A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE KERN-KAWEAH CHAPTER OF SIERRA CLUB JULY, AUGUST, 2009

LARGE PROJECTS THREATEN GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Supervisors need to hear public discussion of development projects at far edges of Bakersfield area

ANNUAL LOBBY DAY COMING AUGUST 23-24 AT STATE CAPITOL

The Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Update (MBGPU) process has just begun, and Kern County is already watering it down. The new plan has yet to go through the public input process, but the draft version proposes to divide the Bakersfield area into three districts. The 2035 Buildout Area is essentially the 210 square mile central area where some development has already occurred and where new development would be encouraged. The Urban Reserve is an area surrounding the 2035 Buildout Area where stricter mitigation measures would be required and where potential development would occur between 2035 and 2050. The Future Planning Reserve is an area on the far edge of the Bakersfield area surrounding the Urban Reserve where development currently is problematic and which might be developed after 2050. On June 16, the Kern County Board of Supervisors considered three new housing projects that, if approved, would sprawl to the horizon and compromise the MBGPU before it is even adopted. The Stonefield project would build 1450 residences on prime farmland

west of Enos Lane and just south of Seventh Standard Road. It is located on the outer boundaries of the Future Planning Reserve, an area projected to develop after 2050. The Neighborhood and Bakersfield Land Investment projects are located in the Urban Reserve, an area projected in the General Plan Update to develop between 2035 and 2050, not in 2009. In addition, as if to thumb their nose at the public’s input into the General Plan Update process, Kern County is beginning the approval process for a new industrial park on 340 acres of prime farmland south of Bakersfield in the 2050 Future Planning Reserve. Under California law, the general plan serves as the constitution for future development. Approving these projects at this point would undercut the MBGPU before it even gets off the ground, making the process an exercise in futility. Accommodating a development of this sort prior to completion of an updated general plan sends the message that public input into the General Plan Update process is not valued and embodies poor land-use planning. Approval of the projects at this premature juncture would turn the process on its head, dictating

outcomes in the general plan and potentially foreclosing more thoughtful regional planning. In commenting on the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Update in the Bakersfield Californian on April 20, County Planning Director Ted James said, "We have legislation that says we need to get more human-oriented. Do we put our heads in the sand and ignore the legislation, ignore the attorney general, ignore the impact on transportation systems? Or do we try to find a proactive solution?" A proactive solution would be to table or reject projects in the Urban Reserve or Future Planning Reserve until the City and the County complete the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Update so that a more informed determination can be made as to whether or not the project is consistent with the County’s and public’s vision of sustainable future growth. Let your supervisor know that they should impose a moratorium on development in these far-flung areas until you get your input into the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Update. —Gordon Nipp Chapter Vice-Chair

Come join us in Sacramento for our annual Lobby Day on August 23-24. You will have opportunities for interaction with other activists and our professional lobbying staff, as well as with legislators and their staff at the State Capitol. On Sunday afternoon our advocacy team will train you on how to lobby and brief you on our priority bills so that you can effectively advocate for them. On Monday, you will work the halls of the Capitol as teams, with meetings scheduled from morning

through the afternoon. We will then focus on key remaining bills, including renewable energy, water conservation, air quality, park protection and resilient habitats. Participants should expect to pay some costs, but some travel and lodging reimbursements will be available, depending on location. For more information, please contact Annie Pham, legislative aide, at lobbyday@sierraclubcalifornia.org or 916.557.1100 ext. 107.

The Roadrunner

THE ROADRUNNER JULY-AUGUST, 2009

A highlight of this spring’s Buena Vista group programs was a trip to the Cal State University-Bakersfield Facility for Animal Care and Treatment on June 6 where FACT Co-ordinator Marlene Benton showed members through the heavily wooded 20-acre facility, including habitat for the care and treatment of eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. The tour included the large tortoise habitat and cactus garden. Citizens often bring wounded birds and other animals to FACT where staff members are trained in rehabilitation, upkeep and maintenance. “A local veterinarian will often do X-rays. That’s one of our biggest costs,” Benton said in her talk to the group. “Our goal is to release the injured animals back into the wild, so we have to be very careful about imprinting by offering only minimal human contact.” From October through March, FACT is open the first Saturday of each month (except for January). The summer schedule is already filled for June and July. To schedule a tour or field trip, call the facility at 654.3167. The Buena Vista group could be viewed as “the farm team of the Kern-Kaweah Chapter as well as for state and national activism,” according to Vice-Chair Ann Gallon. Formed in 2000, the group offers monthly programs for members and the public to educate on issues critical to personal health (like water and air quality) and the health of the planet (e.g., forests, oceans and global climate change). “Our goal is to inspire people to become informed, to speak up (or write letters to the editor) on these important issues, and to hold elected officials accountable,” Gallon said. The group sponsors speakers such as Dr. Ted Murphy, retired CSUB biology professor, to talk about issues of importance, but also casual events such as pizza parties and wine and cheese socials. “ Some great issues discussions take place at these social gatherings,” Gallon said.

