Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter, serving Imperial & San Diego Counties

HI SIERRAN
Working to preserve the special nature of San Diego for over half a century
Vol. 59, NO. 5

www.sandiego.sierraclub.org

Sept./Oct. 2000

The bear facts: A bearish outlook

By Rene Owens, wildlife biologist and Sierra Club Wildlife Subcommittee member

lthough black bear sightings in San Diego county are virtually non-existent, over the past months there have been a few reports of them in and around the county. To most of us this is welcome news. There are habitats here that can certainly support black bears. But due to human development, habitat fragmentation and hunting, bears are a rarity in these parts. The grizzly was exterminated long ago from our state and ironically can now only be seen on the state flag. Several weeks ago the Union Tribune published an article (May 15) about a black bear that was shot in Ramona, and the scenario was all too familiar: uninformed people saw a large predator, became afraid, and reacted accordingly. In such incidents the victim is always the

animal, which is killed simply because it was unlucky enough to cross paths with humans. As our local county population grows exponentially and spreads into rural areas, the fate of our few resident black bears is increasingly at risk, and some basic education about black bear behavior is called for. The Ramona incident is a case in point where a lack of understanding and fear resulted in a dead bear. The bear wandered onto rural private property around 6 p.m. According to the landowners account, they saw the bear, went inside the house to get a gun, and upon seeing the bear rise up on its hind legs they say they fired a shot in the air, followed by a shot to the head. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) officer Mervin Hee

stated he would have done the same thing, saying You cant take the chance. At a distance of 35 yards, if the bear was going to attack them, [the landowner] had to make a decision and make the right decision. However, the article also relates that all of the shooting took place from the doorway of the landowners house. One family member was quoted as saying, What was so shocking [was] that it was broad daylight. Mr. Hee also stated, Is there a biological reason or health reason to have the animal behaving this way? This is not normal behavior. A necropsy was performed on the bear, and the official report was that the bear, a male approximately 3 years old, weighed in at

Continued on page 11

Inside
Activities & Meetings p. 6 & 7 Bears in San Diego County p. 1 Booksigning & book review p. 14 Bus Trips-Current p. 26,27 CALFED Water p. 15 Chairs Column p. 3 ...in the shadow Chemgold p. 8 Classifieds p. 31 COL Training p. 26 Conservation Corner p. 10 Desert Conservation Outings p. 29 Directory p. 2 ExCom Ballot p. 32 ExCom Candidates p. 16 & 17 First Aid Training p. 28 Foster Lodge p. 18 Membership Form p. 14 Monthly Programs p. 4 & 5 North County Events p. 5 & 8 Outings List & Info p. 1930 Peninsular Bighorn Sheep p. 9 Roadless Wilderness Activists p. 12 Tamarisk Bashing p. 10

Iran: An ancient culture and its modern people

Photo by Lowell Blankfort

Persepolis, whose dramatic ruins are in southern Iran, goes back 2,500 years and is one of the worlds most ancient cities. Hear and see more about Iran 7:30 p.m. October 20 at the Otto Center in Balboa Park. (Details on page 5.)

Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter

Serving San Diego & Imperial Counties
3820 Ray Street, San Diego, CA 921043623
(east of 30th & south of University in North Park)

COMMITTEES & SECTIONS Committee ContactPhone Mtg. Day/Time* Bicycle Section Neil Brooks 8584553979 1st Mon/6 p.m. Hotline 6193388420 Bookkeeper Kellie Lindros 6192991743 Bookstore Geoffrey Smith 8585665676 4thTues/4 p.m. e-mail gsmith@thecomputersmith.com Bus Trips Mike Fry 8585663851 No reg. mtgs. Conservation Chair Janet Anderson 8585870919 2nd Tues** Vice Chair Jeanne Davies 8584833431 Air Quality John Wilks 6196718227 (day) ** Conservation Action Leader (CAL) NEEDED ** Conservation Action Network (CAN) Janice McKalsen 8582718058 Diane Smith 8584880342 Cons. Outings Camille Armstrong 8585665676 ** Coastal Eric Bowlby 6192849399 4th Wed/7 p.m. Joanne Pearson 8584597041 Energy Dan Perkins 7606342963 Forest & Geoffrey Smith & 8585665676 1st Wed** Wilderness Camile Armstrong gsmith@thecomputersmith.com Land Use Fred Lorenzen 6194353422 4th Mon** Terry Weiner 6195430757 Parks Lynne Anne Baker 8586731703 4th Wed/7 p.m.** Population Margaret Liles 7607499513 ** Recycling NEEDED Walk Fern Siegel 6195833261 ** Water Ed Kimura 8585692025 ** Water Transfer Fred Cagle 6192970931 ** Wildlife Shannon Davis 6194248055 **4th Thurs./7 p.m. Focus on Youth Laura Cramer 7603415448 ** Denise Falk 6192314975 Foster Lodge Patrick Jones 8585657733 1st Thurs** Events Scheduler Dianne Pietila 8582743100 Small Cabin Info Susan Parrish 8585607502 Fundraising Bob McDowell 6192820664 ** Gay & Lesbian Tom Markel 8584884651 or ** Sierrans Mary Severine 6192836168 Hi Sierran Pauline Jimenez 6192966620 2nd Mon 6:30 p.m. Information Technology Lee Olsen 8582743392 ** leefolsenITC@hotmail.com Inner City Outings Darlene Gunter 8584670852 3rd Thurs 7:30 p.m. Robert Blakeslee 8587556243 Membership Richard Miller 6192913061 4th Thurs 6:30 p.m. Mountaineering Mike Brown 7607432928 ** Nature Knowledge Workshop Lee Siegel 6195833261 Outings Jim Matlock 8587484634 ** Pacific Crest Trail Rob Langsdorf 6194591726 2nd Tues** Photography Don Ridgway 619-588-1099 2nd Thurs** Program Mannie Kugler 6195853773 ** Political Lon Gillette 7609437035 ** Sierra Student Coalition NEEDED Singles 6192998733 recording ** Nora Weber 8584839749 20s/30s Single Sierrans Voice Mailbox 6195446124 Ski Mike Fry 8585663851 ** Treasurer Fred Lorenzen 6194353422 Wilderness Basics (WBC) Skip Forsht 8582724495 **

Office hours: MondayFriday 12-5

email san-diego.chapter@sierraclub.org Web Page: www.sierraclub.org/chapters/sandiego/
Join our One Club Forumemail listserve as follows:

To: listserv@lists.sierraclub.org Subject: (ignored) Message: subscribe sandiego-oneclub-forum FirstName LastName

Recorded Info and Voicemail System: 6192991744 Adminstrative Office: 6192991743 Fax 6192991742 Cheryl ReiffOffice Manager/Volunteer Coordinator email admin@sierraclubsandiego.org Conservation Office: 6192991741 NEEDEDConservation Coordinator e-mail conservation@sierraclubsandiego.org Bookstore: 6192991797 (located at chapter office) Geoffrey SmithManager Bookstore Hours: See ads in this newsletter.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Meets 3rd Wed., 6:30 p.m. in the chapter office.
Chair Eric Bowlby (01) ............................... 619-284-9399 email...savewetlands@compuserve.com Vice Chair Brad Buffett (00) ...................... 858-621-6332 email...bradtheb@pacbell.net Secretary Allison Rolfe (01) ...................... 619-223-9218 email...arolfe@sw-center.org Bonnie Gendron (01) ................................. 619-445-4067 email...surtsey@popped.cts.com John Hartley (00) ........................................ 619-299-8870 email...hartley2k@aol.com FAX 619-640-6455 Dale Larabee (00) ....................................... 619-299-2265 email...drlaraboo@aol.com FAX 619-299-3593 Ellen Shively (01) ....................................... 619-479-3412 email...olenska@pacbell.net Devore Smith (01) ...................................... 619-286-8905 email...devore@cts.com Richard Miller (00) ...................................... 619-291-3061 email...lostyourmarblestoo@juno.com

