THE ROADRUNNER 1
The Roadrunner
X (Bimonthly Publication of the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club — April/May 2001 )
APRIL 21ST
EARTH DAY! MUIR'S BIRTHDAY!
CHAPTER'S AWARDS BANQUET
What could be a greater combination of dates on
which to honor those Chapter members who have
taken action in one form or other to forward the
goals of the Sierra Club?
The evening will begin with a social hour at 5
PM. Dinner will be served at 6:15. You will have a
choice of lemon chicken or spinach lasagna.
There will be no formal program after the
awards, but there will be the raffle that always offers
a great selection of prizes.
The banquet will be held at the East Bakersfield
Veterans Hall, 2101 Ridge Rd. $12.50 is the cost of
the meal. Call Michelle Hoffman at (661)
835-8599 to make your reservation.
Do jot down the date on your calendar, make
your call, and be prepared to have an enjoyable
relaxing evening seeing old friends and hearing
about what your Chapter and its groups have been
up to in the last year.
SOLAR SEMINAR BIG SUCCESS
Great information, Great audience
Some 200 people turned out on the evening of
February 15 at Bakersfield's Beale Library to hear
Tor Allen explain California's renewable energy
buy-down program. According to long-time
activists, it was one of the most well-attended Sierra
Club events in recent memory. The seminar also
garnered good press both in the Bakersfield
Californian and on two local TV stations.
Allen, director of the Rahus Institute in Martinez,
also discussed how simple conservation measures
can not only help California weather the current
power crisis, but also save consumers money.
Though he spoke about lucrative subsidies for
installing solar panels and small wind turbines,
Allen made it clear that using compact fluorescents
and other energy-efficient appliances was still the
most cost-effective way to cut utility bills.
For information on how to qualify for
California's emerging renewables buy-down
program or how to use "net-metering" to run your
kilowatt-hour meter backwards, log on to
www.energy.ca.gov/greengrid
by Paul Gipe
SWING INTO SPRING
WELCOME TO THE BUENA VISTA GROUP
OF THE SIERRA CLUB. The new Bakersfield
group will be holding monthly meetings, probably
at the Beale Library. Call Leah Hagemei
(661-324-5213) for up-to-date info on programs,
etc.
Evening Conditioning Hike. Every Thursday 4-5
miles in northeast Bakersfield area. Meet at 7 PM at
the Chevron station at the corner of Hwys 178 and
184. Call Leaders: Eva & Gordon Nipp (661)
872-2432 or Larry Wailes (661-861-1186) for
details.
Workdays (sat/sun) at "Wind Wolves Preserve at
Historic San Emigdio Ranch." Call (661) 858-1115
for complete details and future workday dates.
APRIL 5th-8th. (thurs/sun) Mineral King Group
Car Camp to Death Valley National Park.
Driving tour and day hikes. Focus on geology;
come for all or part of the weekend! Contact Harold
Wood via e-mail at harold.wood@sierraclub.org or
call 559-739-8527 for details.
APRIL 5th. (sat) Dedication of 725 acre addition
to Kaweah Oaks Preserve. Tours at 10 and 11. Call
Brian@559-627-3571.
APRIL 7th-8th. (sat/sun) New Carrizo Plain
Mon-ument. Driving tour and day hikes. Bring own
water and food. Call Joe Fontaine at 661-821-2055
or e-mail fontaine@lightspeed.net for details.
APRIL 7th. (sat) Searching for Snails. Potluck, 6
PM; program, 7 PM; PMC Clubhouse. 242-0423.
APRIL 10th. (tues) Kern River Wildlife
Migration Corridor. Easy walk. Bakersfield. Meet
at 6 PM in the parking lot at River and Panorama
Boulevards. Sneakers OK, boots are better.
Beginners welcome. Leader Lorraine,
661-323-5569
APRIL 13th. (fri) Mineral King Coffee Socials
Wildflower Cafe, Exeter.
APRIL 14th. KK Ex Com, Beale Lib, Bksd.,
noon.
