WORDS OF the WILD - Sierra Club
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet
WORDS OF the WILD Vol. XXIV, No. 1 April 2021
Newsletter of the Sierra Club’s California/Nevada Wilderness Committee
House passes “Protect America’s Wilderness Act” with 3 California Wilderness bills
Northwest California to get new wilderness Central Coast Heritage Protection Act
-- by Victoria Brandon included in PAW Act
Redwood Chapter wildlands advocates got some -- by Jim Hines
exciting news recently, when we learned that Congressman I walk a serene path....I marvel at spring-fed
Jared Huffman’s landmark public lands legislation, the waterfalls.....I seek the shade of an ancient oak...I am
Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation and Working
in one of the new areas which would be designated as
Forests Act, passed the House of Representatives on
February 26—a
great way to start
off both a new
year and a new
administration!
This multi-
facteted legislation
ppphoto: Jeff Morris
includes:
• Protection of
259,216 acres
Carrizo Plain “superbloom”-- central coast area
of federal public
wilderness when the U.S. House of Representatives
lands as Wilderness
or Potentialpassed Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public
Wilderness Lands Act of 2021 (“PAW-plus” due to late additions)
Trinity River in Rep. Huffman’s NW CA bill —the strongest federal
on February 26, 2021. Lead Congressional sponsor
protection available. of the bill was Congresswoman Diana
• Designation of 379 miles of Featured in this issue : DeGette, D-Colorado-1.
new “wild and scenic rivers” with House passes new CA Wilderness pp.1-2 The Los Padres National
an additional mandate for federal 30 by 30 Task Force to help State p. 3 Forest in the central coast region of
agencies to create management Jacumba Wilderess Wall lessons p. 4 California is one of the eight public
plans for 101 miles of existing wild So. Nevada bill for more wilderness p. 5 lands units across the west which
and scenic rivers providing critical CA state Marine Protected Areas p. 6 receives protections in the House-
habitat for critically imperilled Chumash Heritage Marine sanctuary p. 7 passed bill.
salmon and steelhead. No new New wolf visits California p. 7 The Central Coast Heritage
dams, major water diversions, Spring Peak Mining Threat p. 8 Protection Act portion of the massive
logging or mining would be allowed Walker Ridge p. 9 bill package protects vast ecosystems,
along these waterways. Outings p. 9 watersheds, open space and wild-
• Direction for -- continued page 2 Volunteer Job announcement p. 10 life habitat in -- continued page 2
Words Of the Wild April 2021
House-passed bill for California new wilderness-- from page 1
next
Northwest California Central Coast/Los Padres
federal agencies to improve the Los Padres National Forest. Close to
motorized and non-motorized 250,000 acres of new or expanded federal
recreation opportunities on federal lands wilderness areas, nine national wild and scenic
in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and rivers, and two national scenic areas on Los
Mendocino Counties. Padres National Forests lands. Additions would
• Restoration of public lands blighted be made to the Machesna Mountain, Matilija,
by trespass marijuana grows.
photo: Steve Evans
Chumash, Santa Lucia, Garcia, San Rafael, and
• Authorization for construction of Dick Smith Wildernesses.
visitor centers in Trinity and Del My family’s former ranch lands which
Norte Counties. are now in the Los Padres National Forest and
• Conducting a study on the on which I grew up in the Ojai Valley region of
establishment of the “Bigfoot Ventura County will now be protected—once the
National Recreation Trail” from Senate passes the bill.
...
Crescent City to the southern Yolla The bill also establishes the Condor
Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness boundary National Recreation Trail which runs through the
that will highlight the immense length of the Los Padres Forest through Ventura,
ecological diversity of northwestern Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties
California’s ancient forests and other and ends at Big Sur in Monterey County.
In the Chinquapin proposed Wilderness,
unique landscapes. in Huffman Northwest California bill One of the greatest ‘Super Bloom’ regions
• Restoration of about 730,000 acres in California, the BLM-managed Carrizo Plain
of forest in the South Fork Trinity In proposed Temblor Range Wilderness National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo
and Upper Mad River in Carbajal Central Coast Heritage bill County, also receives protections under the bill—
watersheds focusing with two new wildernesses—the 12,585-
on forest resilience, acre Temblor Range Wilderness and the
photo: https://www.shutterstock.com/
fire prevention, and 13,332-acre Soda Lake Wilderness..
restoration.
More protection, in southern CA
The bill will not
expand federal lands, will
A beautiful land used by many people
not limit existing hunting
for outdoor recreation in the greater Los
and fishing rights, will
Angeles area is protected under the
not close any legal
San Gabriel Mountains and Rivers portion
roads and trails, and will of the PAW-plus Act.
not affect how private And we did not forget wildlife in the
property is accessed and legislation, whch also establishes a
used. Redwood Chapter National Park Service-managed Rim of the
counties of Mendocino, Valley Corridor, which does not include
Humboldt, Del Norte and wilderness but would protect open space lands
than 1,000 miles of Wild and
and especially Trinity are the key areas from the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los
Scenic rivers.
of the bill’s focus: because of resistance Angeles county with the Simi Hills, Santa Susana
Now it’s on to the Senate,
from its Congressional representative Mountains and coastal Santa Monica Mountains
where the bill’s 2020 senatorial
before 2012, Trinity County had been in eastern Ventura County.
champion, Vice President Kamala
excluded from federal public lands The passage of this act is the first national
Harris, presides as tie-breaking
legislation since the passage of the legislation in a new Congress in keeping with
president of the Senate. The
California Wilderness Act of 1984. our Sierra Club goal of 30 by 30, protecting 30
Biden administration has already
As had occurred in 2020, the percent of our nation’s land and waters by 2030.
