45 Years of Environmental News
Arcata, California
Vol. 46, No. 3
Jun/Jul 2016
Freeing the Klamath A new agreement provides hope for dam removal by 2020 National Parks Centennial Celebration
Adopt-A-Block | Coastal Commission Updates | McClure Ethics Scrutiny | Will the ESA Go Extinct?
News From the Center Larry Glass NEC Board President
Standing Up for Public Lands
After the occupation and showdown at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon by a band of extremist right wing outlaws earlier this year, it’s become even more clear that our precious public lands are only as protected and cared for as we demand them to be. Federal public lands designations began in the late 1780s and progressed through several Acts of Congress during the 1800s, but the modern concept of public lands conservation began with the passage of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891. This Act allowed the president to establish forest reserves to help conserve the forests and watersheds of the West. In 1964, the National Wilderness Preservation System was established by the Wilderness Act. These places need our continued protection, and the way to do this is to be involved in processes that determine how public lands are managed. This entails everything from commenting on management plans to pushing back on timber sales, from hiking and heightening awareness with our friends and colleagues, to
1385 8th Street - Suite 226, Arcata, CA 95521 PO Box 4259, Arcata, CA 95518 707- 822-6918, Fax 707-822-6980 www.yournec.org EcoNews is the official bi-monthly publication of the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC), a non-profit organization. Third class postage paid in Arcata. ISSN No. 0885-7237. EcoNews is mailed to our members and distributed free throughout the Northern California and Southern Oregon bioregion. The subscription rate is $35 per year.
The ideas and views expressed in EcoNews are not necessarily those of the NEC.
praising federal agencies for their good work and criticizing them when they’re on the wrong track. Here at the Northcoast Environmental Center we know that proactive involvement in protection of these special places requires restoration of the whole ecosystems. That’s why the NEC is represented on the Trinity Collaborative, a Trinity Board of Supervisors sanctioned group that formed to engage directly with the Federal land managers to come up with smarter management of these lands that make up many hundreds of thousands of acres in Six Rivers and Trinity National Forests. We are also part of the Northwest California Mountains and Rivers Group, a large and diverse coalition from our bioregion—Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Del Norte Counties—that has been working together to identify better management endeavors for our public lands and create potential legislation that our congressman Jared Huffman could introduce in D.C. to promote collaboration right here at home.
We’re proposing a large restoration area in the South Fork Trinity and Mad River watersheds. The focus of this restoration area is managing with and for fire. Creating a network of roadside shaded fuel breaks, long overdue thinning of the thousands of acres of unmanaged plantations (from the failed even-aged management clearcuts of the past), and repairing or putting to bed thousands of miles of roads would be part of this restoration. Cleaning up the backlog of trespass marijuana grow activities, expanding and supporting recreational opportunities, and—of course— protecting the last of the areas suitable for Wilderness and Wild & Scenic River designation that for political reasons were dropped from the previous Wilderness bills would also be included. The NEC is working to strengthen and expand this coalition. This is
Editor/Layout: Morgan Corviday morgan@yournec.org
NEC Board Of Directors
EcoNews Intern: Rebekah Staub Advertising: ads@yournec.org Proofreaders: Karen Schatz, Midge Brown, Kris Diamond. Authors: Larry Glass, Dan Sealy, Jennifer Kalt, Sarah Marnick, Delia Bense-Kang, Margaret Gainer, Tom Wheeler, Felice Pace, Madison Peters, Rebekah Staub, Sydney Stewart, Konrad Fisher. Cover Photo: The mouth of the Klamath River. Photo: Sam Camp.
NEC Staff
EcoNews Editor, Web Director: Morgan Corviday, morgan@yournec.org Office Manager: Sydney Stewart, sydney@yournec.org MPA Outreach Coordinator: Delia Bense-Kang, delia@yournec.org Coastal Cleanup Coordinator: Madison Peters, madison@yournec.org Office Associate: Anne Maher, anne@yournec.org
President - Larry Glass, Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment, larryglass71@gmail.com Vice-President - Dan Sealy, At-Large, rangerdans@msn.com Secretary - Jennifer Kalt, Humboldt Baykeeper, jkalt@humboldtbaykeeper.org Treasurer - Chris Jenican Beresford, AtLarge, thegang7@pacbell.net Gary Falxa, Calfornia Native Plant Society, gfalxa@suddenlink.net CJ Ralph, Redwood Region Audubon Society, cjralph@humboldt1.com Richard Kreis, Sierra Club, North Group. rgkreis@gmail.com Alicia Hamann, Friends of the Eel River, alicia@eelriver.org Tom Wheeler, Environmental Protection Information Center, tom@wildcalifornia.org Bob Morris, Trinity County Representative, At-Large, bob.morris@wildblue.net
Humboldt Baykeeper
Fiscally sponsored by the NEC Director: Jennifer Kalt, jkalt@humboldtbaykeeper.org Bay Tours Coordinator: Jasmin Segura, jasmin@humboldtbaykeeper.org
critical for Congressman Huffman to introduce legislation in Congress; he will need to show that his constituents want him to protect our surrounding public lands. Please help us in this exciting endeavor by checking out the website www. mountainsandriver.org/get-involved. Let our congressman know you want to support this effort. Contact him online at www.huffman.house.gov/ contact/email-me or call 415-258-9657.
NEC Member Groups Humboldt Baykeeper
www.humboldtbaykeeper.org 707-825-1020
Sierra Club,North Group, Redwood Chapter www.redwood.sierraclub.org/north/
California Native Plant Society North Coast Chapter www.northcoastcnps.org
Redwood Region Audubon Society www.rras.org, rras@rras.org
Friends of the Eel River www.eelriver.org, foer@eelriver.org 707-822-3342
Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment (SAFE) www.safealt.org
Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC)
www.wildcalifornia.org, epic@wildcalifornia.org 707-822-7711
NEC Affiliate Members Friends of Del Norte www.fodn.org
Mattole Restoration Council
www.mattole.org, mrc@mattole.org (707) 629-3514
Zero Waste Humboldt
www.zerowastehumboldt.org contact@zerowastehumboldt.org
Mailbox
Letters to the Editor To The Editor: Two politically sensitive articles in the Apr/May issue pulled their punches and were disturbingly shallow. Your report on the murder of Berta Cáceres neglected to mention that President Obama, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Clintons’ longtime political fixer, Lanny Davis, conspired to back the 2009 coup that overthrew Honduran President Zelaya. Berta Cáceres had repeatedly held Hillary Clinton responsible for legitimating the coup, and the United States-backed regime has since turned Honduras into the murder capital of the world. Berta Cáceres is one of its many, many victims. Then your article on the political purge of Dr. Charles Lester, Executive Director of the Coastal Commission, glaringly failed to report that North Coast Commissioner Martha McClure, a Governor Brown appointee, not only voted to fire Lester but made the motion to do the dirty deed behind closed doors. The entire episode was Stalinesque, and Martha McClure is grey, not green. I sure hope EcoNews’ failure to name the bad guys and gals was a momentary lapse. You haven’t become greenwash for the Democratic Party, have you? If so, Shame! If not so, I expect you to publish this short corrective to two inadequately reported events of significance. In the spirit of Judi Bari, Joe Barnwell, Crescent City, CA Editor’s note: This edition of EcoNews includes updates on both topics. For more on alleged ethical violations by Coastal Commissioner and Del Norte County Supervisor Martha McClure, see page 8. For more on the continuing death toll in Honduras, the military coup that created this tragic ongoing violence, and the role of the U.S. government, including Hillary Clinton, see page 12. For timely news, action alerts, and event announcements that arise between EcoNews issues, please sign up on our email list, like us on Facebook, and/or check our website.
Hello, I have been going to almost all the board meetings for the RCEA and Humboldt’s new energy plan. [“Renewable Energy Options”, Apr/May issue]. Some things I have found: this is a plan that will create worse air quality for the people of Humboldt than what we currently have, it is a more expensive option than other renewables, and it funnels money that could invest in the future, to rebuilding and paying off old debts. The current option of The Energy Authority (TEA) is a Florida based company mainly structured in China. The other options were a local company from Sonoma, and an option that would...[break it up into a] bunch of local options. Also, biomass pollutes more than coal per kilowatt of energy produced. This “renewable” plan will make our air quality worse, and put more toxins into the air than having three coal plants in Humboldt. Biomass is also the more expensive option. Wind and wave [energy] are much cheaper, solar is a little more expensive but pays off over time. The biomass option is more expensive for the public of Humboldt. When asked why they are focusing on biomass and not other options, Jean Lynch told me that the plants owe the city and county money, so this is a way to get tax payers to pay back debts from these industries. If you look at the projections, the only thing really increased by this plan is the county’s biomass production. While I see the benefits of local energy, we could do so much better. This [plan] directly prevents us from developing the future of clean energy. Sincerely, Damon Owen Editor’s Note: Biomass energy production is not without its own potential environmental impacts, and is not an energy solution on its own. The piece was based primarily on a recent presentation by RCEA and an interview with Director Matthew Marshall. We will continue to follow this issue and report on updates to this proposal.
Write a Letter to the Editor! Letters should be 300 words or less, be relevant to EcoNews readers and material covered in EcoNews, and must include the writer’s address and phone number. Letters may be edited and shortened for space. The NEC reserves the right to reject any submitted material for any reason (e.g., size, content, writing style, etc.).
Send letters to editor@yournec.org.
Catch the NEC’s EcoNews Report
Every Thursday, 1:30pm on KHSU - 90.5FM Tune in for a half hour of environmental interviews and discussion on a variety of topics on the EcoNews Report! Featuring rotating cast of NEC and Member Group representatives. Past shows are archived on our website for download or streaming
www.yournec.org/econews-report EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
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New Klamath Agreement Signed National Parks Centennial Will Endangered Species Act Go Extinct? Coastal Commissioner Ethics Scrutiny County Parks Face Financial Crisis Coastal Commission Hearings Update New Adopt-A-Block Program Adopt a Beach Today! Kin to the Earth: Kimberly Baker Fighting Dams in Honduras is Deadly Eye on Washington Zero Waste Humboldt Humboldt Baykeeper EPIC Sierra Club, North Group California Native Plant Society Creature Feature: Euchalon Kids’ Page: Ringtail Cats
A gentleman in the truest sense, Carl Chatfield, a longtime Arcata community m e m b e r , jour ne yed into the Great Unknown on May 6, 2016. He was a staunch supporter of the NEC and the Earth on which he lived and loved. Peace be with you, Carl and with your beloved family. Many thanks to all who helped organize, donated prizes, made pledges, and participated in our Second Annual Tim McKay Birdathon! Several teams participated, including the Bicoastal Waders (Ken Burton, Gary Falxa and Dan Sealy), the Wandering Talliers (Laurie Lawrence, Bill Rodstrom, Cédric Duhalde and Gary Frederichsen), and Rob Fowler (Green Little Big Day). Birdathon pledges and donations were split equally between the NEC and Redwood Region Audubon. And thanks to Rebekah Staub, EcoNews intern for the Spring 2016 semester. Congratulations on your graduation from HSU!
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Invest in the Future The Northcoast Environmental Center has been at the forefront of dam removal and other important issues since the 1970s. While a new framework for removing four dams has been agreed to by tribes, the dam operators, and the states of California and Oregon, much work still needs to be done to support a healthy river system.
special places through advocacy, education and promotion. We also know how to roll up our sleeves (and pant-legs) to keep our beaches clean through the NEC’s AdoptA-Beach and Coastal Cleanup programs. This past Coastal Cleanup Day was a huge success with over 60 sites cleaned of over four tons of trash. These efforts would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters.
All that we have accomplished through the years would not have been possible without your support and we thank you immensely for being right there with us. We are proud to work with so many committed individuals, businesses, and organizations here on the North Coast and beyond.
Activating North Coast Communities
Safeguarding Watersheds — Promoting Healthy Communities
Now that the Water Board regulations and state laws are in place, the Emerald Counties have put forward ordinances in an attempt to regulate medical cannabis. Much work remains to be done by the environmental community to push for strict new enforcement of these regulations. Without sufficient enforcement, the black market will continue to thrive and have consequences. With your help, the NEC will continue to work toward closing loopholes in the ordinances.
Restoring Forest Ecosystems and Building Fire Resiliency The NEC, its board members, and member organizations are working with communities, tribes, and our congressional representative to earn support for new federal legislation that would begin to restore more than 700,000 acres in the South Fork Trinity/Mad River Special Restoration Area in the ShastaTrinity and Six Rivers National Forests. The legislation could add approximately 300,000 acres of recognized Wilderness and add over 400 miles of waterways to the Wild & Scenic rivers program.
Taking Action for Healthy Oceans and Trash-free Seas The North Coast network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) help serve as an ocean “savings account” for the future and completes the California network of MPAs. The NEC is dedicated to supporting these
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Nothing is more important to promoting change in our world than an informed and engaged populace. This paper in your hand, EcoNews, continues to report about important bioregional environmental news. In an age of digital media, our print edition remains very popular with NEC members and community members. Two weekly radio shows offer informative content on the airwaves and streaming online every week, bringing listeners timely environmental news: the EcoNews Report on KHSU and Coastal Currents on KHUM.
Supporting NEC member organizations The NEC supports our region’s hardworking conservation groups. We are proud to work with our ten member and affiliate member groups who are at the forefront of environmental education, celebration and action! We are also proud to act as Humboldt Baykeeper’s fiscal sponsor so it can continue to safeguard Humboldt Bay through citizen-science, advocacy, education, and enforcement of laws to fight pollution.
Become a Member, Donate or join our Monthly Giving Program
Providing Opportunities for the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders As part of our longstanding partnership with Humboldt State University, the NEC takes pride in being able to provide opportunities for students through both internships and workstudy positions. These young people are our Please consider making a donation toward all we do! It’s easy, visit www.yournec. org/donate, give us a call or stop by the office. We'll even send you a self-addressed envelope in which to mail a check!
