SIGHTINGS for Oct/Nov 2024
By John Hankins
We are here to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the planet (Sierra Club’s motto), despite turmoil in the political and environmental realms.
Check out the stories and links below on what happened in the last two months.
Join us by getting involved and have fun too. We offer activities and activism and free hikes. See Group News box on page 3 for contacts and links where you can get involved or enjoy our free hikes via links on page 5, including via MeetUp and internet lists. If you’d like to be an official hike leader, contact our hike teacher Gerry Ching at: gching@cox.net
Donations help a lot, and the money stays here at home doing good stuff. Donate here:
www.sierraclub.org/donate/1000
Aug. 1: New conservation strategy to protect Montane Forests in Southern California launched, designed
to bolster the resilience of these ‘sky islands’ located at higher-elevations with climate-informed actions. Check it out here:
Southern California Montane Forests Project | Climate Science Alliance
Aug 1: Refugio State Beach is now open after being closed for repairs since the February storm caused numerous trees to fall and a sinkhole near the entrance. Reservations made months ago are honored and pent-up demand has scores of campers glad to be back.
Aug 5: Mission Creek Restoration Project at Oak Park starts and aims to enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, aesthetics, and flood control. Key activities include removing concrete structures and invasive plants, restoring the creek channel, and planting native vegetation. Construction is expected to be completed by October, with plant and tree installation occurring in the fall. Located along W. Alamar Ave from W Junipero St. to Tallant Rd.
Aug 9: “Monumental” was the Word from Violet Sage Walker, chair of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, when the CA Coastal Commission gave its blessing to the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary proposal that would encompass between 4,400 and 7,600 square miles of ocean waters and submerged lands off the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. “It’s a huge milestone in the 10-year-long campaign and 40-plus years of work by our Central Coast community,” said Gianna Patchen from the Sierra Club’s Santa Lucia Chapter, which is fully supported by our own SB-Ventura Chapter.
.Aug 9: Heal the Ocean is going north and inland to clean out the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria rivers, due to encampments and debris. The project entails drones and GIS surveys and partnership with the county of Santa Barbara. The aerial Survey and GIS map is provided by Harry Rabin, whose work is well-known with HTO to stop oil leaks off Summerland, many left abandoned decades ago. A grant from the Rose Foundation is helping to pay for the work.
Aug 22: Sea Level rise estimates along the California Coast are now available thanks to Cal State University-Channel Islands students and faculty. The study found that Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Diego counties will lose the most beach parking compared to other coastal communities in California. Check out the details here:
Aug 29: Rincon Island hearing to consider certification of the Final EIR and, if the Final EIR is certified, act on the proposed Project at the next scheduled meeting of the CA Coastal Commission.
Sept 6: NEW Survey Alert! Ventura has released the latest version of the Land Use Map for our General Plan Update after getting hundreds of public comments. Visit https://bit.ly/3APZ2kW to view the map and share your thoughts today! #Ventura #GeneralPlanUpdate #OurVisionOurFuture
Sept 7: A “renewal story” for gray wolf: A hunter killed the last gray wolf in California in 1924. Since then, the predator has been absent from the Golden State until 2011 when a young wolf from Oregon crossed state lines. By 2015, a new wolf pack was established. Now, there are 44 gray wolves in the wild, state officials said. Environmentalists call it a success while ranchers are alarmed. (From Bay Area News Group)
Sept 8: Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation has completed a 133.33 kW solar system to offset power consumption for concerts and daily operations. The system will create about 75% of the energy consumed by the facilities year-round. Other initiatives include hand-sorting event waste, diverting 75% from landfills, 100% reusable cups, and 85% of concession items sourced organically.
Sept 12: Groundbreaking for a new Goleta Trail Depot at 27 S. La Patera Lane. The City aims to increase train ridership, improve connections to bus transit, support transit services to and from the Santa Barbara Airport and UC Santa Barbara, and introduce new bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Mayor Paula Perotte said, “By supporting travel by train, this station will reduce congestion on our crowded highways . . . attract more people who will patronize our visitor services . . . and contribute to Goleta meeting California’s climate action goals.”
Sept 15: 20th anniversary for the Los Padres ForestWatch. It was its first-ever “Family Fall Festival.” Held at La Patera Stow House in Goleta.
Sept 6: Climate Action Workshop in Ojai, sponsored by the Ojai Green Coalition to map out what’s happening now, what’s missing and launch an Ojai Climate Collaborative. Check it out: https://ojaivalleygreencoalition.org/
Sept 17: Oil suit settlement between Plains Pipeline and Venoco was reached after eight years (!) but remains confidential (Editor’s note: That’s what should be leaking, not oil). Venoco sued the pipeline owner for $12.4 million asserting Plains was negligent in maintaining the pipeline, which failed on May 19, 2015, known as the Refugio Oil spill. Estimated oil that spilled is 142,800 U.S. gallons and settlements were in the range of $257 million. At least 56,000 barrels of oil reached the ocean where four marine protected areas are located.
Sept 19: Gasoline leak at the Sinclair gas station at 2121 E. Harbor Boulevard, Ventura. The leak was found to have impacted the sewer line along Monmouth Way. Vapors were observed in the sewer line, prompting emergency responses, including evacuation orders and warnings on Sept. 19 and 22. Investigations are ongoing.
Sept 26: Clean Car Future was the pitch to all of us to join a Community Input Session in Oxnard, hosted by CFROG, Community Environmental Council and CA Air Resources Board. Public input was encouraged as the state is looking at regulation to reduce pollution from Gas Cars and favoring zero-emission vehicles. More details here: info@cfrog.org or cleancars@arb.ca.gov
Oct 2: Clean Air Pledge, by Conejo Open Space Foundation, which lists the most common things an individual can do to clear the air. Just takes a minute, check out the pledge at: