December 18, 2006
Dear CalUWild
supporters—
There is a lot to report
on this month. The 109th Congress has finished its work, with generally
favorable results. (See Item 6 for a quick wrap-up.) I was out of the country
for most of November, so there was no Update last month. Of course, by now everyone knows the
outcome of the election, and there's no need to repeat it all now. But the news
that Rep. Richard Pombo (R-11) lost his re-election bid, and consequently his
chairmanship of the House Resources Committee, came as especially welcome news
to many. San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi will be sworn in as Speaker on January 4.
She's never been a cosponsor of much of the legislation we've championed, but
she has been supportive of our concerns. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), another
supporter, will assume the chairmanship of the "Natural Resources" Committee,
its name reverting to the time before the Republican majority.
Rep. Pelosi's speakership
and the changeover in committee assignments, at the very least, will increase
the likelihood that the voices of the conservation community are heard on
Capitol Hill.
A word about dues:
Membership in CalUWild is free; our only membership requirement is that each
member write one letter a month on some wilderness or public lands issue.
However, we do rely on our members for financial support. Even though we run
CalUWild on a very tight budget where every penny counts, funding from outside
sources has never been abundant or sufficient.
We're making some changes
in the way dues are being handled. Rather than try to keep track of what month
members joined, from now on we're going to send out reminders in November each
year for the following year. In an effort to save funds, we're only sending out
written reminders and cards to people who have contributed in the past.
CalUWild does not send
out any direct mail solicitations, nor do we sell our members' names addresses
to other organizations for any reason.
General dues paid to CalUWild may be used to support lobbying activities and
are therefore not
tax-deductible. If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, it needs to
be made payable to Resource Renewal Institute. Please see Item 7 for a more detailed
discussion.
Many thanks to those who
have already so generously responded to our appeal. If you haven't sent in a
contribution, please consider doing so soon. We appreciate all the support we
receive.
All the best to you and
your families for the holiday season and in 2007!
Mike
IN UTAH
1. Washington County Bill
Goes Nowhere
2. Wilderness Week in
Washington, DC
March 17-21, 2007
Volunteers Needed
(ACTION
ITEM)
3. Announcing Utah
Backcountry Volunteers:
Service Projects on
Your Public Lands
IN CALIFORNIA
4. Truckee City Council Votes Down
Contract with Utah
Coal-Fired Plant
Thank You
Letters/Faxes Needed
(ACTION
ITEM)
5. Medicine Lake
Victory
IN GENERAL
6. Congressional Roundup
a. California
b. Nevada
c. New Mexico
d. Montana
e. Idaho
ADMINISTRATIVE
7. CalUWild
Annual Membership Appeal
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IN UTAH
1. Washington County Bill
Goes Nowhere
Much of CalUWild's legislative
energy in 2007 went into opposing the Washington County Growth and Conservation
Act, a bill that would have encouraged growth and the sale of public lands in
the southwest corner of Utah. The bill was introduced by Sen. Bob Bennett (R)
and Rep. Jim Matheson, both of Utah. The conservation community unanimously
opposed the proposal in both the Senate and House.
In November, a
subcommittee of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee held a
hearing on the bill, but they did not vote to send it to the full committee.
Sen. Bennett did not attach it to any other pending legislation, as had been
feared. Thus the bill died.
Sen. Bennett has said he
will re-introduce the bill in the 110th Congress. If he does, we will again
oppose it unless he makes major modifications to it. Whether he will remains to
be seen.
2. Wilderness Week in
Washington, DC
March 17-21, 2007
Volunteers Needed
(ACTION
ITEM)
Every year the Utah
Wilderness Coalition brings citizens to Washington, DC to meet with senators
and congressional representatives (or their staffs) to educate them about the
deep love that people have for the wildlands of Utah and the need to protect it
permanently through legislation, specifically America's Redrock Wilderness Act.
It's also a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to see government up close.