APRIL 16th. (mon) Owens Peak Monthly
Meeting. Speaker to be determined. Maturango
Museum, 100 E. Las Flores, 7:30 PM. Call Dennis
at 760-375-7967 or Jeanie at 375-8973 for details.
APRIL 21st. (sat) Family hike. 8:30, Pine Mtn.
Club tennis courts. Bring your kids! 661-242-0423.
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APRIL 21st. (sat) EARTH DAY. Kern-Kaweah
Chapter Awards Banquet. Social Hour, 5 PM,
Dinner 6 :15 PM. Bakersfield. $12.50 See col. l, p.1.
APRIL 21st. (sat) Chuckwalla/Cross Mtns. (5,203')
Hike. We'll hope to see some wildflowers.
Moderately strenuous climbs (2-4,000'), 4.5 mi.
Meet at Ridgecrest Cinemas at 7:30 AM. Call Dennis
at 760-375-7967 for more info.
APRIL 22nd (sun) Excursion to Antelope Valley
Indian Museum. Lancaster area. Meet Pine Mtn.
Club tennis courts 8 AM. 661-242-7024 or 1600.
APRIL 24th. (tues) Gorman sump ponds. Checking
for migrant Gorman-Grapevine birds. 8:30 AM,
east side of Flying J parking lot. 661-242-7922.
APRIL 28th. (sat) Mill Creek Hike. Meet at 8:00
AM at the Chevron station at intersection of Hwys
178 & 184, just east of Mesa Marin Sports Complex.
A relatively easy hike for everyone including
families with children. Hopefully fire salamanders
and lots of wildflowers. Bring lunch, water, hats, &
sunscreen. Leader Larry Wailes, 661-861-1186.
APRIL 28th. (sat) Wildflower Hike. 9 AM, Meet
Pine Mtn. Club tennis courts. Exact destination
dependent on wildflowers. 661-242-0432.
MAY 5th. (sat) Kaweah Oaks Preserve Spring
Dinner. Tours begin at noon, social hour 5 PM,
dinner 6 PM. Elegant dinner (no paper plates, no
paper tablecloths) served under oaks. $30. Call Brian,
559-627-3571.
May 11th. (fri) Mineral King Coffee Socials. 6 PM,
The Creamery,Visalia.
MAY 12th. (sat) Excursion to Red Rock Canyon.
Meet at tennis courts, PMC, 7:45 AM. 661-242-7024
or 1600.
MAY 14th. (mon) Condor Ex-com mtg. 1:30.
Ches’ house. Call 242-0423 to check for sure. All
members are welcome.
MAY 15th. (tues) Kern River Wildlife migration
corridor. Easy walk. Bakersfield. Meet at 6 PM at
the clock tower at Albertson's Market at Stockdale
and Coffee. Sneakers okay. Beginners welcome.
Leader Lorraine 323-5569.
MAY 19th. (sat) Wildrose Peak (9064') in Death
Valley NP. We'll try again after getting snowed out
in Feb. Moderate (2,000') hike, 15 person limit. Call
Dennis at 760-375-7967 for more info.
MAY 19/20th. (sat/sun) Lilac Festival. Pine Mtn.
Club. Visit Condor Group Booth.
May 22nd. (tues) Bluebird Hike. Smokey Bear
Trail. 8 AM. Pine Mtn Club tennis courts.
661-242-7922.
MAY 26th. (sat) Three Falls, Lilly Meadows. Meet
at Mini-Mart, Lockwood Valley, Cuddy Valley Road
Y, west of Frazier Park. 9 AM. Call 242-0423.
MAY 28th. (tues) Kern River Wild Life Migration
Corridor, Easy walk. Bakersfield. Meet at 6 PM at
Denise and Manor Drive at the Kern River. Call
Leader Lorraine for directions, 323-5569.
July 18th-22th. (wed-sun) Board of Directors of
National Sierra Club meeting at Wuksachi Lodge,
Sequoia National Park. Opportunities to meet Board
members, national staff informally on forest tours
and at mealtimes. Camping on your own. More
information? Call Joe Fontaine, 661-821-2055.
