PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

CALIFORNIA TODAY
Newsletter of the Planning & Conservation League

June 2011

Volume 41, Number 2

Amber Schmaeling

Carmel River

State Agencies Award Millions for Dam Removal

By: Dr. Monica Hunter

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Amber Schmaeling

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) is joining an effort led by the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to fund a portion of the cost of removing the San Clemente Dam in Monterey County. In May the Conservancy approved an additional $4.5 million, bringing its total contribution to $7 million. In June, WCB also approved $7 million for the project. Peter Perrine, WCBs Assistant Executive Director, reports that his agency has been very interested in this project for some time and, together with the Department of Fish and Game, has carefully evaluated the opportunity to take out the dam and restore the ecological functioning of the Carmel River. Perrine also notes that the Carmel is one of the few steelhead rivers that can be restored in a way that will recover many of the natural ecological processes, unlike other rivers in the state that have been greatly modified. In the short run, WCB funds will help with capital construction costs incurred during the three-year project planned for completion by 2016. In the long run, WCB will monitor project outcomes for 25 years following project completion to assure that restoration of wildlife habitat and fish passage for steelhead is effectively managed. Perrine states that the SCC is doing a good job of advancing the funding plan in tandem with completing the project engineering design and permitting work currently underway. The SCC pledged to provide $35 million in public funds to remove the seismically weak dam, and to date has

raised nearly $20 million. Future funding efforts will target potential federal funds from the NOAA Open Rivers Initiative, in-kind services from the DOD Innovative Readiness Training Program, and private sources. The SCC is enthusiastic about the prospects of gaining support for removal of the first large dam in the country. The Planning and Conservation League Foundation has actively partnered with the SCC and NOAA Fisheries since 2004 to assist with public participation in the development of the project, and will continue to work to support funding efforts.

San Clemente Dam

Dear Friends,
CALIFORNIA TODAY (ISBN 0739-8042) is the quarterly newsletter of the PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND THE PCL FOUNDATION
1107 Ninth Street, Suite 901, Sacramento, CA 95814 PHONE: 916-822-5631 FAX: 916-822-5650

E-MAIL ADDRESS: pclmail@pcl.org WEB ADDRESS: http://www.pcl.org Membership to PCL is $35 a year and includes a subscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA and at other additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes for CALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office: 1107 Ninth Street, Suite 901, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DAVID HIRSCH, Chairman RALPH B. PERRY III, Vice Chairman DANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-Treasurer COKE HALLOWELL, Trustee

PCL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BILL CENTER, President KEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice President DAVID MOGAVERO, Secretary-Treasurer SAGE SWEETWOOD, President Emeritus JOHN VAN DE KAMP, President Emeritus

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

ELISABETH BROWN JAN CHATTEN-BROWN PHYLLIS FABER RICK HAWLEY FRAN LAYTON DOUG LINNEY TERESA VILLEGAS TERRY WATT BILL YEATES

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS

Big Sur Land Trust Breathe California, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails California Association of Local Conservation Corps California Wildlife Foundation / California Oaks California Trout Greenspace - The Cambria Land Trust Golden Gate Audubon Society The Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. Mono Lake Committee Mountain Lion Foundation Sierra Nevada Alliance Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation Train Riders Association of California The Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFF

BRUCE REZNIK, Executive Director EVON CHAMBERS, Water Policy Assistant VERN GOEHRING, Legislative Consultant DR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project Manager JONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy Advisor JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, Administrative Manager JENA PRICE, Global Warming Program Coordinator MELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant DANA SHOKES, Database Coordinator

