Loma Prieta Chapter eNewsletter: December, Volume 2
January 5, 2026
YOU Can Make a Difference. Read How Here.
► Consider a year-end gift to help shape a healthier future for our region.
► Learn about Pescadero Creek County Park's Climate and Habitat Resiliency Plan.
► Learn about the power of Bay Advocacy and join the Bay Alive Campaign.
► Read about our Military Outdoors' recent visit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model.
► Take a hike! See the comprehensive list of Chapter activities available through January.
Your Year-End Gift Shapes What We Can Achieve Together
By now, or very soon, you should receive our year-end letter inviting you to help shape a healthier future for our region. If you’ve already made your gift, thank you; your generosity is already protecting the places and wildlife we all cherish. If you haven’t yet had a chance to give and prefer not to wait for the letter, you can donate directly here.
70% of our Chapter’s budget comes from individuals like you, so your support holds an extraordinary power to create tangible change.
Thank you for being a member of our community and for the positive impact you make possible.
The Pescadero Creek County Park Climate and Habitat Resiliency Plan
Pescadero Creek County Park is a 5,943-acre park located in the Pescadero Creek Watershed near the town of Loma Mar, CA. The characteristics of the park are largely shaped by a history of extensive logging, especially during the mid-20th century, when much of its land was actively harvested for, primarily, redwood and Douglas fir.
In addition, the park has faced extended periods of drought, overly aggressive land development, misguided wildfire management practices, diseases, and the impacts of climate change.
In response to the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which burned over 2,800 acres of the park, the Pescadero Creek Climate & Habitat Resiliency Plan was developed. The plan “focuses on nurturing Pescadero Creek Park’s native species, habitats, and ecosystems to cultivate a forest that is more resilient to climate change and landscape events, such as disease and fire.”Learn more about the Climate and Habitat Resiliency Plan.
Loma Prieta Chapter Celebrates Three 2025 Leadership Awards from Sierra Club California
We are thrilled to share that three leaders within the Loma Prieta Chapter have been selected for this year's Sierra Club California Leadership Awards! Sue Chow, Peninsula Regional Group Chair and Environmental Stewardship Program Co-lead, received the Legislative Advocacy Award, for an individual who has served Sierra Club California in an area of legislative advocacy.
Justyna Lesniewska-Guterman, Chapter Development Coordinator, received the California Staff Excellence Award, for a paid staff member who has served the Sierra Club in California.
Finally, Kristen Lee, Forest Protection Committee Member and Stop Clearcutting CA Representative, received the California Public Lands Activist Award, for an individual who has served Sierra Club California in public lands activism or a person who has made a significant contribution to state parks in California. Congratulations Sue, Justyna, and Kristen!
The Power of Bay Advocacy
If you ever wonder whether your voice can make a difference, San Francisco Bay’s history has a clear answer: absolutely yes! The Bay we all depend on exists today because generations of residents refused to accept the idea that our shoreline was disposable. That same persistence is exactly what is reshaping how the Region responds to sea level rise.
Today, San Francisco Bay is undergoing one of the most important planning shifts since the creation of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) in 1965. That transformation is happening because countless small acts of advocacy have built upon each other, year after year. Learn more about the power of advocacy for San Francisco Bay.
California Coastal Commission’s California King Tides Project
What are King Tides? They are predictable high tides that occur annually. King Tides form naturally from the alignment of the sun, moon and earth's gravitational forces.
Sea level rise (SLR) is the sea's surface rising up around the world. This is caused by meltwater from melting ice sheets and glaciers and by warming temperatures which expand water molecules.
The King Tides Project is a visual representation of what SLR may look like for the Bay Area. It helps determine which areas may have the greatest impact from SLR and allows decision makers to be informed with planning and adaptation. See our King Tides Project webinar recording for more information.
IN THE NEWS Redwood Shores: There's No Place Like Home
"As the holidays grace our homes and we share feasts, gifts, and visits with friends and family, we also share our knowledge that Redwood Shores is more than a neighborhood — it’s a living, breathing symphony of nature. Each morning begins with a chorus of shorebirds, their cheerful chatter rising with the sun. Te Bay stretches out before us, changing hues as the day unfolds. Te breezes carry whispers of salt and calm, reminding us that we live at the gentle edge between land and sea." Read the full article "Redwood Shores: There's No Place Like Home."
