Chapter Director with Loma Prieta Day Hikers, 14 miles to Black Mountain from Hidden Villa (the birthplace of the Loma Prieta Chapter).
“A man may be very industrious, and yet not spend his time well. There is no more fatal blunderer than he who consumes the greater part of life getting his living.”
― Henry David Thoreau