I am so excited to be joining the Planning and Conservation League and PCL Foundation as Executive Directorand in doing so, joining all of you in the quest to safeguard Californias natural resources for generations to come. By way of introduction, I have spent most of the past dozen years in San Diego--first helping build San Diego Coastkeeper into the leading voice for coastal protection in the region, then working to build a collaborative--Sustainable San Diego--focused on improving regional planning efforts. Prior to that, I was in Los Angeles for five years working on alternative fuel and advanced transportation projects. Including my upbringing in Los Angeles, the four-and-a-half years I spent at UC Berkeley, and three years at University of San Diego School of Law, I have spent nearly my entire life, save one year doing masters coursework in environmental law in Washington D.C., living, working, and playing in California. I love this State, and feel very fortunate to join PCL and PCLF, which have for more than 45 years been fighting to ensure that all Californians can enjoy clear air, healthy waters, and thriving open spaces. It is a critical time for PCL/PCLF--and for our environment in California. Despite greater-than-ever public awareness of the threats facing our environment, and growing know-how to address these challenges, the States unprecedented budget crisis is putting an increasing number of environmental laws on the chopping block, while cuts to agency budgets are undermining their ability to enforce our laws. Under normal circumstances, this could be overcome by groups like PCL/PCLF stepping into the breach. The same financial crisis impacting our State, however, has also seen budgets and staffs of environmental groups shrink dramatically. We, too, are having to do much more with much less. Throughout this newsletter, you will read about PCL/PCLFs recent accomplishments and the critical environmental battles currently underway. From statewide efforts, like protecting the California Environmental Quality Act from another round of attacks, to local successes in helping move forward with the San Clemente Dam removal, to the status of Californias budget negotiations, PCL and PCLF are at the cutting edge of shaping California into a model for sustainability. None of this would be possible without your past and ongoing support. THANK YOU for your role in safeguarding our natural resources and strengthening our communities; our work would not be possible without you. Sincerely, Bruce Reznik Executive Director
Gary Kramer, NRCS

California Affiliate National Wildlife Federation

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Steps to Implementing SB 375

By: Assembly member Roger Dickinson

California is currently in the middle of transforming the way we build and renew our physical communities. For many years, Californians have recognized the need to reduce vehicle commuting times and to redevelop aging urban areas for environmental reasons, but we are now recognizing other reasons that are just as important. For example, in the past, long commutes were seen as negative because they are expensive and add to air pollution. However, a recent study at Umea University in Sweden found that when one partner in a couple commutes for more than 45 minutes a day, that couple is 40% more likely to divorce. Studies also show that long commutes lead to obesity, physical pain, stress, and dissatisfaction with life. I strongly supported SB 375, Californias landmark Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, because it will be a catalyst for improving not only air and environmental quality, but also the health and well-being of all the people who live in communities throughout California. Now we need to take the next step of ensuring that the promise of SB 375 becomes reality. To that end, I have introduced AB 605, the Healthy Neighborhoods Act which is sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League. I am very excited to work on this measure to bring the regional planning efforts of SB 375 down to the ground level and start making serious reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) a reality. The benefits of this effort are going to be plentiful: developers will have

concrete guidelines for reducing VMT, drivers will be able to buy and use less gasoline, air quality will improve, and communities will become more walkable. Some of my other legislative goals for the 2011-12 session are to expand infill development to first tier commercial corridors (AB 931); expand existing eligible uses for transportation mitigation impact fees for transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities (AB 147); and give a climate change expert a voice on the California Air Resources Board (AB 146). One of my bills, AB 823, would establish the Childrens Cabinet of California to foster greater coordination, collaboration, and efficiency in the provision of State services for children and youth. This measure may seem to be outside of the Leagues traditional purview, but it is truly an extension of the work that I hope to accomplish in helping local governments achieve their Sustainable Community Strategies. If the needs of children are taken into account when developing housing and transportation infrastructures, we can establish public transportation, walking, biking, and family-friendly community design as a baseline that we can build upon and improve for our children as they become the leaders of the future. Assembly member Roger Dickinson represents the city of Sacramento, the 9th Assembly district.

Fast Facts
20.1
Average miles a person drives per day in Portland, Oregon.

19
Average miles a person drives per day in Sacramento.

23.7
Average miles a person drives per day in San Diego.

20.5
San Diegos targeted miles per person.

$1.7 billion
Savings for San Diego in reducing miles by 3.2 per day.