GROUPS
North County Group, David Butler 760-489-8842 email: davangie@sdcoe.k12.ca.us Meets the 2nd Monday at 7:30 p.m. at RB Joslyn Center, 18402 W. Bernardo Dr., Rancho Bernardo Coastal North Group, Robert Payne, 760-632-1961 (fax same as phone) Meets the 3rd Tues. at 7 p.m. at Aviara Oaks Elem. School auditorium, 6900 Ambrosia Lane, La Costa

Hi Sierran Sept./Oct. 2000 USPS896140

The Hi Sierran (USPS 896140) is published bi-monthly by the San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club, 3820 Ray St., San Diego, CA 921043623, for members in San Diego and Imperial counties. One dollar of the annual membership fee is for a subscription to the Hi Sierran. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Diego, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hi Sierran, Sierra Club Members Services, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder CO 803222968. Editor Jackie Main fax 6192160066 or or email editor at jjmain@home.com (emergency calls only at ph. 619216-0006) Committee Chair Pauline Jimenez 6192966620 Advertising Representatives Ron Porter 6194790308 Gary Crawford 6192239873 Outings Editor Pauline Jimenez 6192966620 Activities Editor Marty Stevens 8586730891

**Call to confirm meeting location and/or time.

Page 2 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

By Eric Bowlby, Chair, Chapter Executive Committee

Quality of life priorities for the city of San Diego

s part of the mayoral endorsement process, our Sierra Club Political Committee endorsed Judge Dick Murphy, but our Executive Committe voted to stay sidelined and to NOT endorse either candidate. My vote was cast to stay neutral based on the fact that both candidates have mixed environmental records. The Political Commitee, ExCom, myself and interested conservation activists worked together to create a list of environmental solutions and proposals, Quality of Life Priorities for the City of San Diego, for consideration by candidates Dick Murphy and Ron Roberts. Both candidates agreed to all but a couple of these items. Neither candidate supported a shift from minimum to maximum parking standards. Murphy promised to keep the part of Sorrento Valley Road adjacent to Peasquitos lagoon closed to vehicle traffic, while Roberts felt we could find a workable solution and/or compromise. Roberts did not support elimination of diesel powered vehicles. Murphy would rather see the secondary sewage treatment ponding system for the International Waste Water Treatment plant be located in Mexico. He supports the concept of polution prevention requirements for shipyards and the lead abatement component in the housing commission, but wanted more information about each of those items. Below is a brief summary of the six page "Quality of Life Priorities for the City of San Diego. QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITIES SUMMARY FOR SAN DIEGO CITY 1) Stop over-commercialization of parks. No more than 25% of Mission Bay Park shall be leased. Use public park lease funds for environmental needs such as

water quality improvements in the parks. 2) Neighborhood Quality of Life: Support stronger code enforcement and consistency with community plans. Planners will go out to planning groups seeking input and a group decision about growth in their community, density and/or population increase. Create financing/phasing addressing infrastructure deficits in neighborhoods required to support growth, a "pay as you grow" plan.

DEADLINE for NEXT ISSUE (Nov./Dec. 2000) Hi Sierran is October 1, 2000

ARTICLES & PHOTOS WELCOMED.

We prefer copy to be on a zip disk or in Word, text or ASCII (MAC or PC) and art work in a tiff or eps format by the first of the month prior to publication or to be sent as EMAIL attachment to editor: jjmain@home.com (include a copy of your text, name and daytime phone number in the body of the email message; same if you snail mail.) Or MAIL photos, disk or copy to: Hi Sierran Editor, Jackie Main, 2360 Palomira Ct., Chula Vista, CA 91915. Material cannot be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is provided. If you do not have a computer, FAX to 6192160066 or mail to above address. LETTERS to Editor Policy: Letters under 200 words. Editor reserves the right to trim or revise for reasons of clarity, space or libel. See paragraph above to submit. ADVERTISING Policy: All changes must be in writing. Hi Sierran reserves the right to reject any advertising that it deems not in keeping with the policies or standards of the Sierra Club. Hi Sierran assumes no liability for errors in key numbers, or if it becomes necessary to omit an advertisement.

3) Coastal Resource Protections & Water Quality Solutions: Support yearround water quality monitoring. Support the newly proposed requirement for filtration of storm water runoff for all new development and significant redevelopment. About 90% of the pollution in surface runoff is contained in this first half inch of rain. Support limits on measured pollution generated from nonpoint source discharges. (New state law standards must be met.) Similarly support "Total Maximum Daily Load" standards for urban storm water mitigation plansalong with watershed management planning on a regional basis. Support deep ocean monitoring, and testing for pathogens chemicals (surfactants). Support tax incentives to treat and reuse storm water rather than dispose of it every time. Oppose "Armoring of the Coast" (seawalls and other structures on public beaches attempting to slow down natural cliff erosion). Accept responsibility for maintenance of public access ways to the beaches before the paper easements expire. Support 30' height limit in the coastal zone. Call for the federal government to raise the "funding cap" and go forward with EPA recommended secondary sewage treatment ponding systems at the Hofer Site in the USA. Call for urban canyon protection by supporting removal of sewer mains from urban canyons and alternative access to sewer lines in canyons rather than new service roads. 6) Renewable energy and efficiency: Increase the city's purchase of

continued on page 13

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 3

SEPTEMBER PROGRAM
The chapter's monthly program is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 15 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, Sept. 15 Adventures in Thailand

Program by Barry & Corinne Smedly Article by Gary Crawford

hat would it be like to try a Thai trekking tour astride an enormous and energetic Asian elephant in the ancient Golden Triangle region of the Royal Kingdom in Indochina?

Or would you rather take a ride on the infamous Death Railway in western Thailand after a brief visit to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai? Barry and Corinne Smedley, inveterate world travelers to six continents, present Adventures in Thailand, an enthralling lecture slide show about their recent journey through fascinating Thailand. By traveling with a small group, the Smedleys were able to live with the local people and experience at firsthand the rich Thai culture. Upon touring the royal capital of Bangkok, they travelled by overnight train to Chiang Mai, the original capital, and then began a fourday hike into the Golden Triangle of northern Thailand, including an exciting elephant ride along muddy trails and river crossings. After riding aboard the Death Railway, they headed south to visit Khao Sok National Park, ending their journey in the far south where they explored pristine beaches and remote islands.

Visiting Bangkoks dazzling Grand Palace before begining our small group adventure from the far north to the far south of Thailand.

Above: Starting out ahead of the small group during our fourday hike to visit and stay with the Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand. Right: Elephants are used to take our small group through the dense forest and across fast flowing rivers of Northern Thailand.
Page 4 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

OCTOBER PROGRAM
The chapter's monthly program is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 20 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, Oct. 20 Iran: 3 weeks with the enemy

Program by April and Lowell Blankfort Article by Gary Crawford

Photo by Lowell Blankfort

t takes a couple of bold, globe trotting American journalists to visit enigmatic Iran, a nation without diplomatic relations with the United States and a country enduring the consequences of an American embargo during the last two decades. Lowell and April Blankfort, awardwinning journalists who have visited more that 110 countries, present IranThree Weeks With the Enemy, a dynamic documentary slide show about their visit last year to Iran. According to the Blankforts, the presentation, updated to reflect recent events, focuses on the oilrich nations unique theocratic democracy, its relations with the United States, its treatment of women and efforts by reformers led by its hampered elected president to loosen the hold its clerical establishment has on the country. Both Blankforts are longtime Sierra Club members and Lowell

publishes newspapers and magazines in California and is the immediate past president of the San Diego world Affairs council. He also serves on the national boards of the United Nations Association in New York and the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. April is a former

Iranians warmly welcomed the Blankforts (like April, above) and told them how much they loved America and Americans despite their leaders fulminations.
director of the San Diego Comic Opera. small group adventure enabled the intrepid travelers to experience the amazing Royal Kingdom by living with the local people and discovering their rich culture and wonderful cuisine.

