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PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

CALIFORNIA TODAY
Newsletter of the Planning & Conservation League

March 2008

Volume 38, Number 1

Jan White

Will Rogers State Park - Proposed to Close

Governors Budget Proposes State Park Closures


By: Traci Verardo, California State Parks Foundation

On January 10, the Governor released the states fiscal year 08-09 budget. Chief among his solutions for addressing the states budget problems is a draconian proposal to shut down 48 state parks and reduce lifeguard staffing at 16 state beaches in Santa Cruz, Orange and San Diego Counties. The 48 parks proposed for closure span the state and include 17 state parks, 17 state historic parks and museums, 3 state beaches, 9 state recreation areas and 2 state reserves. This action would have the affect of shutting down 17 percent of the state park system and leaving California beachgoers on their own during popular summer seasons. And for all of that pain, the state gains very minimal revenue savings - about $9 million - since state parks are so woefully underfunded already. This proposal will have real and immediate consequences for millions of Californians who rely on state parks for recreation, fitness, education, and connecting with nature and the outdoors. It will mean a decline in the management of important natural, cultural and historic resources that are part of Californias history and the fabric of our state. And it will mean that our world-class state beaches will become less safe and less protected during peak seasons. The Governors proposal is simply unacceptable, and must be rejected. The California State Parks Foundation is working with PCL and organizations around the state to fight all park closures and recently launched the Save

Our State Parks campaign. As part of the campaign, you can make your voice heard on this important environmental assault. Visit www.SaveStateParks.org for more information.
By: Kim Delfino, Defenders of Wildlife

Other Budget Cuts

The Governors proposed budget had other implications too. For example, in this budget, the already underfunded Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sees its Biodiversity Conservation Program -- DFGs core wildlife conservation program -- cut by 40%, seriously hampering important programs such as conservation planning, permitting, and endangered species conservation. Even worse, the reductions to DFGs enforcement program will cut 38 game wardens, at a loss of 10% of the warden force in California. The Governor is also recommending a fee on homeowners insurance policies to fund Cal Fire, the state agency responsible for combating wild fires. PCL and our other partners are pressing the Legislature to ensure that land use decisions better account for risks such as fire and flood by requiring developments in the most at-risk areas to pay a higher fee than developments in low risk areas. This type of common sense policy can be a win-win for our state, both helping to bolster the general fund and to move our state in the direction of making better land use and planning decisions.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Dear Friends,
CALIFORNIA TODAY (ISBN 0739-8042) is the quarterly newsletter of the PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND THE PCL FOUNDATION
1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 PHONE: 916-444-8726 FAX: 916-448-1789

E-MAIL ADDRESS: pclmail@pcl.org WEB ADDRESS: http://www.pcl.org Membership to PCL is $35 a year and includes a subscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes for CALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office: 1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEES


DAVID HIRSCH, Chairman RALPH B. PERRY III, Vice Chairman DANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-Treasurer COKE HALLOWELL, Trustee GERALD H. MERAL, Trustee

PCL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE


BILL CENTER, President KEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice President SAGE SWEETWOOD, President Emeritus JOHN VAN DE KAMP, President Emeritus BILL LEIMBACH, Secretary-Treasurer

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS


ELISABETH BROWN JAN CHATTEN-BROWN PHYLLIS FABER DOROTHY GREEN RICK HAWLEY FRAN LAYTON DOUG LINNEY DAVID MOGAVERO STEPHANIE PINCETL LYNN SADLER TERESA VILLEGAS TERRY WATT BILL YEATES

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS


Big Sur Land Trust Breathe California, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails California Association of Local Conservation Corps California Oak Foundation California Trout Greenspace - The Cambria Land Trust Golden Gate Audubon Society The Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. Mono Lake Committee Mountain Lion Foundation Sierra Nevada Alliance Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation Train Riders Association of California The Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFF


TRACI SHEEHAN, Executive Director TINA ANDOLINA, Legislative Director BARB BYRNE, Water Policy Assistant EVON CHAMBERS, Water Policy Assistant REN GUERRERO, Project Manager - Legislative Advocate CHARLOTTE HODDE, Water Policy Specialist DR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project Manager MINDY McINTYRE, Water Program Manager JONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy Advisor GARY A. PATTON, General Counsel GERALD PEREZ, Administrative Director JUSTIN SAYDELL, Sierra Nevada Americorp Member MATT VANDER SLUIS, Global Warming Project Manager CHRIS WARD, Database Manager MELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant

Our 2008 Annual Symposium was titled: State of Change: How Californians Can Change the World. Aptly named, it signifies that together we can change not only California but the rest of the country. How will we do this? Through the collective actions and voices of each of us in Sacramento and in Washington D.C. Carolina Simunovic is just one of the folks fighting a heroic battle to protect the health of the children and the communities in the Central Valley. In 2005, nearly 1-in-3 children in Fresno County were diagnosed with asthma, almost twice the state average and the highest rate of any California county. And in that same year, nearly 20% of Fresno County residents overall were diagnosed with asthma. The activists and the network of Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ) have made some big gains in working to turn this tide around. Last year they helped passed SB 719 legislation to expand the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District so that a scientist and physician could also sit on the board. While this seems like a common-sense measure and something everyone could support, it wasnt. They were up against big guns mainly the Valleys large agricultural and oil interests, as well as their political allies who had been successful in preventing some of the many needed reforms. Local residents and community leaders including doctors, farmers, laborers, faith leaders, and clean air activists pounded the halls of the Capitol in support for the bill. Many, if not most of the volunteers visiting the Capitol had never lobbied before. And after years of work, there were tears of joy and happiness when they witnessed the 41st vote go up on the board a new cadre of citizen lobbyists was born. Just this past January, Carolina and CVAQ were honored at the Annual Symposium and given an award. There they told the story of the long battle and the exhilarating feeling of the last vote and the 41st light on the board. I didnt even need to look up to see the board, said PCL staffer, Ren Guerrero, I could feel the energy and knew that we had it. Coke Hallowell and Ren Guerrero present Carolina with the award. As a member organization of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, the Planning and Conservation League was involved in pursuing this change to San Joaquin Air Board for five years. Its just the beginning - we will continue to work and fight for communities in the Central Valley and across our state. After all, its just the first step in changing the world. Sincerely, Traci Sheehan Executive Director

California Affiliate National Wildlife Federation

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Keith Wagner

Mono Lake Committee Continues Protection of the Lake


By: Geoff McQuilkin, Mono Lake Committee

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) began exporting water from the Mono Basin in 1941, from four of Mono Lakes tributaries. Forty years of those excessive diversions completely dried up the creeks, which caused the Lake to drop 45 vertical feet, lose half its volume, and double in salinity. The ecosystem was on the edge of collapse when David Gaines founded the Mono Lake Committee in 1978. The fledgling Committee, along with the Audubon Society, made a bold move: they filed suit against DWP in a classic David vs. Goliath matchup. The Committee argued that DWP had violated the public trust doctrine, an ancient law that states that all people must be able to enjoy resources like Mono Lake, not just the water rights holders. In 1983, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Committee. In 1994, after further litigation and extensive hearings, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced a decision that Mono Lake and the Sierra. would offer a balance: DWP would still be allowed to take some water from Mono Basin streams, but it would have to let the lake rise 18 vertical feet to an ecologically sound level. In addition, DWP was ordered to restore much of the habitat damaged along the creeks. That year, Mono Lake began to rise. The Committee now has 16,000 members all over the world, many of whom visit the lake every year. Rush, Parker, Walker, and Lee Vining Creeks have water flowing year-round underneath lush recovering forests of willow, cottonwood, and Jeffrey pine. The Committee stays at the forefront of wise water policy

The effort to rehydrate Mono Lake was successful.

and land management in the Mono Basin. During the summer months, the Committee leads tours by canoe and at the lakeshore, and hosts hundreds of inner-city Los Angeles youth during week-long camps. The Committees Mono Basin Field Station provides housing for visiting scientists and researchers, and is booked to capacity several years in advance. Amidst changing political environments, increasing development pressure, and growing concerns about water supply for Los Angeles, the Mono Lake Committee has stood fast, continuing their mission of protection, restoration, and education on behalf of Mono Lake. And they plan to stand fast for at least 30 more! John Van de Kamp served two terms as Californias Attorney General, and during that time, John reorganized the Department of Justice, creating a new Public Rights Division. Under his leadership, the Attorney General became the states strongest and most visible advocate for the environment, and for the enforcement of Californias environmental protection statutes. After leaving the Attorney Generals Office, John not only became President of the California State Bar, but also he joined the PCL Board of Directors There he has continued his campaign for environmental protection. John has just stepped down after two terms as PCL Board President, and his impact on PCL can hardly be overstated. All members of the Board, and the PCL and PCLF staff, commend John Van de Kamp for his tireless efforts. We were privileged to have him lead PCL over the past two years, and are happy he will be continuing on the Board of Directors as President Emeritus!