stated its potential support for the
Huffman legislation was combined with Other non-California areas in the bill
combined package, which taken
three other California bills and other are the Grand Canyon Protection Act and
as a whole will be a huge step
bills for wilderness in Arizona, Colorado wilderness protections in Colorado.
forward to securing protection
and Washington to form HR 803, the 2021 will be the year of wilderness
for landscapes, wildlife and our
“Protecting America’s Wilderness and protection. e
natural environment. e
Public Lands Act,” (PAW-Plus) that
Jim Hines is Los Padres Chapter
altogether will establish permanent Victoria Brandon is Redwood
conservation chair and former chair
protection for 2.7 million acres and more Chapter Chair
2 Words Of the Wild April 2021
Sierra Club California’s new 30 by 30 Task Force to work with partners and
state agencies to boost land and water conserved for Nature
-- by Anne Henny and Vicky Hoover
Sierra Club members throughout statewide and federally, to coordinate and real conservation and ecosystem restora-
California have an opportunity to help support broader efforts that contribute to tion gains, while also improving equitable
design and launch our statewide cam- a 30 by 30 strategy. We began the Task access to our public lands. Sierra Club,
paign to protect 30 percent of our lands Force launch with a detailed presentation with our network of volunteer activists
and coastal waters by 2030! There is a at the February 20, 2021, semi-annual and professional staff, can play a key role
growing global movement—now echoed CCC meeting. On that occasion co-chairs alongside our statewide partners. And,
strongly by the state of California and our of the new task force, Anne Henny and since the Biden Administration has made
entire nation—to fight the grave crises of Vicky Hoover, with Our Wild America 30 by 30 a national goal too, California’s
biodiversity loss and climate disruption Senior Campaign Rep, Jenny Binstock, trailblazing efforts are of national signifi-
and degradation of ecosystem services to began sending out an interest survey cance to help inspire federal and other
human communities by setting aside at across California Sierra Club member- state leadership across the U.S.
least half of Earth’s lands and waters for ship to find out who’ll help power our
Nature. 30 by 30 is an essential stepping campaign. Many California Sierra Club EO Stakeholder Process–starts NOW
stone toward this global imperative. members are already helping promote 30 In 2021 a key focus of this new CA
In California, we’re responding to by 30 locally—thank you! 30 by 30 Task Force will be participat-
the call by launching a statewide 30 by We continue to ask volunteer and ing in the statewide public engagement/
30 Task Force that reports to the Sierra staff leaders across California chapters stakeholder process required by the EO.
Club’s California Conservation Commit- and issue committees to help get the word California’s Natural Resources Agency
tee (CCC). We envision this statewide CA out even more broadly to Sierra Club (CNRA) has just announced a series of
30 by 30 Task Force as being made up members who may want to get involved. virtual regional public workshops (on
of activists who will serve as liaisons for We have identified task force members Zoom) starting April 20 and continuing
their respective chapters, groups and issue from most Chapters and from issue topics through May 6. We need to turn out many
committees, and at the same time support important to 30 by 30, such as Sustainable people to these virtual events. This is a
grassroots 30 by 30 strategies locally. Agriculture, Urban Greenways, Coastal/ brand-new process for everyone, includ-
The CA 30 by30 Task Force will Marine Protection, and Identifying More ing the state agencies, and the Sierra Club
serve as a “hub” for California Sierra Wild areas. We are also distributing a aims to develop our own program to help
Club members working on “Local Conservation Priorities” survey guide the state -- continued page 4, bottom
conservation and Nature access issues, to Chapters and CCC issue committees.
The first meet-
Reserva la fecha ing of our newly
expanded Task
Talleres regionales virtuales Force is on April
7.
Se entrega información sobre el cumplimiento del compromiso del estado de
conservar el 30 por ciento de las tierras y las aguas costeras de California para 2030
y acelerar las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza para abordar el cambio climático. CA 30x30
FECHA DE REUNIÓN/REGIÓN Executive Order
20 de abril - Región del Valle de Sacramento and the Sierra
NORTH
21 de abril - Región del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco Club’s role
On October
COAST 27 de abril - Región de la Costa Central
28 de abril - Región de la Sierra Nevada
29 de abril - Región del Valle de San Joaquín 7, 2020, Governor
Gavin Newsom
SACRAMENTO
VALLEY 4 de mayo - Región de la costa norte
5 de mayo - Región de Los Ángeles
6 de mayo - Región de los desiertos interiores issued an Execu-
11 de mayo - Región de San Diego
tive Order (EO
SAN FRANCISCO SIERRA Todos los horarios de reunión N-82-20) making
California the first
BAY AREA NEVADA
son de 4:00 a 6:00 p.m.
state in the nation
to embrace a for-
SAN
JOAQUIN
mal effort to pro-
VALLEY
CENTRAL
tect 30 percent of
COAST
LOS
INLAND
DESERT lands and waters
by 2030. There is
ANGELES
SAN
much to do to en-
sure the EO yields
DIEGO
Visite: https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions
Words Of the Wild April 2021 3
photo: Jay Calderon, Desert Sun, per Matt Solinsky
WJacumba Wilderness Wall--Lessons l
-- by Craig Deutsche
Although the Jacumba and suggestions concerning
Wilderness Area in Imperial County, its implementation. The
California, has received little national comments would be accepted
publicity, it demonstrates in a small through May 15, well after the
area everything that is wrong with construction itself had begun.
