jan 2001 san diego sierra

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HI SIERRANSierra Club, San Diego Chapter, serving Imperial & San Diego Counties

Working to preserve the special nature of San Diego for over half a centurywww.sandiego.sierraclub.org Vol. 60, NO. 6 Jan./Feb. 2001

Inside Activities & Meetings p. 68, 1011Backcountry p. 12 & 15Book Reviews p. 10 & 30Bus Trips-Current p. 2528Canyon Events p. 13Chairs Column p. 9Classifieds p. 30Concert/Art Show p. 8ConservationOne Club p. 17Council of Clubs p. 15David Brower p. 16Desert Conservation Outings p. 28Directory p. 31Foster Lodge p. 29Guest Column p. 14Mission Bay Park p. 16Membership Form p. 14Monthly Programs p. 4 & 5North County Events p. 8Outings List & Info p. 1928Recycling News p. 13Ski-Cross Country p. 27

Wilderness Basics Course p. 18

For many years, deser t ac t ivist Ed ie Ha rmon , wi th he r husband , J im ,c lose by, has w orked t i re lessly an d w i th a convict ion matched by few morta ls . She has sought to do w hat could not be doneoverturn an ant iqua ted, to convince the Bureau of Land Mana gement (BLM) to deny a mine proposal in Imperia l County . We think she may ha ve done i t ! In her ow n w ords, here are just a few of her activit ies and su ccesses.

1. Indian Pass withdrawal approved

On Oct. 20, 2000, the BLMapproved withdrawal of 9,360 acresin the Indian Pass area of easternImperial County from the filing of new mining claims and from chang-ing of the nature, configuration or size of the existing claims and certainother surface impacting uses toprotect archeological and culturalresources considered sacred to thenearby Quechan Indian Tribe. The

She made a differencea BIG difference

Yosemiteupdate to be

feature of Jan. 19 program.(Details on

page 4)

Photo by Bob OBrien

withdrawal does not affect any existing rights, but it will require a validity examination for the claims

which are the subject of Glamisopen-pit, cyanide heapleach goldmine proposal. If claims are foundto be invalid, new filings cannot bemade during the period of with-drawal.

The withdrawal is independent of the Glamis Imperial Project minereview. Withdrawal will expire onOct. 20, 2020, unless extended by Secretary of the Interior.

Inspired by the federal re-sponse to mining activities at theGrand Canyon, Sierra Club SanDiego Chapter r ecommended the

withdrawal in our comments inresponse to the Revised Draft EIS/EIR for the proposed ImperialProject. The Quechan elders andmany other national and localorganizations supported this recom-mendation.

2 . FEIS/ EIR for Glamis GoldsImperial Projec t was madeavailable for public review on Nov.9, 2000. The Imperial Project is a proposed open-pit, cyanide heapleach low-grade gold mine which

would cover 1,571 acres of unpat-ented mining claims on IndianPass Road entirely within theIndian Pass Withdrawal andimpact an additional corridor along Indian Pass Road for water and power lines.

The proposal is for 3 largepits as much as 880 feet deep (or 60 feet below sea level), a 300 feet high wasterock pile and a 334acre, 300 feet high heapleachpile, with operations running 24hours a day, seven days a week for 17 years. The area contains mucharcheological and cultural re-

sources and is believed sacred toContinued on page 3


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Page 2 San Diego Chapter January/February 2001 HI SIERRAN

Missing links: Providing safe pathwaysfor survival of plants and animalsBy Janet Anderson, chapter Conservation Committee chair

Most Sierra Club membersare aware that plant andanimal species are becom-

ing extinct at an unusually rapidrate all over the world. Todays rateof species extinction is on a par withthe massive extinctions that oc-curred 65 million years ago when thedinosaurs disappeared.

Since ecologists have learnedthat the most important cause of extinction is habitat destruction,environmental conservation is one of the major approaches now recom-mended to slow down species loss.Preservation of tropical rainforests,the Alaskan wilderness and oldgrowth forests are major goals of environmentalists world wide.

In San Diego County, we areattempting to preserve some of our unique habitats throughimplementation of the MultipleSpecies Conservation Programor MSCP.

Linkages, or corridors,are narrow strips of habitat, such asthe riparian corridor along a stream,that connect larger core habitats.

These connections allow for the flow of essential resources such as sandflows in the desert and the move-ment of large mammals. They arecritical to maintaining the healthy ecosystem that makes up a produc-tive habitat.

Particularly important is theability of top predators, such aslions, bears and coyotes here inCalifornia, to move through largelandscapes. Top predators help tokeep an ecosystem healthy by controlling the populations of

midsize predators, such as foxes,skunks, raccoons, opossums andferal cats who eat birds and their eggs, depleting the bird populations.

Top predators also keep downthe populations of herbivores, thuspreventing the elimination of vegeta-tion by overfeeding of plant eaterssuch as rabbits and deer. Themovement of grazing ungulates, suchas big horn sheep, to different pastures reduces overgrazing and

allows recovery of vegetation. Restingsites for migratory birds are alsorecognized as significant habitat linkages requiring preservation.

Connectivity is becomingincreasingly recognized as a criticalcomponent to restore healthy wildlifepopulations. If managed properly,linkages between core habitats cansignificantly increase the chances of survival for many large, widerangingspecies as well as help to ensurecontinuing biodiversity throughout a habitat core and linkage system.

Thus, access to complete andreliable linkage information is crucialfor land managers, conservationorganizations, and others working topreserve biodiversity. Despiteadvances in conservation planning,there is still no mechanism for

interested parties to share informa-tion about the locations or impor-tance of corridors.

There has been little statewideeffort in California to identify, exam-ine and protect wildlife corridors. Insome cases, local or regional reviewshave been completed and the resultsdocumented.

In other cases, the locations of critical corridors remain hidden inthe archives of local knowledge andtherefore do not influence publicpolicy and land use decision-making.

Thus many linkages are beingsevered simply because their exist-

Link ages, w hich provide connectivity betw een core habita ts, are cri t ical to mainta ining the healthy ecosystem that m ak es up a productive habita t .

Hi Sierran Jan./Feb. 2001USPS896140

The Hi Sierran (USPS 896140) is publishedbi-monthly by the San Diego Chapter of the SierraClub, 3820 Ray St., San Diego, CA 921043623,for members in San Diego and Imperial counties.One dollar of the annual membership fee is for asubscription to the Hi Sierran . PeriodicalsPostage Paid at San Diego, CA. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to Hi Sierran , Sierra ClubMembers Services, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder CO803222968.

WhereOur chapter directory has been

moved to the inside back cover, page31, where you can find important Sierra Club contacts with their telephone numbers, and, whereavailable, e-mail addresses.

did it go?

ence is unknown.Recognizing this, The Wildlands

Project, the California WildernessCoalition, the Nature Conservancy,and the Biological Resources Divisionof the United States GeologicalSurvey sponsored a statewideconference here in San Diego on Nov.2 called Missing Linkages: RestoringConnectivity to the California Land-scape, The Ecology and AppliedConservation Division of the Center for Reproduction of EndangeredSpecies at the San Diego Zoo werethe hosts.

Nearly 200 wildlife advocatesand agency representatives were onhand for this remarkable event.Speakers were Dr. Michael Soul, co-founder of The Wildlands Project, anda well-known conservation biologist,

Dr. Paul Beier, associ-ate professor of wildlifeecology at Northern

Arizona University, andDr. Kevin Crooks,

assistant professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin. Drs.Soul and Crooks have published

several reports on the environmentalimpacts of urban surroundings onthe canyons of San Diego.

Sierra Club members Terry Weiner, co-chair of the Land UseCommittee, Geoffrey Smith, conser-

vation coordinator, Glenn Torbett,Regional Conservation Committeerepresentative and I were present at the meeting. After this introductory session, conference attendees dividedthemselves into groups based ontheir regional experience and knowl-

See LINKS next page


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HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter January/February 2001 Page 3

edge of wildlife linkages in variousparts of California, from the Mexican

border to Oregon and from the coast to Arizona and Nevada. Each group

was supplied with maps and giventhe task of identifying the important linkages in their region.