SOME GREAT NEWS
"Wind Wolves Preserve at Historic San Emigdio
Ranch," New name comes from good happenings!
The Wildlands Conservancy recently closed on the
purchase of the vast majority of the New Town site!
This puts the final nail in the coffin of that
development plan, and places the land in
conservation as part of Wind Wolves in perpetuity.
As you may also know, last October, we purchased
the 5700 acre Tecuya property, which was
historically, and once again is part of the San
Emigdio Ranch. "Tecuya" (as it is known) has the
majority of Tecuya Creek canyon within it, and a
splendid area of valley oak savanna. "Wind Wolves
Preserve at Historic San Emigdio Ranch" (which is
what we are now calling ourselves) is now up to a
whopping 96,100 acres. We are currently in the
process of purchasing 500 acres of land adjacent to
both the Carrizo Plain and Bitter Creek National
Wildlife Refuge, which harbors the remains of the
historic Stubblefield homestead adobe. We will likely
do some sort of restoration of the adobe.
These words are from a note from David
Clendenen, Preserve Manager. This vast preserve is
located west of the north end of the Grapevine. It is
hoped that this spring it will be opened to visitors.
Watch for further announcements!
Congratulations , Thanks
to each of these letter writers
Dolph Amster, Carla Cloer, Bonnie East, Bugs and Joe
Fontaine, Richard Garcia, Paul Gipe, Mary Ann Henry,
Michelle Hoffman, Sasha Honig, Charlene Little, Harry
Love, Ara Marderosian, Mary Moy, Eva and Gordon Nipp,
Mel Rubin, Jim Segesta, Glenn Schellcross, Georgette
Theotig, Lorraine and Arthur Unger, Larry Wailes, Harold
Wood.
They took the time and made the effort to express
their opinions on subjects of concern to all Sierra
Club members. They sent their letters to local
newspapers. Their well-expressed facts and opinions
were published, bringing much-needed information
to the reading public. Sorry if we missed anyone. Please
let us know for inclusion in the next issue.
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WRITE RIGHT NOW
Be prepared to do it often!
**Bush breaks pledge to curb carbon dioxide
emissions
**4 plus billion for national parks, not as good as
it sounds! (mainly roads and facilities, not habitat
protection and restoration)
**The (oil) hunt is on in the Arctic
**Bush using California energy crisis as excuse
to push more oil and coal exploration with weaker
regulations
All these headlines and similar topics have raised the
hackles of many, if not all, of the above-listed letter
writers who took action.
You can do it too.
*Write to the politicians and the media to express
your opinions on environmental topics that dismay
you.
*Sign up for Art Unger's hotline list. He'll send you
Sierra Club alerts with all directions on how to take
action. Enroll at alunger@juno.com
*sign up for The Planet (see feb/march RR), and
WRITE WRITE WRITE
You doubt that letters have any effect? Many
attribute Clinton's taking positive action on roadless
areas and monuments to that deluge of over a
million letters expressing support. Now add your
voice to protect what has been gained!
DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR REP IS? Type
House of Representatives Home Page into your
search engine. Lower left-hand corner of page says
Write Your Representative; put in your zip code and
up comes the answer. Type in United States Senate
Home Page for similar results. Not on web? Call
your local library!
The Sierra Nevada Framework
Please read on!
Attacks on the Sierra Nevada Framework Plan appear
more than likely. The most protective regional plan ever
developed by the Forest Service, it will provide protection
for all of the Sierra's old growth forests, reduce logging to a
fraction of historic levels, and more.
Rep. George Miller is circulating a Dear Colleague
letter (see below). Please call your Representative to urge
signing of the Miller letter. The Congressional Switchboard
number (202-224-3121)will connect you to your rep. Give
message to the Member's environmental aide. The
following extracts from Miller's letter will give you
background on this project.
