Winter 2002 Watershed Newsletter, Cambria Land Trust
Content
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A F o r e s ti n a S e e d preservegenetic New program
will
Cambria's Montereypineforest a precious resource all who live andvisit to here,is imperileddue to continueddevelopment pitch canker,an intoand duc€dfungaldisease. Already nearlyhalf the nativeforestandits associaied genepool havebeenlostto thesetwo facton. Greerspace is curmfly growing nativeMontereypinesthat arepotentially resistantto disease this througha grantreceived from California Releaf . However, Greenspacehas begun a new project which will insure that the genetic diversity of Cambria's forest will not be lost as more trees fall to pitch canker and urban development. With a gnnt ficm dreGenetic Resources Conservation Programoftlre Univenity ofCalifomia atDavis,Greenspace has beguna methodicalseedcollectionprogramwhich will enableusto caphretheexistinggenepoolandsaveit forfuture corseivationefforb in our forest. At the completionof this progranl whichbeganinconjrurctionwithourRekafproject Greenspace possess first and only systernatic will the collection of geneticrnaierialfrom the CambriaMonter€ypine forest. One of the mostcriticalconshainb ofttris projectis time,aseachdaymoreandmoretres are lost. The sooner the project is completed, the more comprehensive will be the resulting collection of seeds. Theprojectstatrwill be takingsamples from a broadrangeof siteconditions. They will be usingdifferentvariables, suchas elevation, t)ape, soil riparianor
diversity of Cambria'sMontereypineforest
otherhabitattype, associated vegetatioqdistance from the oceanand other factorsto increasethe geneticdiversity of the collection. Coneswill be collectedfrom tees that haveno apparent pitch cankerand will be removed from diffe,rent partsof the tee crown, r,vhichwill increase the chanceofdiffercntpollen donors. Each tree will be at least 30 meters from any other donor tree. Donor tees will rnappedand an idenffication tag wil be placed on each tree. Seedsfrom the trees will be washed in disinfectant and then stored in separatecontainers which will identify the tree from which it came. In the future, 60 per cent of the seed will go to conservationefforts in the Cambria Monterey pine forest. Greenspace work wittr ttre Califomia Pitch Canksr Tbsk will Force to develop appropriate policies for this conservationwork. The remaining 40 per cent of the seed will go to research,which will help scientists leam more about how to battle pitch canker and other diseases Monterey pines. This work will benefitnot only Cambria but of people throughout the State of California and the world. Geenspace honored be furded by the Universityof C-alifomia is to Davis for this importantwork We look forward to working with drem to protect and enhance Cambria's Monterey pine forest with this innovative program to preserve the genetic diversity of our forest.
MtBE Update
Discharging treated water into Santa Rosa Creek On Friday,February3,2002, the Regional WaterQuality Control Board (RWQCB) met to determineif the Chevron Corporation would be permittedto discharge treatedgroundwater
that had been contaminated with MIBE and other gasoline additives Chevron Corporation has into Santa Rosa Creek. publicly statedthat thqt Greenspacerepresentatives "zero were in attendanceat that meeting to wouldreturnonly detect"water into promote the position that any water discharged into Santa Rosa Creek SontaRosaCreek must have non-detectable levels of Greenspace urgedthe pollutants. Executive Director RWQCBto hold Chevron Hawley maintained that the clean to theirword. drinking water standardsof the California Regional Water Quality Conhol Board need to reflect the technology currently available. Mr. Hawley additionally stressedthat independentwater sampling and monitoring must be implemented if Chevron is allowed to discharge
Our Park with a Yrew
The community of Cambria became proudrecipient a new pocket tlre of parkinDecemberwhenN4aryAlice Baldrvindonated at/+meparnlon Chelsea I-aneto Grcelspace. Located dreendof astrldesacin thekimert Eshtes, at this exquisite pieceof prcpeftywi*r ar ocean view hasbeenappraised almost at an $V2 million Ms Baldwinalsodonaled endovnnqrt theproperty ersure for to that itwillbe well mainbined and managedin perpetuity. A bonus that came with this property is a beautifully constructed wooden shed located on the site that was donated to Greenspace by Walter and Elaine Traxel Evans. This property was very special to Ms Baldwin. Greenspace and the mnnnrurityof Carntrria owe a huge debt of gratitude to her for ftis rernarkable dorntion Wewouldalsoliketo thankShcy Stowe CuesATitle of forherhelpwithtre inticaciesof esqow urd CarolAdarns her help in frcilibting this donationfor
intothecreek. Greenspace to berh?rind,,::#Htry asked
Conserving Hearst the Ranch
enter this Alaskan Wldlife refuge is to intrude. It is fragile as a snowflaka" John Balzar "To TheNature Conservancyand the ConservationFund work together to preserve the Hearst Ranchproperty
Severalmonths ago negotiationsbeganfor a conservation easement over Heant RanchalongtheNorttr Coastof SanLuis ObispoCounty. The Nahre Conservanryand The Conservation Fundhave beengiventhe opportunity to create a conservationeasementthat has the potential to protect property this extraordinary perpetuity. in Mernben of the Greenspace Board of Directorswere invited to tour the Ranchwith representatives from The Nature Conservancy the and Heant Corporation.Although the day of the tour was foggy,it was a privilegeto visit meason the Ranchthat arerarely seenby outsiders.The host of the day were very gracious to the Greenspace contingentand everyonewho visitedthe propertycameaway with a better understanding of the complexity of this landscape. HearstRarichzupportsa myriad Hearst Ranch supports a of nahral resources, including commyraid of natural replex ecosystems threatened plant and and animal species arefound on solffces, including complex that the marine teraces, the coastal la- ecosystems and threatened goons,the arroyos,the native grass- plant and animal species landsandthe agriculturallands. The that arefound on the Monterey pine forest at Pico Creek marine terraces, the coastal andtheneighboring marineresources lagoons, the arroyos and offthe coastofthe Rancharehometo the native grasslands. many vulnerablespecies.The property also containsprime agricultural grazing land and sensitive archaeological and historical resources. The Nafire Conservancy requested Greenspace that cornrnenton issues the corservation in easement ttreBoarddeemed tlrd mostimportantto the preservation the property. Recognizingttre necessity preservethe of to Ranch'snatural,agncuhral and historicalresourc.€s, Greenspace the Board passed resolution srryport acquisition a conservation a to the of e*rserltent over the entirc HearstRorrchprcpertyby stessing that ttrerebe no developmmt rightson anyglof tlreRanchpropertyretained thepropertyownerc.This by resolution was sentto theExecutive Drecton andBoardsofDirecton ofThe Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. It is the positionof the Greerspace Board of Directorsthatpublic accessto the Ranch on the east side of Highway One can best be served by utilizing the existing infrastructure at the State Parks' Hearst Castle Visitor Center. With the capital improvements already in place, the expenditureto develop would be minimal. From the Visitors' Center, docent-led tours could provide educational information to visitors as they hike on trails around the Castle. Please Hearst Ranch, Page4 see
YouAre Invited.. .