No special knowledge or
experience is necessary, except for a willingness to share your enthusiasm. A
full training session will be held on Sunday, March 18 to bring participants up
to date on issues and meeting strategies. UWC will cover airfare, but
participants are expected to cover their own lodging. (Information on lower
cost accommodations will be provided—or stay with a friend.)
Since our congressional
delegation is the largest, Californians always make up a large group at
Wilderness Week. And since it's a brand new Congress, we'll be visiting every
office. So if you're interested in being a part of this fun event, or for more
information, please send e-mail to info@caluwild.org
or give me a call at 415-752-3911.
We look forward to
hearing from you!
3. Announcing Utah Backcountry
Volunteers:
Service Projects on
Your Public Lands
CalUWild put most of its effort
into helping people effectively exercise their responsibilities as citizens in
the political and administrative arenas. But there are other efforts just as
worthy of your support. When we become aware of them, we also inform our
members of opportunities to work on the ground to protect and restore our
public lands.
This Summer a couple of
longtime Utah wilderness enthusiasts founded a new organization to work with
federal land management agencies setting up volunteer service trips in the
state. Last week Utah Backcountry Volunteers sent out the schedule for 2007.
Below is their announcement.
CalUWild is happy to work
with and support UBV in any way it can, and we encourage you to sign up for a
trip!
Utah Backcountry
Volunteers - Our Program
Utah Backcountry
Volunteers is Utah's newest nonprofit service organization. Our mission is to
partner with public land management agencies in Utah by leading volunteers on
work service trips. We partner with agencies such as the Bureau of Land
Management, National Forest Service, and National Park Service to identify
on-the-ground projects and needs, then actively recruit, organize, and lead
volunteers on service trips that restore, repair and maintain our public lands.
We are very excited to
announce the 2007 service trip schedule for our inaugural season in the field.
Reserve your place on a trip today to plan a week next year out enjoying Utah's
spectacular public lands, and contribute some muscle to keep it that way!
We limit trip size to
12: our director Dave Pacheco, an agency staffer, and 10 participants (you).
Work is with hand tools provided by agencies and is generally active and at
times strenuous. Being in good physical condition is important. All trips begin
at 8:00am Sunday morning with an orientation by our agency partner, then travel
to and make camp. We'll work 8 hour days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
with Wednesday as a free day, breaking down camp Saturday morning and heading
home. The participant fee for each trip is $175, which includes food for the
week. Travel to and from the worksite is your responsibility. Participants must
be at least 18 years old and have health insurance.
2007 Service Trip
Schedule
April 15-21, Price
BLM, San Rafael Swell, Sid's Mountain, Trail work
On our very first service trip,
you'll conduct a trail maintenance project on the "Boy Scout trail"
up the eastern side of Sid's Mountain, with one day of work on the loop trail
between Crack and Chute canyons. Work consists of remarking trail signs and
maintenance from the trailhead to the top. We'll car and tent camp at the
trailhead in a remote location. Area hike options: Sid's Mountain, San Rafael
River, San Rafael Reef, canyons of the San Rafael Swell.
April 29-May 5,
Glen Canyon NRA, Lower Escalante River, Russian olive removal work
You'll join backcountry ranger
Bill Wolverton, removing non-native Russian olive trees from the Escalante
River. This trip begins and ends as a strenuous 7 mile backpack across mostly
slickrock to and from the river to a camp near the mouth of Twenty-Five Mile
Wash. After cutting, the herbicide Garlon4 will be applied to the tree stump.
You will need goggles, work boots and leather gloves. This is a remote tent
camping opportunity in one of southern Utah's most spectacular redrock canyons.
Area hike options: Escalante River, Twenty-Five Mile Wash, Baker Canyon.
May 13-19, Grand
Staircase-Escalante NM, Upper Escalante River, Russian olive and tamarisk
removal work
In partnership with federal
public land agencies, state, and private landowners, you'll remove non-native
Russian olive trees from the Escalante River, and Russian olive and tamarisk
from North Creek. After cutting trees, the herbicide Garlon4 will be applied to
the stump. All personal protective equipment is provided by GSENM, except work
boots. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, located 1.5 miles from the town
of Escalante, is providing car and tent camping sites complete with vault
toilets and showers. Area hike options are numerous: The Box Death Hollow, Calf
Creek, and the Escalante River.