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For more information, call the NEC 707-822-6918 or email nec@yournec.org www.yournec.org/donate Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
REvised Klamath Agreement signed!
New Agreement Bypasses Congress for Dam Removal by 2020 Konrad Fisher Director, Klamath Riverkeeper The largest dam removal project in history is closer than ever. On April 6, state, federal and Native American tribal representatives joined dam owner PacifiCorp, water users, and conservation organizations to sign an agreement that seeks to remove four Klamath River dams by 2020 and resolve longstanding water disputes. “This agreement is the result of more than a decade of protests, litigation, and lengthy settlement negotiations between diverse stakeholders,” said Leaf Hillman, director of the Karuk Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources. “It represents the greatest salmon restoration action in U.S. history.” The agreement is an amended version of the 2010 Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) signed in 2010 by many of the same stakeholders. Unlike the 2010 version, the revised KHSA would result in dam removal without an act of Congress using existing legal authorities of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC). These are the same legal authorities that have allowed dams to be removed elsewhere in the country including PacifiCorp’s Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in Washington State. According to the revised KHSA, parties agree to the creation of a new dam removal entity “on or around July 1, 2016” which will accept the dam operation license and title for the dams from PacifiCorp. The new entity will be responsible for pursuing an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to “surrender” and remove the dams with a 2020 target date. “This historic agreement will enable Oregon and California and the interested parties to get these four dams finally removed and the Klamath River restored to its pristine beauty,” said Governor Brown, during the signing ceremony. Another key provision of the amended KHSA commits Oregon, California, Federal Parties, and other entities to concurrently enter into a separate agreement—the 2016 Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement (KPFA). This agreement will help Klamath Basin irrigators avoid regulatory impacts, to the extent possible, associated with the return of fish runs to the Upper Klamath Basin after dam removal. The KPFA also commits parties to continue to work toward a permanent solution to water conflicts left unresolved by the amended KHSA.
EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
Impacts of Dam Removal
of the highest concentrations of toxic algae ever recorded. During recent summers, algae released from the dams has posed a public health risk along the entire lower Klamath River to the ocean. Some landowners on these reservoirs are concerned that their property values will decrease when the reservoirs are gone. Indeed, some waterfront homes will cease to be waterfront homes. Economic analyses have not determined the net impact of dam removal on property values. Other reservoir property owners support dam removal. “I would much prefer a clean, healthy river full of fish to toxic green reservoirs,” said Tom Fogarty who owns a home and property on Copco Reservoir immediately above one of the four dams slated for removal. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and cannot wait for salmon populations to recover.” Water quality in the river below the dams will be impaired with high concentrations of sediments for two to three months following dam removal. However, water quality will improve in the long run due to the elimination of reservoirs that generate toxic algae. Dam removal will also minimize electricity rates because removing the dams is less expensive than bringing them into compliance with current laws requiring fish passage and water quality improvements. Continued on page 7
The benefits and drawbacks of Klamath River dam removal are documented in countless peer-reviewed studies. It will restore the Klamath River fishery by reopening 420 miles of historic fish habitat and improving water quality. The production of Chinook salmon will increase by an estimated 81 percent. Restored fisheries will Klamath Basin tribal members protest during Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway improve access to healthy shareholders meeting in Omaha Nebraska, 2008. Photo: Klamath Riverkeeper. traditional food sources for Klamath Basin tribal members. Lost access to these foods is linked to health problems among tribal members including heart disease, diabetes, and chronic hunger. Dam removal itself will create more than 1,000 temporary jobs. Improved fisheries and water quality will create countless permanent jobs in the tourism and sport fishing industries. The commercial fishing industry will benefit on more than 700 miles of California and Oregon coastline where Klamath River salmon migrate. Dam removal will eliminate stagnant reservoirs on the Klamath River that generate some www.yournec.org
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Celebrating our National Parks engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs Dan Sealy The National Park Service, the people’s parks, are celebrating their centennial this year. Centennials do not, typically, result in monumental change, but marking 100 years can be a time of reflection and celebration. When Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872, there was no organization or agency to run the park, so it became a stepchild of the US Army. Lincoln, in the midst of the carnage of the Civil War found time to answer public cries to save Yosemite Valley by granting it to the state of California in 1864. This would later become the heart of Yosemite National Park. Public support for parks spurred legislation to clarify the central purpose of the growing number of parklands and historic sites the government had set aside. In 1916, as Woodrow Wilson labored to keep the US out of the expanding war in Europe that lead to WWI, he put pen to paper to create a new agency, the National Park Service (NPS). Legislation is rarely considered to be inspirational, but the 1916 Act, frequently referred to as the “National Park Service Organic Act” stated clearly that the NPS was to “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner…as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” The Organic Act not only established the philosophy behind a system of natural and historic places but also inspired other nations to preserve their heritage as well. Currently the NPS cares for over 400 sites covering over 84 million acres and was visited by over 300 million people last year. These places protect important ecosystems and landscapes and tell the stories—both good and bad—of a nation and its peoples. Many people think mostly of the natural beauty of our parks, but they also help tell the story of the Civil War and of Civil Rights. The NPS protects places as diverse as The Grand Canyon and the Everglades to the Statue of Liberty and Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was shot. In California alone the NPS cares for 27 places or “units” ranging from the iconic Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks to the disgrace symbolized by Manzanar National Historic Site, the WWII Japanese internment camp. In 2015, NPS sites in California were visited by over 38,300,000 visitors and brought $1,774,400,000 in economic benefit to the state. Parks are challenged by the ever-increasing number of visitors and encroaching communities. Parks alone cannot always provide adequate habitat to our threatened plants and animals. Other agencies
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and private landowners have an important role to play. Nor can tax dollars alone maintain the historic structures, campgrounds, trails and other recreational facilities. Everyone must help. Volunteers love the National Parks in California so much they donated 1,234,222 hours to help provide services to the parks and visitors. The National Park Service is a place where generations of conservationists and historians have dedicated their lives and careers. Stephen Prokop, the current Superintendent of Redwood National Park, was inspired to become a public servant by the work of his grandfather and mother, a high school teacher. Jim Milestone, the current superintendent of Whiskeytown
National Recreation Area (east of Weaverville), spent the summer of his freshman year in college working at the Visitor Center in Yosemite and was drawn to work as a ranger as a result. Their recommendations for people who want to join the ranks of the National Park Service:
"Get involved," suggests Prokop. "Participate in park programs and educational events. Have face time with park employees." "Persevere!" says Milestone. "The rewards are worth it... (employees) have passion for their work, are creative and imaginative. Think big!"
Continued on next page Lady Bird Johnson Grove dedication, 1969 including then-governor of California and future President Ronald Reagan (2nd from L ), Lady Bird Johnson (4th from L ), then-President Richard Nixon (behind speaker), Pat Nixon (next to R. Nixon), President Lyndon Johnson (to R of Pat Nixon) and various Nixon and Johnson children. Photo: National Park Service.
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Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
100 Years of Heritage and stewardship WHiskeytown National Recreation Area Background:
Though conservationists past and present have concerns about the effects of dams on local rivers, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (Whiskeytown) was a windfall from the Central Valley Project that resulted in the establishment of Whiskeytown, Shasta and Trinity reservoirs. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area was established on November 8, 1965 “to provide...for the public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment...by present and future generations and the conservation of scenic, scientific, historic and other values.”
The basics:
The park is located on Route 299 approximately three hours east of Eureka (or about 140 miles) and encompasses 39,000 acres of shrubland, oak woodland, and primeval forest surrounding the lake, including four waterfalls, pristine mountain creeks, 70 miles of trails, and opportunities to explore the history of the California Gold Rush.
Explore:
Whiskeytown features backpacking, camping, hiking, swimming, kayaking and fishing. Campgrounds for RV and tent camping as well as group campsites and backpacking sites are available. Designated swim areas are Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom and East Beach. Be sure to know your skill level when swimming and never swim alone. Dogs are not allowed on the beaches.
Avoid: Centennial :
Poison oak, summer heat, bears. The park offers FREE Ranger Guided Kayak and Stand Up Paddle Board Tours of Whiskeytown Lake all summer long. Free! August 20, 2016 the park will host “Symphony on the Beach!” in honor of the NPS’s Centennial.
More information : www.nps.gov/whis/
Redwood national park
Above: Kayaking on Whiskeytown Lake. Photo: National Park Service. Right: Lupines on the Bald Hills, Redwood National Park. Photo: Jennifer Kalt.
Background:
Redwood National Park established a philosophy of collaboration between the National Park Service and states. State parks were being destroyed by highways and floods. Decades of local and national actions resulted in designation of a National Park for the world to explore. The park’s ecosystems include coastal, riparian, old-growth forests and meadow/oak woodlands. The park has restored hundreds of acres of clear-cut lands and works actively with the Yurok tribe to conserve native ecosystems.
The basics:
The original acreage in 1968 was 56,201 including 28,430 acres in state parks. Today the park contains 131,983 acres (federal: 71,715; state: 60,268). Included in that are 38,982 acres of old growth forest including the tallest trees in the world.
Explore: Camping, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, fishing and educational activities Avoid: Car break ins, bears and poison oak. Centennial: Centennial Celebration in the Redwoods, June 26. Visit www.go.nps.gov/redw100 for more information More information : www.nps.gov/redw/
Continued from previous page
Our National Parks will continue to change in the next 100 years. “The importance of parks will continue to grow as visitors seek refuge, outdoor recreation and connections with the environment,” says Prokop. Milestone predicts, “Parks will become even more important as sanctuaries for wildlife and the landscapes will be kept natural and the forests will be spectacular!” Use this Centennial year to reconnect with your National Parks. Learn about them and visit them. First Lady, Michelle Obama, joined the NPS to launch the #FindYourPark effort to reconnect people to parks as part of the Centennial celebration. Jim Milestone and Stephen Prokop, Superintendents of Redwood National Park, invite you to celebrate by visiting these nearby parks. Dan Sealy retired from the National Park Service after a 33 year career as a natural resources manager and park ranger.
EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
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The NEC and Tim McKay were instrumental in bringing local and even national attention to the fish kill on the Klamath river and the fact that the dams and low water flows were the culprits. Led by McKay, the NEC remained at the forefront and was in the original Klamath settlement group with Tim McKay as lead negotiator until his untimely death in 2006.
The April 6, 2016 signing ceremony in Requa, CA included chairmen of the Yurok, Karuk and Klamath Tribes, Governors of CA and OR and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Photo: Mark Lovelace.
Klamath
Continued from page 4
How We Got Here: Dead Fish, Toxic Algae, Protests, litigation & Negotiation In September 2002, more than 60,000 Klamath River salmon died after the Bush Administration ignored recommendations of its own scientists and limited water releases into the Klamath River. This tragedy resulted in a historic movement for dam removal led by Native American tribes and supported by conservation and fishing organizations. Tribal members organized multiple large rallies at PacifiCorp’s offices in Portland demanding that the company support dam removal. In 2004, tribal members brought their concerns to Scotland where PacifiCorp’s parent company, Scottish Power, was holding a shareholder meeting. Scottish Power quickly sold PacifiCorp to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Dam removal protests continued with tribal members confronting Warren Buffet during a shareholders’ meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Meanwhile, scientists with the Karuk and Yurok Tribes collected extensive data showing that the reservoirs behind the Klamath River dams generate some of the highest concentrations of toxic algae ever recorded. Relying on this scientific evidence, Klamath Riverkeeper settled litigation in 2008 compelling the U.S. EPA to regulate toxic algae on the Klamath River. In addition, Tribes defended the call for fish passage above the dams in court, resulting in a requirement that, at a minimum, fish ladders be installed if the dams were to be relicensed. Fish
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passage and water quality requirements meant that the cost of keeping the dams would likely far outweigh the costs of removing them. These facts helped compel PacifiCorp to support dam removal as part of a comprehensive settlement agreement. In 2010, after years of arduous negotiations between former adversaries, more than forty diverse stakeholder groups signed the historic “Klamath Agreements.” This included the original KHSA (a revised version of which was signed this April) laying out a path for dam removal. The original KHSA was linked to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) which included a comprehensive water sharing agreement and habitat restoration projects. In 2013, the Klamath Tribes of Oregon negotiated a separate water sharing agreement with irrigators
In 2010, NEC’s Board of Directors voted to withdraw from negotiations without signing the Klamath Agreements due to concerns that they did not ensure adequate water in the river for fish or the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges, which provide critical habitat for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Despite the five year delay by Congress, during which Klamath champions Troy Fletcher and Zeke Grader passed on, we are heartened by recent movement toward dam removal without the need for Congressional approval. Continued vigilance is required.
— Larry Glass, NEC Board President called the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement (UKBA) which was linked to the original 2010 Klamath Agreements. Between 2012 and 2015, diverse stakeholders urged members of Congress to enact legislation that would implement the Klamath Agreements. Due in large part to opposition from Congressmen Doug LaMalfa of California and Greg Walden of Oregon, Congress failed to meet a December 2015 deadline to enact the Continued on page 19 Klamath Agreements.
In September 2002, more than 60,000 Klamath River salmon died due to poor water quality conditions resulting from inadequate water releases into the river. The tragedy resulted in a historic movement for dam removal. Photo: Tim McKay.