Greenspace,the North CoastAlliance, and the National Wildlife Federation will co-host an amazing multimedia presentation on theArctic Refuge titled "BEYOND IMAGINATION." The multimedia presentation is the work of retired Presbyterian pastor and photographer Water Robie. The 30-minute multimedia show is the latest creation of Mr. Robie's series of shows depicting the beautifirl and fragile elements of nature. "Beyond Imagination" clearly is one of Mr. Robie's finest works and demonstrateshis passion for preserving this nation's last piece of arctic wilderness from development. Myra Wilensky, conservation program staffmember of the National Wildlife Federation, will speak on the current efforts by the NWF to stop oil exploration on this fragile landscapeand give residentsof San Luis Obispo County updateson legislative efforts by Democrats and Republicans to safeguardAlaska's ecological balance from needlesscorporate exploitation. Pleaserememberthat95YoofAlaska's north coastis already open to exploration and drilling. The remaining 5% of the oil reserve is simply "Too Wild To Waste"! The event will be at the CambriaVets'Hall locatedat 1000 Main Streeton March 25n at7:00 PM. Refreshments will be available. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchasedat the door or by calling the Greenspaceoffice. Proceedswill be used by the three organizations to promote sensible stewardship of our nation's environment.
According to current standards, thoseusedby the RWQCB and in their decision,the Stateof Califomia will allow a dischargeof 5.0 parts per billion of MIBE in SantaRosa Creek. Greenspacetestified that water analysis equipment currently available in Califomia Certified Laboratories can detectmuch lower levels of MtBE and other components of gasoline. Chewon Corporation haspublicly statedthat they would return only "zero detect" water into Santa Rosa Creek. Greenspaceurged the RWQCB to hold Chevron to their word that there will be no detectable amounts of pollutants in water returned to Rosa Santa Creek. position on the The RWQCB disagreedwith Greenspace's advisability of requiring zero detect levels of pollutants in drinking water, denied its request to be a mandatory independent monitor and issued Chevron a permit to proceed with their process. Santa Rosa Creek has been central to the mission of Greenspacesince its inception. We will continue to carefully watch and report developments as they occur.
Jim Brownell,
Board Member Greenspace
Tuckedaway on MoonstoneBeachis thehome of Jim Brownell, a memBoardofDirecton andour expertwhenit comesto the ber ofthe Greenspace is that careand feedingof the Montereypine seedlings Greenspace growing to for their potentialresistance pitch canker. Donatingmost of the spacein Jim his newly built greenhouse, is charged necessary reqponsibilities with theday-to-day to keep orn seedlingsthriving. And with his past experience, there is no one more suited for the job. Jim receiveda PhD in Geobiochemisby in 1969 from the Univenity of Califomia, at Davis. He taughtSoil Science FresnoState for the next 23 yean. Additionally, Jim has througfton beena consultant vmiousprojects out the world, fraveling to Australia, the Sudan, Nigeria,Central America and the United States.Jim also went Southwestem ip, andrecentlyretumedthereto consulton toEgptona aprojectdesignedtoteatwastewaterforuse asirigation to gowtees inthe desert. Jim is the recipient of two patentsin his field and continuesto the world. programs around on various consult "Four children, Manied to his wife, Dolly, for 50 years, Jim says, ten grandchildren, one great grandson, a house on the beach You can't beat that. and they let me live in it!"
