Conservation Action

Bob Schneider (February 2009)

I had a particularly busy week that touched on many of the landscape-scale conservation issues affecting our region—this place we call home. The Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter (MLC) and the Yolano Group are playing an important role in the success of these campaigns and it is a privilege working with the volunteers and staff of these groups. Their time commitment and hard work makes our home a better place.
By the time you read this, you will have received the March Mother Lode Chapter annual fund appeal letter. I know we are all anxious over the current economic crisis. But, please consider an increased donation this year.

Congress passes the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act: On March 25th Congress passed this bill and, as I write, it is expected that President will sign it on Monday (30th). This bill protects over 700,000 acres of Wilderness in California, helps to re-water the San Joaquin River for salmon, and makes permanent the National Landscape Conservation System on over 26 million acres of the most incredible of the Bureau of Land Management's lands.

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area: We were asked to do an informational presentation on the proposed NCA to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. This proposal now includes only public lands or those private lands that specifically opt-in. It is an incredibly rich biological region; and the south to north orientation and increasing elevation provides the opportunity to study and mitigate for climate change and for plants and animals to survive. With this NCA we could protect the biological diversity of the region and better manage the impacts of increasing recreational use. It would be a part of the National Landscape Conservation System and additional funding would be available for protection and management of the region. The Yolano Group and MLC are helping to fund a Spanish translation of the brochure for this project.

County Road 40—Cache Creek low water bridge: The low water bridge at the lower site of Yolo County Cache Creek Regional Park has been closed by Caltrans until emergency repairs are made. It is true that closure of the road would return a wilderness character to the area. But, this is an existing road that provides access to Yolo County public lands for thousands of rafters on Cache Creek, hikers on the Blue Ridge Trail, campers at Buck Island, and hunters. With education and outreach these people can become permanent stewards of our public lands.

Power lines: Perhaps you have read about the proposed new power line routes through the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area and along the base of the Blue Ridge, through the Capay Valley and up the east side of the Cortina Ridge. New lines are needed to transmit power from wind farms and geothermal energy near Lassen to population centers. But, there is no reason they need to permanently scar our important wild places. We argue that they should be located adjacent to the existing power line routes. It's just common sense. Clearly, if the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area was already established at this time it would help us to fight this proposal that will mar the western part of the county.

Stop Cortina Ridge Landfill: State Senator Pat Wiggins has introduced legislation (Senate Bill 730) that would require all California municipalities and counties to dump garbage only at landfills that have completed California Environmental Quality Act review. This would to stop efforts by some to circumvent our state environmental laws and regulations on landfill operations. We need to help Senator Wiggins pass this bill.

Conclusion: There is more—including work on the Delta Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load Plan but that is a longer story. There is lots going on and it is important to the future of our region. Please be generous and support conservation efforts of the Mother Lode Chapter and Yolano Group.
Bob can be reached at verve2006@comcast.net or 530-304-6215