Submitted by Dan Bacher on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:44am
Leading Scientists Call for Immediate Coho Salmon Protections in Marin
COUNTY OF MARIN FAILS TO PROTECT CRITICAL HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED COHO SALMON
For Immediate Release: September 7, 2010
For more information, please contact:
-Paola Bouley, SPAWN Conservation Director, 415.663.8590 ext 111, Paola@Tirn.Net
-Dr. Peter Moyle, Professor of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at U.C. Davis and Associate Director for the Center for Watershed Sciences, Phone: (530) 752-6355, Email: pbmoyle@ucdavis.edu
Olema, CA- Leading aquatic scientists are publicly calling on Marin County Supervisors, for the 2nd time in 3 years, to take immediate action to protect critical habitat for the Bay Area’s last-remaining wild run of endangered coho salmon habitat, and end their delay tactics.
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 5:55pm
This is an urgent action alert from Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, urging people to support approval of the Klamath TMDL by contacting the State Water Resources Control Board.
Dan
Urgent Action Alert: Support Approval of Klamath TMDL
Please support the approval of the Klamath TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) by the State Water Resources Control Board by contacting the Board by phone, fax and email.
The TDML is a limit on how much of different pollutants are allowed in a river. The water board will considers approving the Klamath TMDL on Tuesday September 7 at their meeting in Sacramento at the EPA building at 1001 I Street. The meeting is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As California Republicans address the “Pension Tsunami”
Lungren enjoys lavish LRS Pension
ELK GROVE, CA – On Saturday August 21, 2010, the California Republican Party is hosting their fall convention, which will feature a workshop on “The ‘Pension Tsunami Facing California.” The agenda for the workshop states that it will address the issue of lavish pension packages:
[...]
If California Republicans are really looking for “concrete examples of lavish pension packages,” they could look to one of their own: Rep. Dan Lungren. In 2009, Lungren received $55,697 in pension income from the California Legislators Retirement Pension (LRS) for only eight years of service as attorney general. (Financial Disclosure Statement, “Schedule I: Earned Income,” United States Clerk of the House, Dan Lungren)
Lungren’s LRS pension has far exceeded the pension income earned by the average state employee in California. According to calculations by the Orange County Register, under the pension plan offered to typical state employees, an 11-year employee would be eligible, at most, for $40,738 annually. (Orange County Register, 8/13/10)
Moreover, Lungren enjoyed a significant spike in his pension payments due to a 25.9% salary increase he received during his final month in office ...
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 8:25am
Times-Standard Supports Chesbro's Call for MLPA Delay
by Dan Bacher
In its "Roasts and Toasts" editorial today, the Eureka Times-Standard joined Indian Tribes, fishermen and environmentalists in supporting Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro's call for a six-month delay in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative on the North Coast.
The publication gave a Roast "To Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, which has chosen to make marine reserves -- areas restricted or off limits to fishing and gathering -- a matter of legacy."
"If the Marine Life Protection Act is based on science it should not be subject to political timelines," according to the Times-Standard. "The MLPA was passed in 1999, and there will be no loss if it's not finished by the end of the gubernatorial term. It's irresponsible for the governor to make taking away peoples' right to fish and gather a notch on his belt -- a belt frayed by the precipitous decline in the state's condition during his tenure." (http://www.times-standard.com/editorials/ci_15865645)
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Sun, 08/22/2010 - 10:51am
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Central Valley Steelhead Protections
by Dan Bacher
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on August 20 rejected an attempt by corporate agribusiness to strip protected status from wild steelhead rainbow trout in California’s Central Valley.
Six San Joaquin Valley irrigation districts - Stockton East, South San Joaquin, Merced, Modesto, Oakdale and Turlock - challenged the steelhead listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). They argued that ocean-going Central Valley steelhead population should be removed from the endangered species list based on their opinion that freshwater rainbow trout might someday replace extinct steelhead populations.
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 3:47pm
Federal scientists find Klamath dam sediment to be non-toxic
by Dan Bacher
Happy Camp, CA - Federal scientists on August 12 released data indicating that sediment stored behind Klamath River dams targeted for removal is non-toxic. This data confirms findings from previous sediment studies performed by California agencies, according to a news release from the Karuk Tribe.