The data produced will becollected and added to a statewidemap showing the locations of themost important and threatenedcorridors for California wildlife. Thismap and the conference proceedings

will be published and used as aneducational, planning and advocacy tool to be distributed to land plan-ners and managers throughout California.

We are looking forward toreceiving our maps so Sierra Clubmembers can use them in makingdecisions concerning conservationissues in San Diego and ImperialCounties.

LINKSfrom previous page

the nearby Quechan Indian Tribe.BLM stated that it has identi-

fied the No Action Alternative as the

Preferred Alternative! The FinalEnvironmental Impact Study statesthat a signaificant impact to culturaland visual resources cannot beadequately mitigated.(Remember thisis not a final decision on the mine.)

3. 9t h Circui t Court of Appealsoverturned BLMs 1,7 45 acre landexc hange for the Mesquite Landfi l ladjacent to operating Mesquite minenear Glamis dunes in easternImperial County on Nov. 6, 2000.

The Appeals Court ruled that environmental organizations do havestanding to challenge BLM landexchanges. The landfill applicationfor a 20,000 ton a day 200year landfill was submitted in 1992, after

years of rumors about trash projectsin the Imperial County desert andlong before the land exchangeappraisal.

The court found that: therecreational or aesthetic enjoyment of federal lands is a legally protectedinterest whose impairment consti-

tutes an actual...harm sufficient tocreate and injury ... for purposes of standing and went on to provideuseful information for establishingstanding to challenge a BLM landexchange and the appraisal requiredprior to completion of any landexchange.

The court decision affirms our understanding of the BLM landexchange principles and the stan-dards and criteria essential for anappraisal to stand the scrutiny of a panel justices even though rejected

by Interior Board of Land Appeals(IBLA) and the District Court.

The government must not wear blinders when it participates in a realestate transaction, particularly if theresult ... is the transfer of a flagrantly undervalued parcel of federal land toa private party. .... ... this potentialuse [as a mega-landfill] should have

been considered in evaluating thehighest and best use.

Appraisals must be current andmust reflect the intended use of landsfor a determination of valuation for highest and best use especially

where the intended use has beendisclosed and reviewed.

This is a tremendous victory and sets precedent for public lands inthe western states, Alaska andHawaii for appraisals and landexchanges. This decision should play a key role is resolving Eagle MountainLandfill where the appraisal issuesseem even more outrageousand theappraisal even more undervalued at $77 per acre.

The 9th Circuit Court decisionon the Mesquite Landfill LandExchange comes less than fivemonths after the June, 2000,Government Accounting Office report to Congressman Miller on the BLMand Forest Service land exchanges.

That report is a great referenceand found that The agencies havegiven more than fair market value for nonfederal land they acquired andaccepted less than fair market valuefor federal land conveyed because theappraisals used to estimate thelands values did not always meet federal standards.

The 9th Circuit Court decisionreached the same conclusions.

4. State Appellate Court grants Writ of Mandate on Oct. 26, 2000 toset aside a 1998 Negative Declarationand requires an EIR for USGypsum s wallboard fact ory e xpan-s ion and increased expor t of groundwater in southwesternImperial County. The court foundsubstantial evidence to support a fair argument the project may result insignificant impacts to groundwater and traffic.

The court accepted our submis-sions of 1993 analysis of U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) data by a SDSU hydrogeology professor andupdates by Harmon in challengingUS Gypsums analysis of the sameUSGS data. US Gypsum and itspredecessors have been exportingpotable groundwater for use at a

wallboard factory outside thegroundwater basin since 1925.

Groundwater levels have beendeclining since that time, with morethan a 70 foot decline in 5 milesdowngradient of export pumping

wells. Small residential communitieshave grown up to the west andsoutheast of the export wells. Basinresidents have been fighting ground-

water export from local wells sincethe 1950s.

USGS estimates that there is nosignificant recharge to the basin fromthe negligible rainfall (2-3 inches per

year in a good year) and that this is a small fossil groundwater basin withno significant recharge since the endof the last ice age.

The countys 1993 general planupdate restricted subdivisions,designated most of the 15,000 acresof private land over the basin to 40acre minimum lots to limit popula-tion growth to less than 2000.

Yet it turned a blind eye whenUS Gypsum proposed to almost double its export to a total of 767acre feet. Domestic use is estimated

Thanksgiving 1998 with Quechan Tribe

From page 1

The nitty, gritty fight pays off

Continued on page 4


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J ANUARY P RO G RA M The chapter's monthly program is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 19

at the San Diego Zoo's Otto Center (south of the Zoo's main entrance in Balboa Park).The program is free & open to the public. (Program Chair is Mannie Kugler.)

Friday, Jan. 19 Yosemites Search for BalanceProgram by Bob R. OBrien,Article by Gary Crawford

W hat does the future hold for Yosemite National Park? Will this great Americanlandscape and ecosystem survive asa high quality natural park land or

will we love it to death? How can we best plan for the sustainability of spectacular Yosemite Valley?

Bob R. OBrien, professor emeritus of geography at San DiegoState University and Sierra Clubactivist for over 40 years, presentsYosemite Forever, a lectureslideshow about the history and current status of Yosemite National Park and especially the issues involvedin the formulation of the final

Yosemite Valley Plan. Author of a recent book, The

National Parks and the Search for Sustainablity, OBrien still teachesa college course on national parksand has been studying and visiting

them for over 50 years.Concerned with the National

Park Services policy to allow as many visitors as possible to Yosemite Valley

while still preserving its naturalfeatures and quality of visitor experience, OBrien will addressseveral critical questions. Will

we finally see a largely autofreeupper valley? Will a reservationsystem for day use finally controlthe constantly expanding

visitation figure? Will theremoval of roads and develop-ment from a 400acre portion of the heavily used upper valley allow it to be returned to nature?

This free program is at 7:30p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 at theSan Diego Zoos Otto Center auditorium in Balboa Park.

Yosemite Photos by

Bob OBrien

at about 100 acre feet per year. Inthe early 1980s Congress approvedan extension of Imperial IrrigationDistricts (IID) boundaries so that IIDcould supply Colorado River water for industrial use at Plaster City.However, US Gypsum prefers to usepotable groundwater because that

eliminates the cost to treat ColoradoRiver water.In the 1970s the county filed

suit to stop export of about 200 acre feet per year to Mexico from two

wells. Export to Mexico stopped inthe 1980s. The major exporter/user today is US Gypsum.

The Appellate Court agreed that environmental review must be doneand that failure to attend the meet-ing of the countys Environmental

Evaluation Committee does not remove standing when Sierra Clubsubmitted written comments duringthe public comment period andobjected to the issuance of a Nega-tive Declaration. We understand theUS Gypsum has appealed the court decision to the state Supreme Court.

Factory construction continueddespite the on-going litigation sothat raises questions. Sierra Club

won on appeal and was awardedcosts. It would be great if we caneventually compel any increasedindustrial water use to come fromthe Colorado River rather than usehigh quality, low TDS potablegroundwater for industrial pur-poses.

5. Newmont Golds Mesquit e MineExpansion Draft EIS/EIR comment deadline was Nov. 7, 2000. Woefully inadequate, the document spells out plans to expand the existing MesquiteMine which already encompasses5,200 acres of once beautiful terrain

with magnificent mature microphyll

woodland wash habitat. The Mesquite Mine is an open pit cyanide heapleach gold mine NE of the Glamis dunes which began openpit operations in a historic prospect-ing district in 1984. The expansion

will be onto land removed from theChocolate Mt. Gunnery Range by theCalifornia Desert Protection Act, land

which is also federally designated asCritical Habitat for the threateneddesert tortoise.

From page 3 The nittygritty fight continues

Continued on page 5


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The chapter's monthly program is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 16 at the San Diego Zoo's Otto Center (south of the Zoo's main entrance in Balboa Park).

The program is free & open to the public. (Program Chair is Mannie Kugler.)

