september 2008 california today, planning and conservation league newsletter

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

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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

September 2008 Volume 38, Number 3

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Shifting Water Management to a New NormalBy: Mindy McIntyre

California water management is founded on one simpleassumption: that weather in the future will be relatively thesame as it has been in the past. Unfortunately, that assumptionis wrong.

Weve invested billions of dollars in water systems thatrely on what we consider our normal weather pattern -capturing water in periods of wet and average years to getus through our periodic dry spells.

Yet, scientists are telling us that what we consider normalweather in California will actually be abnormal under climatechange. Scientists are finding that the American West isgetting drier, perhaps much drier. According to recentreports, the two large reservoirs on the Colorado River, amajor source of water for areas in Southern California, maydry up by 2021. The California Drought Update released inApril by the Department of Water Resources indicates thatwe can expect the same sort of drying throughout California.

Though many policy makers have accepted that we needto reduce our production of greenhouse gases in order tocombat climate change, fewer are willing to acknowledgethat our water management must also change.

Much of the water conversation in the Legislaturefocuses on a water bond to support old water strategies.The proposed water bonds would allocate billions of dollarsfor new dams to capture water in wet years. Yet, state andfederal agencies have spent over $100 million studyingthose dams and, even based on past hydrology, the dams failto provide benefits that are worthy of their price tags. No

one has even considered how these dams would work una drier future. More of the same old water policies will help California. Those policies simply do not make sensewhen climate change and drier conditions enter the equati

Fortunately, California does have options. The CalifornWater Plan found that the state could make available enouwater for over 16 million Californians with improvedefficiency in urban areas and development of recycled winfrastructure. Increased agricultural efficiency, regionalstormwater capture, and groundwater treatment andprotection are also promising potential sources of water.

These new water resources can be implementedquickly, and they cost just a fraction of the price tag fornew dams. They have the advantage of being climate-resilient, which means that they will be as effective ormore effective as our climate becomes drier.

Some leaders are already looking to shift the focus fr

old strategies to new policies that will work under ourchanging climate. This session Assembly Member Krekoriintroduced AB 2153 and Assembly Members Laird and Feintroduced AB 2175. Both measures would significantlyincrease water efficiency in the state. Unfortunately,AB 2153 did not move out of the Assembly this year, buAB 2175 is now in the Senate, and hopefully will movto the Governors desk. By taking advantage of untapresources and using new policies, California will be betable to meet the water needs of our people, economyand environment.

Grant Lake, Eastern Sierras


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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 FABERDOROTHY GREENRICK 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 Assistant

REN GUERRERO, Project Manager - Legislative AdvocateCHARLOTTE 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

PCLs mission is to give an effective voice in Sacramento for both soundplanning and environmental policy. Our presence in the State Capitol and ourpartnerships with hundreds of groups across the State ensure our success. It isthis league of different interests that gives us all clout and, many times gives uall the umph that we need to push our legislative agenda to get the real changethat we are looking for. This past year we authored and championed legislation -

essential policy reforms that tackled some of our critical issues including globalwarming, land use, and water.

This past May, PCL hosted its first annualLobby Day at the Capitol. Green LA and theEnvironmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW)partnered with us to mobilize members for a day ofcitizen lobbying followed by an evening celebration.Having activists from all over the State was centralto the days success and a result of the hard work ofour colleagues at EJCW and Green LA: DebbieDavis, Stephanie Taylor, Rafael Aguilera, and JoseCarmona.

Each summer PCL welcomes interns and fellowswho want to get real world experience and learnabout environmental policy and state level politics. They come to us with differeskills and experience - from seasoned land use planners, to law students, to soonbe graduates. This past summer we had a wonderful team of interns and thesehard-working individuals made some significant contributions to our program wor

Thanks so much tAlison Haroff, AudreyTucker, Chunling Wan

Erick Watkins, Julia VSoelen, Julie Greene,Karina Solomonik, KeCoplin, KristenLangford, Reyna YagiTara Hansen, andVictoria Hassid.

From writing press releases on our policy work, to arranging Local ClimateAction Initiative Workshops; to commenting on SB 97 (which requires the state prepare and develop guidelines for feasible mitigation of greenhouse gas emissionto building our major donor program -- the summer interns were invaluable. Th

accomplishments, and stick to-itiveness brought great energy to our office andwere very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Traci SheehanExecutive Director

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation2

PCLs Tina Andolina briefsLobby Day participants.