Settingthe RecordStraight on Non-ProfitLobbying
the feach@ Calforniaisnon-plofits ins qnd outsof lobbying
California Releaf and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have awarded Greenspacea grant for a new program to educate 501(c)3 non-profit organizations throughout the Stateof California on the opportunities available to them to participate in the legislative process. The workshop will also explain the limitations that have been placed on "We glad to be able are non-profit organizationsin this area and the proceduresthat must be folto share this valuable lowed in order to legally use these information with other key tools in pursuit of their missions. non-profits throughout "We are glad to be able to share the state. Theseare this valuable information with other important tools that will non-profits throughout the state," empowernon-profit said Executive Director Richard "These are important tools organizationsand will Hawley. enable them to pursue that will empower non-profit their missionsto the organizations and will enable " them to pursue their missions to the fullest extentpossible. possible." extent fullest Richard Hmrtley
Last year the Greenspacestaff traveled to U.C. Berkeley's Greenspace Monterey Pine Seedlings Boalt Hall School of Law, where they were trained on the intricacies Jim urdmoving to Carnbriaforhis retirement, found of the federal tax laws governing non-profit organizations by the leavingFresno After that his continued interest in seed production was proving to have Alliance for Justice, a Washington DC advocacy organization workdifferent challengeson the coastthan thosehe faced during his 40 yean ing to advance the cause of justice for all Americans. With this Jim knowledge and fourteen years of experience of working in the Valley,with too few warm days.To solvethatp'roblenq in theSanJoaquin next andDolly built a beautiirl greenhouse to their home. It is in that green- non-profit field, Greenspaceis in a perfect position to help potential. full house that Greenspace's Monterey pine seedlings are growing. other organizations discover their of has the The warmthin the greenhouse benefited germination tlre seeds. Greenspace is developing a workshop and PowerPoint "survivedour cal€",ther€ tral asJim pts ig From the original 300 seedlings presentation that will explain in detail the method through which are about 40 trees that endured non-profits can use their voice and the voices of their members throughthefirstyear'sleamingexin the political process and still be assured they are operating perience. 40 havebeen These trees within the law. The workshop will be offered to tree the state. four regions of inoculated twice with pitch canker advocacy groups in now grolm IaaiuB$al Releaf and Greenspacehope that this initial project andhave Califomia canbe t"nsplanted into the foresf can serve as a pilot program, with more workshops offered next year. and Ilalf ofthe tees will beplanted Memorial Greenspace in a qpecial areaof the monitored forestandthe otherhalfwillbeused Tree Grove for Memorial Tree to cr€atemore seedlings disfriThe fint Greerspace the bution througfrout community. Grove has been completed. With the new seeds that were Located in Wilton Park near the interplantedafewmonlhs ago,Jim exsection of Burton Drive and Highway pects to have nemly 1,000 early One, the plaque and grove honor seedlingswith, hopefully, 300 twenty individuals. As the trees the seedlings surviving grow, the grove will be a beautifirl spot screening process of two inoculations of pitch canker. through thoughtfulness the Bomd of of the individuals who planted Jim Brownell hasbeenan imporhnt munber of the Greenspace Drecton for over six years. His inslghtandknowledgein many fieldshave trees to honor their loved ones. ofthe GreenspaceReforThe Greenspace. success beenoftoernendouslalueto would like to thank Board Directors Arthur Van Rhyn Greenspace estation and Inoculation Program has been due in large part to his and Tony Rosenwald for constructing the memorial. exputise. The communityowesDr. Jim Brownell a debtof gntitude for his If you would like to participate in the next grove, please fill work to help preserve Cambria's native Monterey pine forest. out and return the form on the back of this newsletter 3
ExecutiveDirector
Leading land use attorney teaches advocatetechniques
San Luis Obispo County residentswho were interestedin leaming more about the mechanicsof being an effective land use advocate were given a excellent opporfunity last November when Greenspace, partnershipwith the Planning and ConservationLeague in (PCL) and ECOSLO, put on a workshop in San Luis Obispo on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Nearly 70 peopleattended the Saturday event, filling the meeting room to overflowing. The speaker for the event was William Yeates,land use attorney,Board memberof PCL and author of "Citizen's Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act". The California Environmental Quality Act became law over thirty years ago. It was the legislature'sintent to require public agency decision-makers to consider the environmental implications of their actions. Additionally, the procedural requirements that lmposes encourage citizen participation in the environmental review process. The courts have statedthat "these procedures protect not only the environment but also informed self-government" and that "citizens have a privileged position in the CEQA process". Unfornrnately,the San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury in their 2000 - 2001 deliberations found that "the public perception of CEQA as it is applied in San Luis Obispo County is that it is difficult to discover what is being done and the public does not feel included in the process". The CEQAproceduresare complex andMr. Yeates provided the workshop participants with an effective roadmapto use in order to have their concernsaddressed policy makersthroughoutthis proby C E SS . Greenspace hopes to present a second, more advanced,workshop on CEQA in the spring.
CEQA Workshop
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Sudden Death Oak
The Canadian govemment'snew quarantineregulationsconceming Sudden Oak Deathinfectedmaterialnow coversthe entire stateof California and Oregon rather than only infested counties in each state. Other countries that quarantine products, plants, and other material associated with Sudden Oak Death are the Republic of South Korea and the Netherlands. Greenspace currentlysits on two of the eight committeesof the Califomia Oak Mortality Task Force. Thesecommitteesare the Biomass Committeeand the EducationalCommittee. The Biomass Committee has beenawarded$1,000,000 implementa 'SOD Buster'program to developedby the committee over the past year. The success of the program pivots on the collection and removal of infected host material, the transportation of the material, and composting and bio-combusting of the material. The Education Committee will be releasing trailhead posters in affected areas to inform recreation enthusiasts of the dangers of the potential spread of Sudden Oak Death by soil on recreation equipment, including shoes. At this time, redwoodtees me not considered host of SuddenOak a Death. Reportsin the presshave implicated redwood treesbut further testsneed to be conductedby scientists,so nothing is conclusive. Wi{RNING: It is the Greenspace position that if you bum wood do not buy oak firewood from unknown sourcesor from any ofthe ten Sudden Oak Death Infested counties. These counties are Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Alameda, Santa Cruz. and Solana.
WELCOMENEW BOARDMEMBERS!
TheDirectors Greenspace of would to welmme like Doreen Deppler MaryWebbasthemost and recent additions theGreenspace to Board Directors. of Both Doreen Maryhavebeen and enthusiastic supporters of years.Welook Greenspace many for forward working to with them theirnewcapacity the coming in years. in
Hearst Ranch Cont'dfromPage2 It is with greatanticipationthat we await the outcomeofthese discussions between the Hearst Corporation, The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. It is our hope that the Hearst Corporation will honor their commitment to sell the development rights on the entire Ranch.