A Tribute to John Van de Kamp

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CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Keith Wagner

Mono Lake Committee

This year the Mono Lake Committee celebrates its 30th anniversary-three decades of protecting Mono Lake, restoring its tributary streams, and educating countless visitors about wise water use. Back in 1978, the year of the Committees founding, it seemed like a long shot for the organization to survive even a few years, let alone to 2008!

Symposium Injects Momentum into the Movement


By: Matt Vander Sluis

Thanks to you, on January 12th we packed the Sacramento Convention Center with a sold-out crowd for the Planning and Conservation Leagues annual Environmental Legislative Symposium. Our state of change theme resonated throughout the day with hopeful messages about Californias ability to re-invent itself and re-shape the world. Attendees were treated to several thought-provoking keynote speakers, including Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, Geof Syphers of Sonoma Mountain Village, and State Senator Darrell Steinberg. Workshops and panels throughout the day provided concrete strategies about how both activists and environmental professionals can improve the states approach to the environment.

Environmental experts like Sydney Coatsworth (EDAW) and Terry Roberts (State Clearinghouse) kept attorneys abreast of the latest developments through continuing legal education workshops, replete with legal background materials. This year we also more than doubled attendance at our evening awards ceremony and banquet, at which we honored the Winnemem Wintu tribe, Assembly Member Lois Wolk, Bill Center, PG&E, and the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition. Thanks to everyone who participated for making our 2008 Environmental Legislative Symposium a resounding success! To keep you informed about the event weve posted the handouts and presentations on our website, view them at: www.pcl.org/events/2008proceedings.html.

Some of the comments we received...


Please convey my great appreciation to the PCL Board and staff members for an outstanding symposium. The topics, substantive material and speakers were interesting, engaging and inspiring! I have recommended the symposium to many people since returning home and hope to attend next year.
Keith Wagner

Thanks to all the organizers for their hard work impressive job. No glitches on the receiving end, anyway. Just keep it up! Sorry I had to leave early this was great! Well done, keep up the good work! Lots of variety options in sessions, and the keynote speakers were exceptional.

Attorney General Jerry

Brown.

Keith Wagner Lieutenant Gover nor John Van de Kamp and after the morning keynote. ke hands John Garamendi sha

Keith Wagner

The Hot Topics in CEQA Litigation (MCLE) session brought to light some important legal issues and had great speakers too!

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors


Sequoia Sponsors ($10,000+)
The Trust for Public Land

Grasslands Sponsors ($500 - $999)


Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo BP California Association of Professional Scientists Chatten-Brown and Carstens Conservation Clarity Cynthia Hawley, attorney and Richard Hawley Far Western Anthropological Research Group Inc. Inland Empire Utilities Agency Jean Driscoll John Van de Kamp Johnson and Hanson LLP LA Conservation Corps Marin Conservation League Mogavero Notestine Associates National Wildlife Federation Phyllis Faber Restoration Resources Rossmann and Moore LLP Tahoe Graphics Terry Watt Water ReUse

Oak Woodlands Sponsors ($5,000 - $9,999)


Kaiser Permanente Foundation PG&E State Water Resources Control Board

Joshua Tree Sponsors ($2,500 - $4,999)


Admail West Breathe California Sacramento-Emigrant Trails Calthorpe Associates Environment Now Metropolitan Water District Mono Lake Committee Monterey Bay Conservancy Sierra Nevada Alliance SMUD Sonoma County Water Agency Water for California

Acorn Sponsors ($100)


California Coastal Coalition Defenders of Wildlife Great Valley Center Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch Ella Baker Center Laguna Canyon Foundation San Diego River Park Foundation Sierra Club California Transportation and Land Use Coalition

California Poppy Sponsors ($1,000 - $2,499)


