december 2008 california today, planning and conservation league newsletter

8/3/2019 December 2008 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

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The November election demonstrates that theAmerican people, and California voters, want realchange. What does that mean, in terms of environmentalpolicy? What does that mean for PCL?

Real change doesnt just happen. We have to seek itout, and compel it. And real change requires a choice. Ifwe want to move in a new direction, then we have tomake some really tough choices, economically, socially,politically, and individually.

Changes we make individually are critically important -but individual changes are not enough. Were in thisworld together, and if we want a better future, then weneed to act in concert. Public policy, or in other wordsthe laws and regulations we enact, is our way of tellingourselves what we need to do - and then makingourselves actually do it.

PCL has a prescription, in the realm of environmental

policy, for the adjustments we need to make. Its a callfor fundamental economic, social, and political action.At our 2009 Symposium, PCL will issue an

environmental policy Call to Action outlining a numberof public policy changes we need to make. Driving thosemodifications forward will be the mission of PCL forthe next five years.

Just like we saw with SB 375 (Steinberg) we needfundamental land use reform. SB 375, which passed thisyear, ties smarter land use to transportation funding. Itwas a small step forward, but it is significant because it

turns the corner of land use reform. Now that weveturned that corner, no more temporizing! No more conversof our rural lands into subdivisions and shopping centeincreasing greenhouse gas emissions while destroyingboth natural habitat and our commercial farmlands.

This call to action includes a brand new water polfor California, too. No more destructive supply sideplans that only feed the sprawl that is destroying ourfuture. Living within our existing water resources is nonly possible, it is essential. PCL knows how Californcan do it - through a focus on increased efficiency andmore secured water sources!

Land use and water policy reform - and developinnew generation of environmental leaders prepared totake our state in a whole new direction - are all part oPCLs Call to Action. And as the politicians say, thatsonly a partial list.

CALIFORNIA TODAYCALIFORNIA TODAYNews l e t t e r o f th e Pl ann ing & Conse r va t i on League PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEPLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

December 2008 Volume 38, Number 4

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Time for a ChangeBy: Gary Patton

Napa Valley

Want to stay current onenvironmental issues inCalifornia? PCL can help!

Sign up today to receiveour weekly emails with news,events and action alerts!

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Dear Friends,

California AffiliateNational Wildlife Federation

CALIFORNIA TODAY(ISBN 0739-8042)is the quarterly newsletter of the

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEAND THE PCL FOUNDATION

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PHONE: 916-444-8726 FAX: 916-448-1789

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] ADDRESS: http://www.pcl.org

Membership to PCL is $35 a year and includes asubscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA.POSTMASTER: Send address changes forCALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office:1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEESDAVID HIRSCH, ChairmanRALPH B. PERRY III, Vice ChairmanDANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-TreasurerCOKE HALLOWELL, TrusteeGERALD H. MERAL, Trustee

PCL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEBILL CENTER, PresidentKEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice PresidentSAGE SWEETWOOD, President EmeritusJOHN VAN DE KAMP, President EmeritusBILL LEIMBACH, Secretary-Treasurer

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTSELISABETH BROWNJAN CHATTEN-BROWNPHYLLIS FABERRICK HAWLEYFRAN LAYTONDOUG LINNEYDAVID MOGAVEROSTEPHANIE PINCETLLYNN SADLERTERESA VILLEGASTERRY WATTBILL YEATES

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERSBig Sur Land TrustBreathe California, Sacramento-Emigrant TrailsCalifornia Association of Local Conservation CorpsCalifornia Oak FoundationCalifornia TroutGreenspace - The Cambria Land TrustGolden Gate Audubon SocietyThe Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.Mono Lake CommitteeMountain Lion FoundationSierra Nevada AllianceSouthern California Agricultural Land FoundationTrain Riders Association of CaliforniaThe Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFFTRACI SHEEHAN, Executive DirectorTINA ANDOLINA, Legislative DirectorBARB BYRNE, Water Policy AssistantEVON CHAMBERS, Water Policy AssistantREN GUERRERO, Project Manager - Legislative Advocate

CHARLOTTE HODDE, Water Policy SpecialistDR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project ManagerMINDY McINTYRE, Water Program ManagerJONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy AdvisorGARY A. PATTON, General CounselGERALD PEREZ, Administrative ManagerJUSTIN SAYDELL, Sierra Nevada Americorp MemberAMBER SCHMAELING, Membership &Development CoordinatorMATT VANDER SLUIS, Global Warming Project ManagerMELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant

The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) has been blessed through theyears with its talented and devoted Board Members. Some of the remarkablework of our Board Members includes: Dave Hirschs work on the CaliforniaEnvironmental Quality Act legislation; Joan Clayburghs coalition building ofgroups in the Sierra Nevada; Phyllis Fabers efforts to have a plan for Californiasagriculture; and Sage Sweetwoods promotion of the conservation and sustainabil

of Californias water. It is because of their individual work and their support ofPCL that we have been able to bring about more environmental protections in thwork we do.

