Ventana Wilderness Watch

www.ventanawild.org Volume 10 Number 1, Spring 2009

Grow Site Cleanups site. During the January outing, volunteers

bagged and bundled an estimated 40 to
Continue 50 backpack loads of trash and irrigation
tubing. This garbage will be hauled out of
In January sixteen VWA volunteers the wilderness later this spring. Additional
began cleaning up a major marijuana grow outings to the site will be made in March,
site in the Miller Fork drainage of the weather permitting. After the site is
Carmel River. The grow site, spread over completely cleaned up, VWA volunteers
several acres, was raided by Forest Service will backpack the trash from its remote
law enforcement personnel last September. location to a staging area where Forest
The Forest Serviced reported eradicating Service pack stock will haul the trash the
7,000 to 8,000 marijuana plants from the remaining miles to the trailhead.
Grow Site Toxics. Photo courtesy of Mike Splain This is the third marijuana grow site
the VWA has undertaken in the last year.
The first two grow site cleanups were in
President’s Message the Nacimiento River drainage–one above
Dear Members, ABC Camp and the other just across the
Change was the theme that got President Obama elected. In his Forest boundary on Fort Hunter Liggett.
first weeks in office our new president has made good on his promise The ABC site was relatively small, having
by taking steps to return public land decision-making to the American been eradicated by law enforcement early
people. We look forward to a new era of public land management that
places the needs of the people and our public lands ahead of near-term
profits.
Change has also come to the VWA. In October we established our
first office located in downtown Santa Cruz. The new office provides
work space for Mike Splain, our first staff member. Mike’s duties include
membership development and grant funding for our programs and
operations. Mike’s broad skills and profound dedication to the VWA
mission have resulted in a marked membership growth that increased
23% in 2008.
Joining Mike at the new office is volunteer Julie Anne Hopkins,
a professional botanist and wildlife biologist who will be leading VWA
activities in those areas. Julie Anne is also a trained Global Information
System (GIS) specialist. She recently secured an in-kind grant from
the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) for state-of-the-
art GIS software. This software will allow the VWA to conduct in-house
geographical analyses and sophisticated mapping projects in support of
new and ongoing projects for management and protection of our local
Wilderness Areas, wildlife and native plant species.
In January, VWA co-founder and past president Jon Libby concluded Mike Splain lugging a bundle of irrigation
his most recent term on our Board of Directors. Jon has been a stalwart tubing. Photo courtesy of John Fedak
leader and source of inspiration for the VWA since its inception. We look
forward to Jon’s continuing support and, hopefully, more of his legendary in the season when the plants were still in
Gatherings. nursery beds. That site yielded about 12
I am pleased to announce that Betsy MacGowan backpack loads of
was elected to fill Jon’s former seat on the Board. The mission of the trash and quantities
Betsy has been an active VWA member since our of Miracle-Gro
founding and is a VWA Trail Crew Leader. We look fertilizer.
forward to her leadership, ideas and energy as we The FHL site was
is to protect, preserve, and restore the
tackle new challenges in this time of change. more extensive and
wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the
appeared to have
Tom Hopkins, President public lands within California’s northern
produced at least
tom@ventanawild.org Santa Lucia mountains and Big Sur Coast.
one mature crop.
831 429 9010
Continued on p 3
Cone Peak Trails Project Endures Despite
Closure
But More Volunteers Are Needed
What a challenging time it has been
for the Cone Peak Trails Project. As you
may remember, it was at this time last
year that the Ventana Wilderness Alliance,
in collaboration with the United States
Forest Service, kicked off an ambitious
project to rehabilitate backcountry trails in
the spectacular Cone Peak area of the Los
Padres National Forest.
Led by Mike Heard and Dave Knapp,
VWA volunteers made excellent progress
last spring on the Vicente Flat and North
Coast Ridge trails. But then came the
Indians, Basin Complex and Chalk fires,
which resulted in the closure of the Ventana
Wilderness and effectively postponed the
effort until very recently. With Forest
Service authorization, the VWA once again
is rehabilitating the trails in the Cone Peak
area.
A total of 3,433 work hours have been
dedicated to this project since its inception,
Illegal Campsite Removed
Sometime in 2006 parties unknown
constructed extensive campsite
improvements within the Silver Peak
Wilderness Area in violation of the
Wilderness Act and other statutes. Several
bay trees up to ten inches in diameter
were cut down and milled into crude
lumber with chain saws. A large table
with connected benches was attached to
a massive oak tree that shades the site.