SECOND IN A SERIES
the Woods A Look Beneath Water CambriaWalk inon the Covell the Springtimeguided hikes
Cambria Pines by the SeaRanch
The end of last year saw a-ninnovative and highly successful parfirership between a national conservation organization, private property owners and a local land trust when The Nature Conservancy,after purchasing a Conservation Easementfrom Ralph and Tracy Covell on their 1300-plus acre ranch, asked Greenspaceto provide tours to the community through this seldom seen native Monterey pine forest. Eight tours were given on four weekends,eachaccommodatingtwenty people. The tours were led by Greenspace Executive Director Richard Hawley and former Board member Brad Seek,using educational material developed in conjunction with the Monterey Pine Ecological Cooperative, based inBerkeley,California. The tour guests were treated to a beautiful pine setting and understory along with distant vistas of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Over half of the Covell's Cambria Pines by the Sea Ranch is covered with Monterey pine forest. There are also oak woodlands and riparian forest ontheproperty. Fog gathers on the pine needlesin the forest and drips to the understorybeneaththe pines, providing waterforthe ecosystem. The Ranch includes three watersheds which eventually empty into the Pacific Ocean. These watersheds are home to many threatened and endangered species, including the tidewater goby and the California red-legged frog. Greenspace will be providing a secondgroup of tours on April 20th and2lsI, May llth and 12th, May 18th and 19th, and May 25th and 26th. The spring tours promise to offer new insights, with surprise guest lecturers who are forest and flower expertsjoining Greenspace's tour guides. There is already a waiting list of over 100 people for these tours. Please call the Greenspace office as early aspossibleifyou want to be put on the list to be a of this extraordinary event.
A brief history of Steelheadtrout in SantaRosa Creek
SantaRosa Creek is €rmong most well known steelheadstreams the in San Luis Obispo County. Historically, the creek had a large, selfsustaining population of steelhead,but becauseof increasing demands on water resources, and land use activities which have adversely affected instream habitat, the steelhead population has been severely reduced. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) records and studiesgoing back from the 1930's to as recent as 1996 show steelheadpopulations in Santa Rosa Creek as being abundant in the upper watershed but increasingly less plentiful in the lower reaches of the creek. In CDFG stream survey files from the 1950'sthereare many references about steelhead and their habitat. For instance,"t[T]he opening of the summer trout seasonon I May 1950 include the take of many limits of juvenile steelhead/rainbow trout, about 12.5-23.0 cm in length" and "a[A] creel census conducted during January 1955 revealedthat an estimated 650 angler days were spent to catch over 600 steelhead aI Santa Rosa Creek." In the SantaRosa CreekLagoon, now SantaRosa CreekNatural Preserve,steelhead fish populations on opening trout seasoq May 2, 1970, were estimated be 6,800. An estimated to 2,290juvenile steelhead, 34%o or of the lagoon populatioq were capturedduring the May 2 - August 31, 1970 season. There is now, of course,no summer steelhead trout fishing allowed on coastalstreamsor lagoors dwing the summer season. Since steelhead now protectedrmder the EndangeredSpecies are Act it is only permissibleto fish for steelhead Santa in RosaCreekwest of Highway One from November 16ft through the end of February on Wednesday, Sahrday,Sunday, legal holidays. Further,the season only 'catch and or is release'and only non-barbedhooks can be used. The remaining stream is closed to steelheadfishing all year. (Please check with local authorities, these regulations may change.) In the past few years the Cambria Community ServicesDistrict has not been able to divert water from two wells located adjacent to Santa RosaCreekin townbecauseofMtBE contamtnalion(see relatedstory). This unfornrnate situation has an unseenbenefit, however. The steelhead population in the lower SantaRosa Creek basin is abundantwhen compared to earlier years when water flow was minimal. Our community is faced with some daunting tasks regarding water extraction for human use and leaving adequate water in our creeks for animal species protected by state and federal laws. The current demand for water exceeds the resource availability. The newly established moratorium on building is but one example of this resource deficit. Watershed planning is becoming more critical with each passing year. As our population grows the demand for finite resources like water grow. Agriculture users, urban dwellers, fish and animalsi and a ho-st of plants rely on water produied in the Santa Rosa Creek Watershed. Preparing for our future with watershed planning is in everyone's best interest.
Attention Gardeners
Thereare a few plots available Pocahontas in Park for planting vegetables. Please contactGarden Managerleresa Lees at 927-5922.
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Greenspace would like to thank Van and John Pierszalowski, Kristen Read, Mara Ladewig and Nate Mahan for volunteering to complete PhaseTWo ofthe erosioncontrol project in Strawberry Canyon. Six people,using a wheel barrel and carrying the materialby hand, physically carried over 6,000poundsofrock the cumulative distance of nearly two miles. Plans for the erosion control project were provided courtesy ofthe Natural Resource Conservation Service. Phases3 and 4 will be sediment catchment stluctures built between the first two phases. Building Phase3 of this erosion control plan will occur this spring. A Special Thanks to our volunteers: Carol Lynn Wolf Cheryl Geigle,NancyHarris, Galen Rathbun, Victoria Martin, John Fort, Arlee Green, Hany Farmer Arliss Stevens, John & Van Pierszalowski, Kristin Read, Mara Ladewig, Nate Mahan, Paul Feneira, Patty Weiss, Walt & Kate Sterling, Rich Davis, Deborah Gran, Mike McGee, Carol Jean Attoe, our Pocahontas Park Volunteers, Lynn Rathbun, and the over 50 people that helped out at the Coastal Clean Up.