construction of the border wall Vehicle travel is forbidden in
between Mexico and the United States. designated Wilderness, so in
From the beginning of construction in order to observe the work, Ms
early May, 2020, desert activist Edith Harmon has walked through
Harmon, who lives within half a mile the wilderness on a nearly Edie Harmon walks near the Jacumba Wilderness
wall in February 2021 on one of her inspection
of the Jacumba eastern boundary has weekly basis, met and consulted with
documented the work, the damage, and Border Patrol agents in the area, spoken 6) Immediately east of the Wilderness
the government confusion. with security guards, Bureau of Land six wells have been drilled to send water
It should be acknowledged that Management personnel, and consulted through about eight miles of 12-inch
the construction is permitted by federal with County representatives concerning plastic pipe for the purpose of dust
law. When a National Emergency has ground water extraction. There is time suppression and concrete mixing. The
been declared by the President, the and space here only to briefly list the wells have utilized a small aquifer that is
Real ID Act of 2005 gave the Secretary problems: critical to local residents.
of Homeland Security the power to 1) Miles of roads have been 7) The wall and its parallel road have
waive any federal environmental graded with the Wilderness, with two blocked at least eight drainages where
laws that could hinder construction of surfaced to near blacktop hardness. storm water flows either into or out from
barriers to illegal entry to the United 2) Many more miles of dirt roads and Mexico. It is likely that the next major
States. This power has been exerted trails have appeared, some probably storm will create havoc at these blocked
several times, and although the process created by construction personnel but washes.
of funding the border wall has been most by Border Patrol agents. Ms Harmon has requested permission
challenged in courts, the construction 3) The wall itself has been completed to walk and photograph the construction
itself has not. along most, but not quite all, of the activities and has been given varied
In the first week of May last border within the Wilderness. and contradictory replies by the various
year, Ms Harmon saw night-time 4) Damage to flora is everywhere: agencies. CBP has promised to make their
light towers within the Wilderness ocotillo, crucifixion thorn (CA “Environmental Standards Plan” for the wall
and heavy construction equipment endangered), barrel cactus, cholla, etc.
available, but after many months, the Plan
entering on a newly constructed 5) Roads and the wall itself have beenis still not forthcoming. It appears (March
road. She then received a notice built across many, many ancient foot 1, 2021) that construction itself has been
from Customs and Border Protection trails and at least one Native American
stopped, but there have been no answers
(CBP) soliciting citizen comments ceremonial site. nor signs indicating if plans to mitigate the
damage will be pursued. As the equipment
is being removed, the likelihood of remedial
New 30 by 30 Task Force -- from page 3 for a staff person to work with the work decreases. Security personnel and
and uplift local conservation and access State to enact a strong 30 by 30 action Border Patrol agents with whom Ms
to nature priorities with the communities plan. If interested, we can brief you Harmon has spoken are nearly unanimous
we’re a part of. We’ve worked on many on our objectives for this hire. Con- in the opinion that they could see no useful
of these issues for years and have plenty tact Eric Lombardo: eric.lombardo@ purpose for the wall at this location.
of knowledge to help guide the state sierraclub.org to learn more. The entire project would resemble
process. Get in touch with our CA 30 by 30 a Three Stooges Cartoon if it were not so
Here are three ways to get involved: Volunteer Co-Leads Anne Henny massively wasteful and damaging. The
Fill out our interest survey at: sc. (anneth16@sbcglobal.net) and Vicky obvious lessons are that
Hoover (vicky.hoover@sierraclub. (1) emergency waivers of environmental
org/CA30x30survey and sharing it
org) and Our WildAmerica Senior laws should only be possible after a
with interested Sierra Club members
careful and thorough review by Congress,
locally, including regional groups. Campaign Rep, Jenny Binstock
(2) transparency should be provided for
Consider if you or others in your (jenny.binstock@sierraclub.org) if
every step that follows, and
network can philanthropically support you have other resources to help or (3) citizen monitoring of government
this effort. Sierra Club is fundraising have questions about this effort. e work is essential. e
4 Words Of the Wild April 2021
New Wilderness proposed for Southern Nevada
-- by Larry Dwyer
Wilderness advocates may feel like they hit the Southern 2/22/2021
jackpot. On March 3, 2021, Nevada’s U.S. Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the Southern Nevada Nevada
Land
Hole-in-the-Rock
Pintwater/East Desert/ Wilderness (west)
Economic Development and Conservation Act (SNEDCA).
Spotted Range
Wilderness
If enacted, this will be the largest conservation bill in Desert
Bighorn
Wilderness
Hole-in-the-Rock
Wilderness (east)
Management
Nevada history with over 1.6 million acres of designated
Wilderness. The bill has bi-partisan support with Nevada’s Sheep Range
Wilderness Mesquite
entire Congressional delegation signing on as sponsors or
Moapa
Moapa
Valley Mesa
Milkvetch
cosponsors of this bill or of companion legislation in the
Desert SMA
Range Las Vegas Gle nd ale
Wilderness Range
Wilderness
House of Representatives—S 567 and HR 1597 (Titus).
Indian Springs
Desert Springs
Correctional
Mt. Stirling
Altogether over 2 million acres of public lands will be
Wilderness
Desert
California Logandale
Overton
View NCA
Wash SMA Trails OHV
Expansion Wilderness
protected, including: 1.6 million acres of Wilderness Areas,
Muddy
Gass Peak
Mountains
Red Rock Wilderness Muddy Mts.