A second table, additional benches and
three separate hitching rails were also
constructed. Camping equipment was left
on site, including a large plastic cooler,
folding chairs, skillets and cooking utensils,
lanterns and other gear.
Steve, Boon and Adrian fixing to dismantle
an illegal wilderness campsite.
including 1,011 work hours already in
2009! In addition to the wonderful efforts
of volunteers, the VWA has utilized grant
money to contract the trail work services
of the American Conservation Experience
(ACE). American Conservation Experi-
ence is a non-profit conservation corps
offering opportunities for both American
and international volunteers to take part in
challenging outdoor projects in many of
the most beautiful national parks, national
forests and wilderness areas in the Western
United States. Mike Heard has guided
ACE crews on three separate trips since
September, most recently on February 7-10
when they worked along the Stone Ridge
trail.
In all cases the work done by VWA
volunteers and the ACE crews is of very
high quality and Mike and Dave do a
great job of ensuring that work is done
to the standards in the interagency Trail
Forest Service packer and mules loaded with debris from an illegal wilderness campsite.
The VWA reported this illegal
wilderness intrusion to the Forest Service in
2007 with no response. In 2008 the VWA
reported the site again to the Forest Service
and volunteered to dismantle the site if the
Forest Service would pack the material
out of the site with their pack stock. An
agreement was made and in late October
2008 five VWA volunteers backpacked to
the site and dismantled the illegal campsite
improvements. The following day two
Forest Service packers led a mule string to
the site and all of the equipment, trash and
construction hardware was loaded onto the
mules and packed out of the wilderness.
The crude lumber was cut to short lengths
to prevent its reuse for anything but a good
camp fire.
The Stone Ridge Trail looking west from the
Vicente Flat trail.
Construction and Maintenance Notebook.
There is much more work to do, however.
The VWA needs more volunteers to
support the Cone Peak Trails Project. This
is an opportunity for volunteers to access
the Ventana Wilderness before the closure
order is lifted AND perform a valuable
public service. For information on how
you can get involved, please contact Dave
Knapp at daveknapp@ventanawild.org.
Please Help Us
Update Our Database
The VWA kindly requests your updated
email address for our records. This will
allow us to communicate with you in a more
timely and effective manner. Ultimately,
we would like to offer you the option of
being a “paperless” member.
Please send your current email address
to Mike Splain at mike@ventanawild.org.
Rest assured that the VWA will not
share your personal information with any
other groups, individuals, organizations or
corporations.
Abandoned Mines
Gold was discovered in the Willow
Creek area, along Big Sur’s southern
coast, in the 1880s. Other heavy metals,
including mercury, were discovered in
limited quantities just south of the gold
fields. The ensuing rush resulted in a
handful of marginally productive mines
and hundreds of additional mining claims
and prospects. Today, the vast majority of
those mines and claims lie abandoned on
public lands. Some of those abandoned
mines contain gaping adits and are littered
with abandoned debris. Others discharge
questionable effluent into coastal streams.
The Forest Service conducted limited
surveys of some of these abandoned mines
in the 1990s and issued inconclusive reports.
Due to the Forest Service’s chronic funding
shortfall, no further work has been done to
confirm what physical and environmental
Abandoned Mercury Retort in the Silver
Peak Wilderness.
Photo Courtesy of Tom Hopkins
hazards are actually present at these sites.
VWA volunteers have recently begun
gathering data and documenting conditions
at the most egregious of these abandoned
mines with the intent of moving the Forest
Service to take comprehensive action. We
will continue to gather information and
pursue a prompt resolution to these issues,
including partnering with the Forest Service
where appropriate. For more information,
contact tom@ventanawild.org.
Grow Site Cleanups
Continued from p 1
Initial estimates were 30 to 40 backpack
loads of trash and irrigation tubing. But
the Chalk Fire burned the area before the
cleanup was conducted. When the VWA
crew was able to re-enter the site following
the fire, the trash and irrigation tubing
had been reduced to about 10 backpack
loads, all of which were removed. Pre-
fire reconnaissance to this site removed
quantities of zinc phosphide, a rodenticide
favored by the pot growers.
