Sierra Club
Redwood Chapter Newsletter
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Sonoma Group Report Anne Hudgins | |
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Sonoma Group now has two new Executive Committee members, and two incumbents re-elected: Margaret Pennington is back again with us; Len Holt of our Water Committee has joined us; along with me and Veronica "Roni" Jacobi who will serve for another two years. A number of issues confront us this year, including the search for a new meeting space when our lease on the Environmental Center expires in April. We are actively working with Sonoma County Conservation Council on researching our options. Our annual Environmental Awards Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, March 4th, at the Veterans Hall in Sebastopol. This year's theme is "Education." Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the biggest bash of the year! The California Tiger Salamander Strategy Team has submitted their plan for protecting this endangered species and it has been accepted by the Fish and Wildlife Service. It is now in the hands of the Implementation Committee. The environmental representatives who have been working on this issue are watching carefully to ensure that the agreed-upon plan is followed. Our work goes on! Another plateau has been reached in our campaign to preserve our forests from conversion to vineyards and other development. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has sent the proposed ordinance back to staff to fine-tune the wording, then send it back to the Planning Commission, since so many changes have been made since the Commission last saw it. We have succeeded in getting the County to prevent conversion in Site Classes I and II, and are still |
lobbying to include Site Class III, which comprises 95% of our forest lands. We are also still requesting a 3:1 swap (save three acres for every one acre converted) instead of the 2:1 which the BOS approved. It goes back to the Board of Supervisors in early February. The public comment is closed, but we urge all Sierra Clubbers to write and/or phone the Supervisors to ask for Site Class III protection and a 3:1 swap. Our work is never done! Sonoma Group is planning to sign on to Climate Protection Campaign's target to reduce greenhouse gases to 25% below 1990 levels by 2015. We also support the "Climate of Man" study group. Our Conservation Committee is working hard on analyzing the county's General Plan update in preparation for making suggestions for specific criteria in the water element, riparian corridor building setbacks, crop planting, timber removal and other uses. We are organizing a Political Committee and have plans to meet with the Marin Group Political Committee to discuss candidates for the 7th Assembly District, which overlaps our groups and chapters. We will be having candidate interviews and attending candidate forums. We cannot rest on our laurels: our small victories with Forest Protection and the Strategy to save the Salamander are only a beginning. There is much work to be done in the year ahead. Happy New Year everyone! |