"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

~John Muir, Naturalist, Preservationist and Founder of the Sierra Club

 

TCEC members receive the Eco-Logic Newsletter, which is published monthly except for July/August and November/December issues. Each issue is full of local environmental news, events and activities, and ways you can get involved in environmental issues. Review a sample (past) issue.

Online, we feature the Closer Look column, written for our newsletter by TCEC Publications Chairperson, Donna Olsen.


Closer Look
January 2012

Annual Holiday Donations Reflect Local Issues….Mostly

Each year at our December meeting, TCEC honors special organizations with a donation. We put aside $1000 for this purpose. This year’s the winners are! Math/Science Nucleus received $150 for its ongoing educational efforts in the area of science. Ohlone Humane’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center received $300 towards annual rent of $600. Alameda Creek Alliance received $250 to apply to the next battle with CalTrans. And the Save the Redwood League garnered $100 toward the purchase of the CEMEX Redwoods (over 8000-acres) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The ecology center has made these end-of-the-year donations to worthy organizations for about 35 years. Our next community donation will be in January when the libraries of the Tri-City area receive over $1000 worth of books, CDs and DVDs….another long-running tradition.

Monarchs’ Numbers Are Up

Great News! After years of decline, monarch butterfly numbers are up. Christina Garcia, a naturalist at Ardenwood Historic Farm, counted over 4000 this year as compared to 224 last year. Better yet, numbers have increased state-wide. Garcia speculates that late rain caused milkweed plants to flourish thus providing a better home for monarch eggs and food for the caterpillars. An idea…Plant a milkweed plant in your backyard and be part of the recovery!!

The Cost of Mailings…New Format

The cost of publishing the newsletter has risen dramatically over the past two years. The price of paper has risen, but even more impressive is the increased cost of postage. If you use staples in your mailing, it becomes “non-machinable” and the price triples! So we are going to use a new format…magazine-like….with mailing seals. We like the new look and hope you do too.

We Will Miss Geoff Steel

Geoff and Mary Steel joined the ecology center in 1976. They both worked at our Recycling Center “in the day” as the saying goes. Geoff went on to be a regular volunteer at the Lemonade Booth. We will miss his intellect and wit! (As you know, Geoff served as Fremont Mayor and Councilmember in the 60s and 70s.) We are honored that the Steel Family asked donations be made to TCEC in memory of Geoff. Thanks you.

Un-Occupy Hetch Hetchy!

Since 1913, San Francisco has unnecessarily occupied, and greatly damaged, a part of Yosemite National Park that belongs to all Americans. Poet Harriet Monroe asked, "What right has a single city to absorb the property of a nation?"

The obstacle to restoration is not science or engineering-it is just old-fashioned bureaucratic defense of the status quo. Restore Hetch Hetchy (RHH) is working to break through that resistance. Two weeks ago, United States Congressman Dan Lungren (CA-3) called for a federal investigation of San Francisco's poor management of the water stored in Hetch Hetchy Valley. The Raker Act - the 1913 decision that granted San Francisco the option to flood the valley - makes clear that water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir can only be utilized when the City's local water sources have been exhausted.

According to the Los Angeles Times, so-called "green" San Francisco does not recycle a drop of water. By comparison, 20% of Orange County's tap water is recycled water. Furthermore, since constructing the Hetch Hetchy system, San Francisco has disregarded this federal requirement and virtually abandoned use of local groundwater supplies. The city is not only ignoring its environmental responsibility - it's ignoring its legal duty by continuing to occupy Hetch Hetchy.

This must end. The Un-Occupy movement begins now. While the federal government pursues its investigation, RHH is taking action at the ballot box. Next November - just 11 months from now - they hope to place before the voters of San Francisco a proposal to begin the process of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. If you need more information or would like to help, visit www.restorehetchhetchy.org

The Top Local Story of 2011.…. ACA Stops First Phase of Niles Canyon Road Widening Project

On December 12, the California Department of Transportation signed a settlement agreement with the Alameda Creek Alliance (ACA) that forces the agency to terminate the approval and permits for the first phase of a controversial $80 million highway-widening project in Niles Canyon along Alameda Creek. CalTrans will rescind its 2006 approval and flawed environmental review for the Route 84 Safety Improvement Project, notify regulatory agencies it is withdrawing the project, terminate the project construction contract, and comply with mitigation requirements for work already done, such as tree cutting along Alameda Creek.

“This is a victory both for protecting Alameda Creek and forcing transparency in public agency decisions,” said Jeff Miller, director of the Alameda Creek Alliance. “CalTrans must mitigate for damaged trees along Alameda Creek and cannot pursue a highway project in lower Niles Canyon without adequate environmental review and full public participation. If CalTrans comes back with a revised project, we strongly suggest it not involve significant highway widening or unnecessary damage to trout habitat.”

