Loma Prieta Chapter eNewsletter: September, Volume 1
September 15, 2025
YOU Can Make a Difference. Read How Here
► Read about another win, cancelation of the controversial Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project.
► Celebrate Karen Maki receiving the 2025 Volunteer Service Award.
► Learn about supports available for home electrification.
► Learn about the hidden threats from sea level rise and join our Bay Alive Campaign.
► Take a hike! See the comprehensive list of Chapter activities available through September.
Pacheco Reservoir Project Falls, Sparing the Diablo Range for Now
After eight years of Sierra Club’s unwavering opposition, the controversial Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project (PREP) was canceled on August 26 by the Valley Water Board of Directors (hereafter referred to as “the Board”). The project unraveled after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation blocked the project’s use of federally controlled San Luis Reservoir water, adding to concerns over skyrocketing costs and mounting schedule delays.
Since 2017, many Loma Prieta Chapter members, along with Sierra Club California and other advocacy collaborators, consistently warned Valley Water and the CWC about the significant issues related to this project and participated in the environmental review process, requesting full analysis and mitigation of the significant environmental impacts.
Karen Maki Receives Sierra Club's 2025 Volunteer Service Award
We are so proud to share that Karen Maki been selected to receive the Club’s 2025 Volunteer Service Award, which honors Sierra Club volunteers for strong and consistent commitment to the environment or the Club over an extended period of time. Karen currently serves on our Chapter Executive Committee, and as Council of Club Leaders Representative (representing our Chapter) and our Forest Protection Committee Chair.
2025 Guardians of Nature Benefit Early Bird Tickets Ending Soon!
Only three weeks remain to take advantage of Early Bird pricing! Don’t miss your chance to join us for the Guardians of Nature Benefit, an inspiring evening of community, connection, and celebration of environmental impact.
Claim Home Electrification Rebates and Tax Credits Before They Expire
Good News! You likely already have all the power you need to fully electrify. Nearly all homes can fully electrify (including an Electric Vehicle) on a 100 A panel. The time to act is now, before rebates and tax credits expire. There's never been more support to help you start electrifying your home. Rebates are plentiful (especially for limited income), and federal tax credits are disappearing by the end of the year. It is a great time to upgrade aging appliances and systems such as a water heater, home heating and air conditioning, or to get that performance induction cooktop.
Below the surface of the land are vast reservoirs of groundwater. Groundwater is rain water that has soaked into the ground over many, many years.
Seawater also seeps into the ground under the sea floor. Seawater is salty and is heavier than groundwater. At the shoreline where the two waters collide under the surface of the land, the seawater stays under the groundwater. So when the sea rises, not only does the water flood across the beaches, mud flats, wetlands, and our communities, but under the surface, the seawater also pushes up the groundwater, contributing to more surface flooding and wreaking havoc underground where we can’t see it.
The PILOT: Planning for a Resilient, Wild and Welcoming Redwood Shores
Here in Redwood Shores, our 19-square-mile island is encircled by levees—our protective ring against the Bay. But times are changing. With sea levels on the rise, we’ve already begun to see parts of the Shores flood during extreme high tides. Last year, as FEMA updated its flood maps, Redwood City completed a Sea Level Rise (SLR) Adaptation Plan to prepare for the future. Since then, California has introduced new state laws that raise the bar for coastal planning. Now, all local adaptation plans must align with the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP), a framework designed to address not just each city’s needs, but the well-being of the entire San Francisco Bay.
Letter to the Editor: Bay’s Health is Critical to Health of Region
"The Bay is often valued only for its inimitable beauty and recreational opportunities, but its natural shorelines, marshes and wetlands labor every moment of every day to provide us with clean air and water, moderate temperatures, protection from storm surge waves and much more. Rich shallow water habitats also nurture life, from fragile hatchlings that sustain our commercial fisheries to the vast abundance of birds and wildlife that call it home. This is all at risk of being lost to sea level rise."
Comment Letter: Baylands Specific Plan Project Draft Environmental Impact Report
"The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, Green Foothills, and the San Mateo County Bird Alliance respectfully submit the following comments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Brisbane Baylands Specific Plan. Our organizations represent tens of thousands of Bay Area residents with a deep interest in the San Francisco Bay and its ecosystems, as well as areas near the Bay where development may impact natural resources and climate resilience in the region. We recognize the critical role that the Baylands Specific Plan will play in shaping the future of Brisbane and its natural resources alongside San Francisco Bay. We have participated in the various iterations of this Specific Plan over the last several years and commented on them. We appreciate the long comment period to enable community review of this large and complex Specific Plan and DEIR."