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Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
Del Norte Supervisor Martha McClure Under Scrutiny for Coastal Commission Ethics Violations Jennifer Kalt, Humboldt Baykeeper Coastal Commissioner Martha McClure—who represents the North Coast counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, and Mendocino—is one of several Commissioners accused of ethics violations since the February 10 vote to fire the Commission’s Executive Director, Dr. Charles Lester. McClure made the motion to retreat into closed session to discuss the firing, which was done without explanation by a 7-5 vote despite overwhelming opposition from the public, elected officials, former coastal commissioners, and commission staff. On March 11, the Los Angeles Times reported that McClure violated state law by failing to report donations from developers and lobbyists promoting projects before the Coastal Commission. McClure accepted a $500 donation in 2012 from the business and domestic partner of Susan McCabe of McCabe & Company. McClure told reporter Steve Lopez that she thought the donor and the lobbyist were “just friends” (see Los Angeles Times, “Join me at the circus, I mean, a California Coastal Commission hearing”). McCabe & Company has more projects in front of the Coastal Commission than any... Continued on page 20
Will the Endangered Species Act Go Extinct?
Tom Wheeler, EPIC The Endangered Species Act—the “bulldog” of environmental law—is about to go extinct. Like most extinctions, there are many causes. And like most extinctions, it is entirely avoidable. The Act, dating to 1973, was a bi-partisan effort. Richard Nixon, a Republican, called on Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect and restore threatened and endangered species. A team of scientists and lawyers, headed by the then-Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, crafted the draft legislation. The Senate passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) unanimously and the House voted overwhelmingly in favor: 390–12. The law was then signed by President Nixon on December 28, 1973. Today, the Endangered Species Act is a favorite punching bag for politicians—most often Republican but also many Democrats—looking to shift blame. In the 114th Congress, which began January 3, 2015 and ends January 3, 2017, anti-conservationists have launched 100 attacks on the Endangered Species Act. These attacks are often hidden, attached as “riders” to must-pass legislation like the authorization bill for the U.S. Department of Defense, or appropriations
bills for the U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal agencies. This legislation varies from general attacks, like Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) rider to the “Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015” which would bar recovery for those who file lawsuits to enforce the ESA, to legislation that specifically targets an individual species, like the “Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015,” introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) which would delist grey wolves in Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The Endangered Species Act is also being dismantled from within. At critical leadership positions, the Obama Administration has chosen individuals uncommitted to preserving biodiversity. It starts at the top. The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service has, for example, stated that conservationists “must accept a world with fewer wolves, salmon, and spotted owls,” that we must accept “a world with less biodiversity.” This belief is reflected in new policies designed to minimize the importance of the Act. From redefining terms, like “significant portion of its range,” to produce anti-conservation results, to throwing new roadblocks to listing... Continued on page 19
A survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists revealed employees within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service believe that politics plays too big a role in decision-making at the agencies.
Something got your goat? Is there a story you would like to see covered in EcoNews? Write editor@yournec.org EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
Adopt-a-Beach
Be a part of our growing team of site captains and volunteers helping to keep our coast clean! Visit our website for more information and a list of available sites.
www.yournec.org/adoptabeach 707-822-6918 www.yournec.org
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County Parks Face Financial Challenges Delia Bense-Kang In March, Humboldt County Parks and Recreation Division proposed to sell some county parks and charge day-use fees at popular beach access sites in an effort to cover their insurance costs to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. In 2013, a county parks employee in a county vehicle hit and killed bicyclist John Mello, causing the Parks Division insurance to increase from $6,000 in 2013 to $91,800 in 2015—a rate that will remain for the next five years. Changes to the budget would mean a loss of favorite family vacation spots, loss of tourist interest, and all around loss of well-being for residents. It would also be in direct opposition to the California Coastal Act which protects public access to and along the coast and maximizes recreational opportunities in the coastal zone. According to a recent survey by the county, 88 percent of people value county parks as “extremely important” and about 70 percent view free or affordable access as “extremely important.” As a formal decision regarding the proposal has yet to be made, we must continue to urge the Humboldt County Park’s Division and Board of Supervisors to look for a different solution to their budgetary needs. The proposal includes:
• Discontinue servicing of the portable bathroom at Moonstone Beach. • Discontinue installing the temporary dam for summer swimming at Freshwater Park. • Charging day-use fees at parks such as Clam Beach and Mad River. • Selling or relinquishing Samoa Power Pole Beach Access, Samoa Campground/Boat Ramp, Crab Park, Centerville Beach, Table Bluff County Park, Fairhaven Beach Access, and A.W. Way County Park.
What you can do:
• Send a personal email to your County Supervisor. • Call your County Supervisor. • Show up at Board of Supervisors meeting when the item is on the agenda and make a public comment. • Sign up for NEC action alerts at www.yournec.org.
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CA Coastal Commission Needs to Clean House Delia Bense-Kang The power to decide the future of the California coast is currently in the hands of 12 commissioners, many of whom have proven to not have the best interests of the coast and the public in mind. Here is quick recap of the past four Coastal Commission hearings. On February 10 in Morro Bay, the commissioners voted 7-5 to fire popular environmental champion and Executive Director Charles Lester, in a private session and without explaining their votes. The situation raised questions about the Commission’s intensions for the future of the coast. Tension was still running high at the March hearing in Santa Monica. Social justice and environmental organizations and the public stood together, calling for transparency of the Commission and their formal inclusion in the hiring process of a new executive director. A new Executive Director was not hired that day, but they did appoint longtime, well-respected Deputy Director Jack Ainsworth to the interim executive director role. At the April hearing in Santa Rosa, a full house protested a California State Parks proposal to charge new parking fees for four Sonoma Coast beaches, in attempt to generate funds for state parks. The proposal would limit beach access (especially to low-income residents) and create traffic hazards along Highway 1. The commission ultimately decided to postpone the issue and keep working with State Parks to revise the proposal. The most recent meeting in Newport Beach on May 12 was anticipated to be a showdown about a new mega-development Newport Banning Ranch, but was postponed last minute by the developer. The development would trade the largest privately owned coastal open-space parcel in Southern California for 895 residences, 45,100 square feet of retail space, a hotel, a 20-bed hostel, and two clusters of oil wells. The issue is likely to be pushed back to the September meeting, which was scheduled for Humboldt County. This idea of the meeting being held at the opposite end of the state generated a huge public outcry. As a result, the meeting location was changed to Newport.
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Our North Coast representative and Governor appointee, Martha McClure, has been making quite the name for herself (see page 8). According to the Coastal Commission Conservation Voting Chart of 2015 she has a conservation vote score of just 32 percent, and a high anti-conservation voting record. A recent article in the LA Times called attention to her foul language and oddly close relationships with several developers and lobbyists, including former commissioner and lobbyist Susan McCabe. The commissioner-lobbyist friendship theme includes U2 guitarist David Evans, “The Edge,” who had been in a long battle with the Coastal Commission to build a home in Malibu, hired McCabe to manage his campaign. Commissioner Mark Vargas, met with The Edge personally after a U2 concert. The Commission approved the project in December. “Ex-parte” communications, private sessions between commissioners and interested parties are currently completely legal as long as commissioners report them, but it is clear they are effective in swaying commissioners votes. In an effort to eliminate these backroom deals and increase transparency, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced SB 1190, a bill that would prohibit all commissioner ex-parte communications. Commissioners supported this bill with a 6-5 vote (with McClure absent) at the Newport meeting and it will likely reach the Senate floor for a vote later this month. Where has Governor Jerry Brown been during all this? He has failed to comment on any Coastal Commission related matter—which is particularly strange given his power over the Commission and that the Coastal Act took effect during his first term as governor. Steve Lopez’s article and call to action in the LA Times; “Gov. Brown, notice anything fishy about your Coastal Commission?” is an interesting read. Call Governor Brown at 916-445-2841 and tell him there’s no place on the Commission for commissioners willing to sell out California’s coast. Delia is the NEC’s MPA Outreach Coordinator, and also writes Your Week in Ocean for the Lost Coast Outpost.
Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
Adopt-a-Block Program Launched to Clean Arcata Streets and Creeks Sydney Stewart The Northcoast Environmental Center and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) are teaming up to help reduce the growing problem of cigarette butt pollution in Arcata. The idea is simple —volunteers Adopt A Block, or any area in the City of Arcata, and pledge to keep the area clean, free of cigarette butts and other litter. By keeping the streets, sidewalks, and public areas in Arcata clear of butts, it prevents them from ending up in our sensitive aquatic ecosystems—namely Jolly Giant Creek, Janes Creek, and ultimately, Humboldt Bay. Each year, both locally and internationally, the single most collected litter item during beach cleanups is cigarette butts. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 264 billion cigarettes were sold in the United States last year—about the same as were sold in 2014. Non-biodegradable and chockfull of harmful chemicals, cigarette butts pollute our sidewalks, streets, and public areas. Small and easily carried by rain or wind, they often enter our rivers and streams, where they can eventually reach our oceans. This toxic pollution is not only an eyesore to those who encounter them, but also poses serious risks to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Action needs to be taken to minimize the number of cigarette butts entering our waterways. Volunteers are provided tools and supplies to help pick up the butts, which are collected and dropped off at the Volunteer Center of the Redwoods office at 839 9th Street in Arcata. If you would like more information about the Adopt-A-Block program and how you can help keep Arcata streets and creeks free of butts and other trash, please contact RSVP at 707601-7809 or the NEC at 707-822-6918.
EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
Adopt Your Beach Today!
Madison Peters Adopt-A-Beach had its humble or “Humboldt” beginnings over 40 years ago, later becoming a statewide program coordinated by the California Coastal Commission. The annual international Coastal Cleanup Day also sprang from the success of Adopt-A-Beach. The concept is similar to Adopt-AHighway but instead focuses on a stretch of beach. Adopt a beach in Humboldt County and you too can help us to keep waste out of our oceans for the protection of ocean life—and so we can enjoy our beautiful beaches all the more!
Four Steps to Adopt Your Own Beach!! 1. Create a team (or be your own team!) 2. Choose a beach. 3. Email or stop by the NEC to fill out adoption forms. 4. Get out there and clean!
While not really a beach per se, the Eureka Waterfront along the Elk River is one of our Adopt-ABeach sites. The Hikshari’ Trail is a popular recreation area, with frequent traffic and as a result, quite a bit of trash. The trash gets stuck along the banks of the river or gets washed into the Bay, and eventually the ocean. As with all of our Adopt-A-Beach sites, the NEC would like to find someone (or a group of people) who enjoys strolling along the trail and can commit to helping keep the area clean for other visitors and resident wildlife. Just one piece of trash might not seem important, but each piece, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could have long-lasting consequences. As you walk along the beach, trails, or even the sidewalk, being aware and on the lookout for objects that belong in a garbage can or recycling bin can collectively make a big difference for our coasts, waterways and natural places.
For more information or to adopt a beach, contact adoptabeach@yournec.org or call the NEC at 707-822-6918.
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Kin to the Earth: Natalynne DeLapp
An insatiable curiosity and passion for the forest and its wildlife is what inspired Kimberly Baker to begin her conservation advocacy work. Originally from Georgia, by way of Alaska, she moved to Sandy Bar Ranch on the Klamath River in 1998. It was while living on the river that she began to see what was happening to the national forests—old growth logging and the destruction of native wildlife habitat. “California’s Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion is widely recognized as a global center for biodiversity. Our forests shelter an incredible complex of rare and unique species found only in this region,” said Kimberly. “I started as a volunteer doing forest watch monitoring national forest timber sales and realized that even one person could make a big difference.” Getting into the back country, out on the ground, seeing exactly what is being proposed and where, is one of the most important components of timber sale monitoring. “One of the first projects I worked on was the Elk Creek Timber Sale. One of the units was proposed for tractor logging, and upon walking into the unit I saw springs “Public involvement and pools of water absolutely results in everywhere—and because better management of my comments the of our forests. By paying attention to unit was dropped,” said what projects are Kimberly. “It also made being developed by the me realize why it is so U.S. Forest Service, important to ground truth watching out for forest service projects.” plans that target big One of Kimberly’s trees, understanding favorite places is the science, basic ecology Garden Gulch Trail on and environmental the North Fork Salmon laws, and by providing River. “Although it is not substantive place based the most spectacular old comments—forests can be protected.” growth, it’s a particular -Kimberly Baker stand that has been targeted three or four times by timber sales and every time we’ve been able to save it.” Kimberly likes going there, being in the forest and knowing it’s still standing. “The trees are all marked up with multiple different colors of paint from the various timber sales the agency has attempted—it reminds me that caring people make a difference.” In the past twenty years, Kimberly has seen changes in how National Forests are managed due to changes in forest leadership and cultural values. “It could go either way,” she says. “The Six Rivers National Forest is making great strides by incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge and working toward long-term solutions to return fire back to our landscapes, and by working with the people in the communities,” said Kimberly. “We know so much from decades of intensive study, how
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Kimberly Baker Public Land Advocate at the Environmental Protection Information Center “I draw my inspiration from all of the wildlife inhabiting these mountains and watersheds—the beautiful and amazing communities out in the forest. That is what I work to protect.”
Kimberley Baker in the Russian Wilderness. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Baker.
biodiverse northern California is, how many endemic species are here, and how globally important our forests are. Either we protect it and follow the best available science, or we don’t.” She points to the Klamath National Forest as an example of the latter—cutting trees at any cost to the environment, without due consideration of science or the people in the community and “working to reach timber targets without regard for wildlife or water quality.” She believes the key to species survival is landscape connectivity. “We need to connect wild places by protecting the remaining roadless areas,
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mature forests and high quality habitats and restoring cut over forests. It is time to enact policy that will implement climate adaptation strategies—which is why I am working with leaders in elected office and in forest, water and wildlife management to make the necessary shifts in order to conserve our quality of life, wildlife and wild places.” It is because of this courage and determination that thousands of acres of ancient forest are still standing, and it is with this same level of determination that Kimberly will continue to advocate for the future of the forests and wildlife of northwest California.
Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
The Sandpiper
13th Annual Children’s Issue
JUNE/JULY 2016
Redwood Region Audubon Society www.rras.org
FIELD TRIPS Every Saturday: Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. These are our famous rain-or-shine docent-led field trips at the Marsh. Bring your binocular(s) and have a great morning birding! Meet in the parking lot at the end of South I Street (Klopp Lake) in Arcata at 8:30 a.m. Trips end around 11 a.m. June 4: Ken Burton; June 11: Gary Friedrichsen; June 18: Cindy Moyer; June 25: Jude Power. For some of our more far-reaching trips, we would like to suggest donating gas money to drivers on field trips. A good rule of thumb is $5 per ½-hour drive time to field trip destination.
Saturday, June 4: Horse Mountain. We will be birding high elevation Humboldt County from Horse to Grouse Mtn. on Forest Service Route 1 during this annual field trip. Target species will include Mountain Quail, Sooty Grouse, Northern Pygmy-Owl, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky and Hammond’s Flycatcher, Townsend’s Solitaire, Green-tailed Towhee, Thick-billed Fox Sparrow, and more. Maybe we’ll even luck into a Northern Goshawk! Meet at 7:00 a.m. near Espresso 101 off Giuntoli. Rob Fowler will lead ([707] 616-9841; migratoriusfwlr@gmail. com). Bring a lunch. We will finish around early afternoon.
Sunday, June 12: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is a wonderful 2- to 3-hour trip for people wanting to learn the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes a leisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginners are more than welcome. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. Call Jude Power or David Fix ([707] 822-3613) for more information.
Programs on Hiatus June-August
The RRAS Friday evening meetings and programs have been suspended for the summer and will resume in September. Look for the notice of the September program in the next issue of The Sandpiper. See you in the fall!
Saturday, June 18: Southern Humboldt Community Park. Jay Sooter ([707] 444-8001) and/or John Gaffin lead this monthly walk. All ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate and revel in the beauty of the park and its avian inhabitants on this easy 2- to 3-hour walk. Binoculars are not provided, and dogs are not allowed; field guides are usually available, but please bring your own if possible. Steady rain cancels. Meet at 8:00 a.m., parking at the Tooby Park parking lot which is about 100 yards past the entrance to the park. Saturday, July 2: Red Cap Hole. This seldom-visited site in the Trinity Alps Wilderness above Hoopa has burned and unburned forest, montane meadows, and a lake. We should see a good variety of highelevation birds (Northern Goshawk, Hammond’s Flycatcher, and Lincoln’s Sparrow are among the possibilities), butterflies, and flowers. Take a bathing suit (or don’t) if you want to take a dip in Mill Creek Lake, where we’ll probably have lunch. Plan on walking 4-5 miles at elevations around 6,000 feet. There likely will be fallen trees to negotiate. Meet the leader, Ken Burton ([707] 499-1146), on Valley West Boulevard near Village Pantry in Arcata at 7:00 a.m. to carpool for the nearly 2-hour drive; high-clearance vehicles will be necessary. Eureka Waterfront. This trip is taking the summer off. Look for it and Ralph the leader to return in September!
Gray Jay, © Gary Bloomfield
WFO 2016 Conference
to Be Held in Humboldt County Western Field Ornithologists is pleased to announce the WFO 2016 Conference will be held in Humboldt County September 28 through October 2, 2016. The annual WFO conference is a 4-day event that includes scientific presentations, workshops, field trips, experts’ sound and visual identification panels, and social activities. The conference offers the opportunity for motivated youths to meet those who earn their living and/ or volunteer in field ornithology, bird conservation, biology, and other distinguished fields. For further details and conference registration (opening June 12) visit http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ conference.php.
Sunday, July 10: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. See June 12. Saturday, July 16: Southern Community Park. See June 18.
Humboldt
August. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge/ Steens Mountain, Oregon. DETAILS COMING SOON. Start planning ahead for a 5-day trip to Malheur NWR/Steens Mt. the first week of August led by Rob Fowler and another. Black Rosy-Finch is the main target, but expect to see Black Terns, Franklin’s Gulls, Eastern Kingbirds, Bobolinks, etc. There will be a minimal fee ($50) to compensate leader costs.
Keep Up-to-Date With RRAS.org
If you haven’t yet, check out the RRAS website www.rras.org. It has been thoroughly revamped and is now actively up-to-date. including a calendar of upcoming events and field trips.
CHAPTER LEADERS
OFFICERS President— Hal Genger …………........... 707-499-0887 Vice President— Jim Clark …………….. 707-445-8311 Secretary Pro Tem — Ken Burton...... 707-499-1146 Treasurer—Syn-dee Noel........................ 707-442-8862 DIRECTORS AT LARGE Ralph Bucher …........................................ 707-443-6944 Jill Demers …………………........…………… 707-667-6163 Harriet Hill…………………………….......…. 707-267-4055 Chet Ogan …..............................................… 707-442-9353 Susan Penn..................................….......…. 707-443-9660 C.J. Ralph ..............................................….. 707-822-2015 Denise Seeger .......................................... 707-444-2399 OTHER CHAPTER LEADERS Conservation — Jim Clark .............…... 707-445-8311 Eductn/Schlrshps — Denise Seeger ..707-444-2399 eBird Liaison — Rob Fowler ………..... 707-839-3493 Facebook — Cindy Moyer…………..…… 707-822-1886 — Rob Fowler ……………..…. 707-839-3493 Field Notes ............................................— HELP NEEDED Field Trips— Rob Fowler ………......….. 707-839-3493 Finance— Syn-dee Noel .........................707-442-8862 Historian — John Hewston .................. 707-822-5288 Membership — Susan Penn.…..............707-443-9660 NEC Representative — C.J. Ralph........ 707-822-2015 Nominating – Jim Clark …..................... 707-445-8311 Programs — Ken Burton .......................707-499-1146 Publications — C.J. Ralph...................... 707-822-2015 Publicity — Harriet Hill......................... 707-267-4055 Sandpiper (Editor)—Jan Andersen … 707-616-3888 Sandpiper (Layout)- Gary Bloom�ield ..707-362-1226 Volunteer Coordinator- Susan Penn.....707-443-9660 Website — Susan Penn............................707-443-9660 Lake Earl Branch — Sue Calla............... 707-465-6191 RRAS Web Page...........................…....…..... www.rras.org Arcata Bird Alert ....707-822-LOON (707-822-5666) The Sandpiper is published six times each year by Redwood Region Audubon Society P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502.
Thinking of Joining the National Audubon Society? If so, please use the coupon below. By sending in your membership on this form, rather than replying to solicitations from National Audubon, $20 is sent directly to RRAS. This is how NAS rewards local chapters for recruiting national members. (Otherwise, the RRAS dues share per new member is only a couple of dollars.) Thank you.
Chapter Membership Application
Yes, I’d like to join.
Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON magazine and my membership card to the address below. My check for $20 is enclosed. (Introductory offer)
NAME_______________________________ ADDRESS___________________________ ______________________________ STATE____________ZIP______________ email ______________________________ Local Chapter Code: C24
CITY
Please make checks to the National Audubon Society. Send this application and your check to:
National Audubon Society P.O. Box 422250 Palm Coast, FL 32142-2250 --------------LOCAL CHAPTER-------------
WOOD REGION AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 1054, EUREKA, CA 95502
RED-
President’s Column
By Hal Genger Welcome to the yearly Children’s Issue of The Sandpiper! This year we had an incredible amount (980 pieces) of quality artwork submitted to the Student Bird Art contest sponsored by RRAS and Friends of the Arcata Marsh. In this issue are a few examples, but I hope many of you got to see the vast array of student art displayed at the Arcata Community Center during Godwit Days. It took me 2 visits to see them all. Sue Leskiw has been organizing this art contest for over a decade now, which involves announcing it, soliciting volunteer judges to evaluate it, and then with the help of many volunteers, hanging all 980 pieces for display. Thank you, Sue, and thanks to all who were involved organizing, posting, and presenting this event! Sue has also organized volunteer judges for the Science Fair awards, announced elsewhere on this page.
at the monthly board meetings and chair the Program Committee. Thank you, Ken. We also need someone to help Harriet Hill with publicity. Harriet is doing a wonderful job but is occasionally out of the area, and we need someone to �ill in for her. As previously mentioned, we are still looking for someone to take over as the editor of The Sandpiper. Please let me (or any board member) know if you are interested in volunteering. Your service would be greatly appreciated.
In addition, for the past eleven years, as part of the Children’s Issue, Tom Leskiw has been presenting the Nature Writing Contest. These contests connect our chapter with the young people of our region as well as spur them to think about the beauty of birds and the value of nature in their lives. Thank you, Tom, for all your �ine work. RRAS is always in need of more volunteers. Ken Burton has agreed to take over the secretarial duties
Sage Balassa, (Snowy Plover)
New Members RRAS welcomes the following new members and subscribers: Arcata — Cheryl Adam, Diane Brown, Stephen Murphy, Ralph Reiner Bayside — Nancy Cook, Chip Sharpe, Catherine Valentine Blue Lake — Michelle Elaine Crescent City — Kathleen Boivin, Jim Davidson, Steve Farrell, Carol McKim, Robert & Diane Mutchie, Shirley Niles Cutten — Jane Barrett Eureka — Roxanne Bennett, John Clagett, Marsha Clearwalker, Robert Goodrich, Donna Jordan, Ann Knight, Lubke Family, John Porter, Grace Ramirez, Richard and Susan Whaley, Lyda Wiesmore, L. Wright Ferndale — Lois Keller Fortuna — Lowell James, Gary Meunier Garberville — Cata Herndon Klamath — Diane Brown Mad River — Victor Conte McKinleyville — Nancy Jioras, James Ravano Miranda — Valerie Monschke Redway — Wes Edwards, Juliet Hegdal, Lauris Phillips Rio Dell — Aleta Hale Scotia — Cecil Page Smith River — Linda Elmore Trinidad — Paul Soderburg Zenia — Cathy Ordway
We look forward to seeing you on �ield trips and at our monthly programs.
RRAS Sponsors 12th Annual Science Fair Award “Tool Using Jays” by Calvin Zhang Sway, a 6th grader at Jacoby Creek School, received a $50 prize as the best project related to birds or their habitat at the annual Humboldt County Science Fair held in mid-March. Calvin tested the intelligence and problem-solving abilities of Steller’s Jays. He hypothesized that the jays would be able to use a readily available tool to bring food within reach. He created 2 different tool scenarios: a horizontal rake to pull peanuts out of a Plexiglas box and a tube feeder that had a vertical lever in the form of a knotted rope to release food. Calvin found that some birds were able to master the horizontal rake within 2 days, with techniques varying from pulling, to pushing side to side, to pecking the rake to make it bounce. (Some birds waited for another to pull the rake, then swooped in and stole some peanuts!) The jays had a much harder time, and only a few birds succeeded with the vertical lever, with the �irst to master it needing 9 days to make the lever work.
Conservation Committee
Action + Activity = Effectiveness
By Jim Clark
Other chapters and Audubon California are impressed, as they should be, by the number of field trips, presentations, and other activities that Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS) offers and participates in every year. We rival chapters in major population centers in the number, quality, and participation rates for our events.
Activity, however, is only part of what makes a chapter effective. The other part is action. From a conservation perspective, action is what is needed to have a positive and measurable effect on bird habitat. Action that RRAS has taken includes litigation and settlement with Humboldt County that enabled purchase of tidal lands that were subsequently purchased by Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The proceeds from this land sale enabled a contribution to the North Coast Regional Land Trust development of their Freshwater Farms project, resulting in restoration of tidal wetlands that benefit salmon and birds. We also contributed to the purchase of property that made possible the completion of a trail through the Arcata Community Forest. Once we had the money, these actions were simply a matter of the RRAS Board of Directors deciding to spend money on worthy projects.
More involved forms of action were the 2 Toyota Green grants for organizing people to remove invasive nonnative plants from the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Refuge and the ivy bash at Luffenholtz County Park. Lots of volunteers were brought together for a day of work after other volunteers did the preliminary work of grant application and planning. We may choose to spend down our Sanctuary and Wetland funds, but your board of directors wants to keep that total of over $100,000 as whole as possible to use as leverage for acquiring important bird habitat when opportunities arise. One such opportunity being looked into will require work to get the current owner on our side. This work will involve establishing relationships with an informal group of conservationminded individuals over some brews. Tough work, but it has to be done. If you are interested in knowing more, come to our Conservation Committee meetings.
At our last board retreat, we decided to embark on a program of bird-friendly yards and communities. To be effective, this will need to be an ongoing endeavor with a group of involved volunteers. The Conservation Committee has agreed to start this program, which will spin off its own committee. Community outreach, business sponsorship, local government inclusion, and sister organization coordination are some of the skills that will be needed for this program. Here we come to a point where activity and action can harmonize. The difficult criteria of measurable results will need to be verified by baseline and ongoing birding (citizen science). So we also need volunteers to help us set up this program so we can measure its effectiveness. Please help RRAS maintain a good balance of activity and action and be effective. The Conservation Committee meets at noon of the second Thursday of the month at Rita’s Margaritas and Mexican Grill, 5th & L Streets, Eureka.
11th Annual Student Nature Writing Contest By Tom Leskiw, Contest Organizer
I guess the 11th year’s the charm. Last year, we were thrilled with a record 44 works of prose and poetry received. This year, the judges were astounded to receive 141 entries! Our abundance of submissions prompted the judges to divide the awards into 3 categories: Division 1: 4th and 5th grades; Division 2: 6th and 7th grades; and Division 3: 8th-12 grades. The work of all three 1st-place winners follows. For the work of all the writing contest winners, please see the online version at www.rras.org Division 1: 1st Place Elizabeth Schroer 5th Grade, Six Rivers Montessori What Is Nature? Nature is the grassy field of which we play in. Nature is the estuary in which we fish. Nature is everything having a place in the world, like an arachnid or a crawfish. But that’s not all, there’s a lot more places and things to name. Nature is the extravagant colors, of the birds in South-East Asia or hikers in the wood. To me, nature means the people, animals, and plants thriving without conflict. Of course, predators will hunt, and prey will hide. This is all natural.