BUENA VISTA GROUP: FILMS , SPEAKERS AND ICE CREAM AT FACT CSUB animal rehab facility aides community knowledge of environment

MATTER OF FACT:About 15 members of the Buena Vista group met at FACT at CSUB early in June. Volunteer Stephen Cooley talks about succulents and cacti in the desert garden (far lefft) near the entrance. A pair of barn owls (top) gaze suspiciously at visitors. Vice-chair Ann Ga)on munches on an ice cream cone (middle) affter the FACT tour. Some cactus flowers are blooming (directly lefft) in the sun.

Photos/Isabel Stierle

Buena Vista Chair

THE ROADRUNNER JULY-AUGUST, 2009

Experts advocate switchto less meat to solveenvironmental problems If everyone went vegetarian just for one day, the U.S. would save:1) 100 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the homes in New England for almost four months;2) 1.5 billion pounds of crops otherwise fed to livestock, enough to feed the state of New Mexico for more than a year;3) 70 million gallons of gas—enough to fuel all the cars of Canada and Mexico combined with plenty to spare;4) 3 million acres of land, an area more than twice the size of Delaware;5) 33 tons of antibiotics. If everyone went vegetarian just for one day, the U.S. would prevent:1) Greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.2 million tons of CO2, as much as produced by all of France;2) 3 million tons of soil erosion and $70 million in resulting economic damages;4) 4.5 million tons of animal excrement;5) Almost 7 tons of ammonia emissions, a major air pollutant. A favorite statistic is this: According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the

carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads. Other points: Globally, we feed 756 million tons of grain to farmed animals. As Princeton bioethicist Peter Singer notes in his new book, if we fed that grain to the 1.4 billion people who are living in abject poverty, each of them would be provided more than half a ton of grain, or about three pounds of grain/day—twice the grain they would need to survive, not including the 225 million tons of soy that are produced every year, almost all of which is fed to farmed animals. Singer writes, "The world is not running out of food. The problem is that we—the relatively affluent—have found a way to consume four or five times as much food as would be possible, if we were to eat the crops we grow directly." A recent United Nations report titled “Livestock's Long Shadow” concluded that the meat industry causes almost 40 percent more greenhouse gas emissions than all the world's transportation systems. The report also concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level. In its report, the U.N. found that the meat industry causes local and global environmental problems even beyond global warming. It said that the meat industry should be a main focus in every discussion of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortages and pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Source: Adapted from a Huffington Post article by Kathy Freston, April 2, 2009 at: http://www.alternet.org/environment/134650

—Contributed by Ara Mardarosian

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KERN KAWEAH ROUNDUPPLEASE READ CAREFULLY IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN SIERRA CLUB HIKES:Everyone is welcome, Sierra Club members and non-members, to join in any of the outdoor activities. Requirements: You must be in condition for the type of hike, equipped appropriately for the activity and prepared to sign a Sierra Club release for liability. You must be willing to follow the leader’s directions. Be sure to bring any personal medicines you might need. Customary appropriate equipment includes good hiking shoes, plenty of water, snack, sunglasses, suntan lotion, and layered clothing. The following might be helpful but definitely is not required: compass, whistle, matches or lighter, and a good first aid kit. Long paints are recommended. Unprepared for the prospective hike? It will be a no-go for you. Participation must be leader approved. Please let the leader know ahead of time that you are intending to participate. Check individual group listings for the desired means of communication.

Since unexpected change of plans may be necessary, it is recommended that YOU contact the hike leader the night before to be assured that the hike is still going to happen.

New California legislation designed to protect the consumer requires us to publish this notice: CST 2087755-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. This legislation is designed to protect the user of outdoor activities that require cash payments of more than $50 for participation.

BUENA VISTA GROUP More info? Call Donnel Lester at 661.831.6784 or e-mail donnelc3bvg@earthlink.net or Isabel at 661.246.6195.