On October 13th we lost a wonderful BoardMember, Dorothy Green, to melanoma. Dorothywas a dear friend and steadfast supporter of PCL.She always brought a new view, especially on waterissues. Her work on this topic seamlessly intertwinedwith PCLs water policy efforts at the statewidelevel.

Dorothys long list of achievements includefounding Heal the Bay, the Los Angeles and SanGabriel Rivers Watershed Council and the CaliforniaWater Impact Network. To memorialize her workand for her extensive leadership in California water policy, in 2007, PCL presenther with the Carla Bard Award for Individual Achievement.

Dorothy was one in a million; she was clever, carand charming. She never missed an opportunity tomention water issues in California. Her legacy will the inspiration she provided to future water leaders,says Jonas Minton, PCL Water Policy Advisor. She

was a class act and her friends and colleagues in theenvironmental and water community will miss herdearly.

To honor her, PCL has created the DorothyGreen Award for an activist or group that has madesubstantial contributions in the water policy arena.The first award presentation will be made at ourFebruary 7, 2009 Annual Symposium (see pages 4 and

We are also excited to announce the Dorothy Green Fellowship -- a waterpolicy fellowship with PCL that will begin next summer. Look for more information the fellowship in the new year. The fellowship and the award honor Dorothy

spirit and commitment. We hope that spirit will always be with us!

Sincerely,

Traci SheehanExecutive Director

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation2

Dorothy Green1929 - 2008

KeithWagner

Dorothy at the 2008 Symposium.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE

PLANNING AND CONSERVATIONLEAGUE FOUNDATION


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Preserving Californias OaksBy: Janet Cobb

Californias 100 million acres include 13 millionacres of oak trees, oak woodlands and oak-forestedlands. Oak conservation is critical to stemming theloss of species due to urban sprawl, climate change,and poor agricultural practices.

Conserving oaks is key to having healthy watershedsand sustainable wildlife habitat. Today, oaks sequester325 million metric tons of carbon, and another 350million metric tons in understory, woody material andsoil. The California Oak Foundation has long arguedthat it makes good economic sense to keep oaksstanding.

The California Oak Foundation (COF), was foundedin 1988 by two PCL Board members, Charles Warrenand Jane Hagedorn and they quickly handed it off toJanet Cobb, former PCL President. COF has workedover these years to bring oak scenic, cultural, andbiodiversity contributions to opinion leaders and thepublic.

Legislative successes have included GovernorGray Davis signing AB 232 (Thomson) providingoak conservation easement acquisition funds to theWildlife Conservation Board to conserve oaks onprivate lands. Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggersigned SB 1334 (Kuehl), placing oak woodlandmitigation into the California Environmental

Quality Act for the first time in the states history.Voter-approved bond funds have gone a long way inconserving oaks too.

To ensure the survival ofCalifornias oaks, COF commentson many EIRs. Its free monthlyelectronic Oak Reportsharessample letters with members andfriends. In some cases, lawsuitsresult. PCL stalwarts Keith

Wagner and Bill Yeates, along with lawyers Tom Lippand Michael Graf, have challenged those not payingattention to oak laws and values. Lippe, Wagner andYeates were instrumental in helping COF, Audubon andSierra Club receive more than a $6 million settlement mitigate for 700 acres of oaks removed from PlacerCounty. To date, more than 2,000 acres of oak woodlanhave been purchased with these funds and leveraginghas infused the countys local economy with $9.5 milldollars. Tehama Countys plan to destroy 97,000 blueoaks, upheld by the Superior Court, is now beingappealed by COF.

Additionally, COF has conducted 24 Estate TaxPlanning and Conservation Easement workshops forlandowners, and since then thousands of acres of oakwoodland easements have either been donated and/orpurchased from willing landowners. Partnerships

between environmental groups, agencies and landtrusts have been the key to success. The Hearst Ranc

easement, negotiated by HariettBurgess, a long-time PCLF membset aside 32,000 acres of oaks; TejRanchs generous oaks and grasslanwill continue to serve, thanks inlarge part to leadership from PCLTerry Watt and Gary Pattonin cooperating with numerouslike-minded conservationists.

Conserved oak woodlands andforests will continue to deliver food and shelter to mothan 330 species. COF believes that the important oaecosystem is worth saving for the future.