Nature is one of those precious items that you don’t know how special it is until it’s gone. Nature is like a gem: beautiful and dependent on us to help it survive.
We should respect the Mother Earth, we use her resources every day. Hopefully in the future, those who are destroying the forest will know that! Respect Nature!
Division 2: 1st Place Jessica Rutter 6th Grade, Redwood Christian School That Little Seed The time I planted that puny seed, grew that amazing tree. Being young – my mother sung. “You there, you there, take this seed that’s not a pear, with care, of water, sun and air, take good care my little bear.”
Over and over I sang in my head, falling asleep to the song in my bed. Next day with care, I took that seed, running, and running to find the spot it needed. On my knees I dug a hole, with that seed in a bowl. Then easily I set the seed down with care, hoping the seed would survive there.
Running back home with much excitement, thinking how slow time went. One year gone by, the tree one inch high Waiting and waiting. Winter had passed, which was so fast. Summer is gone, but not for long. Spring’s here, and fall near.
Twelve years old, that tree looking bold. Running out with a swing, my father who I bring
Six feet off the ground grew that willow tree, that grew through the years from a tiny seed. Twenty years old, my mother passed. Grieving by the tree that grew so fast, swinging on the swing that kept life going.
Sadly doing a thing that is life-harming, like smoking with friends and drinking a lot of alcohol. But soon it came to a stop when Christ saved me, right by that little tree that grew with me.
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STUDENT BIRD ART CONTEST RESULTS Some 980 Humboldt County K-12 students—a new record by more than 200!—entered the 13th Annual Student Bird Art Contest held in association with Godwit Days in midApril. RRAS cosponsored the competition with Friends of the Arcata Marsh. To see more art go to www.rras.org/ChildrensBirdArtContest.pdf! The winners were:
Kindergarten 1st Place: Ricardo Freitas, Mattole Valley Charter School, Mallard 2nd Place: Caroline Taylor, Jacoby Creek School, Snowy Plovers 3rd Place: Natalie Williams, Mattole Valley Charter School, Great Egret Grade 1 1st Place: Steve Adkins Hart, Dow’s Prairie School, Varied Thrush 1st Place: Kaylani Keley, Dow’s Prairie School, Pileated Woodpecker 2nd Place: Kendal Kingstrom, Dow’s Prairie School, Steller’s Jay 2nd Place: Gaelen Creighton, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Hummingbird 3rd Place: Rory Harling, Forks of Salmon Elementary, Bald Eagle 3rd Place: Violet Cook, Freshwater School, Chestnut-backed Chickadee Grade 2 1st Place: Calvin Gans, Redwood Prep Charter School, Common Loon 1st Place: Windstan Stratton, Coastal Grove Charter School, American Crow 2nd Place: Lorenzo Amaro, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Snowy Plover 2nd Place: Aleta LeGrand Stubblefield, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Bald Eagle 3rd Place: October Mintey, Ridgewood Elementary, California Quail family 3rd Place: Jonah Morgan, Coastal Grove Charter School, Common Raven Grade 3 1st Place: Charlotte Brands, Pacific Union School, Great Horned Owl 1st Place: Alisha Paige Borglund, Jacoby Creek School, Wood Duck 2nd Place: Layla Marshall, Pacific Union School, American Crow 2nd Place: Solana Mendle, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Cedar Waxwing 3rd Place: Saanvi Virnave, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Common Yellowthroat 3rd Place: Ashlyn Bowen, Pacific Union School, Violet-green Swallow
Best Depiction of a Bird in Its Habitat Myah Visser, Kindergarten, Dow’s Prairie School, Spotted Owl; Ellie-May Martin, Grade 1, Dow’s Prairie School, Pileated Woodpecker; Daniel Hernandez, Grade 3, Pacific Union School, Marbled Godwit; Meguire Bartosz, Grade 4, Fuente Nueva Charter School, California Quail; Cheyanna Deaton, Grade 5, Kneeland School, Snowy Owl on the South Spit Honorable Mentions Kindergarten: Abby Omaha, Dow’s Prairie School, Anna’s Hummingbird; Taya Moore, Dow’s Prairie School, Tufted Puffin; Cecilia Aultman, Dow’s Prairie School, Purple Finches; Everett Gruetzmacher, Dow’s Prairie School, Tufted Puffin; Breana Sloyer, Dow’s Prairie School, Anna’s Hummingbird; Talon Turner, Dow’s Prairie School, Spotted Owl; Simon Zagone, Jacoby Creek School, Owl. Grade 1: Braden O’Brien, Jacoby Creek School, Marbled Godwit; Scarlett Wood, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Hummingbird; Emily Mather, Dow’s Prairie School, Pileated Woodpecker; Ella Grosjean, Dow’s Prairie School, Pileated Woodpecker; Brody Perkins, Dow’s Prairie School, Bald Eagle; Riley Harmon, Dow’s Prairie School, Varied Thrush. Grade 2: Patrick Wilson, Dow’s Prairie School, Dancing American Avocets; Sheena Beeman, Dow’s Prairie School, California Quail; Savannah Cringle, Dow’s Prairie School, Great Blue Heron; David Kleinz, Dow’s Prairie School, California Quail; Richie Alvarez, Fuente Nueva Charter School, American Avocet; Catarina Freitas, Mattole Valley Charter School, Wood Duck. Grade 3: Tanayah Keisling-Limberg, Coastal Grove Charter School, Marbled Godwits; Ruby Williams, Mistwood Education Center, Great Blue Heron; Siena Krause, Pacific Union School, Great Blue Heron; Addison Wingate, Pacific Union School, Anna’s Hummingbirds; Olivia Ralph, Cutten School, Owls. Grade 4: Lenin Jacobsen, Redwood Coast Montessori, Tufted Puffin; Sequoia Ashby, Redwood Coast Montessori, Black-crowned Night-Heron. Grade 5: Sadie Breen, Union Street Charter School, Red-shouldered Hawk; Autumn Landando, Six Rivers Montessori, Western Grebes. Grade 7: Symon McDonald, Mattole Valley Charter School, White-tailed Kite. Grade 8: Alora Trammell, Mattole Valley Charter School, Golden Eagle; Brett Welch, Mattole Valley Charter School, Great Horned Owl. High School: Anthony Kaftal, Alder Grove Charter School, Red-shouldered Hawk; Brandi May, Zoe Barnum High School, Lazuli Bunting; Ariane Cox-Lovel, Zoe Barnum High, Black-capped Chickadee; Lydia Osborn, Zoe Barnum High, Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Grade 4 1st Place: Bella Valentine, Orleans Elementary, Spotted Owl 2nd Place: Frida King, Fuente Nueva Charter School, American Avocet 3rd Place: Caden Lewis, Redwood Coast Montessori, Great Blue Heron Grade 5 1st Place: Keani Young, Redwood Coast Montessori, American Avocet 2nd Place: Rogue Russell, Union Street Charter School, Peregrine Falcon 3rd Place: Ciara Miller, Kneeland School, Peregrine Falcon Grades 6-9 1st Place: Niniane Holland, Greensleeves Center for Education, Red-breasted Nuthatches 2nd Place: Deja Coleman, Orleans Elementary, Pileated Woodpecker 3rd Place: Finn Murphy, Sunny Brae Middle School, Great Horned Owl Grades 10-12 1st Place: Tori McConnell, Academy of the Redwoods, “Guardian Godwit” (Marbled Godwit family) 2nd Place: Martina Shannon, Eureka High, Wood Duck 3rd Place: Sage Balassa, Eureka High, Snowy Plover chick
Tori McConnell, (Marbled Godwits)
Meguire Bartosz, (California Quail)
Niniane Holland, (Red-breasted Nuthatches)
11th Annual Student Nature Writing Contest (continued)
Division 3: 1st Place Elizabeth Sloan-Rouse 8th Grade, Blue Lake Elementary School The Ocean Speaks to Me
The ocean speaks to me. I feel its energy seeping through the crashing waves. We have another way of communication between not our physical beings, it’s something else, but we’re in constant communication. I sit on the sand with my shoes off, occasionally lying on my back. The sand seeps between my toes, warm and soft. Deep breaths, I take in the excitement of the swirling sea. It smells fresh, yet dirty, like a child just out from under the rain. I see the horizon, and the colors blasting from the sky to the water, and back again. I feel comforted by the warmth of nature. To some people, the ocean is just water, boring water. To some, it’s exciting, the water. People who live near it take it for granted. People who don’t, long to see it. But I live near it and away from it. I feel close to it, even when I am too far away. I am close to it with my heart, not my body.
I feel so close to it because it resembles my own life. The tide is high: I’m drowning in stress or overwhelmed by love. The tide is low: I long for something more, and it feels as though all I can do is wait for it to come. It is cold: the sadness of one thing or another build up, and I begin to spiral and be pulled under. It is warm: I feel exhausted, overwhelmed by life. It is bright: I can do nothing but expect to need the water. It is dark: my emotions feel what they need to. I let in the fear and the hurt, I let it consume me for the time that it needs. Then, when I’ve heard what it has to say, I can let it go. I can accept it and set it free. The birds glide along the skyline and await the storm that is to come. The sun begins to evaporate into earth and sea. The clouds roll in, darker and darker they become. You feel the air. It has something to scream. It needs to be heard. It needs to be felt. I stand on the edge of the water, though it feels like the edge of the earth. I await whatever is about to come. Because it deserves to be heard. To be listened to with love and compassion, not turned away from and made to need to burst through and through with darkness. But at this point, it is too late. There’s nothing to do but await, and stand in peace. To stand in harmony, with the sky and sea.
Fighting Dams is Deadly in Honduras NEC’s Watershed Model Visits Events Jennifer Kalt
In Northwest California, we are celebrating the imminent removal of four Klamath River dams that have destroyed salmon habitat and indigenous livelihoods. But in Honduras, such destruction continues to the detriment of both ecosystems and human communities, supported by internationallyfunded dam construction projects. In early March, Honduran human rights and environmental activist Berta Cáceres was assassinated after years of death threats and intimidation for leading the struggle against a proposed hydroelectric dam. (see Kin to the Earth, April/May 2016 EcoNews). Cáceres won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015 for her decade-long fight against the Agua Zarca Dam, a project planned along a river sacred to the indigenous Lenca people. She was co-founder of the COPINH (the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras). She was the fourth indigenous activist from the Lenca community of Río Blanco, Honduras to be killed since 2013. Less than two weeks after her death, another COPINH member, Nelson García, was murdered after returning home from helping indigenous people who had been displaced in a mass eviction by Honduran security forces. Two of the four suspects arrested for her murder in early May are reported to have ties to Desarrollos Energeticos SA (DESA), the proponent of the Aqua Zarca dam project that would force the Lenca people off their land, destroying their culture and
cutting off their access to food and water. Cáceres’ family has called for an independent investigation and an immediate suspension of the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project. Honduras has become widely recognized as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental and indigenous activists. In March, Global Witness, a non-profit organization that tracks environmental and human rights abuses driven by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption, released figures showing that at least 109 people were... Continued on page 20
The Northcoast Environmental Center participated in the Watershed Stewards Program’s 2016 Creek Days located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park in May. Dozens of students from first to sixth grade, as well as members of the public, navigated their way through 17 booths with material ranging from scat and tracks to sustainability. Sydney Stewart and Madison Peters of the NEC staffed the Watershed booth, demonstrating our watershed model and teaching about the relationship between human activities and ecosystem health. The NEC also participated in the Sequoia Park Zoo and Foundation’s Party for the Planet, presenting the watershed model to children and members of the public. Eager to interact with the detailed watershed model, children gain an understanding of what a watershed is and the impacts and improvements humans can make within watersheds.
Remembering environmental and human rights activist Berta Cáceres after a hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), April 5, 2016—two days after Cáceres was murdered in her home in Honduras. Photo: Daniel Cima.
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Eye on
Washington Dan Sealy, NEC Legislative Analyst
Your Voice was Heard Off-road vehicle and hunting organizations pushed the Sportsmen’s Heritage Bill for many years. The original bill could have negatively affected wilderness and endangered species, tying the hands of the EPA to reduce the impacts of lead ammunition. Lead shot and fishing equipment have been shown to be lethal to condors and birds of prey. However, efforts by conservation groups including the Northcoast Environmental Center successfully gutted the worst provisions of the Act. Strong letters from the NEC and many organizations locally and nationally demonstrated robust opposition to an effort that is little more than a flagrant fundraising campaign by the National Rifle Association and Safari International. Thanks to your support, the NEC’s comments led to success for conservation as those provisions were removed.
Protecting California’s Coast Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) authored H.R. 3565, the California National Monument Expansion Act, which would add important offshore rocks and five onshore sites, including Trinidad Head and the Lighthouse Ranch near Loleta. Capps’ bill is supported by 28 CA house Democrats including Jared Huffman. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced a related bill, H.R. 4233 that would include offshore habitats in Southern California. The two House bills were discussed in a hearing on May 12. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein introduced the Senate version of the Act, S. 1971, last August. With luck, Congress will soon move these bills to President Obama’s desk for signature.