June 10-16, Manti-LaSal
NF, Ferron, 12 Mile Canyon Twin Lakes, ORV damage control work
You'll conduct ORV damage control
in the 12 Mile Canyon area around Twin Lakes in the Manti-LaSal NF, Ferron
Ranger District. Access to the worksite is from the Sanpete county town of Mayfield,
on the west side of the Manti Mountains. The project addresses ORV damage by
erecting log & block and other fencing, as well as rehabilitation and
reclamation. Area hike options: Mary's Nipple, many forest & stream hikes.
June 24-30,
Manti-LaSal NF, Moab/Monticello, Trail work and campsite inventory
You'll trail maintenance and
campsite inventory in the Dark Canyon Wilderness. The project will clear down
trees blocking the trail, install water bars, and marking where appropriate.
The campsite inventory will provide baseline data to rangers to help manage the
Wilderness more effectively. Area hike options: Dark Canyon Wilderness, Beef
Basin, Abajo Mountains.
September 9-15,
Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Paria River ORV damage control work
You'll conduct ORV damage control
in the upper Paria River tributaries. The worksite is south of the town of
Cannonville where you'll rehabilitate intrusions, place natural barricades and
bollards, and install signage. We'll backpack into the worksite a short distance
and set up camp nearby. Area hike options are numerous: Paria River, Kodachrome Basin State
Park, Bull Valley Gorge.
September 23-29,
Monticello BLM, Beef Basin, Archaeological site protection work
You'll join BLM archaeologists
& rangers from the Kane Gulch Ranger Station in their continuing efforts to
protect the invaluable resources of the Cedar Mesa/Grand Gulch complex in
southeastern Utah. Work consists of erecting fencing to protect middens,
defining foot paths around ruins, and general trail work. We'll car camp in a
remote location, just south of Canyonlands NP and hike to worksites daily. Area
hike options: Beef Basin, Dark Canyon Wilderness and Primitive Areas, Abajo
Mountains.
October 14-20,
Capitol Reef NP, Trail and non-native vegetation removal work
You'll conduct a variety of work
projects around the park backcountry ranging from maintenance and marking of
foot trails to removal of non-native plants, shrubs & trees mostly along
waterways. Car and tent camp at a group camp site with running water and
toilets in the central zone of the park with daily ventures to our worksites in
the north and south. Capitol Reef is loaded with area hike options, mostly
along the slickrock domes and sinuous canyons of its namesake.
Make Your
Reservation Today
Because we're not
sophisticated enough yet to receive credit card payment, reservations will be
held upon payment of participant fee with check or money order to Utah
Backcountry Volunteers, PO Box 526197, Salt Lake City, UT 84152. You will
receive immediate confirmation by email, and by letter confirming your
reservation, with more details. Portions of your trip and fee are tax
deductible. For more information about trips or reservations call (435)
785-8955 or email dave@utahbackcountry.org.
Membership
Can't make a trip this
year, but still want to help out?
Utah Backcountry Volunteers is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization. Membership is $30 for one year, please be as generous as you can.
Member benefits include a discounted participant fee of $145 for any trip.
Membership donations are tax deductible, should be mailed to the above and
below noted PO Box, and are greatly appreciated.
Email List
Please forward this
message to your friends who you think would be interested in our mission.
Service trips are a great chance to get friends together for some quality away
time. The organization is still an infant and we encourage you to spread this
message far and wide. If you receive this message and wish to join our list,
inform dave@utahbackcountry.org.
Thanks!