California Association of Local Conservation Corps California Coastal Protection Network California Oak/California Wildlife Foundations Camp Lotus Carol and Bill Leimbach Citizens United for Resources and the Environment Dangermond Group East Bay Municipal Utility District Gallo Winery Iron Horse Vineyards Kenyon Yeates Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP Peter Weiner Remy, Thomas, Moose and Manley Riverside Land Conservancy Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger LLP Sonoma Mountain Village

Other Sponsors (Below $500)


Environmental Section of the California State Bar Frey Wines MTV Environmental Consulting Price Consulting

Thanks Again!

ra during Secretary A.G. Kawamupanel. the Sustainable Ag

Keith Wagner

Visit our website for more information on the Symposium including PowerPoints and handouts: www.PCL.org

Keith Wagner

Keith Wagner

PCL Board member Terry during the General Plan Watt session.

PCL Board memb Dorothy Green taler about her new books k.

The crowd gathers for the general session and first keynote.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Keith Wagner

PCL Confronts Big Water Challenges With Water Solutions Package


By: Tina Andolina and Mindy McIntyre

The recent ecosystem crash in the Bay Delta Estuary and the growing awareness of climate change impacts on California water systems demonstrate the need for effective and comprehensive water policy in California. The Planning and Conservation League is ready to address those challenges by influencing and advancing a comprehensive package of water legislation in 2008. Our legislative work this session focuses on adapting water use to climate change, minimizing the greenhouse gases generated by water use, informing land use decisions, advancing sensible groundwater policy and solving the crisis in the Delta. The Water Efficiency and Security Act While California is a leader in our energy conservation policies, our statewide water efficiency policies are not producing the same level of results. In fact, water demand in Northern California is growing at an alarming rate. Given our significant environmental water needs, and the impacts of climate change, this climbing demand simply is not sustainable. PCL is working closely with Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) to ensure that demand in California stops its upward climb, and remains neutral into the future. This legislation will be modeled on successful energy policies that have kept Californias per-capita energy use flat since the 1970s. The Climate Change and Water Resources Protection Act While scientists are learning more everyday about the impact of climate change on Californias water resources, this critical information is left out of many state and regional water management plans. PCL co-sponsored AB 224 (Wolk) last session, which would require existing information on climate change to be incorporated into important water planning documents. While AB 224 garnered significant support from environmental organizations and water agencies alike, it failed to pass the Senate Appropriations committee last year. Fortunately, Assemblymember Wolk (D-Davis) is committed to this issue and has re-introduced this bill this year. Ensuring water is incorporated into land use decisions Senator Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) successfully authored SB 221, the show me the water bill in 2001. That legislation required that secure water supplies be identified for all developments over 500 units, prior to approval of those

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New developments bring additional demands for water.

developments. This year, PCL is working with Senator Kuehl to review the effectiveness of SB 221, and perhaps to update the bill for 2008. Working Toward a Sustainable Bay-Delta The recent listing of the longfin smelt under the California Endangered Species Act demonstrates, once again, that the current management of the Delta and its water resources is simply unsustainable. PCL is closely following several legislative efforts that seek to implement new, more sustainable governance and management policies for the Delta. In particular, PCL will follow legislation introduced by working with Senator Mike Machado (D-Stockton), Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis), and Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). We are working with these legislators to ensure that the Delta ecosystem, community and watershed are protected and restored. Advancing Sensible Groundwater Policy Groundwater policy has always been an important and contentious issue in California. Millions of Californians rely on groundwater for a portion or all of their water supplies. Yet, we do not have accurate information about the quality or amount of our groundwater resources in many regions of the state. PCL working with Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) on legislation that will give direction to our existing groundwater task force so that sensible policy solutions to Californias pressing groundwater problems can be identified and implemented in a timely manner. Together with our strong authors, PCL intends to transform California water policy for Californias future. We will keep you posted as these bills move through the legislature.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