Fires Burn up Budgets There is no denying the devastating effects of large wildfires on both the environment and the economy. There are differing views, however, on how to change the way the costs of fighting those fires are covered. The Forest Service, some local communities and conservation organizations argue that the current system of using the budget of the Department of Agriculture, and of the Forest Service in particular, to meet unpredictable fire needs during the summer season as they are trying to accomplish conservation, restoration and timber management projects is less than effective. “Every year, we have to borrow from other accounts. Some years it’s $100 million, other years it’s over half a billion dollars,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. “This borrowing doesn’t just impact the Forest Service. It impacts the (local communities neighboring National Forests).” The relief the U.S. Forest Service seeks is to uncouple their budget from large wildfire suppression and recognize large fires as natural disasters similar to earthquakes and floods. The budget would move to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or a similar agency. Some spokespeople for the National Association of Forest Service Retirees and conservation groups, however, call foul and accuse the Forest Service of using the issue to bolster their timber operations. To make matters worse, legislation to change the method of paying for wildfire suppression, “Resilient Federal Forests Act” (H.R. 2647) introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) would open forests to more logging, which, as we are seeing with the Westside Salvage project in the Klamath National forest, would have devastating effects on fish and spotted owls. Westerman’s bill passed in the House (mostly with Republican support) but does not yet have a companion bill in the Senate. Vilsack is trying to increase support by pitching the plans to firefighting associations.
Mining - North Fork, Smith At the time of publication of the EcoNews, the deadline for comment on a plan to remove mineral development rights on 100,000 acres of federal land to stop a proposed nickel mine near the Kalmiopsis Wilderness will be complete. This battle has required decades of vigilance by regional conservationists. The Forest Service plan would only delay stripmining for another five years. More importantly, current legislation by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (DOR) and U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-OR) would extend protections for the river and block the mining forever. Though the legal validity of some claims is still up in the air, similar mining claims have proven of limited value. If work begins, the mine would be located on both sides of Baldface Creek in southern Oregon. The mine location is adjacent to the Wilderness area and drains into the North Fork of the Smith which is a popular rafting destination and important spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead trout.
Engangered Species Representatives Grijalva (D-AZ & ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee), DeFazio (D-OR) and Dingell (R-MI) sponsored a small conference and spoke on the continuing battle in Congress to save the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Grijalva explained that the ESA is the foundation for much important work that extends to ecosystem protection beyond species endangerment. Though DeFazio has sometimes seemed to have waffled on the ESA, he called out his Democrat governor and state legislature for allowing the killing of OR-7 and other wolves. Rep. Dingell, whose husband was an author of the original bill, reminded participants that last year alone there were over 100 attempts to weaken the ESA in Congress including the above-referenced Energy Bill. She spoke passionately about the need to continue to be diligent. The conference brought writers, researchers, photographers and ranchers to the table to explain the issues specific to wolf and grizzly bear protections.
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Zero Waste Certification Training Coming this Fall to Humboldt Margaret Gainer Growing numbers of consumers understand the direct impact their purchases have on the quantity and toxicity of waste generated, and the impact on global warming. Environmentally conscientious customers are asking their suppliers, manufacturers, favorite restaurants and stores to reduce waste generated by their production, packaging, and services. Business and industry are responding in two general ways: Green marketing happy talk or adopting authentic Zero Waste standards in their business practices. A 2008 California Waste Characterization Study reported the commercial sector is responsible for nearly 50 percent of the statewide waste stream. Business and industry of the Redwood Coast region now have the opportunity to significantly prevent, reuse, recycle and compost waste by implementing Zero Waste methods and systems. Tried and true Zero Waste methods effectively reduce waste, generating savings and value for both business and environment—and satisfying growing consumer demand. In January, 2016 presentations in Eureka, the sustainability coordinators of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Fetzer Vineyards were Zero Waste Humboldt’s featured speakers in the Zero Waste Solutions Series. They explained, step-by-step, how they adopted the metrics and
methods of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council in their beer and wine production, as well as restaurant, offices, transportation, and all aspects of their business operations, to achieve their internationally recognized Zero Waste certifications. They were also quick to point out that they have accumulated significant savings from reducing waste disposal and other overhead costs.
“Business and industry of the Redwood Coast region now have the opportunity to significantly prevent, reuse, recycle and compost waste by implementing Zero Waste methods and systems.” Redwood Coast businesses now have a convenient opportunity to begin this Zero Waste certification process. On Monday, October 10, 2016, at the Humboldt Area Foundation, Zero Waste Humboldt will host the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council’s six-hour Zero Waste certification
training for local businesses and individuals to apply Zero Waste practices and standards. Upon completion of this course and a follow-up exam, local individuals will become certified Zero Waste Business Associates. Certified Zero Waste professionals are prepared to implement Zero Waste programs in facilities and businesses, and to guide their facilities in applying the USZWBC Scorecard Certification System. Registration is open to anyone interested in learning about implementing Zero Waste systems, and the training is intended for those interested in pursuing the professional Zero Waste Business Associate Certification. Since this certification course is usually held in urban centers, this is a rare opportunity to take this course in Humboldt County with friends and colleagues. Zero Waste Humboldt has established a scholarship fund to assist with registration fees. To apply for a scholarship or for more information about the certification training, email contact@zerowastehumboldt.org.
To register for the course visit: https://w w w.usz wbc .org/ humboldtzwba-scorecard-training-course/
Contact Zero Waste Humboldt contact@zerowastehumboldt.org
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McKinleyville Ace Illegally Fills, Drains Seasonal Wetland the project’s Regional Water Quality Control Board permit outlining proper treatment of stormwater from the project, half of the building’s roof runoff During the summer of 2015, owners of the new was piped to the wetland, discharging runoff directly McKinleyville Ace Hardware on Central Avenue into the wetland rather than to an appropriatelyillegally filled wetlands with gravel for a parking lot sited bioswale designed to infiltrate pollutants into in violation of the Clean Water Act and Humboldt the ground before they could reach the wetland. County ordinance. After winter rains turned much On February 5, attorneys representing Humboldt of the area into its usual condition—a seasonal duck Baykeeper issued a 60-day notice to the landowners pond—insult was added to injury when the wetlands and grading contractors who illegally placed the were illegally drained into a ditch that discharges wetland fill. The 60-day notice is required under the into Widow White Creek, a tributary to the Mad Clean Water Act to allow the defendants to remedy River that once supported coho salmon. the violation, thereby avoiding costly legal action. On Baykeeper’s research revealed that the new store February 24, contractors removed some of the illegal had been approved by Humboldt County’s Building fill from the wetland, and draining the wetland has Department without federal permits required for since ceased, allowing the wetland to return to its filling wetlands, and without permits required by normal winter levels. the County’s ordinance that protects wetlands and Although the removal of the illegal wetland fill streams, despite the fact that County Planning & was poorly done without the required permits and Building maps indicate that these wetlands were oversight from agency biologists, Baykeeper was designated on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s successful in using the citizen lawsuit provision of National Wetlands Inventory in the 1970s. Subsequent the Clean Water Act to ensure that further damage is inspections by wetland experts hired by the property not done to the wetlands and nearby Widow White owners clearly supported that designation. Creek. With the County enforcement agreement In August 2015, the landowners signed an requiring the violations to be remedied by August Enforcement Agreement with Humboldt County, 2017, we will continue to ensure that further damage agreeing to remedy the violations within two years. is not done to one of the remaining wetlands in the In January 2016, despite this agreement and knowing center of McKinleyville. full well that they were in violation, the owners Much of the McKinleyville area historically continued to fill the wetland with additional gravel to supported seasonal wetlands, most of which have “control” the water in the new parking lot during one been destroyed and degraded by poorly-planned of the wettest winters in recent years. Contrary to or unpermitted development over the years, despite County regulations designed to protect wetlands and streams. The Redwood Region Audubon Society successfully sued the County for failing to protect McKinleyville Wetlands in the 1990s, leading to the adoption of the County’s poorly-enforced grading ordinance. Unfortunately, the County’s failure to enforce its own permitting requirements, which should have triggered environmental review, allowed After illegally filling part of a seasonal wetland with gravel for a new parking lot, McKinleyville Ace Hardware illegally drained the remaining wetland into a ditch along Central Avenue that development to proceed without discharges into Widow White Creek, a Mad River tributary that once supported coho salmon. adequate protections for water This photo shows the pump used (front left) and seasonal pond. Photo by Jennifer Kalt, January 15, 2016. quality and aquatic habitats.
Jennifer Kalt, Director
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Lack of oversight by local, state, and federal agencies responsible for protecting water quality, salmon streams, and wildlife habitat contributed to an unfortunate situation that could have been avoided by the enforcement of existing County, state, and federal environmental protections.
Learn to Row Day Saturday, June 4
The Humboldt Bay Rowing Association is teaming up with Humboldt Baykeeper to “Row for Clean Water” on June 4, National Learn to Row Day. Our goal is to encourage people to get out on the water to appreciate Humboldt Bay and work with us to protect clean water, which is essential to rowers everywhere. Beginners aged 14 and over are invited to participate in this free event that will introduce them to the joys of rowing. After a quick introduction to technique, participants will row on Humboldt Bay in an Olympic-style, 8-oared racing shell. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
Register online at hbra.org.
Explore Humboldt Bay Explora la Bahia
Baykeeper has partnered with the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center to offer kayak tours covering a variety of topics on Humboldt Bay. Thanks to grants from the California Coastal Conservancy and Humboldt Area Foundation, our staff and docents lead tours in Spanish and English. Kayak tours are for ages 12 and older, and beginners are welcome. Space is limited and reservations are required. Upcoming kayak tours are scheduled for June 18, July 16, August 13 and October 1, and are combined with guided walks along the Hikshari’ Trail in Eureka. Se habla español. For more info: humboldtbaykeeper.org 707-825-1020 or tours@humboldtbaykeeper.org.
Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
The Environmental Protection Information Center
ep c
The Great Forest Giveaway
Forest Service to Subsidize Destruction of Owl Habitat EPIC Staff
into Klamath River tributaries that provide critical coho salmon habitat. The coho population in the project area is on the brink of extinction and this project could be the final straw. Second, you are going to subsidize this destruction. Because of the rock-bottom prices,
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the Klamath National Forest will lose money on the sale—it will cost more for the agency to issue the sale Call it “Christmas in May”: the Klamath National than it will return in revenue. In effect, taxpayers will Forest is set to give a big gift to the logging industry subsidize private timber companies to log on public at the expense of taxpayers, wildlife and watersheds. land above critically important salmon streams in the The Klamath National Forest is having a “fire sale,” Klamath Watershed and the destruction of northern offering to sell old-growth forests as part of the spotted owl habitat. Westside Timber Sale for as little as 50 cents What’s more, taxpayers will also pay to per thousand board feet. clean up the mess after logging is completed. The Klamath National Forest has some Th e Klamath National Forest estimates that it explaining to do. Less than a year ago, when will cost $27 million to treat slash from logging selling the project to the public, the Klamath and replant after operations damage the National Forest estimated it would sell logs chance for natural regeneration. In contrast, for $173 per thousand board feet. Today, the the Klamath National Forest estimated that same amount of wood is being sold for just the project will only bring in $800,000. In two quarters. While 50 cents cannot buy a other words, taxpayers will be on the hook for newspaper anymore, it can buy a lot of timber. over $26 million dollars. These costs would not To put this amount in perspective, timber trucks be necessary if salvage logging did not occur. will roll out of the forest with loads costing less The Klamath National Forest is than the price of a cup of coffee. Enough lumber accomplishing what Cliven Bundy and his for a regular house can be purchased for less band of extremists wanted: the giveaway of our than a sandwich. national public trust. National forests are our “There is no other way of looking at this, public lands, our legacy for future generations. Klamath National Forest is giving away our Above: A portion of the Westside project clearcuts are outlined in aqua, blue and Th ey are too precious to give away. public forests,” said Kimberly Baker of the orange. The spots are landing sites. The Wild and Scenic (W&S) Klamath River is EPIC, together with the Karuk Tribe, Environmental Protection Information Center to the north, to the West is Grider Creek which is eligible to be a W&S river and Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Klamath to the East is Walker Creek. All of these watersheds are on unstable terrain and (EPIC). “The public and future generations will serve as Critical Habitat to the threatened Coho salmon and Northern spotted owl. Riverkeeper, and the Center for Biological pay the real cost, including lost wildlife and Image: Google Earth with overlays by Kimberly Baker. Diversity, is fi ghting this wanton destruction even more dangerous fire conditions.” Below: Russian Wilderness on the North Fork Salmon River after the 2014 Whites in federal court. Please visit wildcalifornia. The cost of this giveaway is extraordinary. Fire. Photo: Kimberly Baker. org for more on the Westside Timber Sale and First, these timber giveaways come at an updates on our ongoing litigation. extreme ecological cost. The Klamath Timber Sale is in the heart of the Klamath-Siskiyou Owl Self-De Bioregion, with most logging to occur on a ed fe t t critically important habitat corridor linking the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area to the Red Buttes Wilderness Area. This wild area is home to many rare and threatened species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the Westside Timber Sale may result in the “take,” which includes potential death, of up to 103 northern spotted owl, an amount totaling between one to two percent of all northern spotted owls in existence (at a time E PI C when owls are declining at nearly four percent a year and the rate of decline is increasing). For more info Furthermore, the clear cut timber sale is going visit www.wildcalifornia. org to result in sediment pollution and landslides ww rg w.Wi ldCalifornia.o
EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
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NORTH GROUP REDWOOD CHAPTER National Forest Livestock Grazing Impacts Your Water
Felice Pace, North Group Water Chair The North Coast Water Quality Control Board has begun work on a new Clean Water Act permit for “non-point” sources of pollution on national forests in the North Coast Region, including the Mendocino, Six Rivers, Trinity and Klamath National Forests. Unlike pollution that comes from a discrete source, non-point pollution comes from numerous locations—including logging, agricultural run-off, drainage from roads and pollution from livestock grazing. Non-point pollution can be controlled through use of best management practices (BMPs). BMPs for grazing include regular herding to make sure cattle do not graze in riparian areas and wetlands for long periods. Unfortunately, Forest Service managers do not require grazing BMPs be actually implemented. Most grazing in California national forests is by cattle—which weigh up to 1200 pounds. Willow wetlands and emergent springs are particularly hard hit by poorly managed cattle. Failure of Forest Service managers to require livestock owners to rotate grazing among the various “pastures” within a grazing allotment guarantees that water quality, riparian areas and wetlands will be degraded. Water quality testing on Sierra Nevada National Forests by the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center and on the Klamath National Forest by the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation confirm and quantify the nutrient and bacterial pollution chronically degrading streams issuing from those national forest watersheds where poorly managed cattle graze for three to six months each year. State and federal limits on fecal bacteria and nutrient pollution are regularly violated. Streambank, spring and wetland trampling also damages the ability of headwater meadows to hold and store water. A 2015 report by hydrologist Jonathan Rhodes in the Klamath National Forest documented that poorly managed cattle grazing not only degrades water quality, riparian areas and wetlands but also reduces the late summer and fall streamflows which are so critical to salmon, irrigation and community water supplies. A new report commissioned by Environment Now, which debunks the idea that we can increase California water supplies by increased logging, points to the elimination of public land grazing as one of three best methods to improve late summer and early fall flows in California streams. The Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club used recent water quality testing results to advocate that more stringent requirements for grazing be included in the Clean Water Act permit for National Forests
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which the North Coast Water Board prepared in 2015. Results were mixed. The Board did require that Forest Service managers more closely monitor the impacts of grazing on water quality, riparian areas and wetlands. The Board did not, however, require the modern grazing methods needed to adequately control grazing-related pollution and habitat destruction. If you would like to help monitor and document the destruction caused by poorly managed public land grazing, contact me at unofelice@gmail.com.
