Box 3357, Bakersfield, CA 93385-3357
(661) 323-5569
E-mail: kern-kaweah.chapter@sierraclub.org
Cover Photo by Andy Honig: Small wind turbine at the Gipe/Nies Ranch in Tehachapi Pass.
Every Thursday Evening Conditioning Hike. 4-5 miles in northeast Bakersfield area. Meet at 7 pm at the Casa Ramos (formerly Cadillac Ranch) parking lot just east of Mesa Marin on Hwy 178. Call Leaders Eva & Gordon Nipp (661) 872-2432 or Larry Wailes, (661) 861-1186 for details.
Feb. 8 (Tue) Kaweah & Mineral King Group meeting, 7 p.m. Meet at Brian Newton's home 1407 W. Laurel, Visalia. The agenda includes planning activities for the next few months. For more info phone Theresa Stump 781-0594 or Beverly Garcia 592-9865.
Feb 11-13 (Fri - Sun) X-C Ski Tour in Sequoia Natl Forest. Intermediate or better X-C skiers come join us for a weekend of day skiing on meadows, mountains, and roads at "The Ponderosa" in Sequoia National Forest above Porterville. 6-8 mi RT, 800 - 1000 ft. gain. Fri night (optional) and Sat night sleeping accommodations will be at the leader's cabin at Camp Nelson. Includes 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner. Group size limited. Send 2 large (4 x 9) SASE, resume of recent skiing experience, H & W phones, rideshare data, and 2 checks (payable OCSS) for $20 (refundable at trailhead) and $35 (non-refundable to RESERV/ASST: Paulette Landers, 2740 Pine Creek Circle; Fullerton, CA 92835. E-Mail:<cavebear2@aol.com>.
Feb. 19 (Sat) A leisurely hike in the southern Coso Mountains, with spectacular views in another seldom visited area. An easy 2.5 mile cross country hike with 900 ft gain. Two easy summits with 360 degree views over the spectacular volcanic Coso lands, the Coso Geothermal plant, Rose Valley, and the Sierra front. Ending with a side trip to the impressive pictographs, with a shaman or two, at Ayers Rock. Meet at Ridgecrest Cinemas at 7:30 am. For info, call: Don; 760-375-8599 or Dennis; 760-375-7967.
Feb 21 (Mon) Owens Peak Group Monthly Meeting. Dolph Amster will give an illustrated talk about his recent trip to Asia. Meet at Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores. 7:30 p.m. Ridgecrest. Call Dennis at 760-375-7967 or Jeanie at 760-375-8973 for details.
Feb 26 (Sat) Pinnacles National Monument. 7 mile loop through caves and over the high peaks of the mountains near Hollister. Moderate to strenuous. Stacey Chicoine (559)734-8830.
Feb. 26 (Sat) Keyesville Historic Site Hike under auspices of the Kern River Valley Hiking Club. Hike along dirt roads and over some cross-country routes; will visit Keyesville at Fort Hill, Keyesville Cemetary, Keyes Mine. Easy hiking. Leave from entrance to Keyesville Road at 9:00 (off Hwy 155 on west side of lake below dam, 1.2 miles n. of junction of Hwys. 178 and 155.) Call 760-376-4628 or 661-871-5594.
Feb. 27 (Sun) Slate Mtn. hike/ski (depending on snow) led by Brian Newton. Carpool from Visalia at 8 a.m. or meet at the Ponderosa Lodge above Camp Nelson at 10. If the group wants to ski to the top, we need to leave at 7, meet at 9. Intermediate ability. Burgers at the Lodge upon returning. Call 559-627-3571 or 559-627-5225.
Mar. 4 (Sat) Onyx Peak Climb above South Fork Valley under auspices of Kern River Valley Hiking Club. Hearty souls will climb peak. The rest will circle high desert Short Canyon on dirt roads with a little x-country. Leave Pauls Place at 9 a.m. 3.5 mi RT for hike (easy), 4.8 mi. for climb. Call 760-376-4628 or 661-871-5594.
Mar. 14 (Tue) Kaweah & Mineral King Group meeting, 6 p.m. Dinner meeting at Los Portales Restaurant 210 N Santa Fe, Visalia. Agenda details in the March Roadrunner.