Wilderness
Canyon NCA Additions SMA
52,000 acres of net additions to the Red Rock Canyon
South
Million
Hills
Spring Mountains Wilderness
National Recreation
Bitter Hiller
National Conservation Area; 350,000 acres of “Special
Area Mountains
Springs SMA Twin
Wilderness
Springs
Gale Hills Wilderness
SMA
Management Areas to conserve and enhance habitat of
®
Scanlon
Wash
Wilderness
sensitive, threatened and endangered species.” Stump
Springs Bird Spring
Hell's
Kitchen
Wilderness designations include 162,000 acres of
SMA Valley NCA Wilderness
Expansion
Bird Spring
Valley SMA Sloan
Canyon
additions to nine existing wilderness areas and 1,477,000 Sandy
Valley
Good
Springs
Jean
Lake
NCA
Eldorado Moapa Expansion
acres in 16 new wilderness areas. Of the nearly 1.5 million
SMA
Wilderness
Sandy Jean Addition Potential NCA Expansion
Valley
Nelson Potential SMA
OHV Desert Tortoise
acres of new wilderness areas, the majority (1.3 million
Protective
Corridor SMA
Hills
OHV Expanded Las Vegas Valley Disposal Boundary
Wilderness Proposals
South Ireteba
acres) is within the Desert National Wildlife Refuge
McCullough Peaks
Proposed OHV Recreation Area
Wilderness Wilderness
Red Rock Canyon Primm Additions Addition
NCA Boundary
Moapa Res.
(Desert NWR). This is of particular importance because a
Adjustment (to
be removed) Lucy Gray
Wilderness NV County Boundary
Current Las Vegas Valley Disposal Boundary
large portion of the Desert NWR is co-managed with the
Searchlight
Nellis Wash Desert NWR
Wilderness
New York Addition
Mountains Existing BLM-Designated Disposal Area
Air Force who have been aggressively trying to expand
Wilderness Piute Mts. (to be placed under SNPLMA authority)
Wilderness
Spirit Mt. BLM Wilderness
Wilderness
FS Wilderness
their control over much of the Desert Refuge that is not co-
Addition
West Valley Bridge Canyon
Wilderness NPS Wilderness
Disposal (Red
Addition
Rock NCA
Addition) Major Travel Routes
Laughlin
managed. SNEDCA should put an end to that as Wilderness Laughlin
OHV
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
National Conservation Area
designation would protect these public lands from many 0 5 10 20 30 40
Miles
Adjacent CA Wilderness Areas
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
uses intended by the Air Force. Nonetheless four of the
proposed new wilderness areas, bristlecone pines. At more than 60
Chapter expresses serious concerns about miles long, the Sheep Range hosts
encompassing more than 686,000
development measures in new bill: acres, are in the portion of the some 320 species of birds as diverse
Southern Nevada Toiyabe Chapter leaders emphasized Desert NWR that is co-managed as golden eagle, roadrunner and
environmental concerns with the Senator’s bill: “Any and closed to public use by the pygmy owl.
mention of the Wilderness should be coupled with a military. Congress in December Desert bighorn sheep and
mention of the high cost at which it comes: 42,000 acres blocked the military’s takeover desert tortoise, along with numerous
of PUBLIC LANDS will be up for sale. This will likely attempt for now by denying their other animal and plant species, make
invite more people into the nation’s driest state with the proposed expansions in both their homes in the Sheep Range
smallest share of the Colorado River. [Wilderness] tells Desert NWR and the Fallon and in many of the other proposed
only half the story... a wonderful half. But the sacrifices Naval Air Station; giving them wilderness areas. Outside of the
at which it comes should not be ignored..... The bill’s permit extensions on their current Desert NWR, several new proposed
65 square miles made available for sprawl development footprints. (WOW, Dec 2020) wildernesses form a perimeter
surrounds the Sloan Canyon National Conseervation Sheep Range Wilderness around the southeast, south and
Area on East and West, and it’s already developed to the Area, the largest of the proposed western sides of Gold Butte National
North. Sloan will be a [vulnerable] island in the middle new wilderness areas at 444,980 Monument on Park Service land.
of urban sprawl. This sprawl will then push ATV and acres, provides stunning examples And the Mount Stirling proposed
make-shift shooting ranges into new undisturbed areas of how vegetation zones change wilderness at the north end of the
farther out....the areas to be opened up to sprawl devel- as one ascends from the valleys Spring Mountains will protect 74,000
opment have NO public transportation and thus will not up the top of the range at nearly acres of wild canyons and ridges.
be so “affordable” given the long commutes; this would 10,000 feet. While climbing Artifacts of ancient cultures,
also remove many desert plants that sequester large Hayford Peak, hikers start off in such as agave roasting pits, rock
amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. And there are a zone dominated by creosote art, rock shelters, camps, abound
grave concerns about what water is available for such bush, then pass through Joshua throughout the region. Many of the
growth.” Also, one of the two proposed ORV recreation trees, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa proposed areas are still important
areas is in critical habitat for desert tortoises. pine, white fir and, ultimately to Indigenous People today. e
Words Of the Wild April 2021 5
ection:
Prot
stal
Coa Marine Protected Areas
-- by Andrew Christie
Newsflash! Whenever you want Many a com-
to protect something, you will run into promise was
people who don’t want you to. made, much
Such was the case in 1999 when opposition
the California Legislature passed the was over-
Marine Life Protection Act, aiming to come, and the
protect the long-term health of Califor- Central Coast
nia’s marine life with a statewide net- MPA network
was formally
from https://californiampas.org/
work of marine protected areas (MPAs)
designed, created, and managed by the established in
state, using sound science and stake- 2007. By 2012,
holder input. California had
Within the California MPA implemented
network, overseen by the California a world-class
Department of Fish and Wildlife, some system of 124
MPA designations allow some recre- marine pro-
ational and/or commercial take of marine tected areas in
resources in the area; others prohibits state waters
damage or take of all marine resources the length
(living, geologic, or cultural; i.e. fish, of the coast,
minerals, pot shards), including recre- created in a
ational and commercial take. comprehensive
First up for designation was the stakeholder-led
central coast, with a proposed network of public process.