Dave Pacheco
Utah Backcountry Volunteers
PO Box 526197
Salt Lake City, UT 84152-6197
(435) 785-8955 voice
(435) 785-8956 fax
dave@utahbackcountry.org
IN CALIFORNIA
4. Truckee City Council Votes Down
Contract with Utah
Coal-Fired Plant
Thank You
Letters/Faxes Needed
(ACTION
ITEM)
As we all know, actions
taken in one state can affect another. Last week, the Board of the Truckee, CA
Public Utilities District voted down a proposal Truckee, CA to buy coal-fired
power from a plant in Delta Utah. Letters saying "thank you" are needed.
One of the least known
areas of Utah is its West Desert, not redrock canyons but Great Basin
topography. It's an area just as wild however, and no less beautiful and
important. Much of it is included in America's Redrock Wilderness Act, the
comprehensive wilderness bill for Utah.
If you have traveled
through Delta on U.S. 50 & 6, you no doubt have noticed a brown layer in
the air coming from the smokestacks of the power plant north of town. Plans
have been proposed to expand it, and Truckee was one of the cities looked to
help secure funding. The following information comes from the Sierra Club's
office in Salt Lake City.
The Truckee, CA Public
Utility District Board was being asked to approve a 50-yr contract with
Intermountain Power (IPP) in Delta, UT to purchase electricity from its
proposed 900-megawatt dirty coal-fired power plant. This action would have
further enabled IPP to secure the financing needed to build this $2.1 billion
dollar west desert dinosaur and would also send hundreds of thousands of tons
of more nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, and mercury into Utah's air for
another 50+ years, not to mention nearly 8 million tons of CO2 annually. When
added to IPP's current CO2 emissions, this would make it the nation's 2nd
largest CO2 emitting coal plant in the nation. In essence, Truckee would get
the power and Utahns would get even more crud.
A few more details:
-- The plant would
continue to spew hundreds of thousands of tons of pollutants into Utah's skies,
and directly downwind towards approximately 1.5 million people along the
Wasatch Front. The Front already suffers from terrible wintertime inversions
and very dirty air. It needs help in cleaning it up, not making it dirtier.
-- Global warming is a
major issue. Truckee should be looking at ways to decrease its carbon
footprint, NOT INCREASE IT. At 15 million tons of CO2 annually, IPP is already
the nation's 24th largest CO2 emitting coal plant in the nation. If a third
unit is built, that will increase to 22 million tons, making it the nation's
second largest emitter.
-- Other California
cities are trying to respect the spirit of California's new greenhouse gas
restriction laws by not buying into new contracts with IPP. Truckee should
follow suit.
Write, call, or fax a
letter to:
Truckee Donner
P.U.D.
P.O. Box 309
Truckee, CA 96160
530-587-3896
(phone)
530-587-5056 (fax)
5. Medicine Lake Victory
Over the years we've reported on
efforts to preserve Medicine Lake, a spot sacred to Native American tribes near
Mt. Shasta, from energy development.
In November, the 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that federal agencies did not
adequately consider the environmental consequences of their decision to extend
the leases of Calpine, an alternative energy company that had sought for many
years to build a geothermal plant at Medicine Lake. The Pit River Tribe filed
suit in 2002, and Calpine filed for bankruptcy in 2006.
IN GENERAL
6. Congressional Roundup
Despite the generally unfavorable
conditions existing in Congress and Washington, DC, wilderness issues did not
fare too poorly in the last Congress. There has been quite a bit of controversy
over the types of bills that wilderness designations have been included in. Few
bills have only dealt with wilderness designations, and many bills have
contained provisions that some conservationists have objected to. It's been
impossible to reach consensus on just about any of them. Politics is never
easy!
a. California
The big news was the
passage and signing into law in October of the North Coast Wild Heritage Act.
Congress adjourned without considering the two other bills for California that
had been introduced: Rep. Buck McKeon's (R-25) Eastern Sierra wilderness bill
(H.R. 5149) and Rep. Mary Bono's (R-45) H.R. 6270, which would designate areas
in the southern desert.
b. Nevada
In the closing hours of
the 109th Congress, the White Pine Conservation, Recreation, and Development
Act of 2006 passed the Senate and House and was signed by the president. At the
last minute, some additional acreage was included, mainly for Mt. Grafton and
the South Egan Range. Thus more than the original 545,000 acres was designated,
in 13 new Wilderness areas. Other objectionable provisions, including funding
for a sewage pipe into Lake Mead, were removed. Some conservation groups are unhappy with language regarding
the sale of public lands for development.
c. New Mexico
Last week the president
signed the Valle Vidal Protection Act, protecting one of the most important
wildlife habitats in New Mexico by making it off limits to energy exploration.