PlanningandConservationLeague


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Protecting the Laguna CoastBy: Dr. Elisabeth Brown and Harry Huggins

Surrounded by 18,000 acres of undeveloped parksand preserves, Laguna Beach is a village unto itself, acolony of artists and nonconformists. The greenbeltaround the town took Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., and laterother local environmental groups, more than three

decades to achieve.Founder Jim Dilley settled in Laguna Beach to

open a modest bookstore, Dilleys Books, in 1958.His ambition for local open space preservation had aprofound environmental impact that reshaped regionalopen space planning.

At a time when the hills and canyons of southernOrange County were open cattle ranches, Dilley startedto work for a 10,000-acre greenbelt around the town -a buffer from future development. He founded LagunaGreenbelt, Inc., in 1968.

Dilley focused on creating a greenbelt by combiningset asides from development into contiguous openspace areas. This was a radical departure from previouscounty planning that often resulted in disconnectedfragments. Scientists now know these fragments areunsustainable as wildlife habitat. In the 1960s, mapsof proposed open space in the Orange County GeneralPlan envisioned fingers of development intrudinginto preserved open space.

Beginning in 1970, Dilley carried the greenbelt

campaign to the County Board of Supervisors. Behindthe group were Laguna Beach residents, and a growingcoalition of other environmental groups, organizingaround common issues. The Supervisors were surprisedwhen developers faced organized opposition.

In 1972, the conceptual Laguna Greenbelt becamean area of special concern in the Countys GeneralPlan, and soon after, the California Coastal Plan.

Orange County planners then adopted Dilleysapproach to open space planning. As developments weapproved in the ensuing decades, open space set asideswere planned to be adjacent to each other. The resultinlarge blocks of contiguous open space - landscape sizedareas - became wilderness parks, preserves, and ultimatpart of the states first multi-species Natural CommunConservation Plan. The Laguna Greenbelt is half of treserve.

In the late 70s, Laguna Greenbelt spun off a grouto advocate for a Laguna Coast National Park. Althougthe effort failed, the land did become Crystal Cove StatPark, the northern arm of the greenbelt. Laguna Beacbought Sycamore Hills, Dilleys famous Buckle of theGreenbelt. Dilley died soon after, but the group continu

In the 1980s the organization flexed its legal andpolitical muscles when a large development was proposin Laguna Canyon, the core of the greenbelt. The grosued, and a huge demonstration of 8,000 people in theCanyon brought the developer to the table. Aftersuccessful multi-party negotiations, the taxpayers of

Laguna Beach passed a $20 million bond act to help buthe canyon.

In 1993, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park opened, anLaguna Greenbelt began to train the first of hundredsnaturalists now volunteering throughout Orange CounThe group expanded its public education about localnatural history through regular guided hikes, self-guidinature trails, newsletters, and field guides describing thcoastal sage scrub ecosystem.

This year we celebrate our 40th year of public advocfor, and education about, Orange Countys wilderness.

Dilleys greenbelt is now more than 18,000 acres and sgrowing.

Laguna Greenbelt has been an Organizational BoardMember of Planning and Conservation League (PCL) sinthe beginning, as we believe in the same intrinsic values ofnatural lands. Our relationship intensified when we workecooperatively on PCLs water and park bond acts. We arestill spending those funds to enlarge the greenbelt andare grateful to PCLs leadership in advancing park bondmeasures.

MelanieSchlotterbeck

MelanieSchlotterbeck


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The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) were formed in1986 as a Joint Powers Authority to manage the financing, constructionand operation of new toll roads in Orange County. The San Joaquin(73), the Foothill (241), and the Eastern (241/261/133) Toll Roads

have all been built by the TCA. Now TCA wants to add a 16 mileextension of the 241 Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach,which is actually located in San Diego County.

One reason the toll roads have been able to afford to be built isbecause TCA relied on existing local and county parkland throughwhich to build the roads. These parks include, but are not limited to:Whiting Wilderness Park, ONeill Regional Park, Aliso and WoodsCanyon Wilderness Park and many others. So it is no surprise thatTCAs proposed extension passes through more protected naturallands in Orange and San Diego Counties.

TCA touts that the 241 extension is the only way to improve traffic

congestion in south Orange County, especially in light of the additionalhomes expected in the region. The Agencies expect a 70% decrease inthe number of congested freeway segments once the extension isbuilt. Others disagree. In fact, there is growing sentiment that theeffort to relieve congestion should be focused to Fix the 5 First.