Mar. 18 (Sat.) Hike a scenic Panamint Valley west side canyon, probably Bendire Cyn. Up to 9 to 10 miles round trip, 3000 ft gain. Meet at Cal Trans Park & Ride lot at E. Ridgecrest Blvd and Richmond Rd. at 7:30 am. For info, call: Don; 760-375-8599 or Dennis; 760-375-7967.
Mar 18-19 (Sat-Sun) Kern River Preserve- near Kernville. Car camping and hiking in the scenic beauty of Kern Valley. Bob Barnes will lead hikes exploring the South Fork area, the largest riparian forest in Cal. Bring food to share for Sat. night pot-luck dinner. Information call Bob Barnes at 760-378-3044 or E-mail bbarnes@lightspeed.net, or call Theresa, 559-781-0594.
Apr 1 (Sat) Sequoia National Park - Marble Falls is a lower elevation, moderate, all-day hike. This should prove to be a great day for wildflowers and rushing water. The falls are on a white marble bed with interesting formations carved out of the rocks. Stacey Chicoine (559)734-8830
Apr 22 (Sat) Annual Kern-Kaweah Chapter Banquet. Note change from usual March date.
Condor Gp Activities. For the year 2000, The Condor Group's potlucks will be on the 1st Saturdays, every other month, the hikes on the 4th Saturdays every month. The change is due to conflict with PMC group activities, such as the tennis club.
Go to <http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org> for more Chapter information. There, you will find links to the Chapter's Condor (Frazier Park), Kaweah (Porterville), Mineral King (Tulare and Kings County) and Owens Peak (Ridgecrest) groups as well as to the current and back issues of the Roadrunner.
1) In Lake Isabella there is high water table, and historically certain land in the community has been off-limits for development because of this condition. Recently, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the Lake Isabella One development project as an exemption to its General Plan. In addition to the inappropriateness of development on shallow water lands and its attendant threat to water purity, we are concerned about the precedent this action establishes for other developments that may be proposed on similar land in the future. Our Chapter's executive committee has agreed to participate in and support a lawsuit opposing this action unless the Board of Supervisors withdraws its approval. The local chapter of the Audubon Society has authorized attorney, Paul Carroll, to challenge the general plan amendment authorizing development where none was previously allowed without following the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Progress on this issue will be reported in the Roadrunner as we go forward.
2) Concentrated Animal Farming Operations (CAFO's) have caused havoc in other states. It has been done with hogs and poultry with disastrous results in some cases. I am surprised to see local planners so quick to approve 28,600 cattle dairy operations so near our county's major city. Air and water quality issues must be fully addressed. I am skeptical that owners of these operations can deliver on their promises of minimal environmental impact. Some suggest that with obesity being our major health problem, we should be moving away from milk and dairy products anyway.
- Glenn Shellcross
There were not many dairies within our chapter's boundaries fifteen years ago. Now there are over 300 in Tulare County and over 30 in Kern County. I do not know how many there are in Kings County, but Boswell is planning a 55,000 cow dairy in Kings County. I have represented the Kern-Kaweah Chapter at Kern County dairy hearings for several years. Our requests for an EIR were denied until the California Rural Legal Assistance League threatened suit if an EIR was not prepared for the Borba Dairy.
Almost all American dairies have less than 1,000 cows. At 28,572 cows, the Borba Dairy is an example of a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). CAFOs are one of the four key issues chosen by the national Sierra Club this year. We emphasize that we must produce milk while protecting air and groundwater. We urge local officials to ask our state and federal representatives to fund research and technology that would accomplish this goal. It may be necessary to have small dairies elsewhere, rather than CAFOs in the San Joaquin Valley. We also note that there are too few inspectors for projects of this extent. We do not think the Borba Dairy EIR is adequate and oppose building Borba or any other dairies until there is an adequate EIR, including analysis of cumulative impacts. To become involved contact me at <alunger@juno.com>, 661-323 -5569.