Science Projects Receive Awards
For the tenth year, North Group sponsored an award at the annual Humboldt County Science Fair held in mid-March. This year a second prize was also awarded. The $50 first-place award went to Rachel Meyer and Jazzy White, a 7th-grade team from Pacific Union School in Arcata. Their project investigated adding different substances as a top layer of a rapid sand filter, to see which would remove the most oil from distilled water—an idea that came from the fact that oil or gas from illegal marijuana grows may end up in streams used for domestic water supplies. While rapid sand filters are effective at removing bacteria, organisms, iron, and manganese, they do not remove oil and gas from water. The girls tested various additives that they hypothesized could clean the water more thoroughly: activated carbon (charcoal), shredded redwood bark, organic cloth, and clay-based kitty litter. Their results indicated that charcoal and bark were equally good at removing oil (while not fully effective). A $25 second-place prize was awarded to “Ferntastic Forest” by Tommy Robinson, an 8thgrader at Jacoby Creek School in Bayside. Tommy hypothesized that sword fern frond length would be greater in old-growth forests than in second-growth ones and increase as one travels north. He hoped to show that fern length data could be used to track the general health of a forest, climate change, human impact, and effects of El Nino. He measured 100 fronds from both Prairie Creek Redwoods (Orick) and Redwood Park (Arcata). Fronds from Prairie Creek, which is the older and more northern forest, averaged 24 centimeters longer than those in Redwood Park. www.yournec.org
Events One need not be a Sierra Club member to participate in these outings. Please join us! Sun. June 5—North Group Sierra Club Smith River NRA-Jedediah Smith State Park Hike. From the trailhead off South Fork Road, we climb past a succession of botanical communities and stunning views to about 2000 feet through serpentine, and end in redwoods at Howland Hill Road. Bring food, water, and hiking boots. No dogs. Moderate difficulty, ten miles one way, less than 2000 feet elevation change. Meet 9:30 a.m. Hiouchi Ranger Station. By reservation only. Leader Ned: nedforsyth48@gmail.com, 707-8253652 message phone. Sat. June 18—North Group 6 Rivers National Forest Horse Mountain Trip. A series of one-to-three mile favorite rambles such as Indian Butte, Cold Springs, and Trinity Alps Vista Trail, including gravel roads, informal paths, and some cross country. Bring lunch and snacks, generous liquids, layered clothing, sun protection. No dogs. Class M-6-A. Carpools: Meet 9 a.m. Ray’s Valley West. 10 a.m. trailhead Horse Mtn. parking area. Leader Melinda: 707-668-4275, groomster@gmail.com. Rain, threat of thunderstorms cancel. Sun. July 10—North Group Sierra Club Mad River Buttes 6 Rivers National Forest Hike. Come explore this beautiful potential wilderness area off Forest Route 1. Sturdy boots a must. Bring lunch and plenty of water. No dogs. Moderate difficulty, eight miles round trip, less than 1000 feet elevation change. Carpools: Meet 9 a.m. Ray’s (Valley West) Shopping Center. Leader Ned: nedforsyth48@gmail.com, 707-825-3652 message phone. Sat. July 16—North Group Redwood National Park Hike. Starting from the upper, Bald Hills end of Lost Man Creek Trail, we pass through second growth mixed conifer forest in process of restoration by the Park. The final miles enter pristine old growth redwood forest, concluding a total descent of some 2,000’. Bring lunch, water, layered clothing. No dogs. Class M-10-B. Carpools: meet 8:30 am. Ray’s Valley West. 9:15 am trailhead Lost Man Creek parking area. Leader Melinda: 707-668-4275, mgroomster@gmail.com. Steady rain cancels.
Please Join Us!
The North Group’s Executive Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month in the first floor conference room at the Adorni Center on the waterfront in Eureka. The meeting, which covers regular business and conservation issues, begins at 6:45 PM. Members and non-members with environmental concerns are encouraged to attend. When a new person comes to us with an environmental issue or concern, we often place them first or early on the agenda.
Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
NORTHCOAST CHAPTER Beginners and experts, non-members and members are all welcome at our programs and on our outings. Almost all of our events are free. All of our events are made possible by volunteer effort.
Evening Programs No evening programs scheduled for June, July or August. The regular schedule will resume September 14, 2016.
Field Trips & Plant Walks
June 4, Saturday. Moss Day in Arcata. This is your chance to learn how to distinguish the components of the green, mossy blur in a redwood forest. Join experienced bryologist, teacher, and founding member of the CNPS Bryophyte Chapter Paul Wilson (from California State University Northridge) for a day in the redwood forest learning about common, and maybe some uncommon, mosses. We will walk about 2 miles in the Arcata Community Forest and probably sort our finds while we have lunch at a picnic table in Redwood Park. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot in the park at the top of 14th St., Arcata. Bring water, lunch, hand lens, and paper packets or envelopes. We will finish by 3 p.m. Contact: bryophytechaptercnps@ gmail.com. June 11, Saturday. Rare Plant Treasure Hunt: Pinkmargined Monkeyflower (Erythranthe trinitiensis). Traveling beyond Horse Mountain on Forest Highway 1 in Six Rivers National Forest, we will check out known sites of this diminutive monkeyflower at Grouse Mountain, White Rock Spring, and Cold Spring. At Cold Spring we will also look for the Mountain Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium montanum), which was seen 20 years ago and possibly last year. Meet at 9 a.m. at Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata). Be prepared with sturdy shoes or boots for short hikes off gravel roads. Bring lunch, water, hats, sunscreen, and plant detectors. Tell John what kind of vehicle you can bring, if any. John McRae at 707-441-3513. or jmcrae@fs.fed.us. In partnership with Six Rivers National Forest. June 11, Saturday. Plant Walk and Weeding in the Trinity Alps at High Point Trailhead. Help remove invasive Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria) from a wilderness trailhead and join us for a ridge top walk to Rock Lake. Meet at the Panamnik Building in Orleans at 9 a.m. Contact Tanya Chapple for details, tanya@mkwc.org. Co-sponsored by Mid-Klamath Watershed Council. June 17-19, Friday-Sunday. Grizzly Peak and Mount Ashland overnight and day hikes. Day hikes on these somewhat high elevation mountains (5,000-6,500 ft.) will find wildflowers whether the season is early or late. The basic plan is to drive to Ashland Friday afternoon, set up camp (site to be determined), hike Grizzly Peak Saturday, have a campfire meal that night, hike Grouse Gap (Mount Ashland) Sunday morning, and drive home that afternoon. Overnighting in a motel in Ashland would work too. If you are interested, tell Carol right now to be notified as plans develop: theralphs@ humboldt1.com, 707-822-2015 June 25, Saturday. Rare Plant Treasure Hunt for salt marsh species in the Dead Mouse Marsh of Ryan Slough. A salt marsh community formed at Dead Mouse Marsh and now
EcoNews Jun/Jul 2016
provides habitat for several rare species. We hope to locate populations of Pt. Reyes Bird’s-beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre), Western Sand-spurrey (Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis), and Lyngbye’s Sedge (Carex lyngbyei). We may also be able to detect post-bloom Humboldt Bay Owl’s Clover (Castilleja ambigua var. humboldtiensis). Contact: Greg O’Connell, gregoconnell7@gmail.com or 707-599-4887. July 9, Saturday. Plant Walk and Weeding in the Marble Mountains at Norcross Trailhead. Join us to remove invasive plants from a wilderness trailhead and for a walk up Elk Creek. Meet at the Panamnik Building in Orleans at 9 a.m., note however that this destination might change. Cosponsored by Mid-Klamath Watershed Council. Contact: Tanya Chapple, tanya@mkwc.org. Note: camping at a Forest Service campground along the Salmon River post- event will be convenient for the hike out of Forks of Salmon (see next event description). July 10, Sunday. Champion Incense Cedar Hike. Salmon River Restoration Council will lead about a 4-mile, round-trip up Devil’s Canyon, a tributary of the Little North Fork Salmon River, to re-measure the California and national champion Incense Cedar and enjoy the summer wildflowers. Bring warm clothes, rain gear, lots of water, lunch, sunscreen, and bug repellant. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Forks of Salmon Community
Park, or at 9:30 a.m. 10.5 miles upriver at the intersection of Sawyers Bar Rd. and Little North Fork Rd (FS40N51). Contact Mel at 530-462-4665 or habitat@srrc.org. July 30, Saturday. Rare Plant Treasure Hunt for Wolf’s Evening Primrose (Oenothera wolfii) in roadside locations around Humboldt Bay and Trinidad. Oenothera wolfii struggles to survive due to road maintenance activities and hybridization with a similar, non-native species. We’ll attempt to map locations of Oenothera wolfii and its hybrids. Contact Greg O’Connell at gregoconnell7@gmail.com or 707-599-4887. August 6-7, Saturday-Sunday. Del Norte Weekend. From coastal bluffs and wetlands to serpentine ridges, botanical wonders are in every direction in Del Norte County. On this weekend, from headquarters in a campground (to be determined), some people will head out rare plant treasure hunting, while other people head for trail hikes. Rare plant hunters will explore the Gasquet region (and possibly Lake Earl area) looking for several late-blooming taxa with historical records from the areas, including Little-leaf Huckleberry (Vaccinium scoparium), Great Burnett (Sanguisorba officinalis), and several sedge species (Carex spp.). For rare plant details, contact Greg O’Connell at gregoconnell7@gmail.com or 707599-4887. For camping and hiking, contact Carol at 707-8222015 or theralphs@humboldt1.com.
Financial Assistance Available to Lawn-Replacing Landowners Kate Rowe When planting this season, consider replacing water-guzzling lawns with drought tolerant plants. Local landowners can effectively reduce their water footprint by making this switch, and available state rebates help mitigate the cost. Under California’s 2015 Turf Replacement Initiative, single-family households can apply for up to $2,000 in rebates to replace their turf with a drought-tolerant landscape. With the goal of removing ten million square feet of turf, the state is offering these $2 per square foot rebates on a first-come, first serve basis. Applications are available online only and require photos, measurements, and a copy of a recent water or energy bill. After approval, you have four months to complete the conversion before you have to submit five “after” photos of your project. Rebates will be sent eight to ten weeks post-completion. If you will be relying on these rebates to make your project feasible, wait for the initial response first before you begin work. Good news if you rent or lease—you are still eligible for this program if you obtain permission from the landowner. This process appears straightforward and simple, and provides an opportunity to learn more about choosing which native, droughtwww.yournec.org
tolerant plants have the highest likelihood of survival in your yard. Native plants can require little water or care once planted in an appropriate setting, but understanding what will work best can sometimes require planning. CNPS’s website (cnps.org/cnps/grownative/lawn) provides helpful tools for replacing your lawn and the North Coast’s chapter website has great information about locally found plants (northcoastcnps.org). For more information and to get started, visit www.saveourwaterrebates.com.
A local lawn-replacement project in McKinleyville including purple needle grass, many native wildflowers, and a few non-natives. Photo: Donna Wildearth, Garden Visions Landscape Design.
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Klamath
Endangered Species Act
Continued from page 7
Continued from page 8
...a species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have been hard at work to undermine the Act from within. Furthermore, when science and politics don’t align, top agency officials side with politics. Take, for example, the listing of wolverines. Agency scientists found that listing of the wolverine was warranted, as climate change will threaten the persistent deep snow needed for the dens in which they bear young. In a leaked memo, Regional Director Noreen Walsh overruled the strong consensus of her own staff and concluded that climate change would not pose a threat to the species. The actions of D.C. big-wigs let down the rest of the agency. Local agency employees are, by and large, dedicated and thoughtful stewards. (You don’t go in to wildlife biology for the money or prestige.) These employees, who are the on-the-ground experts for many species, are not happy with the direction of the agency. According to a survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists, employees within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service believe that politics plays too big a role in decision-making at the agencies. This failure to make scientifically-grounded decisions has been reflected in recent controversial decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in our own backyard. On April 7, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refused to list the Humboldt marten, a rare carnivore in the weasel family. The Humboldt marten is so rare that it was thought to be extinct in California until it was rediscovered in 1996. Today, the Humboldt marten totals around 100 individuals in California and two small populations in Oregon. Despite the overwhelming evidence that the marten warranted listing, the Service denied the listing claiming that the marten was fine. Rumors and rumblings have it that recommendations to list the marten made by local staff were overruled by regional administrators concerned about the impact the listing would have on the timber industry. EPIC and allies have filed suit over the marten, which is pending in federal court. We need to save the Endangered Species Act, not only from politicians who threaten the Act in Congress but also from the agencies that administer the Act. This shouldn’t be hard. An overwhelming majority of Americans, some 90%, support the law. If we speak out, politicians and bureaucrats will be forced to listen.