Greenspace Memorial Grove Tree your planted ofafriend Have anative of choice inhonor tree
orloved Your one. donationtaxdeductible. is
Name
Phone:_email
Checkone:I
InHonorof:
ttlly deductible tax donation $100is enclosed: for D CheckEnclosed VISA D 3 MC Card
sig-ExpDate
Send Greenspace, Box1505, to: PO Cambria, 93428 CA .fax . 805-927-2866 805-927-7530 email:[email protected] you Upon receipt yourdonation, willcontact witha Iist native of we of trees fromwhich chose. will alsoaskforinformation to We about
A F o r e s ti n a S e e d preservegenetic New program
will
Cambria's Montereypineforest a precious resource all who live andvisit to here,is imperileddue to continueddevelopment pitch canker,an intoand duc€dfungaldisease. Already nearlyhalf the nativeforestandits associaied genepool havebeenlostto thesetwo facton. Greerspace is curmfly growing nativeMontereypinesthat arepotentially resistantto disease this througha grantreceived from California Releaf . However, Greenspacehas begun a new project which will insure that the genetic diversity of Cambria's forest will not be lost as more trees fall to pitch canker and urban development. With a gnnt ficm dreGenetic Resources Conservation Programoftlre Univenity ofCalifomia atDavis,Greenspace has beguna methodicalseedcollectionprogramwhich will enableusto caphretheexistinggenepoolandsaveit forfuture corseivationefforb in our forest. At the completionof this progranl whichbeganinconjrurctionwithourRekafproject Greenspace possess first and only systernatic will the collection of geneticrnaierialfrom the CambriaMonter€ypine forest. One of the mostcriticalconshainb ofttris projectis time,aseachdaymoreandmoretres are lost. The sooner the project is completed, the more comprehensive will be the resulting collection of seeds. Theprojectstatrwill be takingsamples from a broadrangeof siteconditions. They will be usingdifferentvariables, suchas elevation, t)ape, soil riparianor
diversity of Cambria'sMontereypineforest
otherhabitattype, associated vegetatioqdistance from the oceanand other factorsto increasethe geneticdiversity of the collection. Coneswill be collectedfrom tees that haveno apparent pitch cankerand will be removed from diffe,rent partsof the tee crown, r,vhichwill increase the chanceofdiffercntpollen donors. Each tree will be at least 30 meters from any other donor tree. Donor tees will rnappedand an idenffication tag wil be placed on each tree. Seedsfrom the trees will be washed in disinfectant and then stored in separatecontainers which will identify the tree from which it came. In the future, 60 per cent of the seed will go to conservationefforts in the Cambria Monterey pine forest. Greenspace work wittr ttre Califomia Pitch Canksr Tbsk will Force to develop appropriate policies for this conservationwork. The remaining 40 per cent of the seed will go to research,which will help scientists leam more about how to battle pitch canker and other diseases Monterey pines. This work will benefitnot only Cambria but of people throughout the State of California and the world. Geenspace honored be furded by the Universityof C-alifomia is to Davis for this importantwork We look forward to working with drem to protect and enhance Cambria's Monterey pine forest with this innovative program to preserve the genetic diversity of our forest.
MtBE Update
Discharging treated water into Santa Rosa Creek On Friday,February3,2002, the Regional WaterQuality Control Board (RWQCB) met to determineif the Chevron Corporation would be permittedto discharge treatedgroundwater
that had been contaminated with MIBE and other gasoline additives Chevron Corporation has into Santa Rosa Creek. publicly statedthat thqt Greenspacerepresentatives "zero were in attendanceat that meeting to wouldreturnonly detect"water into promote the position that any water discharged into Santa Rosa Creek SontaRosaCreek must have non-detectable levels of Greenspace urgedthe pollutants. Executive Director RWQCBto hold Chevron Hawley maintained that the clean to theirword. drinking water standardsof the California Regional Water Quality Conhol Board need to reflect the technology currently available. Mr. Hawley additionally stressedthat independentwater sampling and monitoring must be implemented if Chevron is allowed to discharge
Our Park with a Yrew
The community of Cambria became proudrecipient a new pocket tlre of parkinDecemberwhenN4aryAlice Baldrvindonated at/+meparnlon Chelsea I-aneto Grcelspace. Located dreendof astrldesacin thekimert Eshtes, at this exquisite pieceof prcpeftywi*r ar ocean view hasbeenappraised almost at an $V2 million Ms Baldwinalsodonaled endovnnqrt theproperty ersure for to that itwillbe well mainbined and managedin perpetuity. A bonus that came with this property is a beautifully constructed wooden shed located on the site that was donated to Greenspace by Walter and Elaine Traxel Evans. This property was very special to Ms Baldwin. Greenspace and the mnnnrurityof Carntrria owe a huge debt of gratitude to her for ftis rernarkable dorntion Wewouldalsoliketo thankShcy Stowe CuesATitle of forherhelpwithtre inticaciesof esqow urd CarolAdarns her help in frcilibting this donationfor
intothecreek. Greenspace to berh?rind,,::#Htry asked
Conserving Hearst the Ranch
enter this Alaskan Wldlife refuge is to intrude. It is fragile as a snowflaka" John Balzar "To TheNature Conservancyand the ConservationFund work together to preserve the Hearst Ranchproperty
Severalmonths ago negotiationsbeganfor a conservation easement over Heant RanchalongtheNorttr Coastof SanLuis ObispoCounty. The Nahre Conservanryand The Conservation Fundhave beengiventhe opportunity to create a conservationeasementthat has the potential to protect property this extraordinary perpetuity. in Mernben of the Greenspace Board of Directorswere invited to tour the Ranchwith representatives from The Nature Conservancy the and Heant Corporation.Although the day of the tour was foggy,it was a privilegeto visit meason the Ranchthat arerarely seenby outsiders.The host of the day were very gracious to the Greenspace contingentand everyonewho visitedthe propertycameaway with a better understanding of the complexity of this landscape. HearstRarichzupportsa myriad Hearst Ranch supports a of nahral resources, including commyraid of natural replex ecosystems threatened plant and and animal species arefound on solffces, including complex that the marine teraces, the coastal la- ecosystems and threatened goons,the arroyos,the native grass- plant and animal species landsandthe agriculturallands. The that arefound on the Monterey pine forest at Pico Creek marine terraces, the coastal andtheneighboring marineresources lagoons, the arroyos and offthe coastofthe Rancharehometo the native grasslands. many vulnerablespecies.The property also containsprime agricultural grazing land and sensitive archaeological and historical resources. The Nafire Conservancy requested Greenspace that cornrnenton issues the corservation in easement ttreBoarddeemed tlrd mostimportantto the preservation the property. Recognizingttre necessity preservethe of to Ranch'snatural,agncuhral and historicalresourc.€s, Greenspace the Board passed resolution srryport acquisition a conservation a to the of e*rserltent over the entirc HearstRorrchprcpertyby stessing that ttrerebe no developmmt rightson anyglof tlreRanchpropertyretained thepropertyownerc.This by resolution was sentto theExecutive Drecton andBoardsofDirecton ofThe Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. It is the positionof the Greerspace Board of Directorsthatpublic accessto the Ranch on the east side of Highway One can best be served by utilizing the existing infrastructure at the State Parks' Hearst Castle Visitor Center. With the capital improvements already in place, the expenditureto develop would be minimal. From the Visitors' Center, docent-led tours could provide educational information to visitors as they hike on trails around the Castle. Please Hearst Ranch, Page4 see
YouAre Invited.. .