"Toxins in sediment are often a concern for dam removal projects," said Craig Tucker, Karuk Klamath Coordinator. "Often dam removal efforts are stymied by sediments behind the dams being contaminated by mercury or other hazardous substances."
However, Tucker noted that since almost all of the gold mining on the Klamath River happened downstream of Iron Gate Dam, toxins such as mercury were not found in sediments. Levels of other potential hazards such as dioxin were found to be similar to background levels and well below levels that pose health risks.
"Getting rid of these dams will actually solve toxin problems by alleviating the massive blooms of toxic algae," according Karuk Klamath Coordinator Craig Tucker.
Assemblyman Ted Gaines announced today that he is running in the special election for the 1st Senate District seat.
The Roseville Republican, who is wrapping up his second term in the Assembly, pledged to continue to oppose tax increases if elected to the Senate.
"Since my election to the Assembly in 2006, I have worked hard to bring common sense conservative principles to the State Capitol," he said. "I will not support any tax increase on the people or businesses of California and I will never compromise my principles just to 'get a deal done' or move the process along."
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 2:18pm
Chesbro calls for 6 month delay of North Coast MLPA process
by Dan Bacher
Citing concerns about how the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) is being implemented on the North Coast, Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) announced on August 9 that he is calling for a six month delay in the implementation of the MLPA on the North Coast.
Chesbro, the chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, has asked California Resources Secretary Lester Snow to delay the controversial process for at least six months to “ensure that environmental protection is balanced with traditional access rights.” Chesbro made the request in a recent meeting with Snow, according to a news release from Chesbro’s office.
Opposition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s MLPA Initiative by a diverse array of groups has mushroomed into the largest grassroots political movement of any kind on the North Coast since Redwood Summer of 1990.
On July 21, over 300 people, including tribal members from 50 Indian nations, immigrant sea urchin industry workers, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, seaweed harvesters and grass roots environmentalists, peacefully took control of a meeting of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force in Fort Bragg in defense of tribal gathering rights and against the MLPA’s domination by oil industry and other corporate interests.
“I have met with Resources Secretary Lester Snow and strongly urged him to slow down the process and that no action be taken by the Blue Ribbon Task Force for at least six months to allow more time to develop a plan that protects marine life and balances the access rights of traditional user groups,” Chesbro said. “I am confident that given enough time we can develop a workable solution between the fishing community, North Coast tribes and environmentalists.”
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 8:36am
Klamath River Restoration Begins - Scoping Meetings Scheduled July 7-15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : July 7, 2010
Media Contacts:
Craig Tucker, Karuk Tribe: 916 207-8294
Steve Rothert, American Rivers: 530 277-0448
Chuck Bonham, Trout Unlimited: 510 917-8572
Karl Scronce, Upper Klamath Water Users Assoc.: 541 281-2053
Mark Rockwell, N. CA Council, Federation of Fly Fishers: 530 432-0100
Glen Spain, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations: 541 689-2000
Curtis Knight, California Trout: 530 859-1872
Greg Addington, Klamath Water Users Assoc.: 541-892-1409
Jeff Mitchell, Councilman, Klamath Tribes - 541-891-5971
KLAMATH RESTORATION BEGINS
-Federal Agencies Initiate Environmental Review of Plan to Restore Rivers, Farms, and Communities
-Agreements Create Jobs, Keep Utility Bills Lower, and Bring New Economic Opportunities
Sacramento, CA – This week the economic and environmental review process of the pending Klamath Restoration Agreements begin with a series of public scoping meetings in the Klamath Basin. For many basin residents this signals the preliminary steps of an ambitious locally driven effort to restore the Klamath Basin’s fish and farm economies.
I'm pulling these quotes out from the body of the article to highlight them
"I just think it's terrible," said Linda Hay, a 60-year resident of Susanville who has been trekking into the backcountry for decades to gaze at the mustangs, mares and foals. "I think they do need to be controlled some way, but I don't think this is the way to do it."
[...]
"BLM isn't actually managing the horses with any scientific methods," said Jesica Johnston, a graduate student at California State University, Sacramento, who has studied the herd and advocates changes in the nation's policy. "They have some arbitrary numbers they're trying to achieve."
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 9:52am
by Dan Bacher
In her guest opinion in the Eureka Times-Standard on June 29, former Democratic Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin claimed that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative is “the most open and transparent process” that she has ever been involved with.
However, a historic protest the same day by over 40 activists from the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, Tolowa, Cahto and other tribes at the MLPA Science Advisory Team meeting in Eureka exposed Strom’s claim for the falsehood that it is. They demonstrated how the only thing “open” about the process is the open, racist disregard by MLPA officials for tribal gathering and fishing rights.
The MLPA team attempted to meet without allowing any public testimony, but Frankie Joe Myers, a member of the Coastal Justice Coalition and Yurok Tribe ceremonial leader, went to the microphone and demanded that the panel open up a public comment period. The panel was prevented from proceeding as they were interrupted by chants of “Keep your laws off my culture” and “M-L-P-A taking Tribal rights away.”
The MLPA officials conceded and members of North Coast Tribes and non-native supporters then provided powerful testimony demanding tribal representation on the science panel and exposing the hollowness of the claim that the process is “open and transparent.”
Submitted by Dan Bacher on Wed, 06/30/2010 - 4:56pm
Tribal Activists Disrupt MLPA Meeting to Protect Gathering Rights
By Dan Bacher
Over 40 American Indian activists took over a meeting of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Science Advisory Team in Eureka on June 29 to protest the violation of tribal gathering and fishing rights under the controversial process.
Frankie Joe Myers, a member of the Coastal Justice Coalition and Yurok Tribe ceremonial leader, went to the microphone and demanded that the panel open up a public comment period. The MLPA team attempted to meet without allowing any public testimony, but they were prevented from proceeding as they were interrupted by chants of “Keep your laws off my culture” and “M-L-P-A taking Tribal rights away.”
Tribal members held up signs and banners stating, “MLPA Can’t Hide the Genocide,” “MLPA making my grandmother an outlaw,” “Respect Native Tradition” and “Fish and Game, You’re Lame.”
Unable to proceed without interruption, the MLPA officials conceded and members of North Coast Tribes and non-native supporters provided powerful testimony slamming the process and demanding tribal representation on the science panel.
The activists demanded that tribes, who have been the stewards of the ocean for thousands of years, not be scapegoated for the decline in ocean fisheries caused by decades of government mismanagement.
“We gathered and harvested the ocean’s bounty for thousand of years in a sustainable manner,” said Myers. “For California to blame tribes for its reckless mismanagement of our fisheries for the last century is simply appalling.”
By Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh
sstanton@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Jun. 28, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Monday, Jun. 28, 2010 - 8:24 am
For David and Deborah Teja, the investment deal represented a chance to sock away college money for their two children, set aside a nest egg and have enough extra to give to charity.
It was, their investment advisers repeatedly told them, a "no brainer" that would pay them 12 percent interest on their investments, which would be guaranteed by the properties they bought to generate their cash.
Like many others, they attended a seminar presided over by investment guru Lawrence Leland "Lee" Loomis at a Holiday Inn and then went to a two-day event at the Gold Country Casino in Oroville to learn more. The high school teacher and social worker were surrounded by professionals much like themselves, who responded to the idea that their investments would enable folks in financial trouble to stay in their homes.
By Ryan Lillis
rlillis@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010 - 12:48 pm
The Great City Council Shake-up of 2010 has many subplots:
Widespread discontent in the city's largest council district. A scandal involving a councilman's son. Campaign hit pieces. A mayor's heavy hand.
All of it contributed to what appears to be an injection of three new faces on the nine-person council, the largest number of newcomers in a single election since 1992. And there could be a fourth, should Councilman Kevin McCarty prevail in his neck-and-neck race for the Democratic nomination for Sacramento's main Assembly seat.
Tuesday's election eliminated Councilman Robbie Waters, a 16-year incumbent. Two other candidates will compete in a November runoff for his District 7 seat.
Another incumbent, Ray Tretheway, is on life support. His opponent, Natomas community activist Angelique Ashby, claimed 50.98 percent of the vote Tuesday, with most of the votes counted.
Assemblyman Ted Gaines announced today that he is running in the special election for the 1st Senate District seat.