A significant environmental threat from
these illicit grow sites comes from the toxic
VWA ESRI Grant Recipient
Great news! The VWA has been
awarded a generous grant from the
Environmental Systems Research Institute
(ESRI). The grant package includes ARC-
Editor Geographic Information System
(GIS) software, several publications and
a training program. Application of this
software will allow the VWA to conduct
geographical analyses “in-house” and
sophisticated mapping projects. This will
support new and ongoing projects for
management and protection of the Ventana
and Silver Peak Wilderness Areas and other
public lands into coordination with the US
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Coupled with a Geographical Positioning
System (GPS) unit, these tools can be
used to mark locations of various interest
in the field, such as rare plant and animal
locations, trails that need maintenance,
fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are
abandoned on site after law enforcement
eradicates the marijuana plants. Unused
supplies of these chemicals have been found
in open containers adjacent to flowing
streams. Securing these toxic materials is
the first objective when these sites are first
reconnoitered by VWA volunteers.
For more information about the VWA
marijuana grow site cleanup program and
to volunteer to help, please visit: http://
www.ventanawild.org/projects/grow-site/.
and unauthorized use in Wilderness. Data
(location) points or areas collected by
the GPS receivers can be added to the
GIS mapping and will aid with accurate
relocation and management on the ground.
The map below of two abandoned vehicles
is an example of how GPS and GIS can
assist Wilderness management. We now
know that the abandoned vehicles are within
the non-wilderness “cherry stemmed”
road corridors and can be removed when
approved by the Forest Service.
Julie Anne Hopkins, a GIS-trained
volunteer, prepared and submitted the grant
application and she will serve as the VWA
GIS coordinator. We look forward to
incorporating this service into the VWA’s
projects
VWA Trail Crew Back In Action
Despite the closure of the Ventana
Wilderness to recreational use, the VWA
was incredible and, just as importantly, it
was done safely and in a way that will keep
Trail Crew is coordinating with the US
Forest Service to continue trail clearing
it clear for some time. Everyone marveled
at how much easier it was to go up the trail
efforts. On January 31and February 1, Trail where they had worked than it was to go
Crew Chief Dave Knapp led 16 stalwart down the trail earlier that day.
volunteers on a trip based out of Cook No VWA trail work report would
Spring camp. The crew cleared trail on be complete without at least a cursory
the upper Gamboa and North Coast Ridge description of the evening’s feast. Alas,
(NCRT) trails. Their efforts exemplified there was no fondue this time; however,
there were many other culinary delights.
To name a few, there was pickled herring
in sour cream, dolmas, corn-on-the-cob,
carrots wrapped in romaine leaves, beans,
three different kinds of olives, home dried
fruit, two or three different cheeses, steak,
herbed salami, hard boiled eggs, chocolate,
nuts, and at least two different batches of
homemade cookies. Also, someone brought
a Jiffy Pop skillet of popcorn, which Betsy
cooked over an MSR stove.
The next day, a few volunteers went
out to the Arroyo Seco trail junction to
check out the bulldozer line and fix a place
Vince Silva, Betsy MacGowan and Steve where people might get lost. The rest got
Benoit survey the dozer cut on the NCRT. started on the NCRT. The crew brushed
Photo courtesy of Dave Knapp an estimated 400 feet of trail there. They
removed the worst sections of the warty-
the amount of work that can be completed leaf ceanothus between the Carrizo shortcut
by a small number of dedicated people. and the Gamboa trail.
The team was diverse in experience, Kudos to this VWA Trail Crew on a
with a number of people who were new fantastic job! The sawing and lopping
to trail work. Assistant Trail Crew Leader were done safely and properly. It appears
Betsy MacGowan trained everyone on that fun was had by all. If you would like
proper brushing techniques and brushing to join an upcoming VWA trail crew or
safety. Assistant Trail Crew Leader Steve have questions, contact Dave Knapp at
Benoit hauled in a 6-foot crosscut saw and daveknapp@ventanawild.org.
its required accessories and led the saw Following is a list of upcoming VWA
crew in removing 11 logs from the upper Trail Crew trip dates. The locations will be
Gamboa trail. determined as the actual dates approach.