Buena Vista Group (BVG) upcoming breakfast programs are on summer hiatus. We will resume meeting in September on the first Saturday of the month. We hope to have presenters discussing the fate of bats in the age of wind energy and xeriscape landscaping, to sponsor a visit to CALM as well to link art and nature in an art show. We welcome ideas and suggestions from members.

The executive committee of BVG will continue meeting in the summer to plan fall events. If you would like to attend, provide or suggest future programs, please contact Isabel at 661.246.6195 for meeting dates and times.

Highway clean-up is also on summer hiatus due to the hot temperatures. We are expected to pick up again in September on the third Saturday each month. Have a great summer!Meeting Notices—If you would like to receive Buena Vista Group meeting and activity notices by email, please contact Donnel Lester, at donnelc3bvg@earthlink.net, with Add me to the email list. You can opt out of the email notices at any time. We try to limit this to once-a-month emails.

CONDOR GROUPMore info? Mary Ann Lockhart (661.242.0432). Hikes? Dale Chitwood (661.242.1076)

Saturday, July 25—Peak to Peak Hike. Traditional (18 years) adventure hiking from Mt. Pinos (nearly 9000 foot altitude) to Cerro Noroeste (nearly 9000 foot altitude). Five to seven hours. Wonderful views on all sides, wildflowers still blooming, condors may be seen overhead. Good trail with lots of ups and downs within 1000 ft band. Need to be in good condition, wear good shoes, bring a little lunch snack, plenty of water, and personal needs which you may require. Leave at 8 a.m. from Pine Mountain Club. Pick-ups can be arranged along the way for persons not in Pine Mountain Club area. Reservations are required for this hike. Call 661.242.0432 for reservation and more info.

Saturday, Aug. 1— The Forest Service and the World Around It. Los Padres National Forest, Mt. Pinos District Ranger Tom Kuekes is retiring Sept. 30 of this year. Tom will be presenting a retrospective of his years as a ranger and a prospective of years ahead. Tom, always responsive to the frequent requests from our group, will be sorely missed. Meeting at the Pine Mountain Clubhouse. 6 p.m. potluck, 7 p.m. program.

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Saturday, August 29—Toad Springs Trail Rescheduled. Meet 8 a.m. Pine Mountain Club parking lot. Here we go, out into the woods, up and down on a mountain trail with beautiful grand views in all directions, with mini-views by our feet and at our finger tips. In the far distance the Temblor and Caliente ranges of the Carrizo Plain appear. In the near distance Quatal Canyon appears with its many colored canyon walls. Sometimes there is fog, sometimes clouds and then spectacular clear days. That is the beauty and the challenge of the Toad Springs Trail beginning just a short drive west of Pine Mountain Club. Seven miles round trip. Need to be in fit condition. 5000 ft altitude. Bring water, little snack, all personal needs. Call for reservation, more info. 661.242.0432

Every Sunday morning at 8 a.m.—Sunday Strolls. Meet in the Pine Mountain Clubhouse parking lot. 1 and 1/2 hour walk in near vicinity of community on local trails over grasslands, through woods. No need for reservations. Children welcome accompanied by adults. A great beginning to a pleasant day. More info? Call 661.242.0432

Nature Fest was a great success. This potpourri of exhibits and hands-on activities drew families of all sizes and all ages. Highlights were compound microscope viewings, water tasting, play role as a firefighter, a drum circle and more. Over 150 people attended this free event prepared by the Condor Group.

KAWEAH GROUPMore info? Call Pam Clark (559.784.4643) or Diane Jetter (559.781.8897).

OWENS PEAK GROUPMore info? Chair Dennis Burge (760.375.7967) or e-mail dennis93555@yahoo.com. Jim Nichols, hikes (760.375.8161) or e-mail jnichols@ridgecrest.ca.us.

Saturday, June 20—Pine Creek Trail to Pine Lake (first lake reached on the Eastern Lateral Access Trail from the Pine Creek Trailhead, 9942 ft max elevation, 2500 ft elevation gain, 7 mi RT) This hike is part of our program of exploring the major eastern access trails to the Sierra. The Pine Creek Trail leads to Italy Pass and Pine Creek Pass. This will be an moderate hike. Meet Sat, June 20, at 7:30 a.m. at the Ridgecrest Cinema parking lot. For more information, call Dennis Burge at 760.375.7967 or Jim Nichols at 760.375.8161.