F EBRUA RY P RO G RA M

Friday, Feb. 16 Impossible railroad:

Carrizo Gorge and the Goat Canyon TrestleProgram by Reena Deutsch Article by Gary Crawford

I f it is built, will they come? How much would people want to comeaboard the first public passenger train trip in nearly half-a-century,chugging into the fabulous CarrizoGorge to view the famous Goat Canyon Trestle, an impressive bridgeknown as the eighth wonder of themodern world by engineeringexperts?

Reena Deutsch, a Sierra Cluboutings leader, a trustee for the AnzaBorrego Foundation (ABF) anda volunteer outings leader andnaturalist for several other conserva-tion organizations, presents CarrizoGorge and the Goat Canyon Trestle,an exciting lectureslide show highlighting the first public passen-ger train journey in 49 years intoCarrizo Gorge, as organized by Dr.Deutsch for the ABF in March, 2000.

Located in the south part of AnzaBorrego Desert State Park,

Carrizo Gorge is a deep canyonfilled with rugged scenic beauty within a hostile desert environment,according to Deutsch. It is anengineering marvel that a railroad

was ever built through it.Standing 186 feet high and 633

feet long, the Goat Canyon Trestle isreported to be the largest curved

wooden trestle in North America.Besides outlining some of the

financial, political and naturalobstacles confronting the construc-

tion and operation of the old SanDiego and Arizona Railroad, Deutsch

will reveal future plans to reopen

Carrizo Gorge to regular passenger and freight service. This free program is at 7:30

p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 at the SanDiego Zoos Otto Center auditorium.

For the first time ever, we now have an EIS which failed to include a reclamation plan. Figures show nothing outside the mine project

boundaries. A shocking omission! The EIS makes no mention of

reclamation/revegetation, and never once uses the word tamarisk, eventhough that noxious invasive species

was growing all over the mine siteduring my tour with the minesenvironmental coordinator.

In response to my earlier complaints, the company cut, but failed to apply herbicide, so thetamarisk came back even more

vigorously.

I had shared concerns withNewmont staff and BLM earlier, socant figure out why they chose toignore major issues. Yes, it is a National Sacrifice Area, but does it have to go from bad to worse withresidual toxic pit lakes and providinga seed source for tamarisk to invadenew off-site mountain canyons and

washes? Land exchange to the StateLands Commission was completedearlier. The only questions arereclamation and mitigation require-ments prior to anticipated approval of the requested expansion. However,staff has hinted that the MesquiteMine plans to close in spring 2001.

While many issues remain to beresolved, including the inevitable court appeals by the various applicants, thefact remains that very significant progress has been made in federalmining and land exchange law that willhave a profound impact on the way

business is done from now on in the American west.

M or e d e t a i l s a t w w w. s i er r a c l u b . or g / c h a p t e r s / s a n d i e g o / i n t r a n e t .

(Ha ts off to Edie Ha rm on for a job w el l done. The ear th sings your pra ises! Geoffrey Smith )

From page 4

The nittygritty fight continues


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Diego Zoo Otto Center highlighting the ar-tistic principles that guide the photographer in producing his wondrous bird images. Seedetails on page 8.

JANUARY 19, Friday, 7:30 p.m.MONTHLY CHAPTER PROGRAM

Yo se m i t e s S ea r c h f o r S u s t a i n b a b i l i t y Bob R. OBrien, geography professor emeritus at San Diego State University, willpresent a lecture/slide show on YosemiteNational Park Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. SD ZoosOtto Center, Balboa Park. Details on pg 4.

JANUARY 20, Saturday, 5 p.m.SIERRA SINGLES MONTHLY EVENTAFTER CHRIS TMAS WHITE ELEPHANTGIFT EXCHANGE AND DINNERContact : Kurt Weiss 85 8273653 6

Here's your chance to get rid of that lime green sweater your Aunt Martha gave

you last Christmas and you can trade it for the woolly hat with flaps that Kurt is sureto get from his mom (again). We will meet for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Soup Exchangeat 7095 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. We will start the gift exchange during dinner so bring

your sense of humor and everyone shouldhave a great time. If you need directions,call the Soup Exchange at 8587156824.

JANUARY 22 , Monday, 6 :30 p.m.GAY & LESBIAN SIERRANS POTLUCK

For location and program informa-tion, call Kathryn Vernon at 6192848136or Tom Markel at 8584884651.

JANUARY 30 , Tues day, 7 p.m.'BUTTERFLY' FILM SH OWING

Come and see the film about Julia

Butterfly Hill who lived atop a 180foot rewood tree to protest logging. The film isan 80 minute, feature-length version of the1 hour program originally aired. Show timeis at 7 p.m. at Twigg's Coffee House, 4590Park Blvd. (3 blocks north of El Cajon Blvd.).$5 donations accepted. Sponsored by theSierra Club Bookstore and the Forest and

Wilderness Committee. Contact: Geoffrey Smith, 6192991741.

FEBRUARY 3, Satu rday, 5 p.m .LIVING ROOM BENEFIT CONCERT, ARTSHOW AND POTLUCK

(See article on page 2). For informa-tion contact Geoffrey Smith 6192991741or [email protected].

FEBRUARY 5, Monday, 6 p.m.WALKTHETALK WE NEED YOU!Contact: Geoffrey Sm ith 61 9299174 1,con se [email protected]

See January 8 event.

FEBRUARY 10, Saturday, 7:30MidnightSIERRA SINGLES MONTHLY EVENTBAHIA BELLE VALENTINE'S BAYCRUISE AND DANCECoordinator: Kurt Weiss 85 827 365 36

Bring your sweetheart or meet a new one by joining us for dancing on MissionBay on the Bahia Bell. There also is anupper deck (bring a jacket) to enjoy the view of Mission Bay. We meet at 7 p.m. on thedock for boarding the boat that leaves at 7:30. The boat, open to the public, only handles 190 people. So, get there before it fills. Cost: $6 for the cruise from Bahia Re-sort Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Dr., Mis-sion Bay, near the roller coaster. The Ba-hia Belle circles the bay and stops at theCatamaran (3999 Mission Blvd.) every hour and returns to the Bahia every hour on thehalfhour until 12:30 a.m. Bring friends.Directions: call the hotel at 8584880551.

FEBRUARY 12 , Monday ,NORTH COUNTY GROUPDavid But ler : 760489 88 42

A Gringo in Brazil. See page 8.

FEBRUARY 13 , Tues day, 6 p.m.SIERRA SINGLES MONTHLY SLIDESHOW/ POTLUCK SOCIALCoordinator: Gwenda Humphe rys7 6 0 7 2 4 7 6 9 8

Come enjoy in the adventures AROUND LAS VEGAS. This slide show willfeature the annual canoe trip to Black Can-

yon starting at the Hoover Dam plus aroundLas Vegas with a trip to Valley of Fire andto Copper Canyon in Death Valley withsights of prehistoric times. Meet at 4355Ruffin Road, Suite 101. Directions sameas Jan. 4th show

FEBRUARY 14 , Wedn es day, 7 p.m .VISITOR/ NEW MEMBERSIERRA CLUB ORIENTATIONCall office at 2991743 for information

Meet at the Tierrasanta RecreationCenter, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. See

Jan. 10.

February 16, Friday, 7:30 p.m.MONTHLY CHAPTER PROGRAMC a r r i z o Go r g e a n d t h e G oa t C a n y o n T r e s t l e

Reena Deutsch, a trustee for the AnzaBorrego Desert State Park and a Si-erra Club outings leader, will present anawesome lectureslide show chronicallingthe first public passenger train trip in 49

years into Carrizo Gorge. The program is at SD Zoos Otto Center, Balboa Park. See pg 5.

FEBRUARY 20 , Tuesday , 6 :30 p.m .GAY & LESBIAN SIERRANS POTLUCK

For location / program information,call Kathryn Vernon at 6192848136 or

Tom Markel at 8584884651.