By way of background, the southern extension of the 241 TollRoad, which consists of a six-lane highway four miles of whichwould run the length of the State Beach, has significant environmentalimpacts, including:

Destroying 60% of San Onofre State Beach (the states 5thmost visited state park);

Substantial degradation of the world famous Trestles surf break; Bulldozing the 8,000 year old Panhe/Acjachemen Native

American village and cultural site; Increasing water pollution entering the natural waterways; and

Public Meeting on Toll Road Through San OnofreBy: Traci Sheehan

In August, the California Legislature passed SB 974 (Lowenthathe Clean Ports Investment Act. SB 974 is by far the most importameasure this year to improve air quality in California, particularlyaround our port communities. Supporters are pulling out all thestops to ensure it is signed by the Governor. SB 974 collects up to

$30 for each shipping container processed at Californias three largports and reinvests that money in infrastructure improvement projectand air quality mitigation measures.

Approximately 3,700 deaths in California each year are directlylinked to toxic emissions from goods movement, and the CaliforniaAir Resources Board estimates that over the next 14 years, the Statwill spend an additional $200 billion in health care costs directlyrelated to goods movement pollution. SB 974 will provide a steadyfunding stream that is expected to generate nearly $300 millionannually address this health crisis.

Eliminating the 161 campsites at SanMateo Campground.

The road impacts lands in the coastal zonend therefore required approval of the California

Coastal Commission. In February 2008, over,600 people attended the Commissions hearingn Del Mar on the proposed extension. Scores

of residents, surfers, environmentalists, families,Native Americans, campers, park enthusiastsnd others protested the approval of the road.

The Commission and staff did theirhomework and denied approval of thextension. Upset about the denial of its

project, TCA appealed the decision. Now, theSecretary of Commerce will hold a hearingo determine the fate of the proposed 241xtension and San Onofre State Beach.

Legislation to Clean Up Port Air Pollution Awaits the Governor's Signature

Show Your Supportfor San Onofre

Join thousands of coastal activistsand open space advocates to show yoursupport for San Onofre State Beach.

The Secretary of Commerce hearingwill be on Monday, September 22 in DelMar from 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM.

Learn more at: www.SaveSanOnofre.org

San Onofre Beach (above) and former State Parks SectorChief Dick Troy (left) on a public tour of the Park (below



Encompassing 422 square-miles(thats 270,000 acres!), Tejon Ranchis the largest contiguous privately-owned property in California, andsurely one of the most beautiful.Tejon, the Spanish word for badger,was first applied to the region whenLt. Francisco Ruiz and his soldiersdiscovered a badger at the mouth ofwhat is now known as Tejon Canyon in 1806. TheRancho el Tejon was established in 1843 through a

Mexican land grant. General Edward Fitzgerald Bealeand his family assembled Tejon Ranch between 1855and 1866 from four Mexican land grants-Rancho elTejon, Rancho la Liebre, Rancho los Alamos y Agua Caliente,and Rancho de Castac.

Biogeographers have divided California into tenmajor regions, each supporting a distinct flora and fauna(plants and animals), and four of these regions convergeon Tejon Ranch. Tejon Ranch straddles the TehachapiMountains, geographically the southern end of theSierra Nevada, which meets the Great Central Valley, theSouthwestern California region, and the Mojave Deserton Tejon Ranch. Each region brings its distinct biologicalelements, including oak woodlands, grasslands andwildflower fields, fir forests, pion-juniper woodlands,and Joshua tree woodlands, making Tejon Ranch oneof the great melting pots of biodiversity in California.

Tejon Ranch supports a myriad of conservationvalues prioritized by conservation practitioners. Theseinclude imperiled species, perhaps most notably theCalifornia condor, and some of the last remaining

habitat for threatened and endangeredspecies in the southern San JoaquinValley, such as the San Joaquin kit fox.Tejon Ranch anchors a large and relativeintact landscape that provides habitatconnectivity for wide-ranging species limountain lions, as well as natural ecosystefunctions such as watershed processes.Conservation of intact landscapes is

increasingly important in light of global climate changso that species distributions can shift with minimal

resistance. In fact, recent research shows that placeslike Tejon Ranch may provide refugia for some speciein a climate-altered future.

Tejon Ranch lies in a conspicuous gap in the protectlands network in this portion of California. It sitsbetween Sequoia National Forest in the southern SierNevada, Los Padres National Forest in the Sierra MadMountains, and The Wildlands Conservancys neighborinWind Wolves Preserve in the San Emigdio Mountainand it is the key puzzle piece to link these protectedareas as well as to maintaining connectivity betweenthe east and west sides of the Central Valley.

The recent Tejon Ranch conservation agreement,providing for the protection of as much as 240,000 ac

of the Ranch, is crucial step tocompleting thismajor link inCalifornias protecareas network.