An estimated 500 feet of the Gamboa
trail was cleared. Though that may not sound March 14/15 March 21/22;
significant, the amount of brush removed April 4/5 May 2/3
Volunteers Needed Education and Public Outreach
Bob Dawson bob@ventanawild.org
As you read this newsletter, Trail Maintenance
you will note that the VWA Dave Knapp daveknapp@ventanawild.org
is involved in a wide variety Native Plant and Wildlife Surveys
of activities and projects. Julie Anne Hopkins julieanne@ventanawild.org
The majority of our efforts Newsletter and Publicity
are led by dedicated Richard Popchak rich@ventanawild.org
volunteers. If you would Restoration and Stewardship
like to get involved, please Tom Hopkins tom@ventanawild.org
review the list to the right Archeological Site Stewardship
and contact the lead person Dennis Palm dennis@ventanawild.org
to learn more about the Public Lands Grazing Reform
areas where we need help. Tom Hopkins tom@ventanawild.org
Thank you for supporting Fort Hunter Liggett Conservation
the VWA! Dennis Palm dennis@ventanawild.org
VWA Wins Patagonia
Voice Your Choice
Grant
International retailer Patagonia does a
great job of demonstrating corporate social
responsibility. An example of their dedi-
cation to grass roots activism is Patago-
nia’s Voice Your Choice campaign. Last
summer Patagonia Retail Stores around
the country, including their store in Santa
Cruz, provided environmental organiza-
tions like the VWA
an opportunity to
earn a $4,000 grant.
The campaign was
created to help cus-
tomers get involved
in local environ-
mental issues, show their support for local
environmental groups, and get warmed up
for the November ’08 elections.
Each store profiled five area groups that
were doing something extraordinary to help
restore and protect the local environment.
Customers were then invited to make their
voices part of the solution by voting for the
group they felt deserved a $4,000 grant.
Job Libby accepts the Voice Your Choice grant
from Lindsey Graham-Jones of Patagonia
Santa Cruz. Photo courtesy of Ray King
The voting took place from June 10 to
July 19, 2008, while the Basin Complex
fires raged. Patagonia allowed the VWA
(and the other competing non-profits) to
table at the Santa Cruz store. This gave
us the opportunity to educate store visi-
tors on the VWA’s efforts and ask for their
vote. When the votes were counted, the
VWA emerged victorious! We would like
to express our gratitude to Patagonia and to
the many people who tabled at the store or
gave us their vote.
 Old Coast Road
Ventana Wilderness Alliance Post Office Box 506 Santa Cruz, CA 95061
PHONE 831 423 3191 EMAIL vwa@ventanawild.org Access Preserved
Board of Directors An anonymous tip to the VWA led
PRESIDENT Tom Hopkins tom@ventanawild.org
VICE PRESIDENT Dennis Palm dennis@ventanawild.org to the Monterey County Public Works
TREASURER David Jacobs david@ventanawild.org Department being caught red-handed
SECRETARY Richard Popchak rich@ventanawild.org installing permanent gates on the Old Coast
DIRECTOR/TRAIL CREW LEADER Betsy MacGowan betsy@ventanawild.org Road without required planning permits or
DIRECTOR/OUTREACH COORDINATOR Bob Dawson bob@ventanawild.org environmental analysis. County Public
DIRECTOR/TRAIL CREW CHIEF David Knapp daveknapp@ventanawild.org Works justified the action based on alleged
Extended Leadership Group threats identified in the State Emergency
MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mike Splain mike@ventanawild.org Assessment Team (SEAT) report following
BIOLOGIST/BOTANIST Julie Anne Hopkins julieanne@ventanawild.org
TRAIL CREW LEADER Mike Heard mikeheard@ventanawild.org the Basin Complex Fire. However, a
TRAIL CREW LEADER Steve Benoit steve@ventanawild.org careful reading of the SEAT report revealed
TRAIL CREW LEADER Robert Parks robert@ventanawild.org no threat that would warrant the need for
TRAIL CREW LEADER Mark Maslow mark@ventanawild.org permanent gates. In past years the County
Newsletter Production has temporarily closed sections of the Old
EDITOR Richard Popchak Coast Road when it has become impassable
ASSISTANT EDITOR Peggy Dilfer following major fires and/or unusually
DESIGN Tessa Libby heavy winter rains. Temporary portable
PRINTING University Graphic Systems barricades served the occasional need
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo without permanent gates.
Maintaining access to the public trail
system in the Ventana Wilderness is a top
priority of the VWA. Permanent gates
New Limekiln State Wilderness on the Old Coast Road would be subject
to political influence by private property
The first legislated state wilderness VWA board member, who led this successful owners motivated to exclude the public
established in 30 years was designated campaign from start to finish.  Gordon’s and could further threaten access to the
in Limekiln State Park late last year. commitment to the Limekiln Wilderness popular Little Sur Trail. The trailhead
Sponsored by the Ventana Wilderness never faltered, even in the darkest days to the Little Sur Trail is accessed by the
Alliance and carried by Assemblymember when we thought our efforts were doomed.  public from a trailhead on the Old Coast
John Laird, AB 2945 protected 413 acres of Congratulations and more special thanks Road and then follows an easement across
the park backcountry as state wilderness. go to Rita Dalessio, Chairperson of the two private properties to reach the Ventana
The bill also amended the California Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club and Wilderness.