- Arthur Unger
We will soon have the opportunity to reverse the damage of a decade of budgetary neglect to California's parks and recreational areas, big and small. Proposition 12, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act, will appear on the March 7, 2000 ballot for voter approval. Though voters approved similar bond acts in the 70s and 80s, there has not been a park bond passed since 1988. Its funds ran out years ago. A recent independent study reports that state and local agencies estimate unmet park needs for the next ten years at over $12 billion. This reasonable $2.1 billion bond act includes much needed funding for dilapidated state and local parks and other agencies which protect recreational resources and open space. Funds will also be available for playgrounds, zoos and soccer fields as well as urban conservation corps, recreation for at-risk youth, open space protection in fast growing suburbs, and protection of remaining wildlife areas in some of our fastest growing counties. Neighborhood parks in every county will benefit from Prop 12. California is growing at the rate of more than 600,000 people per year, and all these new residents need places to recreate, appreciate wildlife, enjoy the outdoors, and exercise. Existing facilities are simply inadequate, and the bond act will fix what we have and expand the supply of lands and facilities to serve our growing needs. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike recognize the benefits of safe neighborhood parks. Fiscal conservatives like the California Taxpayers Association like Prop 12 because it will not raise taxes and all funds will be appropriated through the state budget and subject to careful review and annual public audits. The Sierra Club is joined by the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, AARP, League of Women Voters, and California Chamber of Commerce in supporting Prop 12 for Safe Neighborhood Parks. You can get more information at <www.safeparks.org>.
If your electricity is still supplied largely by fossil fuel and nuclearenergy, and you are willing to increase your electric bill by one fourth-in order to buy cleaner energy, come shop with me.
Be aware that nothing on our shopping tour can hold a candle to using less electricity, or less of any other form of energy. The Sierra Club campions energy conservation above all.
Some environmentalists think we should concentrate on industries that waste energy; others say that individuals who conserve are in a better position to encourage business and industry to conserve. We could start our shopping spree at <www.green-e.org> or call 1-888-63green. Make a list of the companies you consider buying from. The web site does not specify how much of the electricity comes from small dams, geothermal, biomass, wind or solar; I was able to call each company and obtain estimates. Please choose a supplier that uses no fossil fuel or nuclear energy at all. Ask if the company you choose uses electronic billing and payment; this can save paper.
Here is how all the "green" methods of generating and transmitting electricity harm the environment: In my opinion, unless dams are carefully operated and have fish ladders, they are no better than fossil fuel or nuclear energy. Some geothermal plants mar the landscape. Incinerating biomass pollutes the air; so, it is better to recycle manure and agricultural wastes back to the land and thereby capture their nutrient and fiber value than to burn agricultural wastes for their energy value. (Uses for the fiber contained in agricultural waste are being developed). If some of your energy comes from wind, tell your supplier that you will not subscribe for long if wind farms neglect their machines and cause erosion, as Zond does in Tehachapi Pass. It takes potentially harmful chemicals to make photovoltaic solar panels. Taking all this into account I like wind and solar best.
Reference: National Audubon Magazine article on global warming, 11/99 page 81.
- Arthur Unger
My husband, Stan, and I were pleased to be invited to the workshop at the African American Museum in Los Angeles on Jan. 7. Under new Director Rusty Areias, the State Parks are doing long range planning for the occurring and expected changes in California's population. Demographics involve changes in age, location, ethnic and economic distribution of Californians. State Parks are studying some hard questions:
Questions like these were topics for concern and discussion.
People attending were in themselves interesting. Many are highly educated people of color who can describe eloquently the problems faced in the inner cities and ethnically diverse communities and debunk misconceptions that people from other places have. The group seemed to be much more pro-environment than at meetings we attend in the desert. Representatives of various trail organizations, California Native Plant Society, Environmental Defense Fund, city and other governments, universities and community leaders were all involved. There were also people in charge of parks for various local and county governments.
The other Sierra Club leader there was RCC State Parks Chair Murry Rosenthal. There is strong emphasis on alliances between State Parks and other like-minded agencies and support groups. Volunteers are an essential resource, and how to use them most efficiently is another concern. Mr. Areias encouraged us all to do everything possible to get the Parks Initiative, Prop. 12, passed. The Club has endorsed this, and it's extremely important.
There are about five such meetings being held around the state, and ours was the largest so far with maybe 50 guests. More people, some from Kern County and the desert, were invited but unable to attend. We were delighted to be there and savored this very special opportunity.
-Jeanie Haye
One of the most frustrating things about answering "alerts" sent out by the Sierra Club asking us to call a Senator about this or the President about that is finding out what actually did happen in response to the barrage (we hope) of calls made regarding a certain bill or amendment and what action our elected officials took in each case. Now the Sierra Club has come up with an answer to those frustrations: Simply go to the Sierra Club Web page,and click on VoteWatch: www.sierraclub.org/votewatch.