800
New miles of freeways in San Diegos current Regional Transportation Plan.

50%
The amount of increase over year 2000 levels in Vehicle Miles Traveled if San Diegos current Plan is realized.
Source: The Green Dividend Report, Move San Diego http://www.movesandiego.org/research.html

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

The California Budget: Behind Closed Doors

By: Jena Price

As this article is being written, legislators are hours away from the June 15th midnight deadline to pass a state budget. If a budget fails to be passed, a new law voted on by Californians on the last ballot, will withhold the salaries and pay of all lawmakers until a budget agreement is made. The budget process this year has been fraught with disagreement, unwillingness to compromise, and anger from many who feel that issues on the chopping block in the budget should be discussed in an open forum and not in closed door negotiations. While the requirement to pass a budget is no longer two-thirds vote, Governor Brown needs a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature to pass his budget plan, which relies on extending and increasing taxes, including the personal income and sales tax. While the passage of this plan would only require four GOP votes, after months of negotiations it seems the Governor is still no closer to achieving that support. Trying to secure those precious votes doesnt come without a price and the Republicans have come prepared with a number of areas they want to see changes to--if they are even going to consider either a tax extension initiative or a budget without tax cuts. On the merits, additional cuts to the budget seem almost impossible. Fifteen billion dollars has already been cut from the budget, but California is still billions of dollars in the red. With all the cuts that have already occurred, deeper cuts and the impacts on our educational system and social programs are unimaginable. Topping the list of asks the Administration has been given by Republican lawmakers, are recommendations to make regulatory reforms as well as changes to the

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)--both of which would directly effect the efforts made by Californians, environmentalists, and others who are making strides to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Every year, as the budget is discussed, CEQA always becomes part of the conversation. And year after year the song they sing is the same--jobs, jobs, jobs. The fact of the matter is that these efforts have nothing to do with unemployment or the budget and have everything to do with who has a voice. CEQA was passed to give citizens a say in what happens in their communities. The law is a good government tool that allows for transparency in the decision making process and for community members and leaders to be involved in how their neighborhoods grow. As you might imagine, effective tools are not popular with those who oppose environmental protections. During the budget adoption process, it seems that CEQA detractors have aimed to spin Californias high rates of unemployment to claim an inherent conflict between job creation and the protection of our environment and public health. These do not have to be mutually exclusive issues and it has come time for everyone to work together to preserve CEQA and encourage sound, sustainable, job-creating development instead of whittling away at our landmark law behind closed door negotiations. Stay tuned via our weekly e-newsletter, the PCL Insider, to learn about the outcome of these budget negotiations. If you dont already subscribe to the Insider, please do so at: www.PCL.org.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

The Power of Many

By: Jena Price

June 3rd marked the last day for bills to switch from their respective house of origin to the other side as they go forward in efforts to get signed into law. This half way point in the legislative session has proved victorious for environmental groups. The Planning and Conservation League, along with its colleagues who make up the 70+ groups within the Green California coalition, are pleased to announce that we have had a 100% success rate getting the right bills off the floor of each house and halting the harmful bills from going further. The last days leading up to the deadline were filled with numerous visits into lawmakers offices and long waiting periods by both the Senate and Assembly floors in efforts to pull a legislator aside--if for only a moment--to stress the importance of the priority environmental bills. It wasnt just the hard work on our side that made this success possible, and the Planning and Conservation League would like to take this opportunity to thank those legislators inside the Building who worked so hard to help all 23 pro-environment bills through their first houses. It is because of the support and leadership skills from Senators Alan Lowenthal and Kevin DeLen and Assembly members Luis Alejo, Roger Hernandez, Jerry

Hill and Ricardo Lara that our legislative priorities were able to get out of their house of origin. We extend our gratitude to each of our bill champions and look forward to working with them further to protect health and well-being of our beautiful state and those who reside in it. Below are some of the 23 bills that Green California was successful in passing out of each house: AB 1319 (Butler): Banning Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Baby Products SB 535 (De Len): California Communities Healthy Air Revitalization Trust AB 591 (Wieckowski): Regulating Oil and Gas Production: Hydraulic Fracturing SB 568 (Lowenthal): Phasing Out Styrofoam Food Packaging AB 685 (Eng): State Water Policy AB 376 (Fong, Huffman): Banning Shark Finning SB 580 (Wolk): State Park Protection AB 650 (Blumenfield): Creating a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Public Transportation AB 837 (Nestande): Solid Waste: Plastic Food and Beverage Containers