California Oak Foundations books and pamphletsare listed on its website: www.CaliforniaOaks.org.

JanetCobb

Janet Cobb


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Steps to a Sustainable California - February 7, 200By: Melanie Schlotterbeck

Every year the Planning and Conservation League(PCL) and PCL Foundation host an environmentallegislative symposium. Join the hundreds of businesses,environmental advocates, grassroots organizations, attorneys,

planners and policy-makers at the 2009 event!The theme of our event is Steps to a Sustainable

California: Building Momentum for Real Change. Toensure a sustainable future, we need to make real changesin how we live our lives, and how we organize our society.And we need to start making those changes right now right here! California has, and continues to be, a leaderin environmental laws and our innovative measures canprovide a model for others.

Our priorities, shown by the policy sessions weveselected this year, include climate change, water andpublic health. We will focus on specific steps thatPCL can and will do to ensure that our state becomes

sustainable. But we cant do this alone. We will needyour support to get these top priorities at the forefrontof our discussions and legislative efforts.

An Introduction to a few of our sessions....California Wildfire and CEQA (MCLE)Wildfires in California are a growing threat to bothwildlife habitat and public safety. As seen in the 2007Southern California Firestorms, fire management,implementation of better planning tools and theprotection of endangered and threatened speciesand their habitats were much needed. This panel willdiscuss issues includinglocating new development

away from high fire riskareas; designing maximallydefensible projects;examining the damagecaused by wildfires; andmuch more!

How To... Involve and MotivatePeople to Join and Stay Involvedin Your CampaignEveryone agrees that mobilizingthe grassroots is an essentialcomponent of a successfulcampaign and yet we all strugglewith volunteer recruitment andretention. Learn simple thingscan you do to make hearings andoutreach activities like phonebanking and precinct walking fun and interesting.

The Conservation Challenge of the 21st Century:Protecting Wildlife from Global WarmingEffectively managing Californias natural resources in

face of global warming will beof the central challenges of thnext decades. Left unchecked,global warming will magnify thpressures placed upon wildlife atheir habitats, damaging the divnatural systems. In this panel, wwill explore Californias progtoward protecting wildlife antheir habitats from global warmand identify the actions necessto help ensure it gets done.

How To...Protect Natural LandsThis workshop will

explore land conservatwhich is a key piece othe puzzle to create asustainable Californi

Key topics in this session will include land protecttools, strategies and techniques, types of funding,and an overview of the protection and stewardshiprocess.

The Symposium & Awards Banquet Details

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009Symposium: 9:00AM - 4:15PMBanquet: 5:00PM - 7:00PMLocation: Sheraton Grand, downtown Sacramento

1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Photo credits: bottom left - Hills For Everyone; others - CanStockPh


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National Wildlife Federations (NWF) CampusEcology program is working with over 20 SouthernCalifornia campuses to create the Southern CaliforniaClimate Action Network. This network, which includesmost of the UC and Cal State schools, is called

SoCalCAN. We are working together to achieveemission reductions on and off campus. Campusesare implementing their individual climate action plans,collaborating and pooling resources to reduce collectiveemissions and promote alternative energy sources, andadvocating for better climate policies. You can readmore about these efforts at www.SoCalCan.org.

NWF is working within these same campuses on aninitiative called Power Vote! The purpose of Power Voteis to get college students to get involved in politics andpush for solutions to climate change as well as promote

a new green economy. Power Vote held many events inSouthern California and delivered thousands of Power

Vote pledges to our congressional members in NovembTo learn more about Power Vote, go to www.PowerVote.o

From Ranger Rick to Campus Ecology, NWFbelieves that working with youth is the way to changethe future for conservation. To learn about our campprograms and ways we connect people to nature, you

can start at: www.nwf.org/campusecology.

The Push for Climate Action in College CampusesBy: Matt Little

Every year we need to publish our Statement of Circulation, as required by the United States Post Offic

NationalWildlifeFed

eration


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At the base of the Grapevine, on the edge of the SanJoaquin Valley, are gently rolling slopes that lead up to thepeaks of the Tehachapi Mountain Range. With stands ofvalley oaks scattered across the landscape and golden eaglessoaring above -- this particular property ties California and

its diverse ecosystems together.On a clear day last October with temperatures in the

mid-70s roughly 30 friends, supporters and board members ofthe Planning and Conservation League descended on the OldHeadquarters of Tejon Ranch.

Back in May, PCL was one of five environmental groupsto sign a Conservation and Land Use Agreement with theTejon Ranch Company that preserved 90% or 240,000 acresof theRanch. Our event celebrated the legacy of this preservationeffort and PCLs contribution in achieving this victory.