“On January 12, 2001 the U.S. Forest Service
completed an eight-year planning process by
finalizing a new management plan for the eleven
national forests within the Sierra Nevada region.
Based on an extensive public process, the plan
provides a welcome shift from the past emphasis on
timber production, and will significantly improve
protection for the forests, watersheds, and wildlife
habitat of the Sierra. All remaining ancient forests
will be preserved, and damaged forest areas will be
restored. The forest protection is balanced by an
aggressive fuel reduction program in the forests
adjacent to human communities. This effort will
protect the Sierra community.”
The letter to be sent to Sec., Dept. of Agriculture:
Dear Secretary Veneman:
We are writing to express our continued support
for the Sierra Nevada regional forest management
plan. This plan will reduce the threat of devastating
wildfires while protecting the Sierra's unique natural
resources. As you know, the plan developed from an
extensive eight-year planning process which
produced over 47,000 comments and included 60
public meetings. Based on public and scientific input,
the plan balances the protection of the remaining
ancient forest with the need to intensively manage the
wildland-urban interface. The plan also allows for the
substantial implementation of the Quincy Library
Group Pilot Project, with modifications designed to
ensure the survival of the California spotted owl and
other at-risk species.
Throughout the process, we have encouraged the
plan's developers to focus on producing a framework
which is supported by the public at large and the
scientific community, and can withstand legal
scrutiny. This plan accomplishes those goals.
Specifically, we believe the plan significantly
increases protection for the California Spotted Owl,
Pacific Fisher, and several aquatic species currently
under consideration for Threatened Species status. In
addition, the extensive public comment period and
scientific scrutiny make for a legally defensible land
management plan.
Obviously, forest issues are one of the most
controversial matters in the Department of
Agriculture. The Sierra Nevada Plan genuinely
reflects a reasonable compromise developed from
extensive public input. If properly implemented, the
new management plan will help restore the Sierra's
ecological health, while enhancing its economic
vitality. As this is one of the first major forest issues
before the Bush Administration, we encourage you to
support the thousands of Californians we represent
and fully implement the scientifically based plan
which will protect and restore a vital component of
California's natural heritage.
Sincerely, George Miller Reprinted from SC Alert
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Environmentalists Responsible For
Energy Crisis?
NO! NO! NO! NO!
When folks start pointing fingers verbally and/or
actually, here are some points you can/should use
for a response:.
1. Sierra Club has not blocked or delayed any new
power plants in California over the last ten years.
2. Sierra Club has long been in favor of updating
old, inefficient generating plants in the name of
efficiency and cleaner production methods.
3. Sierra Club has always supported more
development of alternative energy sources.
4. Sierra Club did not support deregulation, as it was
thought not to be beneficial for consumers and the
environment.
5. Sierra Club did support air pollution standards.
Costs for complying with these standards had
minimal effect on the price of electricity.
WILL DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS?
NO! NO! NO! NO!
California gets less than 1% of its electricity from
oil-fired plants.
Drilling in the Arctic Refuge wouldn't produce any
oil for 10 years at earliest and only enough for 6 to
12 months.
We could save 1.1 billion barrels of oil annually if
we would raise the auto and light-truck
fuel-economy standard. That's more oil than we
import from Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United
Arab Emirates, and get from the Arctic and national
offshore areas combined. Another note: World
consumption of oil is 28 billion barrels per year; U.S
consumption is almost 1/3 of that!
Condensed from Sierra Club Alert.
SLO CONSERVATION MEETING
COVERED MUCH GROUND
TWICE A YEAR the regional conservation committee,
representing both northern and southern California,
meets in San Luis Obispo to discuss conservation
issues that both affect the state and regions.
Volunteers from each chapter attend along with staff
members from the different field offices. It is a great
time to discover two facts about the Sierra Club: it is
a very democratic organization long on debate, and
most of our work is done by citizen-members who
find the time each working day to do work on behalf
of the environment.
The big issue was the energy crisis. It has taken
away the government's focus on the environment.