January Activities

February Activities

JANUARY 4, Thursday , 6 p.m .SIERRA SINGLESMONTHLY SLIDE SHOWGwenda Humpherys 76 0724769 8

Come and join Carol Murdock as sherelates her Alaska experience with imagesfrom Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, KenaiPeninsula, Denali and Fairbanks. Enjoy themagnificent scenery, grizzly bears, moose,and other wildlife in this land of midnight sun, glaciers, and wild rivers. This slide pre-sentation is a culmination of three extendeddriving trips to the north country; the last included a ferry ride through the InlandPassage. Carol is a COL, has taught wil-derness first aid, and is a serious photog-rapher who has won first place in photocontests. Bring something to share for a potluck dinner and your own soft drink.Meet a t 4355 Ruff in Road, Sui te 101. Take 115, exi t B alboa and go w est , turn lef t on Ruff in Rd and lef t to Daley Plaza . The event is at the San Diego Regional Cent er.

JANUARY 8, Monday, 6 p.m.

WALKTHETALK WE NEED YOU!Contact: Geoffrey Sm ith 61 9299174 1,con se [email protected]

Walk the Talk! Meet at the Chapter Office and Bookstore for a short 14 minute

video about the Sierra Club, followed by a brisk 1 hour walk around the neighborhood. We'll get to know each other, and I'll describesome of the ways you can become involvedin issue work in our chapter. We'll concludeour walk at a local coffee shop, then walk

back to the office for a wrapup. Please RSVPto Geoffrey Smith, Conservation Coordina-tor, at 6192991741. I look forward tomeeting and working with you!

JANUARY 8, Monday, 7:30 p.m.NORTH COUNTY GROUPDavid But ler : 760489 88 42

Terry Flood, a local San Diego Chap-ter COL and Sierra Club National Outingleader for over 10 years, recently returnedfrom a 24day trip to the Annapurna Sanc-tuary in the Himalaya Range in Nepal, willpresent a slide show of this experience.Details on page 8

JANUARY 10 , Wedn es day, 7 p .m .VISITOR/ NEW MEMBERSIERRA CLUB ORIENTATIONCall office at 2991743 for information

Meet at the Tierrasanta RecreationCenter, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Wemeet in the back building,on the left. Pre-sentations start at 7 p.m. featuring Singles,Bike, Photo, Ski, Focus on Youth, 20/30sSingle Sierrans sections, and North County,and chapter activities. There are over 1,000outings and activities during the year in theSan Diego Chapter. Refreshments areserved.

JANUARY 11, Thursday, 7 p.m.THE ART OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHYNeal Burs tein 6 19 58 47172

Famed photographer Arthur Morris will present a bird slide show at the San


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JANUARY 18, Thursday, 7 p.m.PHOTO S ECTION MEETINGCall 6192991744, ext. 2070 for current information.

JANUARY 22, Monday, 7 p.m. m .LAND USE COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.

An active committee working on many landuse issues, including urban sprawl. For info,call Fred Lorenzen at 6194245508.

JANUARY 23 , Tuesday, 4 p.m.Bookstore Comm it teeSierra Club Office an d Books tore.Call Geoffrey Smith at 6192991741 for information and to confirm time.

JANUARY 24 , Wedn es day, 7 p.m .COASTAL COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Eric Bowlby at 6192849399 or

Joanne Pearson 8584597041 for info.

JANUARY 25 , Thursday, 6 :30 p.m.

WILDLIFE COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Renee Owens at 6196595871. Helpus save wildlife and habitat.

JANUARY 25 , Thursday, 6 :30 p.m.MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGPlease call Richard Miller for location, 619 2913061.

CALL FOR DATE AND TIMEFUNDRAISING COMMITTEE.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Bob McDowell at 6192820664 for information.

JANUARY 4, Thursday, 7 p.m.RECYCLING COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St., For moreinfo, contact Wade Vernon at 7609427517or [email protected].

JANUARY 8, Monday, 5:30 p.m.HI SIERRAN NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE3820 Ray St. Call Pauline Jimenez 619 6609898.

JANUARY 8, Monday, 7 p.m.(CAN) CONSERVATION ACTIONNETWORK STEERING COMMITTEE

Twiggs Coffee House: 4590 Park Blvd., SanDiego ( Park & M ad ison Ave .). This is thesteering committee for our chapters con-servation alerts. Visitors welcomed. CallDiane Smith 8584880342 or JaniceMcKalisen 8582718058.

JANUARY 9, Tuesday, 6 :30 p.m .CONSE RVATION COMMITTEE.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call 6192991741 for information.

All conservation activists are welcome.

JANUARY 10 , Wedn es day, 7 p .m . (one w e ek l a t e r t h i s m o n t h ) Forest and Wilderness Comm it teeSierra Club Office and Bookst ore.Local and regional public lands manage-ment issues, and Wild Heritage Campaigncoordination. Call Camille Armstrong at 8585665676 for information and to con-firm meeting time.

JANUARY 11 , Thursday, 6 8:30 p.m .SKI SECTION MEETING and DINNERClairemont Community Room, 4731Clairemont Dr, on Lakehurst Lane,Clairemont Town Square, between the Vonsand PicknSave. Beginner instruction inthe community room at 6 p.m., or dinner at Acapulcos across the parking lot. At 7p.m. (back in the community room) we willdescribe our trips of the coming season.Program: Alvin Walter will present a slideshow of his ski expedition to the North Pole.

Alvin joined a European group that usedRussian military support. They were flownfrom Siberia to a base on the ice, then skiednorth to reach the pole.

JANUARY 15 , Monday, 6 :30 p.m.SIE RRA SINGLES COMMITTEE MTG.Call Wanda Jackson at 8586894039 for further information.

JANUARY 18 , Thursday, 7 :30 p.m.INNER CITY OUTINGS (ICO)Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. CallDarlene Gunter at 8584670852 for info.

JANUARY 17 , Wedne sday, 6:30 p.m.EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MTG.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call 619 2991743 for info.

January Meetings

February MeetingsFEBRUARY 1, Thursday, 7 p.m.RECYCLING COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St., For moreinfo, contact Wade Vernon at 7609427517or [email protected].

FEBRUARY 7, Wedn es day, 7 p.m .Forest and Wilderness Commit teeSierra Club Office an d Books tore.Local and regional public lands manage-ment issues, and Wild Heritage Campaigncoordination. Call Camille Armstrong at 8585665676 for information and to con-firm meeting time.

FEBRUARY 8, Thursday, 68:30 p.m.SKI S ECTION MEETING

(See Jan 11 for time and location).Program: Alvin Walter will present a slideshow of his trip to the Canadian Rockies.Selkirk Mtn Experience is a hut and guideservice reached by helicopter. The skiing isdone by human power, about 5000 verticalfeet each day

FEBRUARY 12, Monday, 5 :30 p.m.HI SIERRAN NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE3820 Ray St. Call Pauline Jimenez 619 6609898.

Deadline to submit informationto the Hi Sierran for March/Aprilactivities and meetings is Feb. 1

Marty Stevens,meetings & activities editor

email him at:[email protected]

Postal mail:P.O. Box 70077, San Diego , CA 9216 7

Telephone: 8 5 8 6 7 3 0 8 9 1

FEBRUARY 13, Tue sday, 6 :30 p.m .CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call 6192991741 for information.

All conservation activists are welcome.

FEBRUARY 14 , Wedn es day, 6 p.m .FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Bob McDowell at 6192820664.FEBRUARY 15, Thursday, 6 :30 p.m.MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGPlease call Richard Miller for location, 619 2913061.

FEBRUARY 15, Thursday, 7:30 p.m .INNER CITY OUTINGS (ICO)Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. CallDarlene Gunter at 8584670852 for info.

FEBRUARY 19, Monday, 6 :30 p.m.SIERRA SINGLES COMMITTEEMEETINGCall Wanda Jackson at 8586894039 for further information.

FEBRUARY 21, Wedne sday, 6:30 p.m.EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MTG.Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call 619 2991743 for info.

FEBRUARY 23, Thursday, 7 p.m.WILDLIFE COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Renee Owens at 6196595871. Helpus save wildlife and habitat.

FEBRUARY 26, Monday, 7 p.m. m .LAND USE COMMITTEESierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.