In the end, the bill was supported by the entire New Mexico delegation,
although Sen. Pete Domenici's (R) support only came when it was clear that the
bill's passage was pretty much inevitable. Valle Vidal is home to the largest
elk herd in the state and is adjacent to the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, visited
by numerous scouts every year. Valle Vidal was donated to the Forest Service by
Pennzoil to be protected for its outstanding natural values.
d. Montana
The final tax package
signed by the president also included provisions removing the Rocky Mountain
Front from energy exploration. The Front is a 100-mile stretch where the
mountains meet the Great Plains and is home to an amazing variety of wildlife.
Gloria Flora, the former Forest Supervisor had closed the area previously, but
the Bush administration reversed her decision. The legislation overturns that
decision.
e. Idaho
Neither the Boulder-White
Clouds bill (CIEDRA—Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation
Act) nor the Owyhee Initiative bill made it through Congress this time around.
Both bills contain extremely controversial language that numerous conservation
groups (including CalUWild) oppose. CIEDRA would give away lands in the
Sawtooth National Recreation Area to local towns for development as well as allow
objectionable activities in designated wilderness areas. The Owyhee bill
provides for oversight of public lands by an unaccountable committee, among
other things. Both bills set bad precedents for future legislation. We hope
that many of these provisions will be improved before they are reintroduced.
ADMINISTRATIVE
7. CalUWild
Annual Membership Appeal
I was fortunate enough to
spend much of November traveling in Southeast Asia with friends, visiting Hong
Kong, Thailand, and Cambodia. Although there are many wonderful things to see
there, it struck me how little undeveloped land exists any more in those
countries. How fortunate we in Western United States are to still have vast
expanses of landscape where a person can go and not see another soul for days!
Another major difference is that in the U.S. it is possible for an ordinary
citizen to have an impact on government, despite the widespread cynicism of
many in this country.
That's why Californians
for Western Wilderness is still going strong after nine years. We have found a
niche in which we can both be effective advocates for wildlands and educate our members and the public about
citizenship. We've become an effective and respected voice in the conservation
community.
In 2006 we continued to
expand the scope of our activities. We joined three other organizations as
plaintiffs in our first lawsuit, against the Forest Service over its lack of
proper planning for horsepacking operations in the John Muir and Ansel Adams
Wildernesses in the Sierra. We continued to upgrade our technology with the
purchase of a digital projector for slideshows. We are working with San
Francisco State University to develop an internship program. Finally, we are
helping to plan a wilderness conference at SFSU next Spring.
As ever, the Monthly Update continues to provide current news and action
items for our members and the public, going out to over 715 people.
Unfortunately,
fundraising continues to be difficult. Two grants we counted on did not come
through this year, and consequently we've had to cut back on our slideshow
scheduling. We continue to explore new avenues for funding, but they have not
begun to pay off. However, we're not giving up; CalUWild's work is too
important, and we're looking forward to 2007.
To support our efforts,
please print and fill out the coupon below and mail it with your contribution
to:
CalUWild
P.O. Box 210474
San Francisco,
CA 94121-0474
Again: We will not share any member information with anyone for any reason.
Thanks!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mr./Ms.:
First Name:
Last Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Congressional Representative:
PLEASE NOTE:
Dues payable to CalUWild support lobbying efforts and are not tax deductible.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, make check payable to Resource
Renewal Institute.
__ $15 Student
__ $25 Regular
__ $50 Supporting
__ $100 Outstanding
__ Other ________
Mail to: CalUWild –
P.O. Box 210474 – San Francisco, CA
94121-0474