29 MPAs extending from Pigeon Point (Another California’s system of State Marine Protected Areas
in San Mateo County to Point Concep- newsflash: These MPAs work, and the
fishing industry has been the prime In 2012, the Orange County
tion in Santa Barbara County, across 535
beneficiary.) Marine Protected Area Council was the
square kilometers of ocean within state
Ten years of planning, organizing, first group to bring together area experts
waters—the area of ocean up to three
and the loss and then restoration of fund- to collaboratively manage local MPAs.
miles from shore—with most MPAs
ing went into the struggle to make the Local stakeholders began organizing
averaging around a square mile in size,
promise of the Marine Life Protection collaboratives in San Mateo, San Diego,
with many one-tenth of a square mile or
Act a reality. Club stalwarts and allies and Santa Barbara, supported by the
less, and some more than twenty square
like Joe Geever, Jesse Swanhuyser, Paul Natural Resources Agency and Depart-
miles. Easy, right?
Arms, Steve Shimek and Rod Fujita are ment of Fish and Wildlife, and funded by
The fight to establish Marine
owed eternal thanks for their efforts. Resources Legacy Fund. Check out the
Protected Areas off the Central Coast
MPA Collaborative Network at https://
was long and bruising. Many claimed Get Involved www.mpacollaborative.org/
that seeking to protect the state’s most
Go to https://wildlife.ca.gov/ On March 17, the Fish and Game
biologically productive and diverse
Conservation/Marine/MPAs and familiar- Commission held a Justice, Equity,
marine ecosystems by creating reserves
ize yourself with the location, boundar- Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) listen-
that barred or restricted fishing would
ies, and proscriptions of your local Ma- ing session and discussion session on
not achieve the desired results—al-
rine Protected Areas. If you see a vessel their draft work plan. The Commission is
lowing fish to grow older and bigger
engaged in a prohibited activity in any still taking feedback, ideas, and edits to
undisturbed so they can make more little
these areas, call CAL-TIP at 1-888-334- the plan. All comments are welcome at
fish, resulting in more wildlife and bio-
2258 and report the vessel’s registration fgc@fgc.ca.gov. You can sign up for the
diversity all ‘round—and would destroy
(CF) number and the date, time and Commission’s JEDI mailing list here to
commercial fishing.
location. Anyone with a cell phone may receive future updates. e
send an anonymous tip to CDFW by
texting “CALTIP” followed by a space Andrew Christie is the director of the
and the message, to 847411. Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club
6 Words Of the Wild April 2021
date: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctu- Welcome to a new gray
Up -- by Andrew Christie wolf in California
The Central Coast is once again The Sierra Club, along with other NGOs The California Department of
at the forefront of marine protection in and concerned citizens, worked with the North- Fish and Wildlife announced in late
California, not only in state waters but in ern Chumash on the preparation of their 2015 February that that OR-93, a male
federal waters, with a bid for a national Sanctuary nomination document for NOAA, gray wolf from the White River
marine sanctuary. Unlike the state-man- an exacting process that took several years, Pack near Oregon’s Mt. Hood,
aged MPAs, Marine Sanctuaries, a federal and then supported their efforts to build public has been seen in Mono County,
designation, are managed by the National awareness and support for the sanctuary. California, and had previously
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- traveled through Modoc, Lassen,
https://northernchumash.org/chumash-sanctuary/
tion (NOAA), and are much larger and Alpine Counties (and maybe
and extend into federal waters much Tuolumne County). He first
farther from shore than a state MPA. entered California in Modoc
A national marine sanctuary provides County earlier this February. OR-
Ecosystem Based Management. Per 93 has a GPS-collar.
NOAA, this is “an integrated manage- According to the San
ment approach that recognizes the Jose Mercury News, the wolf’s
full array of interactions within an wanderings “highlight the ability
ecosystem, including humans, rather of this iconic species to disperse,
than considering single issues, spe- if habitats are connected.” And
cies, or ecosystem services in isola- “scattered populations of an
tion.” Unlike an MPA’s central focus estimated 6,000 gray wolves can
on restricting or prohibiting fishing, now be found across the West and
Get ready…
a national marine sanctuary allows for Great Lakes, restoring a species
Congress has now instructed NOAA to
“multiple use,” including fishing. The once shot, trapped or poisoned.”
begin the designation process for all success-
proposed Chumash Heritage National These wolves are covered
ful sanctuary nominations in inventory. This
Marine Sanctuary will focus on ensur- under the Endangered Species
directive came down shortly after Joe Biden was Act in California, which makes it
ing an ecosystem-based approach to the elected president. NOAA is still assembling its
protection of one of the most biologically unlawful to harass, harm, pursue,
staff, so has not yet announced the commence- hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, or
diverse coastlines in the world. (see ment of the process, and the Biden administra-
WOW April 2018.) capture them. Anyone sighting one
tion has not formally weighed in, other than is asked to report it to CDFW by
Chumash People take the lead Vice President Harris voicing her support when calling CDFW (530) 225-2300.