An active committee working on many landuse issues, including urban sprawl. For info,

call Fred Lorenzen at 6194245508.FEBRUARY 27, Tuesday, 4 p.m.BOOKSTORE COMMITTEESierra Club Office and Books tore.Bookstore management and operation. CallGeoffrey Smith at 6192991741 for infor-mation and to confirm time.

FEBRUARY 28 , Wedn es day, 7 p .m .COASTAL COMMITTEE MEETINGSierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St.Call Joane Pearson at 8584597041


8/17


9/17


The Natural Historyof

San Diego County

A comprehensive introduction to theflora, fauna, habitats, endangered

species and ecosystems of the County.

Instructor: Royce Riggan, Jr.(of the Nature Knowledge Workshop)

Miramar College, Fridays 92Beginning 26 Jan. 2001, 3 units

Applications may be obtained in theAdmissions Office of the College

10440 Black Mountain RoadSan Diego, CA 92126

Happy New Year! It was my pleasure to serve you as chapter chair from October to December 2000.

In December Dale Larabeeand I bid adieu to your chapter Executive Committee (ExCom),leaving you in the capable hands of several top-notch individuals with

whom I hope you have the pleasureto work (and play!): Bonn ie Ge ndron , elected last

year, activist particularly for backcountry issues and involved with the Hi Sierran Committee,presently ExCom vice chair.

Allis on Ro lfe , reelected last

year and particularly advocatingspecies and habitat issues,serving ExCom this year assecretary (a tedious job!).

De vo re Sm it h , elected last year,always on hand to provideaudio/video services at monthly chapter programs, ceremonies,and other chapter functions.

Ric hard Mille r , elected this year after his appointment in July,

busy promoting our chapter while serving as the MembershipCommittees chairperson, now a

member of the clubs California Political Committee in addition toour chapters Political Commit-tee.

Elle n Sh ive ly , elected last year,historically an outings personlike me, now coordinatingstandard and wilderness first aidtraining, performing secretarialduties for the ConservationCommittee as well as ExCom

when needed, NominationCommittee chair this year andour representative to the clubs

senatorial Council of ClubLeaders. J ohn Wilks , appointed recently

to fill John Hartleys vacatedposition through the end of this

year, but also elected to officethis year to serve another two

years. Chairs the Air Quality subcommittee while keeping

busy with other conservation andoutings activities.

Wan da J acks on , appointed

recently to fill ex-chair EricBowlbys vacancy through next

year, busy as Sierra Singleschairperson and as a Chapter Outings Leader (COL), active in

wildlife issues. Ale x Landon , newly elected for

2001-2002, long term clubmember committed to helpingthe chapter ensure environmen-tal protection laws are enforced.

Sh aro n Bo sko vic h , like Alex, a longtime club member just elected for a two-year stint,committed to controlling sprawl,ocean oil spills and worldpopulation.

These ExCom members willchoose our new chapter chair.

In summary, it was a good year on ExCom. Though we facedtough choices and disagreed witheach other on important issues likethe San Diego mayoral endorsement and opposition to the Brown Fieldcargo expansion, we hung together as a great team.

In October we completed our political endorsements. We took theunusual step of endorsing both Toni

Atkins and John Hartley for the

same San Diego City Council seat; wedecided neither candidate couldchampion environmental protectionmuch more than the other.

After two lengthy and infor-mative discussions at ExCom, not to

mention extensive efforts in thePolitical Committee, we chose toendorse Judge Dick Murphy for mayor of San Diego. After a chal-lenge in the clubs approval process,California ExCom approved theendorsement with a two-thirds votethanks in large part to Richard Miller

volunteering to represent us inperson in Sacramento.

In other October business, we approved a Land Use/Conserva-tion Committee request to support the concept of a building moratorium

by individual planning groups shouldthey call for a moratorium on build-ing in their areas during the GeneralPlan 2020 process. This should helpslow sprawl while the county devel-ops a 20-year growth plan.

In November, we heard fromthe Sierrans for U.S. PopulationStabilization and supported a modi-fied version of an initiative theyretrying to put on the clubs 2001nationwide election ballot. Then weendorsed the concept of a preserveto include the rocks, water and beachland area as proposed by Friends of the Seal, which adds legal protectionfor the new seal habitat and reducesthe chances for human use of theChildrens Pool, a controversialsubject.

ExCom also decided to gather more information on working withclub members speaking out in publicin opposition to decisions of thegoverning body; discussion continues

By Brad Buffett, Chair, Chapter Executive Committee

continued on page 10


10/17


F or many years I have watched with envy as Dan Anderson, a veteran of 22 years of crosscountry skiing, carved beautifultelemark turns down snowy slopes.Even the thick sticky snow known asSierra cement that would grab andhold me prisoner could not stopDans poetry on skis.

Dan, a member of the Sierra Club since 1974 and a long timeSierra Club Chapter Outing Leader,known as a man of few words, hasnow turned to writing some poetry (well, prose, anyway). In his recent

book, Ski Tours in SouthernCalifornia, (ISBN 0-9614 527 -4-9) hehas shared his knowledge of theabundant ski trails of our region.

This book fills a major missing link in cross country ski literature.

Because the snow in SouthernCalifornia often lasts far into thespring, unlike many places morecommonly thought of as snow country, it can be a long ski season.

Review by Glenn Torbett

in December.Finally, Bonnie Gendron

reminds us that each ExCom member should liaison two or moregroups, sections or committees in thechapter. Each entity should have anExCom liaison for purposes of communication, coordination andpublicity. Bonnie and the Hi SierranCommittee ask for article submis-sions from every part of the chapter;an article generates publicity for your group, highlights chapter activities,and enhances the newsletter.

Choosing not to run for re-election this year, Im retiring after over three years of ExCom service.

Looking recently at this yearsExCom candidate statements I recallmy own commitments two and three

years ago, which focused on internalchapter relationships, publicity, andsimply completing our business. I

believe I accomplished much of that, but the affairs of ExCom and thechapter in general often keep us too

busy to pursue loftier goals.

I extend heartfelt gratitude tothe very many volunteers continuingto make this chapter vibrant andsuccessful. Nobody needs to beelected or appointed to any board tocontribute very successfully; in fact, Ihope to feel even more successful

The Sierra Clu b Bookstore is proud to host local au thor and Sierra Club member Dan A nderson, a former

ExCom member of our cha pter, 7 to 9 p .m. on Tuesday , Jan. 23 for a short t a lk and s l i deshow a bou t h i s new book. He w i l l be avai lab le to sign copies of his b ook for sale a t the store,38 20 Ray St., San Diego (61 929 9 1797) .

Bookstore to feature autographingwith clubs own skitour author

next year as I focus on adding to our Web site (publicity!) and participatingin Inner City Outings. Our last threechapter chairs certainly havent slowed down!

You, too, can find fulfilling ways to participate in the chapter. Istarted 4 1/2 years ago by hiking

with the Younger Sierrans (now the20s & 30s Single Sierrans). What interests you? Pauline Jimenez wasan outing leader who volunteered toedit outings submissions, then

became liaison to the Hi SierranCommittee and now chairs thecommittee! Similar stories abound.Check it out!

FROM THE CHAIR, continued from previous page

Dan Anderson, author, skier

Dans book has a little some-thing for everyone, from non-skier toexpert. At its core it is a clear tour guide, with interesting informationthrown in (do you know where the

worlds largest lodgepole pine is?). There are 68 trips with trail maps,including four in San Diego County.In addition to the well researchedtrail instructions, there are excellent directions to guide you to thetrailheads.

Even though the book has a great collection of trips for the XC ski

veteran, including those skiers that

like their trips long or steep, there arealso plenty of wonderful trips anduseful information for beginners as

well (how should you position your body when going faster?). The twotrips to the Laguna Mountains of SanDiego County are ideal for beginners.Ski Tours in Southern Californiaalso includes great photos, some XCski history, safety tips, skiing basics,ski gear information and even fashiontips and skiing etiquette (what do youdo with a si tz mark?). And for those

who cannot tolerate either cold or snow, there is a trip to Kelso Dunesin the Mojave Desert where you skion sand a definite change of pacefrom your usual skiing venue! Ski

Tours in Southern California shouldexpand your skiing horizons.