North County Group

The North County Group meets m onthly at 7:30 p.m., Monday, (Sept.11 and Oct. 9) at the Rancho Bernardo Joslyn Senior Center, located at 18402 West Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo. The programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Program Chair is David Butler 760-489-8842. began a four day hike into the Golden Triangle of Northern Thailand, staying overnight with the Hill Tribe people. The highlight of this walking tour was an elephant ride along muddy trails and river crossings to the next village. Further adventures in Western Thailand include a visit to the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai, a ride on the Death Railway and an unforgettable kayak ride. In the south, Barry and Corinne visited Khao Sok National Park. They stayed in a raft house, hiked, and explored a cave by swimming through a swollen river in total darkness. Their journey ended in Trang Province in the far south where they stayed with a Muslim family and explored pristine beaches and remote islands. This

Oct. 9 Program: Eelgrass Aquatic Trash Collector? Program by Cheryl Ann Kurtz
Cheryl Ann was this year's recipient of the North County Group's annual Bob Davey Memorial Scholarship. She won for her work (master's thesis project) on the relationship between copper, lead, and zinc concentrations between sediments inside eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds and sediments outside of eelgrass beds at two different flow regime environments in San Diego Bay. However, prior studies concern-

SEP. 11 Program: Adventures in Thailand with speakers Barry &

Corinne Smedley Barry and Corinne Smedley joined small group of adventure seekers in Bangkok for a remarkable journey through amazing Thailand. After sightseeing in the royal capital of Bangkok, the group traveled by overnight train to Chiang Mai, the original capital. The group then

continued on page 8

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 5

SIERRA CLUB HIKES Start on page 19

September Activities
SEPTEMBER 10, Sunday, 46 p.m. MEET THE CANDIDATES FUNDRAISER Chapter Political Committee Hosting This must go to fun fundraiser will be at the San Diego Zoos Otto Center. Learn what candidates Sierra Club likes and doesnt and mingle with them. Great foodno speeches. Just fun and learn. Suggested donation of $25 per person or $40 family. Call 2991743 for information. SEPTEMBER 11, Monday, 7:30 p.m. NORTH COUNTY GROUP Adventures in Thailand Program by Barry & Corinne Smedley Barry and Corinne Smedley joined small group of adventure seekers in Bangkok for a remarkable journey through amazing Thailand discovering their rich culture and wonderful cuisine. (Details on page 8.) SEPTEMBER 13, Wednesday, 7 p.m. VISITOR/NEW MEMBER SIERRA CLUB ORIENTATION Meet at the Tierrasanta Recreation Center, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. We meet in the back building,on the left. Presentations start at 7 p.m. featuring Singles, Bike, Photo, Ski, Focus on Youth, 20/30s Single Sierrans sections, and North County, and chapter activities. There are over 1,000 outings and activities during the year in the San Diego Chapter. Refreshments are served. SEPTEMBER 15, Friday, 7:30 p.m. MONTHLY CHAPTER PROGRAM ADVENTURES IN THAILAND Barry and Corinne Smedly will present a lecture/slide show (great slides) on their Adventures in Thailand at 7:30 p.m. SD Zoos Otto Center, Balboa Park. Call 619-2991744, mailbox 1040. Details on pg 4. SEPTEMBER 18, Monday, 6:30 p.m. GAY & LESBIAN SIERRANS - POTLUCK For location/program information, call Mary Severine at 619-283-6168 or Tom Markel at 858-488-4651. SEPTEMBER 20, Wednesday, 68:30 p.m. SIERRA SINGLES PICNIC DINNER and SLIDE SHOW Coordinator: Jean Rannells 619-299-6816 (before 9 p.m.) After work, pick up fast-food and beverage or bring your own from home. We'll meet at 6 p.m. at the reflecting pool on the Prado in front of the Botanical Garden building in Balboa Park. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on. At 7 p.m., we'll move to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park to view an exciting slide show of Carrizo Gorge and the Goat Canyon Trestle, in eastern San Diego County. Reena Deutsch, a Sierra Club COL, recently organized the first public train trip into the

Deadline to submit information to the Hi Sierran for Nov./Dec. activities and meetings is OCT. 1

SEPTEMBER 26, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. CHAPTER BOOKSTORE, AUTHOR RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING See article on page 14.

October Activities
OCTOBER 9, Monday, 7:30 p.m. NORTH COUNTY GROUP Program: EelgrassAquatic Trash Collector? Program by Cheryl Ann Kurtz entitled (See page 5 for details.) OCTOBER 11, Wednesday, 7 p.m. VISITOR/NEW MEMBER SIERRA CLUB ORIENTATION Contact: Jean Rannels 619-2996816 Meet at the Tierrasanta Recreation Center, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. See Sept. 8 orientation activity for details. OCTOBER 15, Sunday, late afternoon/evening GAY & LESBIAN SIERRANS HIKERS COSTUME BALL For location/program information, call Kathryn Vernon at 619-284-8136 or Tom Markel at 858-488-4651. OCTOBER 17, Tuesday, 6 p.m. SIERRA SINGLES MONTHLY SLIDE SHOW Coordinator: Gwenda Humpherys 760-724-7698 Adventure to Argentina. Experience a three-week trip to Patagonia Tierra del Fuego ("Land's End"). Join former Sierra Club leader and hiker of "Tours by Betty", Betty Hobert, for an evening of hiking on Glacier Perito Moreno, and backpacking around Mt. Fitzroy and Laguna Frey. Bring something to share for a potluck dinner. Bring your own drink4355 Ruffin Road, Suite 100 at the San Diego Regional Center. OCTOBER 20, Friday, 7:30 p.m. MONTHLY CHAPTER PROGRAM IRAN-ANCIENT CITIES/MODERN PEOPLE April and Lowell Blankfort will present a lecture/slide show (spectacular slides) at 7:30 p.m. SD Zoos Otto Center, Balboa Park. Details on pg 5. OCTOBER 21-22, Saturday & Sunday BICYCLE SECTION LODGE WEEKEND Contact: Ron Manherz 858-587-0272 Enjoy the lodge with the Bicycle Section Oct. 21-22. Your non-refundable fee of $18 for bike section members ($22 for nonmembers) by Oct. 8 includes lodge fee, a happy hour, and pancake breakfast. Send check payable to Sierra Club Bicycle Section and legal SASE to: Ron Manherz, 4082 Calgary Ave., San Diego, CA 92122-2507. See Outings section for ride descriptions. OCTOBER 27-29, Friday - Sunday FOSTER LODGE HOLISTIC WEEKEND AND HALLOWEEN PARTY Live band...5 meals...5 workshops...2 nights at cabinall for $75.. For more info call Bob Spahle at 619-224-8990. For details and application, see page 18.

Marty Stevens, meetings & activities editor

email him at: marty.stevens@mindspring.com
Postal mail: P.O. Box 70077, San Diego, CA 92167 Telephone: 8586730891 gorge in over 49 years and will show us the rugged, arid beauty of Carrizo Gorge and the "8th wonder of the modern world," the largest, curved, wooden trestle in North America. She'll report on future plans to open the railroad to freight and passenger service. Hear why it has been called "The Impossible Railroad." Take Park Blvd, then turn west to Space Theatre Way. The cost is $3 for the slide show. Can't come to the slide show but are interested in riding a train into Carrizo Gorge? Contact Reena Deutsch at 619-2876550 on Sept. 11-20, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Oct. 1-7, 79 p.m., or at rdeutsch@ucsd.edu any time.

The Inner City Outings Committee NEEDS YOU!