CEQA Workshops Scheduled Around the State


By: Justin Saydell

The PCL Foundation recently launched a new series of day-long workshops scheduled in communities from Eureka to San Diego. These workshops help the public understand the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and participate effectively in the decisions that impact the publics health and the environment. These workshops are based upon the Community Guide to CEQA, authored by PCL Board Member and CEQA attorney Bill Yeates. The Guide allows readers to clearly understand the entire CEQA process and provides a backdrop for public participation in a local and statewide context. The revised Guide and the corresponding workshops include a special focus on global warming, the subsequent issues facing California, and the potential remedial affects

through the utilization of the CEQA process. If you are interested in learning the ins and outs of CEQA, this is a great opportunity for you to become knowledgeable about the process and the venues in which the public can participate. Be ready with your The Sacramento CEQA Workshop last November. questions and be ready to network with others interested in this monumental law geared towards March 1 Diamond Bar public participation and state agency April 5 Monterey Bay accountability. People attending the May 17 Santa Clarita workshop will participate in an June Sacramento informative presentation and receive July Tulare County a copy of the Community Guide to the CEQA and other helpful materials. For more information or to To register for a CEQA workshop schedule a workshop in your area, or order the Community Guide to CEQA, visit www.PCLFoundation.org. contact Justin Saydell by phone at 916-313-4506 or by email at jsaydell@pcl.org.

Workshop Schedule

Hunters and Anglers Taking Action on Climate Change


By: Matt Little, National Wildlife Federation

As you may know, National Wildlife Federation is a large umbrella organization that includes a diversity of conservation interests. Since our founding in 1936, NWF has had a very close relationship with hunters and anglers, who started the conservation movement in response to threats to wildlife and their habitats. Today, NWF continues to partner with these groups to make a difference for wildlife. Last year, our hunter/angler affiliates passed a resolution asking NWF to join them to protect against the greatest wildlife threat of this century: climate change. Sportsmen and women across the country are seeing impacts ranging from more intense droughts and floods, increased fires, and changes in wildlife numbers, habitats and migration patterns. In response, we have created opportunities for hunters and anglers across the country to make a difference. First, we have a letter before Congress asking them to pass legislation that will reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050, as well as create a source of state funding to help wildlife survive the impacts. This letter has garnered unprecedented support among the hunting and fishing community. Currently, close to 600 traditional sportsmen

organizations have joined us on the letter, including the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Coastside Fishing Club, Grasslands District Duck Hunting Clubs, California Trout, Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, and Izaak Walton League! If youd like to learn more about this effort, or see the webpage we have created specifically for hunters and anglers who care about climate change, check out: www.TargetGlobalWarming.org. Also, in collaboration with PCL and our sportsmen partners, we are writing a report on the impacts of climate change on California resources and habitats critical to wildlife. The report will be used to spread awareness of the issues among hunting and fishing communities in California, and will call for local, state, and federal actions to solve the problem. Stay tuned as we plan to release this report with PCL in March. As we reach out to new partners, we create a stronger community to effect change. Thank you for all your efforts to include hunters and anglers in the fight for common sense solutions to climate change!
Photo by: John & Karen Hollingsworth

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Gerald Perez

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION


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VISIT US ON THE WEB: www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

Rita Singer 1915-2005


By: Traci Sheehan

Rita Singer worked for the Department of Water Resources from 1978 until her retirement in 2001. She had no plans to retire. To some, it appeared that she would work forever. And she almost got her way - her retirement came at the age of 85, and only after a sudden stroke and illness. Rita graduated from law school in 1938 and at that time she was one of only two women to graduate in that class. In the 1960s she was a lawyer for the Department of Interior Office of the Solicitor. Dealing with engineers in those days was a learning experience, Rita once said. They didnt think a lady lawyer could understand arcane concepts. Beginning in the 1970s, in her role as a lawyer for DWR, Rita worked on a variety of issues including the Bay Delta and water law. She was known for her tenacity and her ability to call it just like she saw it. Rita was an advocate for both the environment and womens rights she was a director of the League of Conservation Voters and president of the Sacramento Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Ritas love for the environment lives on today, as a Legacy Supporter for PCL. If you are interested in naming PCL as a beneficiary to your estate let us know.

Get a secure hold on the future

For generations to come


Thoughtful estate planning includes considering: Your own financial future and retirement Your familys financial security A safe and healthy environment for future generations To receive free information about how thoughtful estate planning can benefit you, your family and the environment, please call Traci Sheehan at 916-313-4511 or contact her by email at tsheehan@pcl.org.

Our Website Got a Face Lift - Check it Out!


Please visit our new and improved website. Our goal was to make it easy to access, to find information to and stay informed! Please send any comments you may have to mschlotterbeck@pcl.org.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

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