Dont forget to look on page 27in the Outings section in this H i Sierran for the Cross Country SkiSections trips. Most trips take

beginners and give lessons. Theprices on the trips are pretty reason-able, too. And you will rarely be cold.

Cross country skiing in Califor-nia is, in fact, most often a fun in thesun activity. For most, it is fun.

And it is in the sun, so make sure you take lots of sunscreen and use it often, even under your nose, chin andears so that your memory of the trip

will stay fun after you get home.Dan learned that on his first

trip. My face was bright red and it all peeled.


11/17


T u e sd a y, J a n u a r y 3 0 , 7 p .m .'B u t t e r f l y ' f i l m s h o w i n g a t Tw i g g s C of f e e H o u s e

O n a cold December morning in1997, Julia Butterfly Hillascended a 180-foot redwood treenamed Luna to protest the logging of Northern Californias forests. For thenext two years, the tree became her home.

The world was later shocked tolearn that Luna was savagely cut andmortally wounded by vandals inNovember, 2000.

Butterfly, directed by Doug Wolens, tells the story of a remark-able young woman who became a hero to environmentalists and a pariah to the logging industry. WhileButterfly focuses its attention on Hill,the real star is the community of Humboldt County where residentsfound themselves at the epicenter of a

Luna & Butterflyfeatured Jan. 30

J oin the Sierra Club WildlifeCommittee Chair Rene Owensand the San Diego Natural History Museums (SDNHM) Margie Stinsonfor a day trip on the 88-foot PacificQueen. Leave from San Diego Harbor to the Coronado Islands to see marinemammals and other wildlife, includ-ing: gray whales, spotted dolphins,sea lions, elephant seals, harbor seals, and pelagic birds.

Margie is a seasoned marinemammal biologist and instructor wholeads trips to the Islands every year.Rene is an experienced wildlife

Sunday Feb 4, 8 a.m. 5 p.m.

national debate. The Jan. 30th film is the 80

minute, feature-length version of the1 hour program originally aired last

June on PBS. Show time is at 7 p.m.at Twigg's Coffee House, 4590 Park Blvd. (3 blocks north of El CajonBlvd.). $5 donations will be accepted.

Sponsored by the Sierra Club Bookstore and the Forest and W ilder- ness Committee. Contact: Geoffrey Smith, 61 929 917 41 .

biologist who has conducted conservation and ecological research on

dolphins, and various other critters,here and in Latin America. Hurry,limited space available and fills upfast!!

Whale watching is responsibleand conservation-minded; the boat does not chase nor harass any

whales. This trip is an unforgettablelearning experience to view our aquatic wildlife that live in our regional ocean waters.

**If w e get a la rge enough Sierra Club group, the pr ice w i l l be dis-

counted a nd w e get the ent i re boat to ourselves!**

Cost: SDNHM members $58,others $68

Contact: Rene Owens at 619-659-5871, email [email protected]; or Sierra Club office at 299-1743

For further information see also www.sdnhm.org/education/bro-chure/adults.html#coronado

Special wildlife viewing event

O n Thursday, Jan. 11,internationally noted birdphotographer Arthur Morris will present The Art of Bird Photog-

raphy at the Otto Center at the SanDiego Zoo. This slide program willdetail the artistic principles that guide the photographer in producingthe images that appear above hismost-fitting BIRDS AS ART credit line. We will visit Point Pelee NationalPark, Ontario andChurchill, Manitoba,Canada; Bosque Del

Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico; St. Paul

Island in thePribilofs, Cape May,NJ, South Florida,and other of Artiesfavorite hotspots.

Along the way, well learnmuch about the art of bird photogra-phy. Topics to be covered includecomposition, background, perspec-tive, and the qualities of naturallight. Mr. Morris will tell us about the Canon lenses and bodies that heuses, how he approaches free and

wild birds so closely, and of the joysof making a living doing what he lovesto do best.

Mr. Morriss technically perfect,

artistically designed images appear regularly in Natural History, Outdoor Photographer, Birders World,

Wildbird, Nature Photographer, andcountless other magazines, books,and calendars. He has been a Canon

contract photographer since 1995,and is the author/photographer of several books including BirdPhotography Pure and Simple andShorebirds: Beautiful Beachcomb-ers. His latest book, The Art of Bird Photography; The CompleteGuide to Professional Field Tech-

niques has become an instant classic. A selection of Mr. Morris

books and photographic prints(packed to travel) as well as his 2001Beautiful Birds calendar, will beavailable for purchase both beforeand after the show.

The program is free.

Keep your eye on the birdieGuest Arthur Morris on the art of bird photography Jan. 11

You also can see photos like theendearing one above at Arthur Morris website:

www.birdsasart.com


12/17


For Single Personsin their 20's & 30's

(619) 5446124A section of the San Diego Chapter

20s & 30sSingle Sierrans

Our back countryback countryback countryback countryback country is in your handsBy Eric Bowlby and Geoffrey Smith

S an Diegos backcountry harbors important resources with wide areas of open valleys, ancient oaks, unspoiled

ridgelines and wildlife habitat in between the country towns.

It is in delicate balance withhuman uses. It is a balance under threat.

The countys general plan, which determines how development will occur, is being revised. Al-though the proposed plan reducesthe build-out targets of the current plan and thus reduces the growthimpacts somewhat, it still amountsto spreading an additional popula-tion of 225,000 people over much of

the undeveloped backcountry. It stillrepresents a destructive, sprawlingdevelopment pattern, not smart growth.

The proposed plan eliminatesgood planning tools, like welldefined urban/rural areas anderases important resource catego-ries, including agriculture.

The countys own analysisindicates that the new plan does not meet the goal of directing develop-ment toward existing urban areas,and that more needs to be done to

reduce the growth impacts to traffic, biology and groundwater-dependent areas. But the land speculators anddevelopment interests are organizingto push for increased backcountry sprawl.

One alarming proposal of thenew plan is to allow two, four, andtenacre estate subdivisions across51,700 acres of large, privately owned parcels within the ClevelandNational Forest (CNF). The CNF Initiative, overwhelmingly approved

by the voters in 1993, established

that new subdivisions would have40 acre minimum parcel sizesoutside country towns. This hasprevented residential/estate-sprawland the habitat-fragmenting im-pacts of the associated roads. Theinitiative sunsets in the year 2010and, if the County Supervisorsapprove the present proposal, wellhave to battle to save the forests allover again.

A vital hearing before the

Board of Supervisors will occur on Jan. 10. Your immediate action isessential if the San Diego Countys

back-country resources are to besaved.

1) Please take a minute tophone, or e-mail or write a letter to

your County Supervisor using thetalking points which follow and theinformation above.

It would be helpful if you couldcopy your e-mail or letters to theother Supervisors.

TALKING POINTS forCounty General Plan Update 2020

Please: establish regional resourcecategories and well defined urban

areas, rural areas, agriculturalareas, and environmentally constrained areas;

Ensure protection of wildlifecorridors connecting mountainlion habitat to Orange County;

Establish 80-acre minimumparcels for the National Forests

when the Cleveland NationalForest Initiative sunsets;

Reduce the population targets. The current proposal has unac-ceptable impacts to back-country

traffic, sensitive habitats andover-populates groundwater dependant areas;

Please reduce the estate residen-

tial sprawl and direct growth intoexisting urban areas or country towns;

Reduce densities due to physicaland biological constraints;

Prevent houses from sprawlinginto the countryside and destroy-ing the rural character of the

backcountry.

2) Also, call the Sierra ClubConservation desk to find out other

ways you might help (6192991741,or e-mail [email protected].

3) If you call your Supervisor,simply say to the receptionist, My name is ___. I am a constituent from___ and would like to leave a brief message regarding the 2020 Up-date. The message is: Give us realsmart growth please save the back-country resources from sprawl. Addthoughts of your own or use thetalking points above to embellish.

Ident ify your Supervisor

US Mail address for all supervisors :Supervisor [ ]County of San Diego

1600 Pacific Highway San Diego, CA 92101

Supervisor Greg Cox (Chula Vista,National City, Imperial Beach, Coronado)[email protected] isor Dianne J acob (Poway, ElCajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Santee,

Apine, Crest, Descanso, Jamul, Julian,Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho San Diego,Spring Valley) [email protected] Pam Slater (Carlsbad,Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La

Jolla, Rancho Bernardo, Mira Mesa,

Tierrasanta, Pacific Beach) [email protected] Ron Roberts (City of SanDiego, Clairemont) [email protected] Bill Horn (Oceanside,Escondido, Fallbrook, Vista, Valley Cntr)[email protected]

Thank you very much. SanDiego Countys future and our quality of life depend upon your support.

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY!!


13/17


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H i. My name is Wade Vernon and Iam the new chair of the Recyclingcommittee. Being new at this kindof stuff, I would appreciate all the help, ad-

vice, understanding and free beer that isavailable from the general membership of the Sierra Club.

One of the things that I woldlike to accomplish is writing a column for the Hi Sierran that willserve as a clearinghouse of informa-tion about recycling and how we cansave energy, resources and reducethe amount of stuff that ends up in a land fill. Hopefully, these articles willinspire you to go above and beyonethe call of duty. I would also like topublish this modest essay in other

newsletters, magazines, newspapers, bathroom walls, etc., to inform andenlighten the public about the joy of

Recycling NewsBy Wade Vernon, Chair of the Recycling Committee

recycling. I would welcome any suggestions as to other publications

who would stoop to print my ravings.

Another task that I would liketo tackle is helping people locateproducts made from recycled re-sources. Please notice that I said,Resources 1. A source of suppy .sup port or aid , 2. The collective w eal th of a country or i t s means of producing w eal th , 3 . Money or any property tha t can be converted into money; a sse ts . (from the RandomHouse College Dictionary.)

There is a plethora of great organizations that are involved inrecycling and can help. Here aresome:Habitat for Humanit ie s 619463

0464 Will pick up useable building

material, doors, windows, sinks,lumber, etc. They have a huge storeof material if you need any.

City of San Diego Recyc ling HotLine 8584670903 List of recy-cling colection centersalso helps

with larger items like computers, water heaters, mattresses, etc.

Cons t ruct ion and Dem ol i t ion andYard Was te Rec yc lers www.co.san diego.ca.gov Lists companies whorecycle concrete, asphalt, woodscraps, chairlink fence and tires.

RecycledContent Products Data-base www.ciwmb.ca.gov showcasesa dazzling array of cool r ecyc l edproducts .

All ideas, opinions, death threats, offers to volunteer, marriageproposals, job offers and advice can beemailed to w ad ev_99 @ya hoo.com .

Note : The new ly reconst ructed Recycling Comm ittee meets 7 p.m. on the f i rst Thursd ay a t the Sierra Club office.

C anyon fever is spreading in SanDiego, JOIN US.Some excellent Sierra Club

volunteers and I organized a hike inNovember guided by a local natural-ist in Van Nuys Canyon, (North endof Cass St. where it deadends at VanNuys Street). About forty peopleshowed up and during the hike a La

Jolla community member spoke upand declared that he wanted toorganize his neighbors to protect VanNuys canyon. At that moment,"Friends of Van Nuys Canyon" was

born.Since then, this group has met

to divide up responsibilities for

protecting Van Nuys Canyon from themany threats that exist in an other- wise completely urbanized environ-ment.

They are meeting again for their first clean up party and to perhapsremove some invasive plant specieson Sunday, Jan. 21, 2001. Join us.

Do you have a canyon in your neighborhood and would you like tohelp with San Diego Canyon preser-

vation? Please call me at 619-284-9399 for more information and check out the Canyon Coalition web-site at

http://members.dencity.com/canyonCoalition/.

CanyonFever

By Eric Bowlby


14/17


Name_______________________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________ City____________________________________ State______ ZIP_____________________ Telephones (_______) ______________________________e-mail______________________

Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are not taxdeductible; they support our effective, citizenbased advocacyand lobbying efforts. Your dues include $7.50 for a subscription toSierra magazine and $1 for the Hi Sierran (chapter newsletter).

Membership Categories Payment Method:Check MasterCard VISA

CARDHOLDER NAME

CARD NUMBER

EXPIRATION DATE FRIP F94QW05001

Gift recipient's Name___________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________ City____________________________________ State______ ZIP_____________________ Telephones (_______) ______________________________e-mail______________________

I understand that a gift announcement card will be sent for my use. I've entered my name and address above and the recipient's name and address below.

P.O. Box 52968Boulder, Colorado,

803222968

J OIN THE S IERR A CLUB TODAY! Yes, I want to be a member of Sierra Club. Yes, I want to give a gift membership!

Moving?AddressCorrection?

Send your current mailing label andyour correct address to:

Sierra Club, P.O. Box 52968Boulder, Colorado 80322-2968Or send your membership number and

your correct address to:[email protected] allow 4 - 6 weeks for processing.

FICE WISH LISTFICE WISH LISTFICE WISH LISTFICE WISH LISTFICE WISH LIST

INDIVIDUAL JOINTINTRODUCTORY $25REGULAR $39 $47SUPPORTING $75 $100CONTRIBUTING $150 $175LIFE $1000 $1250SENIOR/STUDENT $24 $32LIMITED INCOME $24 $32

Send your address changes to: Sierra Club Members Services, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder CO 803222968.

On your mark, get setjust do itOn your mark, get setjust do itOn your mark, get setjust do itOn your mark, get setjust do itOn your mark, get setjust do it By Rene Owens, wildlife biologist and chair of the Wildlife Committee

T his is not an ad for sneakers. Iset out to write an article about a current wildlife issue, suchas the recent, numbing news that theFish and Wildlife Service has put a moratorium on listing any new species for at least a year. However,as I consider the looming environ-mental disasters and battles aheadunder a Bush presidency andcombative Congress, my energy andoptimism wither. I know I am not theonly one.

Luckily, after rummagingthrough my favorite conservationreadings, I have been inspired by the

wise words of sage environmentalists(Jane Goodall, John Lawton, AldoLeopold, among others). They havegiven me food for thought and hopefor the road ahead, which Id like toshare.

To begin with, discussionsabout whether human activities aresustainable rapidly become arcane.In the messy real world, thesearguments are hard to make opera-tional. So it is worth reviewing someof the facts that do not leave muchroom for argument.

Consider a hugely disturbing

fact regarding the worlds marinefisheries. Using the latest informa-tion on fish catches and discards, it

has been estimated that an incred-ible one-third of all the plant andother photosynthetic marine lifetheprimary source of food for all marinecreatureshas been hijacked tosupport human fisheries. Meaning?Basically that an entire third of alllife that sustains the food chain of the planets oceans winds up in fishcaught by people.

Cant relate to these figures?Consider some others. Carbon dioxide emissions from

automobiles have doubled in thepast 20 years, and by the year 2020 will have to be cut to 80% of the 1990 levels just to begin toapproach environmentalsustainability.

20% of the planets 6 billionpeople use 75% of the earthsresources.

Annual fossil fuel consumption of one American is over 30 timesthat of a Bangladeshi.

Increased polar ice melts fromglobal warming are endangeringpreviously stable species; forests

are disappearing by millions of acres a year. Species are becom-ing extinct faster than we cankeep track of them.

Rates of allergies, asthma, skin,and non-smoker lung cancer areat an all time high.

We are fairly aware of thesethings, but they somehow get pushedto the back of our minds.

Environmental doom and gloomis unfashionable, indeed a non-issuefor the media. Sustainable develop-ment is slightly more newsworthy,

but in reality amounts to business asusual, with green bits. It is seen asthe job of environmental scientists toprovide technical fixes to makegrowth possible, forever.

Except it isnt possible. The ultimate limit on harvesting

fish will be when there is no food left to support them. We are one-third of the way there. The other two-thirdssupport not only fish but penguinsand porpoises, coral reefs, whalesand many other things we hold dear.

There are simply not enough fish togo around, and the miracle of fiveloaves and two fish is hard to repeat.