These waters are also essential to she was a Senator. To start the process, NOAA Pamela Flick, California
the heritage of the Chumash, one of the must place an announcement in the Federal Regis- program director of Defenders
few ocean-going bands among the First ter, then undertake the required Designation Steps. of Wildlife, pointed out that the
People of the Pacific Coast, whose ances- The CHNMS would connect the Chan- wolf’s arrival from out-of-state
tors lived in villages west of the current nel Islands National Marine Sanctuary with the “importantly brings the potential
tide line thousands of years ago. The Chu- Monterey Bay Sanctuary, bringing the entire re- for increased genetic diversity to
mash Heritage National Marine Sanctu- gion under a unified conservation regime, rather our state.”
ary will protect these ancient submerged than managing disconnected pieces. OR-93 has made his way
sites from future industrial encroachment. Like our promotion of state MPAs, (see farther south than any known
The Northern Chumash website, https:// article, preceding page) this marine sanctuary wild wolf in modern times–all the
northernchumash.org/chumash-sanctuary/ proposal is part of our “30 by 30” efforts. way to Mono County in the eastern
discusses many ecological reasons for This is Big Conservation: Stand by for that Sierra! e
wanting a sanctury, and also for “embrac- Federal Register notice, and the start of a long -- from Defenders of Wildlife and
public comment period.
ing the Chumash concept of ‘thrivability’ CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife
Latest Action: National Sanctuary Foundation
wherein a deep understanding of this
asks us to share their Take Action online letter
photo: from Creative Commons
unique and precious marine environ- with our listservs and partners asking them to
ment is embodied within its local human sign on today. Submitting the online letter will
inhabitants,” and the website refers to send a letter directly to our elected officials urg-
“Sacred sites ranging from villages to ing them to support sanctuaries and monuments
solstice alignments 6 to 13 miles offshore. funding in FY22. Direct Link: https://marine-
Chumash records suggest occupation of sanctuary.org/campaign/support-investment-in-
the central coast area for 20,000 years.” americas-sanctuaries—in-2022/ e
Words Of the Wild April 2021 7
Mining Threat at Spring Peak in Bodie Hills
-- by Lynn Boulton
photo: Lynn Boulton
Spring Peak is in the southeast Those projects
corner of the Bodie Hills on the Nevada were done at the end
side. The road in is very rough, so casual of a four-year drought
explorers haven’t discovered it. It is so the comeback was
tucked away but high enough to have slow. Yet those efforts
views of the White Mountains, the Sierra, did eventually pay off.
and Mono Lake. There are a few small It took the big winter
springs that flow through a meadow that of 2017 followed by a
attract wildlife and some seeps that attract second good winter in
at least seven species of butterflies. I 2018 to get the seed to Spring Peak drill site--zoom in to see marked area on left
watched a pronghorn head toward the grow. So when I came along in has been growing for only five
meadow, and I found big piles of burro 2020, it was on the road to recovery. There years. It’s another thing to tear up
or wild horse scat (hard to tell which), were various native grasses, sagebrush, vegetation that is decades old.
coyote tracks and scat, badger holes, rabbitbrush, ephedra, and elder, and more So far, OceanaGold has cleared
and rabbit scat on my six trips there. I than 50 species of flowers. The meadow was five of the drill sites and weed-
heard a rattlesnake in the grass, Western green and thick with thatch. Springs were whacked the staging area. They have
fence lizards on the volcanic rocks, and running, and seeps were moist, perfect for also cleared areas off to the side of
saw a pair of kestrels and a pair of red- butterflies to go “mudding”. Unfortunately, the road on the way in. They have left
tailed hawks, bluebirds, robins, a raven, cheatgrass grew in abundance as well. their mark on the land, and it will be
and a juvenile sage grouse. In summer, Indigenous people used the Bodie worse by the time they finish their
the sulfur flowers are covered in bees, Hills for thousands of years—all through exploratory drilling. It will take years
butterflies, and insects collecting pollen. It the Holocene--and there is evidence of their for re-seeding to cover the scars.
is a place that is alive and helping wildlife presence here at Spring Peak. If the results of the drilling show there
thrive. It’s just lovely there. But now--the threat are sufficient quantities of microscopic
There are bi-state sage grouse here. gold there, it will lead to a mining
(aka Mono Basin sage grouse) They are However, this wonderful area is at risk
operation which could destroy and
returning after a lightning strike wild of becoming an open-pit, cyanide heap-leach
contaminate that corner of the Bodie
fire burned the area in 2013. In the areas gold mine. There was a hot spring there
Hills forever with cyanide, mercury,
where the sagebrush is coming up, there 2.6-5 million years ago that brought flecks of
and thallium. It will become a pit lake.
are piles of sage grouse scat at the base of gold to the surface from volcanic rocks that OceanaGold does not have a very good
many of the shrubs that are about 1.5 feet formed 12-13 million years ago. OceanaGold
track record at their Haile Mine in
tall, soft, and probably very tasty. A young is searching for the veins of gold that South Carolina5.
sage grouse darted into a Great Basin wild underlie the hot spring. OceanaGold is a mining com-
rye for cover when I startled it. It had made It’s in Mineral County, Nevada.
pany, not an exploration company.
a hole at the base of a large plant to hide in. Nevada considers mining “a basic and They are spending $4 million for a 51
Because this was good sage grouse essential activity making an important
percent “earn-in” option in the project
habitat before the fire and a sage grouse contribution to the economy of the State
with the option to earn another 24
lek site where male sage grouse do mating of Nevada”. There are no laws restricting
3
percent interest for $6 million more.6
dances, there cyanide or mercury leaching. The historic
Our public lands serve multiple uses,
were several mining town of Aurora is one hill over and is
however, mining reduces it to a single
habitat a reminder. OceanaGold has taken over the
use and then when it is abandoned, it
photo: Lynn Boulton
reclamation mining claims in the Spring Peak area and
serves no purpose.
projects. will be drilling at 23 locations. Each drill pad 1 https://www.youtube.com/
The Nevada will be up to 60 ft.x70 ft. with a sump pit to watch?v=cDuUf-mWY7Q
Department catch the drilling cuttings and fluids. They 2 https://www.fs.usda.gov/
will bulldoze and build roads to reach some project/?project=43075
of Wildlife 3 NRS 519A.010 https://www.leg.state.