Filling in the ConspicuousGap - Tejon RanchBy: Dr. Michael White, Conservation Biology Institute

CanStockPhoto.com

CanStockPhoto.com


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Across California, communities are being builtand redeveloped every day. These same communities havea direct impact on the health of local residents. These

direct impacts can contribute to chronic health problemssuch as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and asthma. Infact, every land use decision has some kind of humanimpact: a new factory may pollute the air and increase casesof asthma; conversely, locating housing near jobs andstores may increase the walkability and reduce trafficcongestion. Unfortunately, current land use development

and redevelopmentpractices rarely factorpublic health into thedecision making process.

Leaving it outcompromises thehealth of local residentsand the environment.

Increasingly, citiesare adding a CommunityHealth and Wellnesssection to general plans,incorporating healthmeasures into their land

use decisions, and improving communication betweenlocal public health officials and planning departments.Emphasizing this new element will engage residents

traditionally under-represented in the decision makingprocesses.

Many of the same changes that positively impacthuman health also help ease developments impact onclimate change, limit urban sprawl, and reduce encroachmeon natural lands, agricultural land and important habitaChanges in the built environment, or the physical featuof cities and towns, can encourage walking and biking,reduce emissions from vehicles, and limit exposure topollutants. Therefore, by using innovative planningprocesses, we have the potential to improve both the

health of Californians and the environment.The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) has

created a special program on this very subject to facilitacommunication across a variety of sectors, includingpublic health, land use, transportation, environmental justice, and the environmental movements. By collaboratwith diverse partners, PCL will promote the integrationof public health into planning processes statewide.

To learn more contact Ren Guerrero by email at:[email protected] by phone at 916-313-4508.

Public Health -- a New Element?By: Julia Van Soelen

On June 26th, the California Air Resources Board(CARB) released its Draft AB 32 Scoping Plan, detailinghow the state plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsto 1990 levels by 2020 in compliance with Californiaslandmark climate change legislation. CARB then conducted

public meetings across the state to gather input.Based on our initial review, the Draft Scoping Plan

is an important milestone in Californias fight againstglobal warming and, to a large degree, reflects theurgency of the situation. It includes a strong commitmentto expanding renewable power production, cleaning ourvehicles emissions, increasing energy efficiency,improving water management, and many other actionsto reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, this Draft Scoping Plan is definitely adraft, and more progress is needed before its ready for

adoption later this fall.Some public health benefits were included in the draft,

but more are needed. If these provisions are poorly implemented,

some could dampen progress toward improving ourair and water quality. Adequate safeguards need to beinstituted to protect public health and improve thewell-being of the states most polluted and economicaldisadvantaged communities.

In perhaps its greatest single deficiency, the draftfails to include meaningful measures to reformCalifornias land use policies. Instead, it only encouralocal governments to take action and offers variousrewards for good behavior. This pat on the backapproach to land use policy reform is unacceptable inlight of the intense pressure placed upon local governmentsby developers and industries to continue business asusual decision making. PCL is working to ensure thatthe final plan includes strong enforcement measures tso that California grows smarter in the years ahead.

A Final Scoping Plan will be released in October 2008. For more information contact Matt Vander Sluby email at [email protected] by phone at 916-313-45

Strong Step Forward, Global Warming Plan Still LackinBy: Matt Vander Sluis

CanStockPho



With the help of the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA), many individuals have been activelyengaged in shaping their community for a healthier andmore environmentally friendly landscape. Despite theobvious benefits that CEQA provides to Californians,

the environmental review process can often be confusingand leave people wondering, How does the processwork?

In order to address such questions, the PCLFoundation added a Q&A Forum to our CEQA Monthlyissues and our website. The forum will not only provideanswers to common questions about the environmentalreview process, but it will also provide a mechanism foryour CEQA questions. Submit your questions to JustinSaydell [email protected].

To start the forum off, here are some general Q&As:Question: What does CEQA do?Answer: CEQA allows public agencies to make

informed decisions about activities that could degradepublic health and damage the environment. It providesCalifornians with a framework to hold public agenciesaccountable for decisions that may substantially alter thequality of their lives.

Question: How can I getnotified about an upcomingCEQA decision?

Answer: Public notificationsmust be presented in a newspaper

or general circulation within thearea affected by the project, a postingon and off site in the immediatearea of the project or a directmailing to property owners nearthe project. Agencies must post a regular meetingagenda at least 72 hours in advance. CEQA alsorequires that agencies provide written notices directlyanyone requesting one on a particular project.

Question: Does CEQA address climate changeissues?