Saturday, July 11—Bench Lake Loop, Onion Valley. Southwest out of Onion Valley, 10880+ ft max elevation, 2250 ft elevation gain, 5.4 mi RT. We will hike cross country to tour several of the little visited lakes (Little Pothole, Slim, Matlock, Bench, and Gilbert) of Onion Valley. Moderate hike, due to length and elevation gain. Meet Saturday, July 11, at 7:30 a.m. at the Ridgecrest Cinema parking lot. For more information, call Dennis Burge at 760-375-7967 or Jim Nichols at 760-375-8161.

Saturday, Aug. 15—Cottonwood Pct Loop to the Source of the S Fork of the Kern. 11050 max elevation, 2000 ft elevation gain, 8.5 mi RT). As part of our program to explore segments of the PCT, we will climb to Trail Pass and follow the PCT past Trail Peak to the saddle W of Poison Meadow. We will drop a few hundred feet W of the saddle to see if we can find the springs that are the source of the S Fork of the mighty Kern River. We will return via Poison Meadow. This will be a moderate hike. Meet Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7:30 a.m. at the Ridgecrest Cinema parking lot. For more information, call Dennis Burge at 760.375.7967 or Jim Nichols at 760.375.8161.

MINERAL KING GROUPMore info? Call 559.761.0592. Please also visit mineralking.sierraclub.org for more info.

Friday, July 10— Movie Night. “MONUMENTAL, David Brower's Fight for Wild America.” Director Kelly Duane explores the dramatic and lyrical story of Brower and his colleagues' unrelenting campaigns to protect and establish some of our most treasured National Parks. 210 Café, 210 W Center St, Visalia. Join us for coffee or sandwiches at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m. Contact Kim at kim.loeb@kernkaweah.sierraclub.org for more info.

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Saturday, Aug. 1—Weaver Lake. Let's get out of the summer heat and hike to Weaver Lake in the cool Jennie Lakes Wilderness Area at 8700 ft. This will be a moderate seven-mile round trip hike with 1000 feet of elevation gain (aka aerobic!). Join us by calling Joanne or David at 559.733.2078.

Saturday, Aug. 22 —Pear Lake. This is a moderate to strenuous 13-mile round trip with a 2,250 foot elevation gain. The trail runs through a Sequoia grove and passes a few alpine lakes before reaching Pear Lake. For more information contact Dave Keller, COACHK24@aol.com, 559.688.4813.

California/Nevada Regional Conservation CommitteeDesert Committee Outings

For questions about, or to sign up for a particular outing, please contact the leader listed in the write-up. For questions about Desert Committee outings in general, or to receive the outings list by e-mail, please contact Kate Allen at kj.allen@wildblue.net or 661.944.4056..

Friday-Sunday, July 10-12— Nevada Wilderness Service. Eastern Nevada's White Pine County has MANY new wilderness areas. We'll help the BLM's Ely office enhance wild values as we put up vehicle barriers, rehab old routes, or remove old guzzlers; specific area to be known later. Three-day car camp service trip with Vicky Hoover; with central commissary ($15); vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org or 415.977.5527. CNRCC Wilderness Committee

Saturday-Sunday, July 11-12—White Mountains Canyon Exploration. We'll camp in the Hamill Valley east of Bishop and explore Pellisier and Birch Canyons in two day hikes. We may not get past the formidable-looking narrows shown on the Pellisier Canyon topo map, but we will take a look. The Birch Canyon narrows can be surmounted, but there may be some route-finding involved. We won't attempt any real rock-climbing. Limit 12. Leader: John Wilkinson, johnfw1@mac.com 408. 876.8295. CNRCC Desert Committee

Tuesday-Sunday, Aug. 11-16—Southern Sierra Backpack – Olancho Peak. Arrive at Kennedy Meadows above Owens Valley (not to be confused with Kennedy Meadow near Sonora). Hike in two miles from the trailhead to a camp by the Kern River. Continue up the Kern for the next two days to our highest camp at 9300 ft. Day 4 is the hike with day packs through the wildflowers and an optional hike to the top of Olancho Peak at 12,123 ft., then back the four miles to the previous night’s camp. Next day hike eight miles to the first night’s camp, then two miles out the last day. Much of the trip is on the Pacific Crest Trail. Ldr: David Hardy 702.875.4549, hardyhikers@embarqmail.com-email preferred). Southern Nevada Group

Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 22-23—Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Carcamp. Come with us to the beautiful White Mtns to camp, hike and just relax. On Saturday, we’ll hike the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest on a moderate five-mile loop interpretive trail, followed by a picnic lunch and a short optional hike to a nearby old mining cabin. Back at camp we’ll enjoy Happy Hour, a potluck feast and a campfire. Sunday pack up and head home. Group size strictly limited. Send $8 per person, 2 large SASE, H&W phones, email, rideshare info to Reserv/Ldr: Lygeia Gerard, P.O. Box 294726, Phelan, CA 92329, 760.868.2179. CNRCC Desert Committee

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27 —Service And Hiking in the Carrizo Plains. This is an opportunity to visit and to assist a relatively unknown national monument. There will be an optional and scenic hike high in the Caliente Mountains on Friday. Others may join us for National Public Lands Day on Saturday when we will work on improvements for the Soda Lake Overlook. On Sunday we will tour historic, prehistoric, and geologic sites. Leader Craig Deutsche: craig.deutsche@gmail.com, or 310.477.6670. CNRCC Desert Committee

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MIDGEBUZZINGS Not long ago I was standing in a short line at our little local Green Frog Market, waiting for the cashier to finish with the customer ahead of me. Just as she was ready for me, a man in the line began a loud diatribe, who knows for what reason, against “Kids Today.” It was apparent that this was a favorite theme, possibly met among his acquaintances with approval and similar complaints. One of said “Kids” was serving as bagger, and I recognized him as being among the most pleasant and helpful members of an unfailingly pleasant and helpful staff. According to this critic, among the failings of “Kids Today” is their rudeness, their lack of interest in anything serious, their ignorance of good manners (my, how ironic!) and their indifference to tradition. The cashier looked uncomfortable, as did others in the line, so I took it upon myself to share my own observations. Quietly, and with total honesty, I said, “I think they’re better than they’ve ever been.” At that the cashier said, “Oh, thank you.” Whereupon the critic scowled at me and offered what he seemed to think was the ultimate insult: “You must be a teacher!” Though I’ve been retired from teaching since 1995, my response was “I am.” And what a wonderful profession it is, as most of us who have practiced it will tell you. True, the pleasures of the day are punctuated with annoyances and trivialities, but most of those are connected with the business of administering an institution. For the most part, the daily reward for our efforts is “The Kids.” I speak from the experience of a high school teacher who, like all of us, averaged five classes a day with a total of around 175 students. I can remember many times turning the key in the lock of my door after the last class and thinking, “I should be paying them for this, and not the other way around.” Of course I never advocated that, nor were all days so glorious that it became a mantra. There were, indeed, some stinkers in every level of instruction, including the highest. If you want to get a good idea of “Kids Today,” volunteer to judge a forensics event at one of the high schools. In this connection you will be refreshingly brought up to date with encouraging evidence of their sophistication in many areas, very much including environmental issues. I have heard freshmen, all of fourteen years old, fervently debating such issues as “cap and trade,” housing vs. preservation of species, the virtue of public transportation over the automobile culture, and the pros and cons of ethanol. Certainly the vast canyon between elder discomfort with technology and youth’s passion for it is one of the most baffling and possibly even alienating issues for both sides. Many of us have to admit that while we admire our grandchildren’s easy solution to computer problems that raise our blood pressure to dangerous heights, we still regard many of the latest innovations in communication to be frivolous, wasteful and culture-killing. What, for example, is texting doing to the language? All that abbreviation posturing as words! And don’t such fast-developing phenomena as My Space, YouTube and Twitter foster narcissism and separation of the generations? I would argue that the propensity of youth for frivolity and vice has not changed one bit since it was so clearly evident when I was a “Kid.” Visit a public high school some day and you will step into a microcosm of the real world, both for better and for worse. Over all, I think you will come away pleasantly surprised, and more hopeful for the future than you were when you arrived.

—Ann Williams

Executive Committee of the Kern-Kaweah ChapterChair: Georgette Theotig (Tehachapi), 661.822.4371. Vice-chair: Gordon Nipp (Bksf), 661.872.2432. Secretary: Arthur Unger (Bksf), 661.323.5569. Treasurer: Lorraine Unger (Bksf), 661.323.5569. Donnel Lester (Bksf), 661.831.6784. Richard Garcia (Min King), 559.624.0199. Ann Williams (Bksf), 661.324.1055. Mary Ann Lockhart (PMC), 661.242.0432. Ara Marderosian (Kernville), 760.378.4574.

Chapter ExCom Meetings: All Sierra Club members are always welcome to attend these meetings. Call 661.323.822.4371 to confirm all meeting dates as well as location and time.

THE ROADRUNNER JULY-AUGUST, 2009

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