The League Has a New Partner Program

By: Melanie Schlotterbeck

If we stopped all of our work today to evaluate how and why weve been successful, even against the odds, for so many years, one major reason would because of our supporters and our partner organizations. With this realization, the League has implemented a new Partner Program to link our members and those organizations. This Partner Program will provide you with the option to renew your membership with the League and opt-in for a free membership with one of our partners. Each month the League sends a membership renewal or a special appeal; members will have the opportunity to get two memberships for the price of one! We are pleased to announce our first two partner organizations: Sierra Nevada Alliance and Orange County Coastkeeper. For the month of July, if you elect to renew your membership you can choose to become a member of the Alliance for free! The same applies to Orange County Coastkeeper, but this partnership opportunity runs in August.

With this program, we hope to highlight some of our regional partners and allow you to become engaged with our allies. Partners are one important reason we are so effective at improving the environment and quality of life for all Californians. Watch for details on our website (www.PCL.org), by mail, and by email and opt-in for a FREE membership to a group youd like to get to know. JULY PARTNER

AUGUST PARTNER

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Getting From Point A to Point B

By: Jena Price

Melanie Schlotterbeck

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the state is projected to gain anywhere from seven and eleven million new residents by 2025, bringing Californias population up to as many as 48 million people. With this population increase comes concerns regarding how to best safeguard the environment and public health. The Legislature, local governments, and developers have all been working to address these issues. In 2008, Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg) was passed into law with a goal of incorporating the regional allocation of housing needs and regional transportation planning in an effort to stymie the emissions vehicles create. One way to do that is to change how we grow our cities. Focusing on smart growth practices is comprised of many parts. While creating communities that allow for easy walkability (or bikeability) to retail, schools, and jobs is one of the overarching goals, for those who do need to travel outside of their communities, a comprehensive transportation system is also a necessity. California currently has very few options for those who cannot use intercity transportation to get where they need to go, and single passenger vehicles and air travel are the largest reason why California is the number one state most affected with air pollution. So besides smart growth practices, how do we get everyday commuters out of their cars and still get them where they need to be? Many think the answer lies in high speed rail. Currently, the California model for high speed rail (HSR) calls for 100% renewable energy for the rail network, which would virtually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the system. That, combined with the fact

that researchers believe HSR will require one-fifth the total energy, per passenger, of a typical single-occupancy car, and one-tenth the energy of a commercial airplane, carbon dioxide emissions reductions are projected to decrease by nearly a half-billion pounds by the year 2035. This fact alone makes for a healthier, less polluted, and congested California. And while the Planning and Conservation League and others want this to be the road California aims to travel down, the HSR project hasnt been without its share of bumps. In 2008, the residents of California voted to pass Proposition 1A, allocating nearly $10 billion towards the construction and creation of a HSR system in the state through the High Speed Rail Authority (state agency established pursuant to the California High Speed Rail Act to develop and implement high-speed intercity rail service). Since 2008 however, many legislators and organizations feel that the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) has gravely mismanaged funds and made position track placement decisions which have left many wondering when and at what cost HSR will truly happen. A comprehensive HSR system will have many benefits to Californias residents and environment, but only if done right. There is currently legislation being carried by Senator Alan Lowenthal that the Planning and Conservation League believes will provide the oversight, accountability, and good governance needed to create a successful high speed rail system that will benefit residents and work towards the overall smart growth model of design needed to ensure a healthier California.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Celebrating 40 Years of CEQA Successes

By: Melanie Schlotterbeck

Last month you got a sneak peak of our new website, CalHeroes.com, which highlights not only Californias premiere environmental law, but also the success stories that have occurred since the California Environmental Quality Acts passage in 1970. Signed into law under then-Governor Ronald Reagan, the Act, known as CEQA, requires decision makers to know about the environmental impacts of a project before its approval, requires mitigation measures to lessen those impacts, and allows the community to provide meaningful input into the environmental review process. One feature of the Cal Heroes website is the CEQA Stories from activists, groups, attorneys, and community leaders. Here is a small snapshot of a few of the CEQA Stories: Palm Springs - Tachevah Canyon and its endangered peninsular bighorn sheep were preserved through the CEQA process. Contra Costa County - An oil refinery was required to install a device that would reduce its particulate pollution by over 99%.