San Diego Sierra Club and area youth groups are joining together to build an Inner City Outings (ICO) program. This program provides wilderness adventures for children who wouldnt otherwise have them including urban youth of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, hearing or visually impaired individuals, and the physically disabled. Its a way of helping children to learn about, and enjoy the great outdoors, and give them a new sense of wonder and appreciation for the world around them. We are looking for volunteers to become Chapter Outings Leaders, and/or committee members. This is a completely volunteer program. So your involvement is essential to make it work. If you dont have time to give but would like to help the program by making a cash donation, send your gift to the San Diego Sierra Club c/o Inner City Outings. Contact one of our local cochairpersons by phone or email if you want to get involved:
Co-Chair, Robert Blakeslee 858-7556243, email address: rlb10@cts.com Co-Chair, Darlene Gunter 858-4670852, email address: redathart@aol.com

Page 6 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

September Meetings
SEPTEMBER 6, Wednesday, 7 p.m. FOREST & WILDERNESS COMMITTEE Sierra Club Office and Bookstore, 3820 Ray St. Call Geoffrey Smith at (858) 566-5676 for information and to confirm time. SEPTEMBER 11, Monday, 7 p.m. (CAN) CONSERVATION ACTION NETWORK STEERING COMMITTEE Twiggs Coffee House: 4590 Park Blvd., San Diego (Park & Madison Ave.). This is the steering committee for our chapters conservation alerts. Visitors welcomed. Call Diane Smith 858-488-0342 or Janice McKalisen 858-271-8058. SEPTEMBER 12, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call (619) 2991741 for information. All conservation activists are welcome. SEPTEMBER 13, Wednesday, 6 p.m. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Bob McDowell at 619-2820664 for information. SEPTEMBER 18, Monday, 5:30 p.m. HI SIERRAN NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE 3820 Ray St. Call Pauline Jimenez 619-6609898. SEPTEMBER 20, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MTG. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call 619299-1743 for info. SEPTEMBER 21, Thursday, 7 p.m. PHOTO SECTION MEETING Call 619-2991744, ext. 2070 for current information. SEPTEMBER 21, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. INNER CITY OUTINGS (ICO) Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Darlene Gunter at (858) 4670852 for info. SEPTEMBER 25, Monday, 7 p.m. LAND USE COMMITTEE Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. An exciting and active committee working on many land use issues, including urban sprawl. Call Fred Lorenzen for info at 6194353422. SEPTEMBER 26, Tuesday, 4 p.m. BOOKSTORE COMMITTEE and VOLUNTEER TRAINING Sierra Club Office and Bookstore. Bookstore management and operation. Call Geoffrey Smith at 858-5665676 for information and to confirm time. SEPTEMBER 27, Wednesday, 7 p.m. COASTAL COMMITTEE Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Eric Bowlby at 619-2849399 or Joanne Pearson 858-4597041 for info. SEPTEMER 28, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. WILDLIFE COMMITTEE La Jolla Childrens Pool. Meet with Patrick Ord (Friends of the Seals) re 70-80 seals which return to the beach here at night. Call Shannon Davis at 619-4248055. Come and save wildlife and habitat. SEPTEMBER 28, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING Please call Richard Miller for location, 6192913061. FOSTER LODGE COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING CALL FOR TIME, DATE AND LOCATION Join us at the Foster Lodge monthly meeting and see if it is for you. Please call Dianne Pietila at 8582743100 for info.

OCTOBER 9, Monday, 7 p.m. (CAN) CONSERVATION ACTION NETWORK STEERING COMMITTEE Twiggs Coffee House: 4590 Park Blvd., San Diego (Park & Madison Ave.). See May 8. OCTOBER 11, Wednesday, 6 p.m. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Bob McDowell at 619-2820664. OCTOBER 19, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. INNER CITY OUTINGS (ICO) Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Darlene Gunter at 858-4670852 for info. OCTOBER 10, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call 619-2991741 for information. All conservation activists are welcome. OCTOBER 18, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MTG. Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call 619299-1743 for info. OCTOBER 23, Monday, 7 p.m..m. LAND USE COMMITTEE Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. An active committee working on many land use issues, including urban sprawl. For info, call Fred Lorenzen at 619-4353422. OCTOBER 24, Tuesday, 4 p.m. BOOKSTORE COMMITTEE and VOLUNTEER TRAINING Sierra Club Office and Bookstore. Bookstore management and operation. Call Geoffrey Smith at 858-566-5676 for information and to confirm time. OCTOBER 25, Wednesday, 7 p.m. COASTAL COMMITTEE MEETING Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Joane Pearson at 858-4597041 OCTOBER 26, Thursday, 7 p.m. WILDLIFE COMMITTEE Sierra Club Office, 3820 Ray St. Call Shannon Davis at 619-4248055. Come and save wildlife and habitat. OCTOBER 26, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING Please call Richard Miller for location, 6192913061.

October Meetings
OCTOBER 3, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. POLITICAL COMMITTEE 3820 Ray St. Call Lon Gillette 760-943 7035 for information. OCTOBER 4, Wednesday, 7 p.m. FOREST & WILDERNESS COMMITTEE Special Wilderness Campaign Kickoff. Call Geoffrey Smith at 858-566-5676 for information and to confirm location. OCTOBER 9, Monday, 5:30 p.m. HI SIERRAN NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE 3820 Ray St. Call Pauline Jimenez 619660-9898.

Sierra Singles
21 and over
Wilderness Outdoor Social

20s & 30s Single Sierrans

For Single Persons in their 20's & 30's

Join the Sierra Club Photography Section

2nd Thursday each month at 7 p.m. Please call our hotline for activity & meeting details! 6192991744, mailbox #2070.

Activities
619299TREE

(619) 5446124
A section of the San Diego Chapter

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 7

Climbing in the shadow of Chemgold

by Dennis Richards

n the 22nd of April last, I had the opportunity to lead a chapter outing to climb Picacho Peak, along the Colorado River, in Imperial County. After all of the planning and preparations were finalized, I was looking forward to revisiting this wonderful scenic area after an absence of almost five years. I had first became aware of this area and its scenic beauty from the viewing of a Sierra Club pictorial calendar many years ago. I was further heartened by an article in the just arrived May/June issue of the Hi-Sierran ( p.16 ) in which Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit confirmed that the BLM has the authority using existing laws, statues and plans to deny the Chemgold Mine expansion in this location in the protected California desert. While making final preparations for my outing , I was informed, via LISTSERVE (see page 31 for how to get LISTSERVE information), that the Chemgold Corporation had filed a lawsuit against the BLM, in the federal court in Reno Nevada, seeking to overturn the BLMs decision to deny Chemgolds mining permit. Having attended a hearing and written letters to stop this mine expansion months ago, I thought that the mine expansion was a dead issue. WRONG!

I immediately got some reference material together to use to inform my outing participants about our chapters long fight to stop this proposed mine expansion. At the trailhead, after the introductions, I discussed some of the proposed mine expansion issues with my participants. I emphasized that the fight to stop the mine is NOT OVER. I also told them that they could witness the consequences of open pit mining firsthand from the summit of our destination, Picacho Peak. After overcoming all of the technical difficulties that Picacho Peak offered up to our group of enthusiastic climbers, we soaked in the views from the summit. All 360 degrees of the compass had wonderful views, except when looking directly down to east-southeast. Here, at the site of Chemgolds existing mine, we could see the huge gaping open pit, the cyanide leach pools, and the talus piles that are so typical of this type of mining operation. It was here that I pointed out to my participants that the new mine, approximately six miles to the west, would be about six times the size of this existing mining operation. I myself tried to visualize the amount of road building, truck traffic, airborne dust particles and water

usage that this mine expansion would produce. The final horror is that Chemgold just wants to walk away and leave it when exploitation of this fragile desert resource is finished. Cleanup is just too expensive, says Chemgold. This blight upon the land will last forever. As a climber, I love to visit the high summits of far away places. Up here, on the summit of Picacho Peak, I was reminded of former Sierra Club Executive Director David Browers appeal to climbers to come down out of the mountains and join in the fight to save them. I imagined that he would say the same thing about our fragile desert ecosystem. As we left the summit, after our all too brief visit, I implored everyone to join in this fight to save this special place.