This means that legislation about environmental
concerns is being delayed. There was a lengthy
explanation of how conservation and use of
non-renewable sources of electricity could solve the
present crisis. The remainder of this spring and the
coming summer does not look good for electricity
production.
As to growth in the most populous state, issues
concerning building a new freeway through the
Santa Ana mountains and containing the effects of
sprawl and new town developments were debated.
Guidelines were proposed and adopted on these
issues. We were informed of the efforts to reduce the
role of the Coastal Commission in controlling
development along the coast.
Of interest to Chapter members was the
explanation of the faults in the proposed reduction
of vehicles in Yosemite Valley. Even though the plan
does reduce the number of cars into the valley, it
does not reduce the number of buses. In fact it does
not limit the number at all. According to projections
for peak summer months, a bus would pass Bridalveil
Falls every 23 seconds.
An area relatively new to the Club was the
beginning of a program called Environmental
Justice. It directs attention to environmental issues
related to urban residents and minorities. Urban
minorities are just as much or more concerned about
environmental issues such as the siting of power
plants than others in the community. The effort to
connect these people to the Club is a positive step
toward a united voice for good environmental policy.
Other topics discussed were: 1) the proposed use
of the Hunter-Liggett army facility, an area adjoining
the Ventana wilderness, as a bombing test area for
naval jets, 2) wilderness proposal for forest lands, and
3) desert issues regarding transferring of
underground water near Cadiz to urban centers.
It is important that members write, call, or e-mail
Senators Boxer and Feinstein and Congressmen
Dooley and Thomas about these issues. The number
of letters either supporting or opposing a plan is the
best form of lobbying that the Club can do.
Remember it is the voice of each member that can
cause change. For additional information on these
and other topics you can contact the Chapter’s
representatives who attended the meeting: Harry
Love, Lorraine Unger, Arthur Unger, and Art
Maderosian. By Harry Love
The next meeting, to be held June 9th & 10th, will feature
focus groups on various conservation issues. Cost will be
$10 or so. All are welcome. To check for more details on
this e-mail ivesico@earthlink.net.
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FROM THE CHAIR—
Yes, we're fund raising again. March is the sole
month of the year when chapters can solicit
contributions from Club members for local issues.
Soon, you'll receive a letter asking for a donation to
the Kern-Kaweah Chapter. Any contribution you
make is used locally on issues that affect us here in
Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties. Contributions of
any amount are welcome.
Propositions on National Ballots
There are two propositions on the Club's ballot for
national officers. One proposition seeks to ban
grazing on public lands. The other seeks to include
the issue of uncontrolled population growth in the
Club's anti-sprawl campaign. Both issues are
important to the future of the Club.
Take the time to weigh the issues, and then vote.
Whatever direction the vote takes will be
controversial. By Paul
Gipe
AROUND THE CHAPTER
EXHIBIT PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER MEET
The Sierra Club made a fine showing at the Sixth
Annual Kern County Child Development Conference
for Early Childhood Educators, at the Convention
Center in Bakersfield on Saturday, February 3. The
exhibit gave us an opportunity to introduce some
tools for preschool teachers to use to present to their
little charges, the beauty of the environment and the
need for its protection. The display was put together
by Arthur and Lorraine Unger. Particularly
interesting were the little hand-craft projects, low-cost
and recyclable, made by Lorraine. Teachers were
glad to receive guides for field trips for their kids in
the area east of Manor Drive. The table was also
manned by Diane Rezavy, Irma Boon and Ken Fry.
By Ken Fry
Bakersfield SC Group Held 1st MEETING.