Greenspace,the North CoastAlliance, and the National Wildlife Federation will co-host an amazing multimedia presentation on theArctic Refuge titled "BEYOND IMAGINATION." The multimedia presentation is the work of retired Presbyterian pastor and photographer Water Robie. The 30-minute multimedia show is the latest creation of Mr. Robie's series of shows depicting the beautifirl and fragile elements of nature. "Beyond Imagination" clearly is one of Mr. Robie's finest works and demonstrateshis passion for preserving this nation's last piece of arctic wilderness from development. Myra Wilensky, conservation program staffmember of the National Wildlife Federation, will speak on the current efforts by the NWF to stop oil exploration on this fragile landscapeand give residentsof San Luis Obispo County updateson legislative efforts by Democrats and Republicans to safeguardAlaska's ecological balance from needlesscorporate exploitation. Pleaserememberthat95YoofAlaska's north coastis already open to exploration and drilling. The remaining 5% of the oil reserve is simply "Too Wild To Waste"! The event will be at the CambriaVets'Hall locatedat 1000 Main Streeton March 25n at7:00 PM. Refreshments will be available. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchasedat the door or by calling the Greenspaceoffice. Proceedswill be used by the three organizations to promote sensible stewardship of our nation's environment.
According to current standards, thoseusedby the RWQCB and in their decision,the Stateof Califomia will allow a dischargeof 5.0 parts per billion of MIBE in SantaRosa Creek. Greenspacetestified that water analysis equipment currently available in Califomia Certified Laboratories can detectmuch lower levels of MtBE and other components of gasoline. Chewon Corporation haspublicly statedthat they would return only "zero detect" water into Santa Rosa Creek. Greenspaceurged the RWQCB to hold Chevron to their word that there will be no detectable amounts of pollutants in water returned to Rosa Santa Creek. position on the The RWQCB disagreedwith Greenspace's advisability of requiring zero detect levels of pollutants in drinking water, denied its request to be a mandatory independent monitor and issued Chevron a permit to proceed with their process. Santa Rosa Creek has been central to the mission of Greenspacesince its inception. We will continue to carefully watch and report developments as they occur.
Jim Brownell,
Board Member Greenspace
Tuckedaway on MoonstoneBeachis thehome of Jim Brownell, a memBoardofDirecton andour expertwhenit comesto the ber ofthe Greenspace is that careand feedingof the Montereypine seedlings Greenspace growing to for their potentialresistance pitch canker. Donatingmost of the spacein Jim his newly built greenhouse, is charged necessary reqponsibilities with theday-to-day to keep orn seedlingsthriving. And with his past experience, there is no one more suited for the job. Jim receiveda PhD in Geobiochemisby in 1969 from the Univenity of Califomia, at Davis. He taughtSoil Science FresnoState for the next 23 yean. Additionally, Jim has througfton beena consultant vmiousprojects out the world, fraveling to Australia, the Sudan, Nigeria,Central America and the United States.Jim also went Southwestem ip, andrecentlyretumedthereto consulton toEgptona aprojectdesignedtoteatwastewaterforuse asirigation to gowtees inthe desert. Jim is the recipient of two patentsin his field and continuesto the world. programs around on various consult "Four children, Manied to his wife, Dolly, for 50 years, Jim says, ten grandchildren, one great grandson, a house on the beach You can't beat that. and they let me live in it!"