Sept. 17 Dixon Lake Picnic and Hike

On Sunday, September 17, 2000, North County Group is having a hike and picnic in Escondido at Dixon Lake. The hike begins at 9:30 a.m. from the first picnic cabana on the left as you enter the park. There is parking available at this site for a $1 fee. Free parking is available just outside the front gate. Please look for signs that say Sierra Club. Lugged soled shoes and a bottle of water is required to participate. The picnic will begin at 11 a.m. where the hike began. Chicken, carne asada, veggie burgers, cool salads, iced tea, lemonade and tasty desserts will be served in full view of the lovely Dixon Park. We encourage members of all ages to come and participate. Bringing a lawn chair is recommended. There will be games for everyone and there is also wheelchair access to this area. A $4.00 donation per participant is appreciated. Please RSVP to Laura (760) 432-8208 by Friday, Sept. 15th. Let us know if you want to carpool and leave a telephone number in your message.

continued from page 5

North County Group

ing phytoremediation (use of plants to remove heavy metals from soils/ sediments) have focused on either terrestrial plants or algae, but have yet to consider the marine vascular plants already tolerating such polluted conditions. Her project is also looking at the gene sequencing of a set of unique heavy metalcomplexing peptides called phytochelatins, which are present in all vascular plants and give the plant its ability to detoxify heavy metals to a level where they do not harm or affect the plant or its functions in any way. In the past, phytochelatin research has only been conducted on terrestrial plants. Overall, her research will offer a closer look at whether or not Zostera marina can be effectively used as a phytoremediation tool to remove heavy metals from San Diego Bay sediments and give a closer insight into how the eelgrass plants themselves are able to tolerate heavy metal pollution.

Page 8 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

Saving Peninsular Bighorn Sheep may require local trail closures

By Doug Hansen, member of Wildlife Subcommittee

rails in critical Peninsular Bighorn Sheep habitat in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties may need to be closed to minimize human disturbance of the sheep. Peninsular Bighorn Sheep have been a federally listed endangered species since March 1998. Their numbers have declined from 1,170

individuals in 1971 to only 335 in 1999. Due to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Desert Survivors, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is now in the process of designating critical habitat for the sheep (see map). The proposed critical habitat area covers the desert slopes of the

San Jacinto and San Ysidro Mountains, as well as the Santa Rosa Mountains, Coyote Canyon, the Vallecito Mountains, and the Carrizo Canyon/Tierra Blanca Mountains/ Coyote Mountains area. Peninsular Bighorn Sheep have been shown by scientific studies to be very sensitive to human disturbance, and the draft recovery plan for the sheep proposes the development and implementation of a trails management program in the critical habitat area with the participation of affected land management agencies, scientific organizations and user groups. This program is only one of the many measures proposed to promote sheep recovery. It would examine each of the trails in the critical habit area to see if they require seasonal closure, relocation, or permanent closure. These trails are the North and South Lykken trails, Tahquitz Canyon trail, Dunn Road, Murray Hill trail, Cathedral Canyon trail, Mirage trail, Art Smith trail, Carrizo Canyon trail, Bear Creek Canyon trail, Boo Hoff trail, Guadalupe trail and the Morrow trail. The San Diego Chapters Wildlife Subcommittee encourages Sierra Club members who use the critical habitat area for recreation to do their part in helping save these magnificent animals by educating themselves about the sheep and by participating in the trails management program once it begins. If you are interested in helping the committee, we meet on the 4th Thursday of each month at the Sierra Club office. Our contact person is Shannon Davis, 619-424-8055.

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 9

Conservation Corner Farewell By Melissa Royael,

Chapter Conservation/Volunteer Coordinator

his past July, I was offered a permanent position with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives in Berkeley to work on a campaign to reduce emissions of global warming gases. I made the decision to accept the job, and by the time this article goes out I will already be gone. This has not been an easy decision to make, but I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and that the chapter will be successful in its efforts to bring about change in San Diego. There are many aspects of my position at the Sierra Club San Diego that I really enjoyed and learned from, most significantly the support and dedication of all the volunteers. I sincerely thank everyone who has been so great to work with. Your care and concern for the environment and the Club are evident and you should all be proud of the work you are doing. I especially would like to thank our Chapter Chair Eric Bowlby, who works what seems like hundreds of hours a week, all volunteer time. Shoot gazoot Eric, you are an inspiration! As a final observation, I would like to leave you with this. Over and over again in the months that I have spent in San Diego, I have asked myself the question of why we continue to make choices about how we grow that result in disastrous impacts to our environment. We know about the tenets of smart growth. There are more than a few planners here with environmental degrees. We have strict environmental regulations (at least if you listen to the developers, and certainly by comparison, to say, Arkansas). However, it is a known fact that San Diego is home to more endangered species than almost anywhere in the U.S. (I believe we tie the large island of Hawaii). We are the only place in the country that does not have secondary sewage treatment. Flying into the area, you cant help but notice the ever-outward creeping urban sprawl, and have you noticed how many golf courses there are

here? According to the San Diego golf course website, San Diego has more golf courses than any other city in the country. (Sorry to the golfers but last I checked the greens are not critical habitat for any endangered species). Ultimately, what it comes down to is political will. We are electing people who are allowing this unsustainable development pattern to continue. Stop doing that. Tell your neighbors to stop. Tell the people who dont vote to stop unsustainable development. Change the political will. Its your town; take it back.

The fine art of Tamarisk bashing

By Larry Klaasen
amarisk, also known as saltcedar, is a non-native, invasive, and noxious plant that has found its way into a vast majority of the states. In the west it is particularly obnoxious because of its ability to spread far and wide, its thirst for water, and salting of the ground. A mature tamarisk plant can produce 500,000 seeds a season, blooms throughout the year not just in spring, uses twice the amount of water that native trees do and concentrates the salts on its leaves, hence the name saltcedar. A major effect of tamarisk is to dry up water sources. The BLM several years ago did a controlled burn of 4 acres in Afton Canyon to clean out the thick growth of tamarisk. They had not seen any free flowing water in the canyon for many years. Less than 24 hours later, there was water flowing in the canyon. For the past three years I have been organizing volunteers to chop and kill tamarisk in selected canyons in the southern Anza-Borrego desert. By eliminating the tamarisk, water is available for animals, in particular bighorn sheep, and it helps the native plants continue to survive. I have adopted Jacumba Jim

Page 10 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

Canyon, a small side canyon off Carrizo Canyon. It has a stream running all year, and I have seen lots of bighorn sheep tracks in the canyon. Last year, we had a group of Sierra Club volunteers, the CCC and BLM rangers. We cut some large trees and about 50 yards of smaller tamarisk bushes. The next morning when we went back into the canyon, we could see more water running, less than 16 hours later. For this next season, when it finally cools down in the desert, I will be doing several trips and always need helping hands. The first will be Carrizo Falls and Bear Falls just north of Picacho Wilderness on the Colorado River (see Oct. 28-29 outing on page 25). Carrizo Falls is a beautiful little slot falls with palm trees and a pool at the base of the falls. Another adventure will be San Sebastian Marsh, east of Borrego Springs. The marsh is fed by many springs and contains several pools with desert pupfish. And of course I'll be back into Jacumba Jim Canyon. Watch for announcements in the Hi Sierran, or drop me message to put you on my Tamarisk Bashing list, email klaasen_l@juno.com, or 619-5827407.

Continued from page 1

When facing a bear . . .

293 lbs., and in its gut they found over 90% vegetation, 7% carrion, 3 % plastic and natural feeding. The animal had a low parasite load, and was deemed in very good condition. If one is even somewhat familiar with bear behavior and natural history, this is not surprising; and neither was its behavior abnormal as observed before it was shot. According to the game warden, the bears intestines were fully packed. It wasnt out to feed. Obviously as a biologist, I already had my own opinions about this incident. However, I sought to confirm them by asking an expert. Dr. Gordon Burghardt is a distinguished service professor at the University of Tennessee, specializing in ethology (animal behavior), and a past president of the Animal Behavior Society who began studying black bear behavior over 30 years ago. Among other topics, he studied black bear aggression and human/bear conflicts and interactions. He served until recently as vice-president for operations at the Appalachian Bear Center in the Great Smoky Mountains. I sent him the article (before I had the necropsy results) and he responded as follows:
...it seems the basic issue is the old one of people unfamiliar with bears not knowing what to do and subsequently justifying an impulsive, fearmotivated action. The bear, by standing, was not being aggressive but trying to gauge the situation, get scent, etc. Had it not just been curious about potential food it would have charged so fast that there never would have been a chance to get a gun. Making lots of noise and visual distraction is the best way to scare it off. It appears that the people were in no danger as they were already in the house or on the porch ... Thus I see no real reason to shoot the bear. Why did they not call 911 if they felt it an emergency? The bear sounds like it could have been a young male forced out of good habitat by higher ranking animals and thus trying to survive in an area of poorer resources.

get first pick of the best habitats, leaving the smaller, younger ones to search for territories elsewhere in less prime areas in respect to availability and density of preferred food, among other things.