It was a great beginning. 18 turned out for the
inauguration of the new tentatively named Buena
Vista Group of the Sierra Club. To be centered in
Bakersfield, the Group busily set about organizing
and in the first evening chose Leah Hagemei as the
chair, Alex Brown, vice-chair, Mary Helen Barro,
secretary and Alex Sarzotti treasurer. The group
plans to meet once a month at the Beale Library. For
info about future plans, please call 324-5213.
updates
CHAPTER AREA CONCERNS
Tulare Irrigation Canal fight is almost over. The
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District board has
signed an agreement to pay Tulare Irrigation District
(TID) $3.50 per acre-foot of federal water that TID
takes from the Friant-Kern canal. TID will agree not
to line the canal. TID's board will review the deal this
week and hopefully sign the agreement. I will let you
know as soon as the deal is officially done. R. Garcia
Hang Glider Hill. In response to a proposal to use
monies from the Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat
Conservation Plan to purchase this area in
Bakersfield, the KK Ex-Com passed a resolution
stating that trust funds could not be spent unless the
USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service) and
the CDFG (California Dept of Fish and Game) agree
the funds will contribute to the survival of the species
in perpetuity. At this point there is question as to
whether any endangered species, other than the
Bakersfield cactus, has this reasonable chance.
Borba Dairies project. Did it get a proper
environmental review? That was the question in a
recent court hearing concerning this project. Borba
reps said yes, Aaron Isherwood, attorney for the
Sierra Club and Luke Cole, attorney for the Center of
Race Poverty and the Environment, said no.
Points made by the latter two included the
following: No alternative versions of the project,
including the possibility of reducing the number of
cows, were offered that would reduce air pollution,
and no specifics were described concerning a system
for treatment of waste, just a statement made that a
system would be required. Bakersfield Californian
reported that Judge Roger Randall asked Remy
(lawyer for the dairies) "several sharp questions."
Judgement as to whether a more complete EIR is
required will be made within 90 days.
Floods. Environmentalists have long held that floods
can be avoided by learning to live with nature, rather
than trying to completely control our surroundings.
In the case of river floods, this means not building
near the river so that flood water will only cover
wetlands, forests, agricultural fields and parks.
We oppose levees; they allow the water to pick up
energy and carry more silt as it goes downstream. We
oppose dams, even those small dams. Such dams
form reservoirs that drown streamside plants and
eventually fill up with silt.
Some Kern County staff think they can prevent
the recurrent flooding of Arvin and Lamont by the
Caliente Stream Group without using levees and
dams. Their plan uses the above ideas and includes
storing 20,000 acre feet of water underground and
planting miles of native trees along the streams.
The Kern-Kaweah Chapter is pleased to
unanimously support spending $200,000 of Prop 13
funds to study the Kern County Watershed Strategic
Pollution and Sediment Reduction Plan.
Elk Hills. We have lost a lawsuit to protect
endangered species and Native American sites at the
former Naval Petroleum Reserve Number One at Elk
Hills in western Kern County. These 47,000 acres are
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at the center of the critical habitat recognized by the
Kern County Valley Floor Habitat Conservation Plan
(KCVFHCP) and the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service for the endangered Kit Fox, Blunt Nosed
Leopard Lizard, Giant Kangaroo Rat, other animals
and plants.
Six years ago we first urged the Department of
Interior not to sell this land, but instead to continue
to extract oil under the supervision of the
Department of Energy. Despite our continued
efforts, Congress stated that since an unspecified
7,000 acres of the area was set aside for endangered
species and other regulations were put in place, oil
could be extracted at a faster rate without harm to
endangered species. The land was thus sold to
Occidental Oil for $3.65 billion in February of 1998.
Occidental Oil told us that they wanted to retain the
right to develop the land when they no longer wished
to extract oil. A three-judge panel of the ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals held that this was the intent
of Congress.
The Chapter thanks are extended to our lawyer,
Dan Rohlf, for arguing this case without payment
and to our members and the Center for Biological
Diversity for each giving $1,500 to pay court costs
and travel expenses.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Better to build a "clean" Public Electric Utility
California governor Gray Davis directed the state
to provide $30 million in bonuses to speed up the
approval process for small renewable-fuel power
plants for peak power production, and the California
Board of Forestry approved of an emergency
regulation to allow the removal of biomass for
combustion to produce power under exemption
from the normal Timber Harvest Plan process. These
actions would increase Global Warming gasses and
would negatively impact the fragile forest
environment.