Settingthe RecordStraight on Non-ProfitLobbying
the feach@ Calforniaisnon-plofits ins qnd outsof lobbying
California Releaf and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have awarded Greenspacea grant for a new program to educate 501(c)3 non-profit organizations throughout the Stateof California on the opportunities available to them to participate in the legislative process. The workshop will also explain the limitations that have been placed on "We glad to be able are non-profit organizationsin this area and the proceduresthat must be folto share this valuable lowed in order to legally use these information with other key tools in pursuit of their missions. non-profits throughout "We are glad to be able to share the state. Theseare this valuable information with other important tools that will non-profits throughout the state," empowernon-profit said Executive Director Richard "These are important tools organizationsand will Hawley. enable them to pursue that will empower non-profit their missionsto the organizations and will enable " them to pursue their missions to the fullest extentpossible. possible." extent fullest Richard Hmrtley
Last year the Greenspacestaff traveled to U.C. Berkeley's Greenspace Monterey Pine Seedlings Boalt Hall School of Law, where they were trained on the intricacies Jim urdmoving to Carnbriaforhis retirement, found of the federal tax laws governing non-profit organizations by the leavingFresno After that his continued interest in seed production was proving to have Alliance for Justice, a Washington DC advocacy organization workdifferent challengeson the coastthan thosehe faced during his 40 yean ing to advance the cause of justice for all Americans. With this Jim knowledge and fourteen years of experience of working in the Valley,with too few warm days.To solvethatp'roblenq in theSanJoaquin next andDolly built a beautiirl greenhouse to their home. It is in that green- non-profit field, Greenspaceis in a perfect position to help potential. full house that Greenspace's Monterey pine seedlings are growing. other organizations discover their of has the The warmthin the greenhouse benefited germination tlre seeds. Greenspace is developing a workshop and PowerPoint "survivedour cal€",ther€ tral asJim pts ig From the original 300 seedlings presentation that will explain in detail the method through which are about 40 trees that endured non-profits can use their voice and the voices of their members throughthefirstyear'sleamingexin the political process and still be assured they are operating perience. 40 havebeen These trees within the law. The workshop will be offered to tree the state. four regions of inoculated twice with pitch canker advocacy groups in now grolm IaaiuB$al Releaf and Greenspacehope that this initial project andhave Califomia canbe t"nsplanted into the foresf can serve as a pilot program, with more workshops offered next year. and Ilalf ofthe tees will beplanted Memorial Greenspace in a qpecial areaof the monitored forestandthe otherhalfwillbeused Tree Grove for Memorial Tree to cr€atemore seedlings disfriThe fint Greerspace the bution througfrout community. Grove has been completed. With the new seeds that were Located in Wilton Park near the interplantedafewmonlhs ago,Jim exsection of Burton Drive and Highway pects to have nemly 1,000 early One, the plaque and grove honor seedlingswith, hopefully, 300 twenty individuals. As the trees the seedlings surviving grow, the grove will be a beautifirl spot screening process of two inoculations of pitch canker. through thoughtfulness the Bomd of of the individuals who planted Jim Brownell hasbeenan imporhnt munber of the Greenspace Drecton for over six years. His inslghtandknowledgein many fieldshave trees to honor their loved ones. ofthe GreenspaceReforThe Greenspace. success beenoftoernendouslalueto would like to thank Board Directors Arthur Van Rhyn Greenspace estation and Inoculation Program has been due in large part to his and Tony Rosenwald for constructing the memorial. exputise. The communityowesDr. Jim Brownell a debtof gntitude for his If you would like to participate in the next grove, please fill work to help preserve Cambria's native Monterey pine forest. out and return the form on the back of this newsletter 3
ExecutiveDirector
Leading land use attorney teaches advocatetechniques
San Luis Obispo County residentswho were interestedin leaming more about the mechanicsof being an effective land use advocate were given a excellent opporfunity last November when Greenspace, partnershipwith the Planning and ConservationLeague in (PCL) and ECOSLO, put on a workshop in San Luis Obispo on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Nearly 70 peopleattended the Saturday event, filling the meeting room to overflowing. The speaker for the event was William Yeates,land use attorney,Board memberof PCL and author of "Citizen's Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act". The California Environmental Quality Act became law over thirty years ago. It was the legislature'sintent to require public agency decision-makers to consider the environmental implications of their actions. Additionally, the procedural requirements that lmposes encourage citizen participation in the environmental review process. The courts have statedthat "these procedures protect not only the environment but also informed self-government" and that "citizens have a privileged position in the CEQA process". Unfornrnately,the San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury in their 2000 - 2001 deliberations found that "the public perception of CEQA as it is applied in San Luis Obispo County is that it is difficult to discover what is being done and the public does not feel included in the process". The CEQAproceduresare complex andMr. Yeates provided the workshop participants with an effective roadmapto use in order to have their concernsaddressed policy makersthroughoutthis proby C E SS . Greenspace hopes to present a second, more advanced,workshop on CEQA in the spring.
CEQA Workshop
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Sudden Death Oak
The Canadian govemment'snew quarantineregulationsconceming Sudden Oak Deathinfectedmaterialnow coversthe entire stateof California and Oregon rather than only infested counties in each state. Other countries that quarantine products, plants, and other material associated with Sudden Oak Death are the Republic of South Korea and the Netherlands. Greenspace currentlysits on two of the eight committeesof the Califomia Oak Mortality Task Force. Thesecommitteesare the Biomass Committeeand the EducationalCommittee. The Biomass Committee has beenawarded$1,000,000 implementa 'SOD Buster'program to developedby the committee over the past year. The success of the program pivots on the collection and removal of infected host material, the transportation of the material, and composting and bio-combusting of the material. The Education Committee will be releasing trailhead posters in affected areas to inform recreation enthusiasts of the dangers of the potential spread of Sudden Oak Death by soil on recreation equipment, including shoes. At this time, redwoodtees me not considered host of SuddenOak a Death. Reportsin the presshave implicated redwood treesbut further testsneed to be conductedby scientists,so nothing is conclusive. Wi{RNING: It is the Greenspace position that if you bum wood do not buy oak firewood from unknown sourcesor from any ofthe ten Sudden Oak Death Infested counties. These counties are Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Alameda, Santa Cruz. and Solana.
WELCOMENEW BOARDMEMBERS!
TheDirectors Greenspace of would to welmme like Doreen Deppler MaryWebbasthemost and recent additions theGreenspace to Board Directors. of Both Doreen Maryhavebeen and enthusiastic supporters of years.Welook Greenspace many for forward working to with them theirnewcapacity the coming in years. in
Hearst Ranch Cont'dfromPage2 It is with greatanticipationthat we await the outcomeofthese discussions between the Hearst Corporation, The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. It is our hope that the Hearst Corporation will honor their commitment to sell the development rights on the entire Ranch.