Port of Los Angeles - CEQA helped nearby residents work with the Ports of Los Angeles to mitigate their diesel emissions, which emitted as much exhaust as 16,000 idling tractor-trailers. Mono Lake - The Environmental Impact Report found a balance between municipal water supply and restoring the lake and its tributaries. Has CEQA made a difference in your community? Did you improve a project by commenting on the Environmental Impact Report? Did your community group save an important wetland, ridgeline or stand of endemic trees? If so, tell us about it. Dont be shy. We encourage you to submit your stories on CEQA and celebrate the success of this bedrock environmental law. To submit a story for inclusion on the website, email us the details: who, what, when, where, why, and how CEQA was used, improved your community, saved some land, etc. Send the story (up to 1,000 words and a photo) to Melanie Schlotterbeck at MSchlotterbeck@pcl.org.

Noteworthy NWF News

By: Les Welsh, National Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation

At NWFs recent Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., the board approved PCLs nomination of Julia Reed Zaic as NWFs Region 12 board member. Julia has been a member of the NWF Presidents Advisory Council and a supporter of the Federations Western National Resource Center. Julia takes the seat vacated by long time PCL and NWF supporter Jerry Meral, who stepped down after being tapped by Governor Jerry Brown to be Deputy Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency in charge of the Bay Delta Conservation Planning Program. NWF also recently hired a California Program Director. Beth Pratt, who was the Director for Environmental Affairs for Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the concessionaire for Yellowstone National Park, has agreed to join NWF as we move to establish a strong and permanent presence in the Golden State. Beth led

Xanterras sustainability initiatives and has maintained close ties with California--her home state--as the volunteer Vice President of the Yosemite National Park Yosemite Association. With over 100,000 members in California, the National Wildlife Federation is committed to establishing an expanded presence here for several strategic reasons: the state has tremendous natural resources that deserve protection, it is often the testing ground for innovative conservation strategies that influence the rest of the country, and its enormous congressional delegation plays a key role in nearly all of our national legislative fights. NWFs Program Director will be focused on building new programs and a more public presence that can help to protect Californias natural resources and wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION
1107 9TH STREET, SUITE 901 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

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VISIT US ON THE WEB: www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

PCL History Project

By: Evon Chambers

We Have Moved Offices

By: Melanie Schlotterbeck

The last Cal Today History Project picture yielded a handful of informative responses. Fortunately, we are able to glean from the e-mails the moment of PCL History captured. In the photo, former Assembly Member Charles Warren is presenting then Senator John Nejedly with PCLs Legislator of the Year award. The award was most likely granted for the Senators work on the Forest Protection Act of 1973. The act requires forest resource management that balances timber production with watershed protection, fisheries and wildlife, and recreational opportunities. Can you identify the situation or people in this editions picture? Show off your knowledge of PCLs greenroots and environmental history! Email your response to Evon Chambers at EChambers@pcl.org.

In case you havent already heard, seen one of our announcements, or received a postcard in the mail... weve moved upstairs. Effective immediately, please use the following mailing address and phone/fax for the League and Foundation: 1107 9th Street, Suite 901 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-822-5631 Fax: 916-822-5650 Sacramento Staff Contact List Bruce Reznik 916-822-5632 Executive Director Jonathan Bernstein 916-822-5633 Administrative Manager Evon Chambers 916-822-5637 Water Policy & Planning Analyst Jonas Minton 916-822-5634 Water Policy Advisor Jena Price 916-822-5638 Global Warming Coordinator Dana Shokes 916-822-5636 Database Coordinator Central Coast Staff Contact List Dr. Monica Hunter 831-320-2384 Central Coast Water Program Manager