Will you Help Save our Marshlands from Sea Level Rise?
Hi! I’m your friend, the marshlands.
I’m hard at work, every day, all the time, working for you. I make oxygen, and clean the air. I keep the temperature nice and mellow here in the Bay. I filter and clean the water, even water from waste treatment plants. When storms surge or high tides come, I soak up the extra. I capture more carbon than a rainforest, and I do it all naturally, for free! I can even deal with sea level rise.
Normally, the tides flow in and out of the marshes and all is well. But with sea level rise, the plants in the marshes do not get enough oxygen so they literally drown. We can survive sea level rise by migrating gradually up shore. All I need to migrate is space, wide open space, to grow into, to keep the rising sea level from drowning me. However, more and more buildings are being proposed on the shoreline, and they’ll destroy more and more marshlands, which we need to survive. Learn more about our marshlands feeling the big squeeze.
It's Coming and Will Effect You!
Learn more about sea level rise planning in the San Francisco Bay, through the Sea Level Rise Planning Webinar Series. This summer, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is holding a four-part webinar series showcasing their plan for our region to address sea level rise, the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP). Our Bay Alive Campaign has been heavily engaged in the RSAP process since its inception and continues to advocate for proper implementation of the plan, highlighting its emphasis on natural and nature-based solutions (NNBS), environmental justice and shoreline contamination concerns. Register for BCDC's next webinar on September 17th to get up to speed on the RSAP, and then contact us to become involved, and advocate for strong RSAP implementation in your community!
Environmental Stewardship Program 2025 - 2026 Registration is Open
If you are curious about environmental issues and would like to take action to protect our environment, this is the program for you. Space is limited so register today.
At our in-person Environmental Stewardship Program you will learn about critical environmental issues, learn how to be an activist, enjoy nature through connections to optional outings, and receive a certificate of completion. These goals will be accomplished through screenings of award-winning environmental documentaries, discussion, presentations and learning to work with legislators.
Previous program participants have afterwards played integral roles in various environmental organizations, both grassroots NGOs and government agencies, including elected officials, and have ranged in age from high school students to senior citizens. They are continuing to work to build a better world.
Giant Sequoia and High-Intensity Fire Revisited September 15th, 4:00 pm Presented by Chad Hanson
Dr. Chad Hanson, research ecologist with the John Muir Project, will revisit the topic of the relationship between giant sequoias and high-intensity fire. Currently, disinformation about this relationship is being used as a primary political talking point to promote destructive logging measures and environmental rollbacks, including national bills and policies that mostly pertain to non-sequoia forests. A group of scientists funded by federal agencies is actively promoting the disinformation that is helping Donald Trump and the current Congress advance their logging agenda. Dr. Hanson will dispel the latest round of myths and falsehoods about high-intensity fire in giant sequoia groves. Learn more and register.
Forest Management Educational Hike
The Forest Protection Committee and Outings sponsored a hike on July 20, 2025, to learn more about forest management methods. It was an educational hike in Butano State Park.
We learned about recently completed work in Butano State Park that included thinning (removal of some trees), removal of dense understory, and prescribed fire to help the forest recover from historic clearcut logging, fire suppression and the 2020 wildfires. We saw active forest management firsthand and discussed ecological resilience, sensitive habitats, and wildfire risk. We learned that long-term forest stewardship improves resilience to climate change impacts such as drought, pests, and wildfires. Learn more about the forest management educational hike.
Community Wildfire Preparedness
The risk of severe and destructive wildfires is increasingly real for many, if not most, Californians. Although preparing for these emergencies can be challenging, effective community preparedness is essential. This preparation requires collaboration among local government officials, residents, and emergency agencies. Additionally, state officials and legislators must ensure that resources are available to enable successful coordination and implementation. Learn more about the importance of community wildfire preparedness.