Blue butterflies on sulfur buckwheat planted of the sites. Some of this disturbance will
4
nv.us/NRS/NRS-519A.html
sagebrush be in the burned area, but three of the sites 4 OceanaGold Spring Peak Exploratory
seedlings in 20141, the year after the fire. and a staging/parking area will destroy old Drilling Project scoping document
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
The USFS reseeded the area again in growth sagebrush that survived the fire. One project/?project=56585
20152. A friend who volunteered in the of the roads will go across a slope of pinyon 5 https://www.thestate.com/news/local/
2015 effort remembers the area still being pine forest that also survived the fire. environment/article249177395.html
6 https://www.orogenroyalties.com/
black and full of ash. It’s one thing to dig up terrain that spring-peak / e
8 Words Of the Wild April 2021
6
t W a lk-
c
Pro t e R i d g e
er
Outings
--May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing
view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. -- Edward Abbey
The Berryessa Snow Moun-
tain National Monument is situated only a Gold Butte, Nevada trip
few hours from the Bay Area and Sacra-
There are NO Sierra Club
mento. Designated in 2015, this place of
dramatic plate tectonic geology is also a outings happening at this time; all
photo: Scott Endicott
biological hot spot and a wildlife migra- outings are on hold until at least
tory corridor. It is a recreational resource July 4. However--that does not
for birders, botanists, hikers, campers, prevent desert enthusiasts from
mountain bikers, and legal OHV use. getting out there to spend some
Since the designation, local groups have vital desert time. In late March a
continued to work for good management half dozen Sierra Club desert wil-
policies and greater investment in the derness devotees (all vaccinated)
national monument. met in the Gold Butte National
Now, a major threat has re-emerged Monument in southeast Nevada- End of “road” --day one hike. Old, empty stock-tank.
that is particularly troubling. Canadian -a Mojave desert gem of more than
firm Algonquin Power and Utility wants 300,000 acres designated by President could certainly not visit all these areas.
to build an industrial wind development Obama in late 2016, and a topic of So we focused on one, not far from our
project on Walker Ridge—just outside concern for this newsletter--and our Whitney Pockets campsite. BLM gives
and directly adjacent to Berryessa Snow outings--since long before that. each unit an ID number, but we chose to
Mountain National Monument. The project This time our goal was to check give it a name “Billy Goat-Desert Garden
would include 42 industrial wind turbines areas the Bureau of Land Management wild area.” (Billy Goat Peak is one of the
standing up to 676 feet to the top of ro- has identified as “Lands with Wilderness peaks there.) One day we hiked in from
tors. Also, in order to get the machinery Characteristics”—an informal category the north, and the second day from the
up to the ridge, the 20-foot road would be that allows but does not require them south—in both cases, on small dirt roads
widened to 75 feet and the turns greatly to manage to protect those wilderness included within the wild unit. We found
increased in size. The road and transmis- qualities. The BLM found about ten those routes did not detract from basic
sions lines would traverse two Areas of such units in Gold Butte. Since the area wild values—and they certainly make
Critical Environmental Concern and a is large, on our two full days there, we good walking trails. e vnh
parcel purchased with funds from the Land
and Water Conservation Fund. numerous wind development projects over expired. But, now, Colusa Wind is con-
Walker Ridge is located on the Lake the past 20 years. All wind proposals to sidering obtaining another lease.
and Colusa County line just north of High- date have been abandoned, possibly due We want this treadmill to end. With
way 20 that runs from Williams to Clear to the marginal value of wind on the ridge the California Native Plant Society
Lake. The Coast Range Fault and several as shown on state wind maps. taking the lead, we are considering
others cut through Walker Ridge, which Nearby is the Cache Creek Wilder- congressional legislation to add the area
mainly consists of serpentine and the ness, that is also the largest wintering area to the Berryessa Snow Mountain Monu-
Fransican formation—which was formed for bald eagles in California south of the ment.. Updated information is available
through plate tectonics. It is a largely Klamath basin. Wind turbines have had at their website: https://www.cnps.org/
undisturbed place and was considered as lethal impacts on birds. And, the region is conservation/protect-walker-ridge. Please
a potential wilderness area in the 2001 an important wildlife corridor for animals go to the site and sign their petition!
Citizens’ Wilderness Inventory. Many rare migrating north and south. We all support renewable energy,
and endemic plant species have evolved This latest project emerged at the but projects should be built on previous-
to grow only on these special serpenti- end of 2018 when Colusa Winds lease ly disturbed lands and not on those like
nitic soils. The area includes three Bureau (bought by Algonquin) executed an agree- Walker Ridge that are ecological wild
of Land Management Areas of Critical ment to connect with and sell electricity treasures—and. important for recreation
Environmental Concern (ACEC), and the to PG&E and the California Independent and wildlife. We will continue to moni-
California Native Plant Society is leading System Operator (ISO). From there the tor and support our local partners as
a campaign to permanently protect Walker project moved along the BLM process and they oppose this destructive project. e
Ridge: CNPS has submitted a proposal to was closer to becoming a reality. Fortu-
-- From California Wilderness Coalition
designate all of Walker Ridge as an ACEC. nately, Algonquin suspended their efforts
and updated by Bob Schneider, for
Walker Ridge has been the subject of and the two-year Colusa Wind lease has Sierra Club Yolano Group.
Words Of the Wild April 2021 9Can YOU Volunteer for Wilderness??