Guests arrived in the early afternoon and were greetedwith a fabulous spread of cheese and crackers, as well as freshlocally grown almonds and grapes. After a short introductionto PCL by our Executive Director, Traci Sheehan, we heard

A Day on the RanchBy: Melanie Schlotterbeck

The Planning and Conservation League held its firstCalifornia Legacy Society event on October 18th at

Tejon Ranch. The Legacy Society was created as aformal way to recognize members who actively supportPCLs mission by donating $1,000 or more annually.

This is an important event for the League and itsLegacy members. Im so glad our members are able towitness the beauty of Tejon. Its the support of ourmembers that helps us to continue our work to protectthe California environment, commented Traci Sheehan,Executive Director of the League.

At the event, PCL Board President Bill Center spabout how the new Legacy Society and the legacy of

Tejon have left an indelible mark in PCLs history.PCL will host two annual events each year for its

California Legacy Society members, providing opportunito participate and witness what the League is doingfirst-hand in California preservation and restoration.

For more information on how you can become aLegacy Society member or to learn about the benefitsof Society membership, contact Amber Schmaeling bphone (916) 313-4517 or [email protected].

League Launches Legacy SocietyBy: Amber Schmaeling

MelanieSchlotte

rbeck

about some of the amazing features of thisremarkable landscape from Dr. Mike White, arepresentative of the Tejon Ranch Conservancy

Three hosts from the Tejon Ranch Companytook us into a valley oak forest a few milesfrom Old Headquarters. From there wewandered amidst the interwoven canopy oftrees. Most of us saw a lone coyote, a herd ofdeer and too many raptors to count.

After an hour getting acquainted with theland, we drove the winding dirt roads back toOld Headquarters for a barbeque. With a dishof cobbler and ice cream to finish the day, weall headed back to our individual points oforigin with a personal appreciation of PCLswork preserving the Ranch.

This short adventure to Tejon reminded uabout all the special landscapes PCL has helpeto protect over the years and that there areother landscapes that beckon us.


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VISIT US ON THE WEB: www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

Building Momentum for Water Reform in CaliforniaBy: Mindy McIntyre

With the drought, the economicdownturn, and the continued declineof fisheries and the Bay Delta Estuary,California advocates are joining togetherto bring water reform to California inthe coming years.

On October 2, the EnvironmentalJustice Coalition for Water (EJCW)and the Planning and ConservationLeague co-hosted the 2008 WaterSummit in Davis to discuss such water

reform. The Summit brought over 50leading environmental, community,fishing and water agency representatives,and environmental justice groups fromacross the state together to strategizeon opportunities to change Californiaswater outlook for the better.

The Summit started with a previewof the legislative landscape that we arelikely to face next year, with presentationsby Kip Lipper from the office of theSenate President Pro Tem and CarolBaker from the office of the AssemblySpeaker. Legislative staff, includingrepresentatives from the SenateCommittee on Natural Resources andWater, the Assembly Committee onWater, Parks and Wildlife, Assemblymember Caballero and Senator Padilla,also joined in the dialogue.

The majority of the day-long

Summit was devoted to discussion on

The Governor signed two meaningful measures that would enhancethe states Green Chemistry program while advancing the reduction anelimination of hazardous chemicals in our products and the environmenAB 1879 (Feuer) authorizes a public process to establish a list of chemicalof concern and prioritize those chemicals on their potential for exposurand impacts on sensitive populations. SB 509 (Simitian) allows the creationof an online public clearinghouse of information on the hazards associatewith various chemicals.

Although this set of legislation drives California to the forefront ofthe nation and the world with the most comprehensive Green Chemistryprogram, the state does not acknowledge the Precautionary Principle.That principle is: When an activity raises threats of harm to human healtor the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if somcause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. Inthis context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, shouldbear the burden of proof.

Right now, chemicals like Bisphenol-A, are prevalent in our food,water, and bodies - and evidence exists that these chemicals can causedevastating long term developmental, reproductive, behavioral, and

neurological effects. Precaution is prevention.

opportunities to reform targetedwater issues, including watergovernance, groundwater, publicawareness of water, regional waterself-sufficiency, and fish declines.Fueled by the energy and enthusiasmin the room, the stakeholders endedthe days activities with a commitmentto work together to develop a coordinated

platform of water reform policiesnext year.Building on that momentum,

PCL along with their partner in teffort, the EJCW will be hostingfollow-up Summits throughout thwinter to develop a water reformpackage for next year and beyond

Mixed Results -- Regulating ToxicsBy: Ren Guerrero

december 2008 california today, planning and conservation league newsletter

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