Recording of Lehigh Quarry/Cement Public Meeting Hosted by Supervisor Abe-Koga
Hear an update of progress on restoration of Permanente Creek, which is occurring due to a Sierra Club lawsuit filed in 2011 to stop the release of toxic selenium into the creek, and to fix damage caused by dumping mining waste into the creek. Current aggregate sales, removal of the cement plant, and the mining reclamation plan were also discussed, followed by many excellent audience questions.
Request to Redo the “Comparative Analysis of Synthetic and Natural Turf Athletic Fields” Study with Transparent
and Accurate Analysis
"The Sierra Club Loma Prieta expresses its concern about the Draft Comparative Analysis of Synthetic and Natural Turf Athletic Fields commissioned by the City. While the report may be copious and well-written, in a grammatical sense, it falls short as a serious analytical study needed for the staff and council to make an informed decision. It presents information selectively, relies on questionable and outdated data, particularly in relation to natural grass care, and often lacks transparency in sourcing. A meaningful and conclusive decision on this matter cannot be made until the report is properly revised and corrected."
Palo Alto Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance
"Thank you for your review of the draft Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance. As you consider your recommendation to Council, we urge you to strengthen the ordinance to ensure it truly fulfills Palo Alto’s Comprehensive Plan commitments, aligns with Valley Water guidance, and anticipates climate and future development pressures on our waterways. Recommendation 1. Please include 2030 Comprehensive Plan Program N3.3.3 to the current draft ordinance, restricting the development of recreational trails to one side of natural riparian corridors. [...] Recommendation 2. Please include 2030 Comprehensive Plan Program N3.3.1 to the current draft ordinance, preventing the siting of impervious structures within the setback area. [...] Recommendation 3. Provide more information on what and how many parcels less than 20,000 square feet in rural areas will be allowed to use a 30 foot setback."
A massive threat looms over one of our most cherished natural treasures. San Bruno Mountain is not just any mountain, it is a sanctuary for endangered butterflies, a haven for rare plants, and a refuge of unparalleled ecological significance. The proposed project threatens to unravel the delicate balance of this natural treasure, and we urge you to take action to protect it.
The City of Brisbane is considering a plan to build a massive 1.3 million-square-foot warehouse, 100 feet tall, right in the heart of San Bruno Mountain, at the historic Guadalupe Quarry.
This industrial facility would bring hundreds of workers (1,500!) and an incredible amount of traffic through our city and into the heart of sensitive habitat. Sign the petition today.
Loma Prieta at Foster City Summer Days
We had a great time tabling at Foster City Summer Days this past weekend! We made 33 water cycle bracelets with youngsters and gave 12 hidden word puzzles to older kids while their parents learned about our Chapter and environmental issues that affect our Bay Area. Artificial turf, sea level rise, coyotes on the Bay trail, healthy marshes, andChapter hikes were all lively discussion topics.
Recycled Plastic Pellets Found to Harm Genes in Fish
"Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have determined that a single recycled pellet of plastic can contain more than 80 chemicals, including harmful chemicals absorbed by the plastic during prior use. For example a plastic bottle holding pesticides, when recycled, may contain pesticide in addition to plastic additives. Findings show that, in only two days, enough chemicals leach into water to affect the hormonal system of zebrafish. The research is considered “groundbreaking” in highlighting “unanticipated dangers” associated with recycled plastic.
27 Million Tons of Missing Plastic Found
A recent groundbreaking study reveals that the North Atlantic Ocean contains approximately 27 million tons of nanoplastics, which are particles smaller than one micrometer in size. This tonnage exceeds the total amount of larger plastic pieces in the entirety of the world’s oceans, and resolves the “mystery” of where the bulk of worn out plastics resides. Due to their size, nanoplastics can more easily enter living tissue than larger pieces, raising concerns about their effect on environment and people.
Your connection: Join our Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee as we educate ourselves and others on how to identify and address the growing list of harms inflicted on the environment and public health by prolific and unnecessary plastic production.
In the Community
Cleanup (September 20th and October 5th), and Restoration (September 21st) 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.
In History
September 9, 1892, the year Sierra Club was founded: the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, Santa Clara County, discovered the first new Jupiter moon since Galileo. Sept 10, 1933, the year Loma Prieta Chapter was founded: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd U.S. President.
Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. ~ Marcus Aurelius
2025.08.18: Chapter Director's family hike on the Canada de Pala Trail (2600 ft elevation) in Joseph Grant County Park, with Loma Prieta peak in the background.