On VoteWatch you will find posted brief descriptions of the items that the Sierra Club hopes to influence, and with an additional click you can go down to California, under which will be listed all our state reps. Following their names will be a "+" indicating support of the Sierra Club position and a "-"after the rep's name if that person voted against the Sierra Club position. It's a great satisfaction to know what has happened but, it must be said, not always a great satisfaction to see the sometimes disappointing results.
If you are not on the web and you are interested, call me at 661-242-0432 and help can be provided. If you are interested in helping making calls and writing letters when items of environmental concern need responses, call the above number and you will be most welcome on the list of folks to be "alerted."
- Mary Ann Lockhart
The big California Wilderness Conference, to take place at California State University in Sacramento from May 5 to May 7, will be the definitive way for all Californians who care about preserving our wild open spaces to learn about our new Calfornia Wild Heritage campaign, and - more than anything - to be inspired for the big job ahead. There will be three types of conference workshops- plenary, issue, and regional. The two big plenary panels are valuable primers that highlight the 1964 Wilderness Act and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Wilderness Act panel moderator Jay Watson, The Wilderness Society, will guide us through the history of the Wilderness Act with a special emphasis on California. Betsy Reifsnider of Friends of the River will look at the importance of Wild and Scenic Rivers, especially for California. Issue Panels move on four tracks. In the organizing track, participants learn "hands-on" skills for designing and carrying out an outreach campaign in their local community. The series of three workshops is a must to answer questions such as, "How Can I Get Involved?" and "What Can I Do to Help Get Permanent Wilderness and Wild River Protection?" The three sessions are:
1. Local Planning or, All Politics is Local.
2. Using the Media, or "If a Tree Falls in the Forest and Local TV News Didn't Cover It, Did It Really Fall, and If Not, Who Cares?"
3. Nuts and Bolts of a Grassroots Campaign: Coalition Building, Grass Roots and 101 Ways of Getting the message Out.
The second track, "Finding Common Ground", will explore working with allies outside the principal environmental organizations. Leigh Fitzpatrick of the Sierra Business Council will moderate a panel on working with business partners. Then, learn from our allies in the religious community about the role that organized religions can play in promoting the concept of Dominion as Stewardship; discuss dynamic leadership demonstrated by members of California's diverse ethnic groups; and assess how to accomodate and work with traditional users of areas now under consideration for wilderness. Last, in a special panel looking at the role of women in wilderness; investigate with Susan Tixier, founder and president of Great Old Broads For Wilderness, special perspectives and strengths that women can offer to the wilderness movement.
Then there's the track on Conservation Science. Dave Foreman will lead us in Wilderness Science and Research, and The Wildland Project: What is conservation biology and island biogeography and why are they important? Another session - Wilderness as Habitat for Critters and Plants - details the need for wilderness in providing habitat to a plethora of plants and animals. Finally, find out about the the economic value of wilderness outdoor recreation to rural communities. Moderator of "Resource Economics -Wilderness Dollars" is economist Pete Morton, of The Wilderness Society.
The last track, Wilderness Management, discusses care of existing wilderness. In "Wilderness on our Public Lands: Current Philosophy, Action and Management" you'll have a chance to quiz representatives from our federal land agencies. Jim Eaton, founder of the California Wilderness Coalition leads this discussion. Jim Dodson, Sierra Club desert leader will guide a panel on "The California Desert Act Implementation - We're not done yet". See what comes after passage of a monumental wilderness bill: it's a lot of complex nitty-grittyfollow up! For conference brochure and detailed registration information, contact one of the following:
* Conference coordinator, Bob Schneider: 530-304-6215; verve@dcn.davis.ca.us
- Vicky Hoover, chair California/Nevada Regional Wilderness Committee
During the Christmas holidays I enjoyed a visit with one of my former students, a Ph.D in economics who works for a California "think tank" researching current trends in health care and contemplating projected societal changes statewide and in the nation. Of concern to us both is the historically unprecedented phenomenon of super wealth among very young people and their retirement from work before the age of thirty-five. Joanne and her husband worry about their children's association with friends who will grow up assuming that affluence is a birthright, and being unaware of, or disinterested in, the masses of people worldwide for whom survival is at best problematical.