Wilderness Act of 1974 to include a staunch VWA member, for her sage Following the initial tip, the VWA placed
“minimum tool” language consistent counsel and critical support, which proved calls to Monterey County officials, who did
with the federal Wilderness Act of 1964. essential to our ultimate success.  And of not provide a satisfactory explanation as to
“Minimum tool” is a strict administrative course many thanks to all of our friends the need or the approval process for gate
process by which wilderness management and VWA members on the Big Sur coast installation. Their response also indicated
requirements can be carried out with who provided their essential “local” letters that an environmental review had not been
mechanical equipment when determined of support.  Way to go, everyone! conducted nor required permits issued. To
to be the “minimum tool.” This provision find out how this back-room decision was
has proven to be essential to the success of made the VWA filed a Public Records Act
the federal act and has allowed the National Request with Monterey County.
Wilderness Preservation System to expand Documents produced by the County
to more than 100 million acres. Lacking in response to our request confirmed that
minimum tool language, the state act has the gate installation was started without
produced a very limited state wilderness required permits or environmental review.
system. With the new legislation in place, Soon thereafter the County announced that
numerous deserving state park and fish it was abandoning the project and would
and game wildlands may now be seriously provide public notification prior to its
considered for permanent protection as reconsideration.
state wilderness. The VWA was represented in this
We are all indebted to former action by Jennifer Bragar of the Wittwer &
Assemblymember Laird for his decision to Parkin law firm. The Ventana Chapter of
champion this cause and for his deft hand the Sierra Club pursued a parallel action in
at seeing it through to the Governor’s desk.  Looking NE across the canyon of the West close coordination with the VWA.
Congratulations and special thanks are in Fork of Limekiln Creek and portions of the
order to Gordon Johnson, Director of the new Limekiln State Wilderness. Cone Peak is
California Wilderness Project and founding in the distance. Photo courtesy of Tom Hopkins

Post Office Box 506
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Address Service Requested
REMINDER
Board Meeting is April 25
Details TBA via List Serv
Save the Date
Saturday, May 9, 2009
VWA Spring Gathering
Brazil Ranch, Big Sur
Mark your calendars for the VWA’s
Spring Gathering, featuring Nature
Photographer David Gubernick, who
will present on the wildflowers of
Monterey County.
Details TBA via the List Serv and a
postcard invitation
Gather With The Ventana Wilderness Alliance
We have found that the VWA Gatherings
are a great way to encourage conservation
vigilance among our members, neighbors
and relations. They also are a wonderful
opportunity to make friends, enjoy culinary
treats, and meet the fascinating scientists,
artists and writers we ask to speak at our
engagements.
Brad Bryce was among the many attendees
at the VWA Gathering last October.
Photo Courtesy of Richard Popchak
Join our new and improved Forum at the VWA website, www.ventanawild.org. Click on “Forum” in the toolbar.
Be sure to mark Saturday, May 9 on your
calendars for the VWA Spring Gathering
(location TBD). Nature Photographer
David Gubernick will be there to present a
slide show on the “Wildflowers of Monterey
County.” Details will be distributed via the
List Serv and a postcard. It is sure to be a
special day.
We’d like to thank everyone who joined
our Gatherings last October and January.
The Fall Gathering on October 18 featured
a presentation by Mark Stromberg, Resident
Reserve Director of the Hastings Natural
History Reservation near Carmel Valley.
Mark shared his experiences managing
living laboratories and classrooms in
Ventana country. The work done at
Hastings will help us to protect the natural
areas of California, especially the northern
Santa Lucia.
Attendees at the Winter Gathering on
January 29 had the distinct pleasure of
meeting renowned Japanese-style woodcut
NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
SANTA CRUZ, CA
PERMIT NO. 150
Tom Killion discusses his art at the VWA
Gathering in January in Marina.
Photo Courtesy of Julie Anne Hopkins
artist Tom Killion. Tom’s stunning visual
images dramatically capture the essence
of Big Sur country. Tom shared with the
audience the processes that he uses to
create his art as well as the influences and
experiences that motivate him to create his
dynamic and inspirational woodcuts.
Please come join us on May 9 for
the Spring Gathering. Email vwa@
ventanawild.org for more information.