Some facts about black bear behavior that can help us avoid negative interactions:
1. Black bears are diurnal. They are normally active during daylight hours as they forage for berries, grasses, nuts and insects, among other things. They have been known to shift their behavior to nocturnal, mostly to avoid human activity. A scavenging bear wandering onto a rural property during daylight hours is not abnormal, especially when its natural habitat is quickly being encroached upon and fragmented by development. 2. Unprovoked, predatory attacks by black bears are extremely rare but highly publicized. Such attacks have accounted for only 23 human deaths throughout all of North America over the past century. Minor injuries by bears are usually instigated by irresponsible behavior on the part of the human, such as people trying to feed them or pet them. 3. Bears eat meat, but their greatest skill is scavenging for an easy meal, not unlike skunks or squirrels. They have color vision, acute hearing, and an excellent sense of smell. Keeping a clean camp is important; it helps insulate bears from the effects of our increasing use of the wilderness while preventing bears from being needlessly relocated or killed as nuisances. 4. A standing bear is a curious bear, not a threat. Standing gives the bear a better vantage point from which to see and smell. 5. Black bears do not attack menstruating women. This myth was researched by biologists and found to be untrue.

attacks on humans are extremely rare, and a glimpse of a wild bear is a luxury to be remembered. Most black bears are timid of humans and will flee or climb a tree to escape them. 2. If the bear is approaching or appears to be a threat, face it waving your arms and making a lot of noise, shaking branches, banging pans, clapping, etc. Make sure the bear does not feel cornered and has a clear escape route. Stand up tall, and slowly retreat while facing the bear. 3. Dont run. This advice should be heeded with any large carnivore. Turning ones back and fleeing is the response of prey. 4. If you have dogs with you, keep them leashed and retreat with them while facing the bear. Unfortunately dogs are still used to hunt bears. Black bears naturally avoid them, but if it feels cornered by a dog, a bear will defend itself. If the dogs are barking or approaching the bear, call them back immediately. Any dog, regardless of size, breed or temperament is no match for a cornered (and thus fearful) adult bear. Provoking a bear to defensive behavior is never a good idea. 5. A black bear in camp or on private property requires caution but is not cause for great alarm. Never crowd, feed or try to pet a bear (youd be surprised how often this happens). Never approach a bear closely even if it seems passive. Touching or feeding a bear can elicit a nip or cuff. For more information, visit some of the various web sites about black bears, including: www.bear.org/species/blackbear www.bearbiology.com http://usparks.about.com/travel/ usparks/blbeartips.htm www.mesc.usgs.gov/glacier/ grizzlyb.htm

Incidentally, poorer resources here does not mean unsupportable habitat. Because bears hold large territories, the stronger males will chase off competing bears and thus

What to do if you see a black bear:

1. Remember that black bear

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 11

Roadless wilderness supported

Activists hit the road

by Geoffrey Smith, chair of chapter forest and wilderness subcommittee

ore than one-billion board feet of timber could be cut over the next five years in the roadless parts of America's national forests, ruining areas that are wilderness in all but name. President Clinton says he wants to protect these places and last year asked the U.S. Forest Service for a plan of action. On May 9, the agency released its proposal and a draft environmental impact statement. More than 40 San Diego activists attended the Forest Service hearing and held a press conference in late May. We received excellent coverage on radio, TV and newspaper. One month later, an even greater number of roadless activists from the Sierra Club again packed the hearing room and gave public comment for the record on this important issue. The proposal hits very close to home in San Diego. The Cleveland National Forest is home to 10 roadless areas, totaling 92,000 acres in size (refer to the listing of these areas on this page labeled 'California Wild Heritage Campaign'.) There is no shortage of roads in the Cleveland: 1,450 miles of roads run throughout our local forest, including 604 miles under the direct jurisdiction of the Cleveland National Forest. "This is a great opportunity to save many of the nation's wild forests, but it looks like the Forest Service may drop the ball," said Scott Hoffman Black, then director of the California Wild Heritage Campaign. "Only four management plan alternatives are on the table, and none of them go far enough." The Forest Service prefers Alternative 2, which would prevent only road buildingmining , logging and other extractive uses would be allowed to continue.

Alternative 1 would maintain the status quoin other words, no special protection for roadless areas. Alternative 3 would ban new roads and commercial logging. Alternative 4 would ban roads and all logging. Conservation groups want the Forest Service to end road building, logging, mining and offroad vehicle driving in national forest roadless areas. There are two other big problems with the Forest Service's proposal. First, it essentially ignores

Alaska's 17-million acre Tongass National Forest; Second, it limits itself to roadless areas larger than 5,000 acres. Many deserving places could end up unprotected because of the Forest Service's decision to leave out the Tongass and the smaller roadless areas. The deadline for written comments has now passed. Time will tell whether the Forest Service delivers a solid plan to protect our roadless areas from destruction.

California Wild Heritage Campaign

The California Wild Heritage Campaign aims to protect all of the state's remaining potential wilderness landsover 300 locations statewide. We are inviting you to join us! As part of our education campaign we need leaders to conduct trips to these areas, and volunteers to join with adoptive parents for monitoring and advocacy. Please contact one of the following volunteers. We urgently need your involvement, photos, notes and descriptions! Potential Wilderness Acres Adoptive Parent Agua Tibia (BLM) 360 Bryon Anderson (619) 4425781 Barker Valley (USFS) 8,000 Darren Irwin, (619) 7934478 Beauty Mtn (BLM) 11,342 Janice McKalson, (619) 2718058 Caliente (USFS) 5,900 Bryon Anderson, (619) 4425781 Carrizo Gorge (BLM) Larry Klaasen, (619) 5827407 Coldwater (USFS) 9,000 Rene Owens, (619) 6595871 Cutca Valley (USFS) 12,000 Darren Irwin, (858) 7934478 Eagle Peak (USFS) 6,800 Camille Armstrong, (858) 5769500 Hauser Cyn addtn (USFS/BLM)6,500 Cheryl Reiff, (619) 6973167 Hauser Mtn (BLM) 5,489 Glenn Torbett, (858) 5657347 Jacumba Mtns WSA (BLM) 27,520 Jack Paxton, (760) 7443282 Ladd (USFS) 5,700 Rene Owens, (619) 6595871 No Name (USFS) 5,200 Cindy Buxton, (619) 5161711 North Fork San Luis Rey River (WSR) Neal Biggart, (619) 4419874 North Algodones Dunes (BLM)7,040 Doug Hansen, (619) 2329632 Pine Creek WSR (USFS) Stephen Ezakovich (619) 4751464 San Diego River WSR (USFS) Cindy Buxton, (619) 5161711 San Felipe Hills WSA (BLM) 5,325 Lissa Adams, (619) 2965606 San Ysidro Mtns WSA (BLM) 2,500 Dave Hogan, (760) 7829244 Santa Margarita River (WSR) Kathleen Miller, (760) 7237169 Sawtooth Mtns WSA (BLM) 7,680 Greg Moll, (619) 2831814 Sill Hill (USFS) 5,200 Greg Moll, (619) 2831814 South Algodones Dunes WSA (BLM) 61,950 Geoffrey Smith, (858) 5665676 Sunshine Mtn (USFS) 4,000 Cindy Buxton, (619) 51617116 Table Mtn (BLM) 5,760 Larry Hogue, (619) 2958745 Trabuco Hot Sprngs (USFS) 23,500 Dorothy Klitzing, (760) 7460131 TOTAL ACREAGE 236,500 Join us at our monthly Forest and !indicates outing in this issue ^adoptive parent needed!
BLM=Bureau of Land Management USFS-United States Forest Service WSR=Wild and Scenic River

Wilderness coordination meeting: 1st Wednesday of every month, 79 p.m. at the Sierra Club Office/Bookstore, 3820 Ray Street, San Diego.