Scientists or not, we cannot avoid the key questionwhat will Igive up? With 20% of the populationusing 75% of the worlds resources,those of us inside the barricades cando nothing, and condemn billions of people to appalling poverty to protect our own lifestyles (more tuna, morehighways and two SUVs each). It

will work for a time, but only at theexpense of tremendous suffering andSee Wildlife Committee next page


15/17


16/17


David Brower was a friend of mine.

In fact, I believemost of us can say that. We met onseveral occasions over the past 15 years or so. Our last meeting

was at the California Wilderness Conferencethis past summer inSacramento. There he

was, possibly thegreatest environmen-talist of all time,sitting dignified, alonein his wheel chair in the midst of thehustle and bustle of the event. So I

walked over to him, and got down on

David Brower: Hiker, Climber, HeroBy Geoffrey Smith

C on t i n u e d on n e x t p a g e

my knees to talk (feeling somehow correct in doing so). I wanted to

thank David for some-thing.

I thanked David for being a person whom Icould talk to. From the

look in his eyes, and thesmile on his face, I couldtell he wanted to talk

with me, too. While DaveForeman (founder of Earth First), Jim Eaton(founder of California

Wilderness Coalition) andall the others scurried off

to meetings and networking sessions,there was David Brower chatting

with me.

Mission Bay Park: Picnics or profits?By Scott Andrews, Alliance to Save Mission Bay Park

M ission Bay Park on statetidelands is facing ruin. Thisirreplaceable open space is visited by 15 million people a year (Yosemite: 3.8 million). An additional15 million must use grid-locked city streets to reach San Diegos ocean

beaches. The park has beautiful vis-tas across Mission Bay to the pacific.

With six hotels and SeaWorld,the park is already Californias most commercialized state park. Park traffic is jammed and summer sigalerts continually warn coastal

visitors to avoid the areas fullparking lots.

The Mission Bay Park Master Plan recommends needed picnicareas, childrens play areas, publicparking, a tram system, primitiveovernight camping, a nature center,

wetlands restoration to filter pol-luted bay waters, new habitat for theparks seven endangered species andrecreational facilities.

The 1999 Grand Jury reportedpark mismanagement, over-com-mercialization, and failure to buildpublic facilities. The city has fundedonly $3 million of the Master Plan recommended $171 million toimprove public access. Instead, thecity managers office has supported:

1 . D an a In n : An expansion of 80rooms, a major banquet facility and 2.5 acres of Sunset Point.

2 . Qu i v ira Bas i n : Two new resort hotels totaling 850 rooms, a retailstrip, four to eight restaurantsand expansion through the

Alternative Least Tern Nesting Area and along the Southern Wildlife Preserve.

3 . S eaWorl d: Anheuser BuschCorporation of St. Louis isproceeding with expansion plansfor 90foot tall thrill rides, a

convention center, a four-story parking structure, wideningSeaWorld Drive to six lanes and a proposed 950room, highrisehotel.

4 . De Anza Po i n t : A 300roomresort hotel/marina and a 300 room time share development.

The Master Plan calls for the area to be used foremost to improve

bay water quality with new wetlands.

Hotels and SeaWorld are major traffic generators. The city Traffic andEngineering Dept. says each hotelroom creates 10 vehicle trips per day.Studies for Quivira Basin projectsstate they would add 13,000 daily trips, tripling area traffic. Air pollutionlevels, tied to stopandgo traffic andcold starts in parking lots, would alsotriple.

The coast has an inversion layer that traps vehicle exhaust pollutants.

Other proposed developments wouldadd to the problems.

Public needs should be consid-ered first on this public land and inthe citys operation of the park. The

Alliance to Save Mission Bay Park supports a moratorium on any morecommercial development in thepark.*

*(Note: Sierra Club h as not enterta ined the concept of such a moratorium.)

1. Catamaran Hotel2. Bahia Resort Hotel**3. Quivira Basin Hotels (2)**4. Hyatt Islandia Hotel

5. Dana Inn**6. Paradise Point Hotel7. Sea World Hotel & Expansion**8. Hilton Hotel**

9. De Anza Cove Resort Hotels (2)**10. Campland11. Mission Bay Landfill/

Class 1 Toxic Industrial Waste Dump

**Potential Exansions of major commercial developments


17/17


By Geoffrey Smith,chapter conservation coordinator

One Club

Warning! T h i s c on s er v a t i o n c ol u m n c o n t a i n s r ef e r en c es t o ba c k p a c k i n g a n d o t h e r ou t d o or s p or t s !

Conservation Coordinator Geoffrey Smithand his activist wife, Camille, on a recent outing to Yosemite, are San Diegosdynamic duo when it comes toenvironmental activism.

O ne Earth, One Chance, OneClub. The Power of One.One Step at a Time. Webster's defines One as: being inagreement or union and constitut-ing a unified entity of two or morecomponents.

The concept of oneness is as oldas time itself, and yet as difficult toachieve now as it ever was. OneClub in the Sierra Club meanscombining our resources in outings,outreach, education, and activism toachieve the important goal of protect-ing our Earth. That is the theme of this column, and of my involvement.I encourage you to join with me. David Brower was one heck of a

guy. If ever there was a model for the One Club concept, he was TheOne. Please read my article about

David starting on the previouspage. David is gone from thisearth, but his legend lives on.

The world recently mourned thesavage vandal cutting of Luna,

Julia Butterfly Hills tree-sit homefor over two years. Julia contin-ues to spread her message of loveand action throughout the nation.Come see the movie, Butterfly,about her experiences 7 p.m. on

Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Twiggs CoffeeShop. Julia will be in San Diegoon Friday, May 11 at SDSU.

I hope you can come to our first benefit living room concert,featuring Caren Armstrong, onSaturday, Feb. 3. Time to relax,enjoy friends and music, andcelebrate lifes riches. See page 8for details

Ive been a chapter outingleader (COL) for nearly 20 years now,giving me pause to consider our responsibility as stewards of our planet earth

X/ C Skiing in Bear Valley: Will club testimony result in a strongUS Forest Service Roadless Area Proposal, now on Clintons desk?

X/ C Skiing in Yosem i te : Willclub comments on the Yosemite

Valley and Merced River Plans result in reduced development and in-creased habitat protection for thisprecious resource?

Backpacking in HauserCanyon: Will our efforts to influencethe countys General Plan 2020

Update provide much-neededresource protections in our backcountry?My Heroes:

Devore Smi th - My dad.Clergyman, educator, ExCommember, father, guide. He actively

works on landuse and parks issues,and runs our sound system at events. I am proud of this , andcontinue to be inspired by him.

Edie Harmo n - Goddess of Imperial County, and her humbleside-kick Jim Harmon, turned themining industry on its ear by win-ning important court decisions. Shemay have single-handedly gutted thedestructive and antiquated 1872Mining Law.

Connie Garcia - founder of our Border Issues Committee, is break-ing new ground working withMexico-based environmental groups.

Ill see you on the trail!Geoffrey Smith ,

Conservat ion Coordina tor

Nothing less than the fate of the world in his hands, and David Brower was taking time to listen to what this volunteer of little renown had to say.I thanked David for showing peoplelike me that the most sincere mani-festation of greatness is in a person'sability to listen to the little people,those who have not yet done great things but want to, and to help themto fly. He smiled, and nodded, andlooked around the room at hundredsof activists flying this way and that,and saw that he had done well.

That was David Brower - he wasthe greatest.

He had, the sharp eyes of a visionary man, who achieved 70 first ascents in the Sierra Nevada; the

DAVID BROWER 1912-2000 from previous page

voice of a powerful, big man whocould 'scream without raising his

voice'; the hearing of a legendary man, who had heard it all before, yet

would listen to the newest, youngest volunteer with keen interest andenthusiasm.

A proud man, who fixed waffleson Sunday mornings for his friendsand associates. A gentle man, whosemere presence evoked awe amongadmirers, and flight response amongthose who would damage our EarthMother by their actions.

I will be looking to the moun-tains for the next David Brower.S/he will likely be wearing a back-pack and climbing harness.

jan 2001 san diego sierra

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