Carrots, Sticks & Cooperation = New Dam Deal Early in 2016, PacifiCorp indicated that it could support a stand-alone dam removal agreement if it included liability protection and cost-caps similar to those that would have been provided by the more comprehensive Klamath Agreements. Their decision was undoubtedly influenced by a $250M fund within the 2014 California Water Bond that could be used for dam removal and $200M collected from electricity ratepayers as approved by the California and Oregon Public Utilities Commissions. At the same time, the California Water Board resumed a Clean Water Act certification process for Klamath River dam relicensing. This process had previously been held in abeyance pending the outcome of Congressional legislation, but it would ultimately require PacifiCorp to bring its dams into compliance with existing water quality standards. If it is possible to bring the dams into compliance with water quality standards, PacifiCorp has yet to demonstrate how, and at what cost to its electricity ratepayers. Thanks to cooperation from PacifiCorp, signatories to the 2010 Klamath Agreements reconvened in early 2016 to negotiate the amended KHSA that was signed in April. Klamath Riverkeeper joined the negotiations to amend the KHSA despite not signing the Klamath Agreements in 2010. Un-Dam the Klamath street theater coordinated by the NEC for the All Species Parade, part of the North Country Fair on the Arcata Plaza, 2014 and 2015. Photo: Morgan Corviday.
What’s Next Over the next year, parties to the revised KHSA will work to ensure key benchmarks are met— including the creation of a dam removal entity that will accept title to the dams, filing of a dam surrender application to the FERC, and processing the application. Although support for Klamath River dam removal is stronger than ever, this effort continues to face opposition from people who are either misinformed, or are ideologically opposed to dam removal. Despite ample peer-reviewed scientific evidence to the contrary, Congressman Doug LaMalfa and Siskiyou County supervisors continue to mislead their constituents by asserting that dam removal will harm salmon populations, electricity ratepayers, water quality, and downriver property owners. “We must accept that a certain number of factresistant elected officials will base their opinions on ideology rather than a preponderance of hard scientific evidence,” said Craig Tucker, Natural Resources Policy Advocate for the Karuk Tribe. “At the same time, we will continue to correct misinformation so stakeholders and the general public can make informed decisions.” Communities that depend on a healthy Klamath River for food, jobs, recreation and cultural survival have accomplished what seemed impossible to most outside observers. With continued dedication of diverse stakeholders, the Klamath River will be wild and free by 2020.
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Honduras
McClure
Continued from page 8 ...other consultant, and that donation to McClure’s local election campaign is now subject of a Fair Political Practices Commission investigation. On May 14, Lopez exposed McClure’s unreported overnight stay at the Malibu winery villa of Don Schmitz, a consultant whose website touts that he has represented over a thousand land development projects as evidence of his “expansive, cultivated, and effective working relationships” with Coastal Commissioners. One of Schmitz’s clients is David “The Edge” Evans of U2, whose controversial Malibu complex of five hillside mansions was approved by the Commission in 2015. After reportedly unleashing a “jet stream of undiluted profanity and invective,” McClure made clear that she sees nothing wrong with failing to report her stay at Schmitz’s villa in 2011 or 2012—she told Lopez she couldn’t remember exactly (Los Angeles Times: Cover your ears: Coastal Commissioner Martha McClure’s on the phone). Since the firing of Charles Lester behind closed doors, state legislators have introduced two bills designed to increase transparency of Coastal Commission proceedings. A ban on ex-parte communications – private meetings with developers and other interested parties – is the subject of a pending bill in the state legislature (SB 1190). Another bill would increase reporting requirements for lobbyists to the Coastal Commission (AB 2002). McClure was appointed to the Commission in 2011. She quickly earned a reputation for failing to respond to calls and emails from coastal advocates in Humboldt County, including the controversial
Caltrans proposal for an interchange at Highway 101 and Indianola Cutoff. She has been vocal about defending her practice of listening to developer concerns in order to assess the merits of the project and bristles at the ActCoastal 2015 Coastal Commission Vote Chart, which gives her the worst environmental voting score of any current Commissioners (see http:// www.actcoastal.org/wiki/2015_Annual_Coastal_ Commission_Vote_Chart:_A_Summary) McClure is one of four Commissioners appointed by the governor. She serves at the pleasure of the Governor, meaning she can be removed from her position on the Coastal Commission at any time. In March, North Coast environmental groups, including Friends of Del Norte, NEC, Humboldt Baykeeper, and Humboldt Surfrider, wrote a letter to Governor Jerry Brown calling for her removal. McClure is up for re-election to the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors on June 7. If the voters reject her re-election bid, she will lose her seat on the Coastal Commission, which requires that she be a local elected official.
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Continued from page 12 “Berta was a kind, humble person and a fierce activist,” said Konrad Fisher, the Director of Klamath Riverkeeper who previously worked with Berta organizing protests and a boycott of the World Bank. “I’m sad and ashamed that my government continues to support leaders in Latin America who murder indigenous activists.” ...killed in Honduras between 2010 and 2015 for taking a stand against destructive dam, mining, logging and agriculture projects. The Honduran government is under increasing international scrutiny for what many characterize as a culture of repression and impunity linked to international exploitation of natural resources. The World Bank has also received criticism for continuing to fund hydroelectric projects such as the Aqua Zarca dam that violate indigenous peoples’ rights, leading to violent conflicts and destruction of indigenous cultures. In 2009, the Honduran military removed democratically elected President Mel Zelaya. In 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the U.S. effort to “normalize” relations with the new Honduran government. In her memoir, Hard Choices, Clinton wrote, “I spoke with my counterparts around the hemisphere...we strategized on a plan to restore order in Honduras and ensure that free and fair elections could be held quickly and legitimately, which would render the question of Zelaya moot.” After the 2009 military coup, the Honduran government awarded concessions for 47 dams to power hundreds of new mining projects in just one law, without consulting the indigenous and campesino communities that rely on the rivers for food and water, as called for by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2014, Cáceres said on the Argentine TV program Resumen Latinoamericano, [translated] “We’re coming out of a coup that we can’t put behind us. We can’t reverse it,” Cáceres said. “Hillary Clinton, in her book, Hard Choices, practically said what was going to happen in Honduras. This demonstrates the meddling of North Americans in our country… And the international community accepted this, even though we warned this was going to be very dangerous and that it would permit a barbarity, not only in Honduras but in the rest of the continent.” Many international observers condemn the U.S. government’s continuing role in supporting and funding the post-coup Honduran government, which has been described as waging a bloody war on the Honduran people in support of international development corporations and in complete absence of participatory democracy. For more on this tragic repeat of 20th Century American foreign policy, visit The Nation, Democracy Now!, and other independent news sources.
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THE EULACHON Thaleichthys pacificus Tom Wheeler Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) are small, silvery fish within the smelt family. Eulachon are anadromous, meaning that like salmon, they breed in freshwater but spend most of their adult lives in the ocean. After three to five years in the sea, eulachon return to spawn from late-winter through midspring. Hatchlings born in freshwater are carried by swift flowing waters back to the ocean. Historically, eulachon could be found along the coast from the southern Bering Sea to Northern California. Here in Northern California, eulachon were commonly found in the Smith River, Klamath River, Redwood Creek and Mad River, although they are nearly extinct in California today. The eulachon goes by many names (savior fish, quat-ra, hooligan, oolichan) but is perhaps best known as the “candlefish,” because if dried and strung on a wick, the fatty fish can burn like a candle. The eulachon is prized by indigenous communities of the
Pacific Coast for its high oil content. Processing the oil is an art form, one that is handed down through generations. The length of time the fish is left to decompose determines the flavor of the oil. The oil was a historic trading good for coastal tribes who would transport the oil across well-worn paths, known as “grease trails,” to interior tribes. Eulachon are a forage fish—a common prey species for nearly all predatory creatures along the coast. They provide important ecosystem functions by transferring energy from primary or secondary producers, such as plankton, to higher trophic levels, like larger fish, coastal seabirds, sea lions and whales. Not all is well for the eulachon. Eulachon have historically had unpredictable boom-and-bust cycles. Local newspaper accounts indicate that 1919, 1963, 1967-69, and 1973 were banner years for eulachon in the Klamath River and Redwood Creek. Because of these large population swings, it took a while before anyone noticed that the fish were not bouncing back as they once had. Today, populations in the Klamath River, Redwood Creek and the Mad River are likely close to extirpated. It was native tribes who first took notice. In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service received a petition from the Cowlitz Tribe—which takes its name from the Salish word for eulachon—to list the Washington, Oregon and California populations of eulachon under the Endangered Species Act. In
2010, the Service listed the species under the Act. What happened to the eulachon is a matter of debate. Because eulachon have never been an important commercial fishery outside of tribal uses, there has been little research. Climate change has likely played some part, changing the ocean and river conditions that the eulachon depend on. Poorly managed ocean shrimp fishing may have played a role too, killing large numbers of eulachon as an accidental bycatch, tipping the species in steep decline. Human mismanagement of habitat also likely played a role. Sediment pollution, which in coastal waters is often caused by poorly maintained forest logging roads, likely affects eulachon by smothering eggs. Runoff and chemical pollution affect eulachon mortality. Dams have blocked off habitat and have changed flows and sediment patterns. Locally, levees in lower Redwood Creek and sedimentation are thought to have negatively altered the habitat to the point that eulachon may no longer be able to live in its waters. Will eulachon return to Northern California? Listing the eulachon under the Endangered Species Act has resulted in new interest and funding for research. New technologies, like LED lights strung on trawl fishing lines, reduced eulachon bycatch by 90 percent in experimental trials. The removal of the Klamath dams (see page 4) will help return natural flow regimes to the Klamath River. Many salmon habitat restoration projects, like removing forest roads and properly sizing culverts, are likely to help the eulachon as well.
Above left: An eulachon in a human hand, to show size. Photo: Watershed_Watch, Flickr.com, CC.
2016 Birdathon Wrap-up Participants had a great time trying to spot as many birds as possible in a 24-hour period during the Second Annual Tim McKay Birdathon. Here is a partial list of some of the species reported: Gray Flycatcher, White-Throated Swift, Purple Martin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, Fox Sparrow, Hermit Warbler, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Acorn Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole, Band-tailed Pigeon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Northern Pygmy Owl, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, Nashville Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Greentailed Towhee, Pacific Loon, Greater White-fronted Goose, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Barn Owl, and a Black Oystercatcher (first record at the Arcata Marsh!). We are happy to report that the 2016 Birdathon was a successful fundraising event for the NEC and Redwood Region Audubon! Donations are still coming in. Prizes will be awarded once we have the final numbers. Many thanks to the participants, prize donors, and pledgers! Yellow warbler at the Arcata Marsh, May 6, 2016 (Birdathon). Photo: Rob Fowler.
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www.yournec.org
Jun/Jul 2016
EcoNews
Ringtail Cat Word S e a rch D Z D X J I K B P Z T Z J N K
S E M I A R I D E A O K I E P
O T N M B Q Q W C E I A K R C
CLIMB FOREST INSECTS MAMMAL
C G R E F S E L B H T I O F P
B L F G T W I E A N X T U I F
P M I S R A A Y U Q E J N F G
I E N M T L E O U C N D D V C
MOUNTAIN NOCTURNAL PROTECTED RACCOON
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W Q E G B C M R T N G O E N J
Y K N N F P E E H C E P R P C
V I D O O R D S B T M M F C H
R V L O R A B U N F T Y U N U
RINGTAIL CAT SEMI ARID SHARP CLAWS
by Sarah Marnick
Ringtail in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: RobertBody.com
THE KIDS’ PAGE
Did you know a ringtail cat isn’t really a cat? G F K R L A M M A M X V U K V
Ringtail cats are in the raccoon family—they aren’t cats at all. Ringtail cats get their name from the markings on their fur. They are small mammals, only measuring 12 inches from their nose to the base of their tail, and only weigh about two to three pounds. Their tail is 14-17 inches long with black and white alternating bands—a ringtail. They have large ears and a pointy muzzle with big black eyes.
THREATENED UNDERFUR
Ringtails eat a variety of foods such as fruit, birds, nuts, fish, mice, and insects. Their predators include great horned owls, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats. by Sarah Marnick
G W D C E H Q B G I Z Q R S V
I N M C S S X Z U E B D F L X
B G W A T L A N R U T C O N H
Ringtail cats can be found from southern Oregon to Southern Mexico, including Texas and Louisiana. They live in forests, canyons, and semi-arid rocky areas and den in cliffs, rock crevices, and tree hallows. They have very sharp claws, which help them climb very steep cliffs to get to their den. Ringtails only spend a few nights in a den before they move on to the next one. Ringtails are nocturnal and live alone except during breeding season. The male brings the female food while she is pregnant. A pair of ringtails have two to four cubs a year.
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Saturday
JUNE 4 9:30 - 10 am 10 - 11am 11 - 12 pm
Meet & Greet Program Open House
Wharfinger Building 1 Marina Way, Eureka Family-friendly, supervised activities: face painting, photo booth, and more!
Program Topics
• Humboldt Bay Trail updates • Local trail project info from Arcata to Fortuna and beyond • Volunteer and trail stewardship opportunities • Discover new trails For more information visit: Facebook.com/HumboldtTrailsCouncil
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