LEAF It to Beaver…A Report from Rich Godfrey

A strange and nefarious activity has been taking place in the historic Rose Garden of Mission Adobe Park. Discovered recently were several rose bushes that were chewed in neat, circumferential rows at their base, causing them to collapse to the ground. Suspected in this crime were 1) moles, 2) ground squirrels, 3) tree squirrels, 4) or perhaps beavers migrating from Niles Canyon. Skilled and knowledgeable animal detectives are invited to participate in the forensic investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.

Also, there are 2 fun and enjoyable work parties planned for Saturday, February 4 and 11, to do pruning of the garden area. Join us if you would like to learn or teach about roses, share in work and an outdoor breakfast - 9-12 AM.

Ohlone College Plans Earth Day(s)

Ohlone College has ambitious Earth Day plans this year. It will sponsor two events: the first will be held at the Fremont Campus on Tuesday, April 17; the second at the Newark Campus on Thursday, April 19. We are looking forward to great events.

Speaking of Earth Day….will the City of Fremont and Washington Hospital co-sponsor the celebration of the Earth again this year? And will it be held in the Conrad Anderson Auditorium at the hospital again? Some exhibitors and guests were not happy with last year’s venue that had no access to the sky, trees, or anything “earthy”. We hope that the event returns to Lake Elizabeth at the Senior or Teen Centers.

State Parks Hit Again

On Jan. 5, Governor Jerry Brown released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012-13. The budget continues down the path of closing state parks with the inclusion of a reduction of General Fund support of $11 million. When combined with the $11 million cut from Fiscal Year 2011-12 State Budget, the result is a full $22 million General Fund cut to the Department of Parks and Recreation, necessitating the closure of up to 70 state parks.

Governor Brown’s budget proposal also proposes devastating trigger cuts which would include the removal of all seasonal lifeguards (which effectively eliminates all lifeguards on all state beaches), and elimination of 20 percent of all rangers in California state parks, if the Governor’s November ballot initiative for new revenue isn’t successful. Despite the fact that a decision on that initiative is ten months away, the Governor is demanding that these budget cuts be committed to this spring.

The State Parks Assn. has launched an online action alert to the Governor opposing this plan for state parks and urging him to protect and preserve the more than 100-year legacy with which he’s been entrusted as Governor.

Take action at: The California State Parks Foundation website.

Saving the Bay Adds Educational Site

Many of you viewed Saving the Bay on KQED/KTEH. It is a magnificent 4-part series on the history of San Francisco Bay. In 2011, TCEC donated the set to the Tri-City libraries!

Saving the Bay was broadcast as a PBS national prime time special over four weeks in April and May 2010 after several airings on KQED//KTEH in the San Francisco Bay Area. And it has been re-broadcast at different times in different markets around the country. It won four regional Emmy awards including for Best Documentary in May 2011. The primary reason for making Saving the Bay was to raise awareness about the importance of San Francisco Bay, how we almost lost and then saved the Bay and to celebrate our colorful regional history.    

The Education section of the website www.savingthebay.org has 20 full lesson plans with 26 accompanying video segments for 4th through 12th grades arranged by subject, grade level and key words set to California state standards. KQED says the lesson plans are being downloaded (free) up to 1,000 times per month. The Education section may expand if funding is available.

The TCEC Board Needs You

In February, the ecology center will hold its annual election. Four officers will be selected to serve on the Board… Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Toss you hat into the ring! In addition, two At-Large positions are open. If you are interested, call Gus at 790-1685 or Donna at 797-2755. Or to e-mail the center, visit our website: www.tricityecology.org.

Volunteer at the Local History Museum Garden!

Spring is here. Join us on the second Saturday of each month at 190 Anza St. for a couple of hours of gardening. We start at 9:30 and go to….whenever you like. Plants and bushes are growing as well as weeds. Our garden needs your help. Bring gloves and hand tools and join a great group of friendly gardeners. As a plus, the Museum is also open on the second Saturday; so plan time for a visit.

2012 Eco-Grants Are Now Available We hope the new year brings new eco-grant requests. Both Youth and Adult Eco-grants are available. In 2011, the ecology center distributed approximately $1000 to 4 projects…. (1) Kennedy High school solar fountain, (2) Eagle Scout project for LEAF, (3) FIERCE Green Fair at the Hub and (4) Newark High Cycling Education. We would like to hear from you. Applications are available to download on our website, www.tricityecology.org

 

Phone 510-793-6222   email: tcec@tricityecology.org

Copyright 2007-2011 Tri-City Ecology Center

website design by collective discovery