Sierra Club
Redwood Chapter Newsletter
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Lake Group Report Juliana Vidich | |
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Clearwood Geothermal Project At the June 10th Board of Supervisors (BOS) Public Hearing on geothermal development, the Board responded to citizen input and voted to develop a draft "Resolution of Intent" to change the zoning regarding geothermal activities, based on a "Viewshed Overlay" proposed by leaders of a citizen's action group in Clearlake Oaks, where the proposed Clearwood Geothermal Project would be located. The Viewshed Overlay would include all land between Highway 29 and the Lake on the west and south sides and Highway 53 to the Lake on the east side. The north and northeast shores would include a combination of High Valley Road and a two-mile setback from Hwy 20 (whichever is further). The Lake Group believes that this would adequately protect the lakeshore and Konocti Hills including Mt. Konocti. It should prevent power plants, geothermal field development and geothermal exploratory/production wells from being developed in this zone. More recently, the BOS has been swayed by the Clearwood Geothermal Project developers and local geothermal lease holders who have threatened lawsuits against Lake County on the basis of "takings" of their geothermal lease rights. This has caused the BOS to hesitate to enact the Viewshed Overlay. Instead, they decided to take an official "tour around Clear Lake" on July 15th, to actually see what the Viewshed Overlay would encompass. For further updates on this issue, see the upcoming September issue of the Lake Group's newsletter, e-mail rtnc@sonic.net or call Holly Harris at 998-0135 or Juliana Vidich at 707-277-7670. What You Can Do: Contact the Lake County Supervisors to show your support for the Viewshed Zoning Ordinance, and express your concerns about geothermal wells close to Clear Lake. Address letters to: Lake County Board of Supervisors, 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453. Lake County Grading Ordinance Advisory Committee Update The Grading Advisory Committee has discussed the issue of stream setbacks but has not yet come to a decision due to the complexity of the issue. Some members of the committee are in favor of adopting a fixed 30 ft. setback, however, we think this would be inadequate. Compare 30 ft. to the Napa Stream Setback Ordinance #1221 with 150 ft. setbacks or to the Napa Forest and Water Protection Initiative's 325 ft. setbacks which has been endorsed by the Redwood Chapter. The Lake Group is currently gathering information from sources such as the California Forest Practice Rules, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), California Dept. of Fish & Game and Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) to present to the Grading Advisory Committee in order to support ecologically sustainable stream setbacks and plans to submit an "environmentalist" version of the grading ordinance to the committee similar to what was done in Mendocino County. Contact Juliana Vidich, 707-277-7670, for more information. |
Cache Creek Wild & Scenic River Campaign To date, designation of Cache Creek as federal Wild & Scenic (W&S) has not been included in any of the wilderness bills including the one introduced by Congressman Mike Thompson. A study of W & S qualification was included in Senator Boxer's 2002 state wide bill but it is not clear if it will be included in the soon-to-be-introduced 2003 bill. In the meantime we are seeking protection under State Wild and Scenic designation. We are working together with environmentalists in Yolo County to convince Assembly members Patty Berg and Lois Wolk, representing Lake and Yolo Counties, to introduce appropriate legislation. If you know either of the representatives, please put in a good word or write a note expressing your support for a Wild & Scenic Cache Creek. Further information can be obtained from the Lake Group Outings Leader, Steve Devoto, sdevoto@earthlink.net. 2004 Lake County Elections We have formed a political committee and have been seeking candidates for the Lake County Board of Supervisors. There will be three Supervisors up for re-election: District 1 (Ed Robey), District 4 (Anthony Farrington) and District 5 (Rob Brown). We intend to endorse people for all three of these seats. For more information, contact Steve DeVoto, sdevoto@earthlink.net. Herbicide Use in Lake County The Lake Group has been getting educated on the issue of herbicide use. Lake County is using more agricultural chemicals than ever before. Clear Lake itself struggles with aquatic weed issues which are dealt with primarily with herbicides. Our stream corridors have invasive plants, such as Arundo, which need to be contained. Star thistle continues to be a plague on the landscape. We plan to work for the reduction of chemical usage in Lake County, including using less fertilizers and weed sprays around our homes and eliminating county weed spraying programs where it is not essential. We must all strive to protect our most precious resources: clean air and clean water. For more information, contact Pete McGee, montesol@napanet.net. |