Volunteer Opportunities on our Committee: Chair, Vice-Chair, Outings Chair, Social Media Assistant
We have several openings Plans and engage in Northern CA/ sbcglobal.net for more details.
for volunteer leaders on our CA/ Southern OR forest plan updates; ** The Committee Vice-Chair role is
NV Wilderness Committee, offering improve stewardship of wilderness and currently vacant and offers an ideal way
opportunities for Sierra Club members other natural areas; educate around to advance the work of our team while
who care about wilderness to make a wilderness conservation; build team preparing for the Chair position. The job
real difference. New volunteer leaders effectiveness; and support wilderness involves collaborating with the Chair and
will join a strong core team that includes legislation/new protective designations. other Core Team members on our work
outgoing (term-limited) Chair Anne In all these areas we commit to program and stepping into the Chair role as
Henny, Newsletter Editor Vicky Hoover, implementing the Jemez Principles needed. There is also the option of having
Web and Social Media Manager Geoffrey and elevating equity, inclusion and a Co-Chair structure, with both a Northern
Smith, Treasurer JoAnne Clarke, Wil- justice. Find our 2021 Work Plan on our and Southern Co-Chair. Contact Anne
derness Coalition Liaison Alan Carlton. Grassroot Network site. We have a CCC Henny anneth16@sbcglobal.net.
We have representatives from most Sierra webpage and are on Facebook and Twitter. ** The Committee Outings Chair role is
Club California and Nevada Chapters and ** The Committee Chair role is currently filled by Vicky Hoover, who has
a network of members in both states. currently held by Anne Henny who led several stewardship outings annually
The CA/NV Wilderness Committee will term out in 2022 and can help the for many years in partnership with Bureau
is both a Grassroots Network (GN) incoming Chair transition into the role of Land Management and conservation
Team as well as an Issue Committee of over several months. This job involves partners. After this year (2021) Vicky will
the California Conservation Committee coordinating the work of the team and retire from leading Club outings and will
(CCC, (formerly the California/Nevada representing us with the Grassroots no longer be an accredited Sierra Club
Conservation Committee, or CNRCC). Network, CCC, other Sierra Club leader; she will help the new outings chair
In 2021 we are focusing on proactively entities, and conservation partners. It develop connections with BLM wilderness
building a 30 by 30 campaign in is an outstanding position for powerful staff in both CA and NV. Candidates for
California and Nevada; we seek to build wilderness advocacy and uplifting Sierra this role should contact Vicky Hoover
more inclusive wilderness leadership and Club’s equity and social justice values. vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org for details.
participation; defend Nevada’s Desert Currently, the Grassroots Network ** The Committee Social Media
National Wildlife Refuge from military allows a maximum of three 2-year terms Assistant role is currently vacant. This
expansion; advocate for improvements (six years total). Candidates for this job person or people would coordinate with
to the Sequoia and Sierra National Forest should contact Anne Henny anneth16@ Social Media Coordinator Geoffrey Smith
to build our Committee’s visibility and
Sierra Club’s California/Nevada Wilderness Committee, an issue committee of the educate our members and supporters
CA/NV Regional Conservation Committee, advocates for preservation of un- in their advocacy work. We have good
roaded, undeveloped public lands in a wild state through legislation and appropri- content available, especially from our
ate management, and sponsors stewardship and wilderness study
newsletter Words of the Wild, and need to
Chair: Anne Henny, SF Bay Chapter (510) 289-2294 2101 Webster St., post regularly to our website, Facebook
Heather Anderson (559) 681-6305: Arts and Wildlands liaison Suite 1300, and Twitter accounts. Some social media
Judy Anderson (818) 248-0402: wilderness management Oakland CA 94612
Victoria Brandon (707) 994-1931: Redwood Chapter coordinator experience needed, but expertise not
Joyce Burk (760) 252-3820: Southern CA forests co-chair required. Perhaps two to four hours/
Cindy Buxton (619) 934-0323: San Diego Chapter coordinator week will be needed, to help keep content
Alan Carlton (510) 769-3403: Forest Planning liaison flowing on our social media channels.
Sandra Cattell (661) 714 -2850: Angeles Chaptercoordinator Candidates for this job should
JoAnne Clarke (209) 233-7380: Tehipite Chapter coordinator contact Geoffrey Smith: geoffrey@
Eric Diesel (650) 847-8646: Southern CA forests co-chair
partners4nature.com for more details.
Larry Dwyer (775) 786-8564: Toiyabe Chapter coordinator
Steve Evans (916) 442-3155: Wild & Scenic Rivers
Joe Fontaine (661) 821-2055: Wilderness Watch, Kern Kaweah Ch. Next Committee Meeting:
Terry Frewin (805) 966-3754: CA Desert areas May 19 Wilderness Committee Zoom Meeting
Hermi Hiatt (702) 361-1171: Friends of Nevada Wilderness – Presentations on new national monument
James Hines (805) 340-9266: Los Padres Chapter & Wildlife coord. proposals We plan to hold a Zoom Meeting
Vicky Hoover (415) 977-5527: Newsletter editor, Outings for the evening of May 19, 5:30-7 p.m.. The
John Moore (916) 731-7153: Mother Lode Chapter coordinator
program is not finalized but will likely cover
Mike Painter: (415)752-3911: Californians for Western Wilderness
Geoffrey Smith (858) 442-1425: Wilderness Listserv manager
several prospective new national monuments/
Mike Splain (831) 359-2489: Ventana Chapter coordinator marine sanctuaries. Stay tuned for information
OPEN-San Francisco Bay, San Gorgonio, and Santa Lucia Chapter on our Committee listserv, Facebook and our
coordinators; open soon, Ventana Chapter. Grassroots Network page.
10 Words Of the Wild April 2021You can also read