Project Coordinators: Camille Armstrong and Geoffrey Smith, (858) 5665676 Mail to: gsmith@thecomputersmith.com

Page 12 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

continued from page 3

From the Chair

energy from renewable sources and commit to energy efficiency investment and "green building" evaluations for all city properties and leaseholds. Undertake a greenhouse gas /air pollution inventory and identify cost effective reductions. 7) Support formation of a Citizen's Environmental Advisory Commission. 8) Transportation: Support redesign of our transportation/mobility network and Regional Transportation Plan. Reduce vehicle miles traveled per capita/increase transit market share. Support Mayor Golding's memo dated Feb. 25, 2000, to SANDAG calling for an "immediate update" of the Regional Transportation Plan. This memo encourages our planners to achieve the goal of handling 10% of our trips with public transit. Transit currently only serves 2% of the trips regionwide. Move to create roads/streets policies to make communities more "walkable," i.e. increase mobility and safety for people, bicycles and cars. 9) Shift from minimum parking standards to maximum parking standards. 13) Recycling: Maintain funding for city-wide curbside recycling even if state funding is cut. 14) Hillsides: Support strong policy for protection of steep hillsides. 15) Sorento Valley Road: Support keeping the section of Sorrento Valley Rd. next to the Penasquitos Lagoon closed to vehicle traffic permanently. 16) Redevelopement: Support expansion of the Barrio Logan Redevelopment area and loan funds to accomplish this effort. 17) Pollution prevention: Support mandatory pollution prevention requirements for the largest pollution emitters such as shipyards and the Navy. Support elimination of diesel powered vehicles. 18) Lead poisoning prevention program: Utilize Proposition 10 funds to establish a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention program. Support the creation of a lead abatement component in the Housing Commission or other City of San Diego department. 19) Border Relations: Meet regularly with representatives from Tijuana, to review regional quality of life issues; listen to existing groups and set up new working groups of citizens/NGO's to address cross-border environmental problems and solutions. Learn more about what Tijuana's agencies are doing to solve crossborder problems. If the candidates keep the promises they made to the Sierra Club and San Diego during our review process, we're going to see a marked improvement in protecting our quality of life.

10) Transit Oriented/Mixed Use Development: Promote land use policies and funding that encourages higher density housing and suitable mixed use development within walking distance of major transit investments. 11) Wetlands: Limit allowable uses that impact wetlands to essential public service utilities that cannot avoid the impact. Remaining vernal pools must be avoided. In cases where a landowner has proven economic hardship, support a Priority Wetlands Acquisition Fund instead of permitting the impact. 12) Power lines: Enforce agreements for under-grounding of power lines and seek to upgrade standards so that more neighborhoods qualify.

Conservation Coordinator Melissa Royael is handing Rusty Runholt a prizea certificate for the Fish Market from the our chapter's Earth Fair raffle. Photo by Cheryl Reiff.
HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 13

Author to sign books, lecture at chapter bookstore Sept. 26

Book Review
By Natalie Coller
Book: My Nature Journal; written and illustrated by Adrienne Olmstead

he Sierra Club Bookstore is proud to host author and Sierra Club member Larry Hogue from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, for a short talk about his new book. The author will be available to sign copies of his book for sale at the store.

www.sierraclub.org/chapters/sandiego/ bookstore to make purchases on-line. If you are unable to attend the program, you may purchase and see a picture of the book on our website! (note book review on right.)

OFFICE WISH LIST

Monkey Wrench *Carpeting Channel Locks *Maid Service Desk Chair Bookstore and Office Volunteers Non-toxic, Enviro-safe paint (Light color) Money! Call 6192991743 if you can donate any of the above. Below is a BIG THANK YOU to those of you who responded to our last wish list.

In "All the Wild and Lonely Places: Journeys in a Desert Landscape" (Island Press), Lawrence Hogue offers a thoughtful and evocative portrait of Anza-Borrego and of the people who have lived there, both original inhabitants and Spanish and American newcomerssoldiers, FortyNiners, cowboys, canal-builders, naturalists, recreationists, and restorationists. We follow along with the author on a series of excursions into the desert, each time learning more about the region's history and why it calls into question deeply held beliefs about "untouched" nature. And we join him in considering the implications of those revelations for how we think about the land that surrounds us, and how we use and care for that land. Please join us this night as we honor the fine work of this author! Refreshments will be provided. The Sierra Club Bookstore is located at 3820 Ray St., in North Park (one block east of 30th Street and one block south of University Avenue). Call 6192991797 for Bookstore information, or visit: http://

This book is called a personal nature guide for young people (8 years and older). It is filled with information and drawings, as well as places for each child to record or draw pictures of all the animals and plants they find in the outdoors. It also makes suggestions for helping the child to become more environmentally aware and more observant.
Book: All the Wild and Lonely Places; written by Lawrence Hogue

Thank you:
Nature Knowledge Workshop & Gay/Lesbian Section for donations to the chapter Byron Anderson - Library donation of SANDAG's book, Precious Heritage. Kendra Scott - Shelves Nancy DeWees - Bookshelves, Desk Deborah Case and Anne Braswell Track Lighting Mac Downing - Shelves, Tools

JOIN THE SIERRA CLUB TODAY!

Yes, I want to be a member of Sierra Club. Yes, I want to give a gift membership!
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This is an interesting book which describes the desert areas of San Diego and Imperial counties in terms of their present appearance as well as their past. In between, the author discusses the evolutionary changes which have taken place over the last 10,000 years, particualrly in regard to the vegetation and water resources. There is considerable information regarding the indigenous peoples of the area, and the author has obviously spent considerable time learning about their history, as well as the problems they face in the future. If there is one criticism, it would be that the author seems to have accepted one of two authorities as definitive without having explored other viewpoints. However, the writing is beautiful and the book worth reading if the reader remembers to keep an open mind.

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$47 CARDHOLDER NAME $100 $175 CARD NUMBER $1250 EXPIRATION DATE FRIP F94QW05001 $32 Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are not tax $32 deductible; they support our effective, citizenbased advocacy P.O. Box 52968 Boulder, Colorado, and lobbying efforts. Your dues include $7.50 for a subscription to Sierra magazine and $1 for the Hi Sierran (chapter newsletter). 803222968

Send your current mailing label and your correct address to:

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Sierra Club, P.O. Box 52968 Boulder, Colorado 80322-2968

Page 14 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

Or send your membership number and your correct address to: address.changes@sfsierra.sierraclub.org Please allow 4 - 6 weeks for processing.

The biggest step in California water use in decades

By Michele Moss, Outreach Coordinator, Environmental Water Caucus funded by taxpayers.