SECOND IN A SERIES
the Woods A Look Beneath Water CambriaWalk inon the Covell the Springtimeguided hikes
Cambria Pines by the SeaRanch
The end of last year saw a-ninnovative and highly successful parfirership between a national conservation organization, private property owners and a local land trust when The Nature Conservancy,after purchasing a Conservation Easementfrom Ralph and Tracy Covell on their 1300-plus acre ranch, asked Greenspaceto provide tours to the community through this seldom seen native Monterey pine forest. Eight tours were given on four weekends,eachaccommodatingtwenty people. The tours were led by Greenspace Executive Director Richard Hawley and former Board member Brad Seek,using educational material developed in conjunction with the Monterey Pine Ecological Cooperative, based inBerkeley,California. The tour guests were treated to a beautiful pine setting and understory along with distant vistas of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Over half of the Covell's Cambria Pines by the Sea Ranch is covered with Monterey pine forest. There are also oak woodlands and riparian forest ontheproperty. Fog gathers on the pine needlesin the forest and drips to the understorybeneaththe pines, providing waterforthe ecosystem. The Ranch includes three watersheds which eventually empty into the Pacific Ocean. These watersheds are home to many threatened and endangered species, including the tidewater goby and the California red-legged frog. Greenspace will be providing a secondgroup of tours on April 20th and2lsI, May llth and 12th, May 18th and 19th, and May 25th and 26th. The spring tours promise to offer new insights, with surprise guest lecturers who are forest and flower expertsjoining Greenspace's tour guides. There is already a waiting list of over 100 people for these tours. Please call the Greenspace office as early aspossibleifyou want to be put on the list to be a of this extraordinary event.
A brief history of Steelheadtrout in SantaRosa Creek
SantaRosa Creek is €rmong most well known steelheadstreams the in San Luis Obispo County. Historically, the creek had a large, selfsustaining population of steelhead,but becauseof increasing demands on water resources, and land use activities which have adversely affected instream habitat, the steelhead population has been severely reduced. California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) records and studiesgoing back from the 1930's to as recent as 1996 show steelheadpopulations in Santa Rosa Creek as being abundant in the upper watershed but increasingly less plentiful in the lower reaches of the creek. In CDFG stream survey files from the 1950'sthereare many references about steelhead and their habitat. For instance,"t[T]he opening of the summer trout seasonon I May 1950 include the take of many limits of juvenile steelhead/rainbow trout, about 12.5-23.0 cm in length" and "a[A] creel census conducted during January 1955 revealedthat an estimated 650 angler days were spent to catch over 600 steelhead aI Santa Rosa Creek." In the SantaRosa CreekLagoon, now SantaRosa CreekNatural Preserve,steelhead fish populations on opening trout seasoq May 2, 1970, were estimated be 6,800. An estimated to 2,290juvenile steelhead, 34%o or of the lagoon populatioq were capturedduring the May 2 - August 31, 1970 season. There is now, of course,no summer steelhead trout fishing allowed on coastalstreamsor lagoors dwing the summer season. Since steelhead now protectedrmder the EndangeredSpecies are Act it is only permissibleto fish for steelhead Santa in RosaCreekwest of Highway One from November 16ft through the end of February on Wednesday, Sahrday,Sunday, legal holidays. Further,the season only 'catch and or is release'and only non-barbedhooks can be used. The remaining stream is closed to steelheadfishing all year. (Please check with local authorities, these regulations may change.) In the past few years the Cambria Community ServicesDistrict has not been able to divert water from two wells located adjacent to Santa RosaCreekin townbecauseofMtBE contamtnalion(see relatedstory). This unfornrnate situation has an unseenbenefit, however. The steelhead population in the lower SantaRosa Creek basin is abundantwhen compared to earlier years when water flow was minimal. Our community is faced with some daunting tasks regarding water extraction for human use and leaving adequate water in our creeks for animal species protected by state and federal laws. The current demand for water exceeds the resource availability. The newly established moratorium on building is but one example of this resource deficit. Watershed planning is becoming more critical with each passing year. As our population grows the demand for finite resources like water grow. Agriculture users, urban dwellers, fish and animalsi and a ho-st of plants rely on water produied in the Santa Rosa Creek Watershed. Preparing for our future with watershed planning is in everyone's best interest.
Attention Gardeners
Thereare a few plots available Pocahontas in Park for planting vegetables. Please contactGarden Managerleresa Lees at 927-5922.
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Greenspace would like to thank Van and John Pierszalowski, Kristen Read, Mara Ladewig and Nate Mahan for volunteering to complete PhaseTWo ofthe erosioncontrol project in Strawberry Canyon. Six people,using a wheel barrel and carrying the materialby hand, physically carried over 6,000poundsofrock the cumulative distance of nearly two miles. Plans for the erosion control project were provided courtesy ofthe Natural Resource Conservation Service. Phases3 and 4 will be sediment catchment stluctures built between the first two phases. Building Phase3 of this erosion control plan will occur this spring. A Special Thanks to our volunteers: Carol Lynn Wolf Cheryl Geigle,NancyHarris, Galen Rathbun, Victoria Martin, John Fort, Arlee Green, Hany Farmer Arliss Stevens, John & Van Pierszalowski, Kristin Read, Mara Ladewig, Nate Mahan, Paul Feneira, Patty Weiss, Walt & Kate Sterling, Rich Davis, Deborah Gran, Mike McGee, Carol Jean Attoe, our Pocahontas Park Volunteers, Lynn Rathbun, and the over 50 people that helped out at the Coastal Clean Up.
Greenspace Memorial Grove Tree your planted ofafriend Have anative of choice inhonor tree
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Send Greenspace, Box1505, to: PO Cambria, 93428 CA .fax . 805-927-2866 805-927-7530 email:[email protected] you Upon receipt yourdonation, willcontact witha Iist native of we of trees fromwhich chose. will alsoaskforinformation to We about