COMMENT LETTER Request for Amendments to 1548 Maple Street Development and Subdivision Agreements
"Since this project was originally proposed and permitted, the regulatory and environmental landscape has changed substantially, particularly for shoreline-adjacent parcels such as this one bordering Redwood Creek. This stretch of Redwood Creek is tidal and already experiences flooding from both storm-driven creek flows and storm drain discharges, as well as Bay storm surges and rising high tides. In addition, rising ground water is of concern. Newly enacted legislation now places additional responsibilities on both the City and the applicant with respect to sea level rise adaptation. In October 2023, SB 272 was passed, requiring all California cities to develop Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plans that meet BCDC standards. In December 2024, BCDC adopted the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan, establishing clear guidelines and expectations for all Bay Area jurisdictions. Any extension of entitlements for shoreline developments should reasonably align with these updated requirements."
Sea Level Rise Webinar Series
Learn how nature can help fight sea level rise with cost-effective and sustainable solutions. Watch recordings of our webinar series with SF Bay experts and please share with your local elected officials.
What is Outdoor Rx?
It's what we call the Healing Power of Nature, and it's what your very own Loma Prieta Chapter brings to veterans all around the Bay Area. We are honored to be part of a special program that offers outdoor experiences to veterans and their family members. The goal of Sierra Club Military Outdoors (SCMO) is to improve the lives of veterans and their family members via outdoor activities, and to foster camaraderie, connection, and community.
Our recent visit to the US Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model to celebrate Veterans Day is a heartwarming example of bringing veterans together in a way that enriches lives and touches hearts. Learn more about Loma Prieta's Military Outdoors.
"The Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance and the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter support the adoption of Palo Alto’s Dark Sky (Outdoor Lighting) Ordinance, and suggest a few critical corrections. We appreciate the extensive work by City staff, and the clear direction from the Planning and Transportation Commission and Council to develop a measure that protects migratory birds, nocturnal wildlife, and human health while conserving energy and restoring the City’s night sky. The ordinance follows best practices from DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society by ensuring that lighting is shielded, directed, and used only where and when needed. Please consider incorporating the following five requests. We have made changes in blue since our November 10th letter to the City Council on this subject."
BAWSCA’s Water Demand Model: Concerns and Opportunities for Collaboration
"Thank you for this opportunity to comment to the Policy Committee on BAWSCA’s water demand model (the Decision Support System, or DSS). While much work by experienced industry professionals has gone into developing the DSS model, we strongly believe that past performance data needs to be recognized and included in the model. The current DSS ignores BAWSCA members’ track record of conservation. We believe a more nuanced, evidence-based view of demand will allow better management of the Tuolumne River and its ecosystem—as well as preserve water affordability for ratepayers. This memo outlines our concerns and presents opportunities for collaboration."
Call Your California Senator to Urge Them to Vote NO on "Sell Off Steve" Pearce
Trump has nominated former New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), despite his long record of undermining public land access, pushing for land sell-offs, and supporting expanded drilling. His nomination will go before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Lee, who earlier this year proposed a major public land sell-off before bipartisan backlash forced him to withdraw it.
The hearing has not yet been scheduled, but is expected sometime in January.
Cleanups (January 11th and 19th), and Restoration (January 18th) from our friends at Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.
Sign the Petition to Save San Bruno Mountain
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.
California loves a good rivalry, whether Bay Area versus Los Angeles, north versus south, mountains versus coast. Most of the time, it’s all in good fun, but when that rivalry enters into water discussions, it stops being playful and becomes a problem. The debate over the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta has too often been seen as one part of the state hoarding water while another goes thirsty. In truth, the situation is much simpler, and more interconnected. Protecting the Delta benefits everyone, no matter where they live.
Your connection: Read this Southern California perspective about their reliance on exported water from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The truth is that when it comes to water, most Bay Area counties are in the same boat as SoCal and we need to conserve and recycle water and question efforts to continue excessive diversions that decimate the Delta and San Francisco Bay ecosystems.
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.
“Look underfoot. You are always nearer to the true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are. Don't despise your own place and hour. Every place is the center of the world.” John Burroughs
2025.11.22: your Chapter Director's grandsons requested their first fishing trip, then called it "the best day ever".
That's another example of Nature Rx (see the Military Outdoors article above), so no matter the age "Get Outside", let them explore at their pace, and you'll be amazed how quickly, completely and for how long they forget digital screens. If you'd like to help local children to build critical nature connections, and/or learn more of how you can share this with your family and friends, consider joining our Family Explorers by contacting your Chapter Director.