Answer: Senate Bill 97, signed by the Governor August 2007, requires the Office of Planning andResearch to prepare, develop and transmit guidelines feasible mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or itseffects. These guidelines must be adopted by theResources Agency on or before January 1, 2010. Theguidelines will provide direction on the analysis andmitigation of greenhouse gases in CEQA documents.

Youve Got CEQA Questions, Weve Got Answers!By: Justin Saydell

Just like the streams that flow down from the foothills,Bill Center has long been part of the local watershed. Ibackpacked extensively in the Sierra in my teens and earlytwenties. Becoming a river guide and getting involved in thefight to save the Stanislaus from being flooded by NewMelones Dam committed me to fighting for river protectionand ultimately pulled me into the broader political scene.

Broader seems an understatement for the Fort Bragg,California native. His infectious smile and determined attitudeare a force to be reckoned with. He was a founding BoardMember of Friends of the River and the Great ValleyCenter and was elected as an El Dorado County Supervisor

in 1991. Now, having to follow in thewake of past PCL Board PresidentJohn Van de Kamp, whom Bill replacedearlier this year, he looks forward to along and progressive tenure.

PCL is well positioned to pushCalifornia into being a real leader inland use and water use reform to reducethe enormous carbon footprint that we

have from our post World War II sprawl, he explains. It ishuge challenge, but we have the organizational infrastructurin place to affect how AB 32 (the Global Warming SolutioAct) is both implemented and built on. And it has to bedone.

Looking back at his success, Bill recalls, Im proudestthe protection we have secured for the South Fork of theAmerican River, which in the 70s had four dams plannedjust the reach between Chili Bar and Folsom Reservoir, anfive more upstream. In 1982 we achieved 20 year protectifor the Chili Bar reach through state legislation, and sincethen have made the South Fork a critical part of the econoand political fabric of the region so its long-term protectiis assured by more than laws - it has become a integral paof the community, and vice versa.

Bill and his wife Robin have lived and worked in theSierra foothills for over 30 years, running their campgrourafting trips and nature expeditions. PCL Board MembeLynn Sadler notes, More than anyone I know, Bill has tathe research and development provided by Mother Naturand successfully applied that to the business of his life.

Meet Bill Center, Our Board PresidentBy: Gerald Perez

Melanie Schlotte


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Like the Bristlecone Pine, PCL has an extensive history.

Help us continue to write history by including PCL in your estate plan.

To receive free information about how thoughtful estate planning can benefit you, you

family and the environment,please call Traci Sheehan at 916-313-4511 or contact her by

email at [email protected].

30% post-consumer waste; processedchlorine free and printed in soy ink

PERIODICAL

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PAID

SACRAMENT

CALIFORNIAPLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE

LANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

107 9TH STREET, SUITE 360 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

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

LeaveaLegacyforFutureGenerations

TELL US YOUR MEMORIES

The PCL History Project ha

begun. We are calling on friends

past and present Board members

colleagues, and admirers to subm

their accounts of PCLs recent a

long-past accomplishments. We

will accept photographs, stories

scribbled on napkins, verbal accou

- anything goes and will be added

the organizational legacy bank. PC

partnerships have always been th

keys to our success and our memo

is no different!

The first stage in this projecwill be unveiled at the 2009 PCL

Symposium. During the months

leading up to the Symposium on

February 7th, check our website

and your copy of Cal Today for

highlights of these stories.

To submit something please c

Charlotte Hodde at 916-313-4523.

Lets Discuss Californias SustainabilityBy: Melanie Schlotterbeck

On February 7, 2009, the Planningnd Conservation League (PCL) and

he PCL Foundation will host their

nnual Environmental Legislative

Symposium. The 2009 theme is Stepso a Sustainable California: Building

Momentum for Real Change.Discussing the sustainability of our

tate is a topic that deserves long

overdue attention. As climate change

grips the headlines nearly everyday -- our

ives and environment have the potential touffer serious consequences. We need

o make changes to our lives and our

tate to ensure a sustainable future.

This Symposium will offer 15

essions, including cutting edge policy

discussions, MCLE courses, and How

To workshops. From California

wildfires, to public health; water needs,

to global warming -- our sessions will

cover major environmental themes. As

always our How To... workshops will

help you organizationally; this year

youll learn how to tell your story,

engage the next generation and more!

Our keynotes include Secretary

A.G. Kawamura* (Department of Food

and Agriculture), former Assembly

member Fran Pavely,* and Jakadi Imani

(Ella Baker Center). Learn more at

www.PCL.org. * tentative

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