CALFED moves forward, for better or worse

fter seven years of negotiations, the Davis and Clinton administrations are ready to unveil their proposal for how to divvy up California's water for the next 30 years. The state-federal policy known as CALFED has culminated in a Record of Decision (ROD), the paper policy on this epic water plan. Whether the plan's benefits outweigh its shortcomings remains to be seen. Legislation to enable many of the programs will determine how these projects are implemented and funded. The next legislative session will be instrumental in determining how water policy unfolds, both on the state and federal levels. Yet, regardless of how water projects move forward, the number one priority for California water policy should be the commitment to a healthy, sustainable ecosystem. Scientific research shows that if we restore a healthy, sustainable ecosystem, the amount of water and the quality of the water we use will be in better balance, as all of our water uses depend on a sustainable foundation. Most pressing is a guaranteed supply of water for the environment, along with improved water quality and a mandate for water conservation. Water quality of the Delta is important to San Diego County. The Delta water is blended with the higher salinity Colorado River water to improve the water quality we use. Improving water quality and pushing aggressive water conservation are issues that CALFED and Southern California cities have in common. Thus far, the CALFED ROD provides no teeth for these plans. It will be important to back up CALFED's programs through legislation, funding and other resources. Many proposed projects, including new dams, would be

On water quality, the ROD fails to address the environment on a level playing field with cities and agriculture. A much higher guarantee of regular water supply is provided to cities and farms, neglecting the needs of the environment. Because the environment is not given a guaranteed supply, the water level in rivers will continue to fall. Less water in the river means a higher concentration of pollutants and higher temperatures, resulting in bad water quality for fish and bad drinking water quality for California citizens. As an alternative to creating more dams and reservoirs, environmentalists are pushing CALFED policymakers to adopt an aggressive water conservation program for cities and agriculture. CALFED should create a mandate for water conservation, including an urban water conservation certification program and a benefits package for agricultural conservation. CALFED should allocate staff and require monitoring of water use. At this stage, CALFED has one parttime resource person dedicated to water conservation and plans to introduce water monitoring legislation in 2003. Environmentalists believe conservation should be implemented now so projects have a chance to work before new dam projects are started. Now that we are in campaign season, the time is ripe for pushing candidates to think about California water policy. Questions of water use should be present in debates across California: How would the candidate propose to promote water conservation measures? Would the candidate introduce legislation before 2003 to

New Border Subcommittee

The San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club has long wanted to have a group that would focus on environmental issues that affect both San Diego and Tijuana. The Conservation Committee on its July 11th meeting approved the formation of a subcommittee to do just that. If you are interested in border issues and would like to help, please email Connie Garcia at <garcia_connie@hotmail.com>, or Lori Saldana at <lsaldana@netconnection.com>. For information about upcoming meetings please call 619/299-1743. Participants will have an opportunity to help define the objectives of this subcommittee, nominate a subcommittee chairperson, and hear guest speakers.

require measurement of water uses? How about pushing aggressive water use efficiency in cities and farms? Would the candidate fund restoration of aquatic habitat? Or introduce legislation to provide regular water delivery to the environment and support funding for a healthy ecosystem? These are questions we need answered as CALFED reaches its next stage of planning and implementation. For more information about CALFED water policy or to get involved, contact the Environmental Water Caucus Organizer, Michele Moss, at : Michele.moss@sierraclub.org or 510-622-0290 x 220.

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 15

Executive Committee Candidates

Voter Guidelines
All votes are secret. Membership numbers are verified, but the name of the voter is never disclosed. If your number is not on the ballot, the ballot will be disqualified. Ballots without membership numbers will be invalid. The ballot on the last page of this newsletter is to elect new members to the San Diego Chapters Executive Committee (ExCom). The Executive Committee governs and acts on behalf of the chapter. It is the key committee that makes important policy decisions and sets priorities for the chapter. Four (4 ) candidates will be elected to serve a two year term. VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN Four ( 4). Writein candidates are allowed. Membership numbers are required. All ballots (last page in the newsletter) must be received by 5 p.m., Sunday, October 1, 2000, at our office, 3820 Ray Street, San Diego 92104. Fold the ballot and put it in an evelope (or use page 32 as a self mailer) addressed to: ExCom Elections Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter 3820 Ray St., San Diego, CA 92104

John Wilks
In my view, the environment is under siege within San Diego and Imperial counties. Our duties are sacred: We enjoy the largest number of endangered, threatened and listed species, yet only 6% of our grass lands, 5% of our coastal wetlands, and a fraction of the other critical habitats remain and the Cleveland National Forest, the Anza Borrego Desert Park and the Algondones Dunes areas, among many other sensitive sites, are under severe pressures. The ExCom must be aggressive. Among other initiatives, we must persuade the national office to bolster coastal and wetlands assets. We must insist that the California Environmental Quality Act and the Coastal Act are followed. I moved to San Diego County in 1946. I am aware that the transformation I have witnessed in the previous 50 years may pale, in comparison with the contemplated development in the next decade. We have a strong chapter with significant potential. During the past 20 months, in preparation for my candidacy, I have taken training (COL I, First Aid, WBC, Nature Knowledge Workshop, and Advanced First Aid), assisted in programs (Earth Day and Walk for the Environment) and attended monthly meetings of land use, conservation, and wildlife committees, as well as participated in other recreational outings. Without firsthand knowledge of the operation of the chapter, I would not feel qualified to serve on the ExCom. If elected, I propose we: publish a needs and preference survey questionnaire to all members, establish a Wilks continued in next column position of External Communications

Robert T. Nanninga
Writer/Producer

As a native of San Diegos North County, I have watched the systematic destruction of the regions biotic communities one strip mall at a time. I have watched populations skyrocket as resources dwindle, all to the mantra of Greed is good. This must be stopped. It is my opinion that San Diegos environmental community must become activism oriented if it is to remain relevant. As a member of the Sierra Club Executive Committee I will encourge the club to increase its political force in the county, and use it. By stepping up to do battle with those who would sell out our quality of life, the Sierra Club can lead San Diego into an environmentally sustainable future.

Wilks statement continued ...

Director, establish a Border Issue Task Force, formalize the position of the chapter liaison to the Angeles Chapter and perhaps other regional environmental groups. I will continue as chair of the Air Quality subcommittee, and project person for the reintroduction of the Southern Sea Otter.

Page 16 San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 HI SIERRAN

Ballots must be returned by Oct. 1Vote for 4Include your membership number.

Richard Miller
I am running for the Executive Committee because I want to help the chapter attain its purpose: To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earths ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. As well as an environmentalist, I am a small business owner and can bring both organizational and executive qualities to the committee. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for both North Park Main Street and the North Park Community Association. I have experience in both grassroots organizing and fund raising. I was instrumental in starting the Ray Street Celebration, an annual open house and fundraising event for the chapter. I have served on the Fundraising Committee and currently serve on the Political Committee and as chair of the Membership Committee. I have been active in the chapter office, have attended national training sessions, and am knowledgeable on how the chapter operates. I was honored at the July Executive Committee meeting when I was asked to fill the vacated seat of Fred Buenavista and would be honored to receive your support.

Alex Landon
I have been a long term member of the Sierra Club. The organization has been at the forefront of protecting our environment, and it is important that the reputation of the Sierra Club remains committed to conservation and our environment. I grew up in Los Angeles and have been in San Diego since 1968. Unfortunately, San Diego is facing the same environmental problems that Los Angeles faced a number of years ago. There is still time to make an impact on saving San Diegos environment and not allowing it to become another Los Angeles. As an attorney who has practiced in San Diego County for 28 years, I have learned that sometimes one must go to the courts to enforce the law and protect the environment when politicians are unwilling to do so. I feel that the Sierra Club should be involved in seeing that the laws passed to protect our environment are respected and enforced. If given an opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club, I would work to try and involve more members in the mission of the club, get our message out to the San Diego community, and strive to see our environment protected.

Sharon Boskovich
I am a native Californian and long-time member of the Sierra Club. Because this state is my home, I feel strongly about maintaining it in the best possible condition for our generation and those to come. I read a disturbing article in the paper last week about San Diego County "sprawl." A comment was made that other environmentalists have rejected the Sierra Club's recent coziness with developers. Coziness? It is a sad day when the people most dedicated to protecting our quality of life appear to be selling out to those who are only interested in financial profit. As a member of the Executive Committee, I would focus on toughening up the standards so that no one would ever make such a statement again. The issues I'm most interested in working on are: 1) Making the Sierra Club a stronger force in controlling urban sprawl and in providing more open spaces. No more "coziness!" 2) Clean oceans; no more oil slicks. Work on legislation to end transporting oil on tankers. 3) World population. Promote education and birth control. Work with religions to end prohibitions on birth control.

HI SIERRAN San Diego Chapter September/October 2000 Page 17