I was reminded of our conversation during a televised interview on PBS with three very alarmed people who had just come from the heart of the AIDS pandemic in Africa: Congressman Ron Dellums, Reverend Eugene Rivers and Thami Ngwevela, Consul-General of South Africa. They made it clear that we cannot go about our business here, in what appears to be a relatively safe world, forgetting - or wanting to forget - that in only twenty years ten million children, in Africa alone, have been orphaned by AIDS and are utterly without guidance or hope.
So many things lately have seemed too large, too sudden, and too startling for us to understand. Yet that is all the more reason why we must try. Anyone who took sophomore English in high school will remember Edgar Allen Poe's story, "The Masque of the Red Death", in which a gathering of privileged people celebrate the illusion of their security in a whirl of excesses, falsely supposing themselves safe from the plague that rages around them.
I believe very much in the ongoing efforts to protect our wilderness, our farmlands and our urban areas from careless development. But I also think that we must be educated about the development of AIDS in the third world as well as in our own country, and sensible of its implications for the future of all the inhabitants of the world.
Most of all, I believe that our children must be raised with the understanding that privilege is not a birthright, and that if advantage has any inherent value aside from the purchase of education it is in the opportunity it affords us to help lift others out of hopelessness and despair. Yesterday when I stepped out my back door I found fresh broccoli and cauliflower, a gift from my gardener. The beauty and simplicity of his gesture reminded me again of what is most fundamental in our lives: the ability to draw sustenance from the earth, and the willingness to share it.
© Ann Williams, 2000
Officers and Committee Chairpeople
Executive Committee (All but noted codes are 661)
Chair: Glenn Shellcross, 832-3382; VC: Neil Fernbaugh, 559-798-0343; Sec: Bonnie East, 832-9775; Treas: Mel Rubin 831-3333; At Large: Arthur Unger, Ara Maderosian, Mary Ann Lockhart; Richard Garcia, Gordon Nipp.
RCC Delegates: Bonnie East, Glenn Shellcross;
Alternates: Neil Fernbaugh, Lorraine Unger
Committee Chairpeople: Membership: Lorraine Unger, 323-5569; Political Committee Ch: Harry Love; S.C.Cncl Rep: Arthur Unger; Outings: Theresa Stump, 559-781-0594.
Kaweah Group (Porterville, area code 559)
Chair: Theresa Stump, 781-0594; VC: Diane Jetter; Conservation: Carla Cloer; Outings: Jim Clark
Mineral King Group: (Visalia & Hanford, 559)
Chair: Neil Fernbaugh, 798-0343; V.C. & Outings: Brian Newton,627-3571; Secretary: Nina Stone, Conservation: Mary Moy; Treasurer: Janet Wood, Membership: Patty Booth; Environmental Ed & Webmaster; Harold Wood; Fundraising: Richard Garcia; Social: Bev Garcia
Owens Peak Group (Desert Area Code 760)
Chair: Dennis Burge, 375-7967; V.C.: Steve Smith; Conservation: Jeanie Haye; Treasurer: Dolph Amster; At Large: Dororthy Vokolek; Outings: Don Peterson, 375-8599
Condor Group (Frazier Park & Pine Mountain)
Chair: Chester Arthur; Mbrship: Barbara Matthews; Outings: Ray Albridge & Harry Nelson; Conservation: Kevin Royle; Hospitality: Elsbeth Feldman; Publicity; Karen Cotter: Treas: Jean & Ed Rustvold; Ast Treas: M Albridge; Newsletter: Mary Ann Lockhart; At Large: Marta Bigler
Editor: Andy Honig (661) 325-0026. Contributions of news, articles, press releases, opinion, art and photographs (black & white), letters to the editor, should be sent to: andym@lightspeed.net.
Want to submit an article for the Road Runner or express opinions?
Suggested length: 650 words or less. Thats
about a column or 2 12 pages double spaced.)
Deadline: 15th
of the month BEFORE desired month of publication-mail
Copyrighted articles, graphics and photos can only be reprinted with the owners permission.
Published 12 times per year by the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club, Bakersfield, CA. All non-copyrighted material printed in the Roadrunner may be reprinted in any Sierra Club publications with acknowledgement.
The Kern-Kaweah Chapter newsletter is available at the Sierra Club website. You can save the Chapter mailing costs and save a tree by notifying us if you want your paper copy discontinued. Please e-mail Lorraine Unger at alunger@juno.com with your name and your membership number (found on the label). Any one who wants an extra hard copy anytime call (661) 323-5569.
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