California's energy situation and the Global
Warming problem could be curtailed and reversed if
Governor Davis would spearhead the construction of
a "clean" public electric utility system consisting of
solar power, wind power, and geothermal power
generating facilities constructed in an
environmentally sensitive manner. Solar, wind, and
geothermal power generating facilities are the best
way for our society to ensure that the air we breathe
is healthy, because they would not produce toxic
materials or global warming gasses as they produce
power.
Governor Davis is in a position to mandate a
"clean" electric utility system that would benefit all
Californians, all Americans, and everyone around the
globe. A public utility could reduce power bills for
many years for the elderly and for all Californians.
Another nice benefit of getting off the oil habit
would be to reduce the risk of going to war to protect
our oil supplies as we did in 1990.
Tell Governor Davis not to consider any action to
solve California's energy situation that would
emphasize biomass combustion rather than "clean"
solar, wind, and geothermal power generating
facilities.
Ara Marderosian
More on Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs).
Thanks for Mary Griffin's HCP article. Her work
advances a goal of all conservationists, saving
adequate numbers and genetic variability of all
species so they will survive in the wild until their
evolutionary time to exist ends. The current
extinction rate is thousands of times greater than it
would be without human interference. HCPs are
needed because most individuals of most species
exist on private lands; we can not save them by
setting aside only public land. This is especially true
in agricultural valleys like ours. As Mary said, HCPs
destroy a fraction of private habitat in exchange for
preserving the rest of the private habitat. That means
HCPs assume that most, but not all, of remaining
habitat is sufficient to save the species. Since the
number of individuals and amount of habitat of a
given species is greatly reduced before it is declared
endangered, this taking of habitat could eventually
result in the extinction of species.
Arthur Unger
A Look at Books 4 **** out of 4
Adventures in the California DesertBy Lynne
Foster. Sierra Club Books
Complete book on the desert. Offers trips and
outing locations for every aspect of the desert
experience. The table of contents is divided into
regions from Inyo-Mono counties to the Colorado
Desert. Early chapters deal with flora, fauna and
geological features of the desert. Detailed maps by
chapter, with a good description of turns to make,
signposts, and natural features of interest. My first
test of the validity of the book was to traverse Last
Change Canyon in the Red Rock area. Even with my
bad sense of direction, I was able to find correct turns
with this book. It should be called the "bible" for the
desert hound. By H. Love
Potential Wilderness Areas need to have
written support from locals.
Senator Boxer has offered to introduce a bill to have
specific designated areas be given a legal Wilderness
designation which would mean more protection. She
needs letters from individuals and groups describing
areas including reasons for more protection. Send
letters to Allyn, Sierra Club. 3435 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 320, Los Angeles, CA 90010, for forwarding.
THE ROADRUNNER 7
MIDGEBUZZINGS
Those of us who regularly read the comics are
familiar with a daily cartoon of domestic life called
"Family Circus." Despite its sentimental view of
middle class life, I enjoy the childish malapropisms
and non sequiturs that have endeared this little
human comedy to many readers.
Last year, however, I was disturbed by one of the
offerings. Dolly, a little girl about five years old, is
kneeling on her bed in prayer. Hands clasped, and
gazing earnestly upwards, she says, "...And if you
find a purple balloon up there, it’s mine."
Not long after the publication of that cartoon, and
apropos of it, a very appealing book for children
came on the market. Where Do Balloons Go? An
Uplifting Mystery, written by Jamie Lee Curtis and
illustrated by Laura Cornell, examines Dolly’s
dilemma with grace and charm, speculating upon the
possible whereabouts of a little boy’s balloon,
accidentally released and perhaps on its way to "that
place above," where it may float "forever." The book
ends with the statement that the fate of balloons is a
"mystery," and advises little readers to hold tight to
their balloons until they "have to let go." Near the
end, a purple balloon, like Dolly’s, ascends into a
cloudy sky, very possibly, one must assume, on its
way to God.
Where Do Balloons Go? was so popular at
Christmas time that Barnes and Noble sold out
quickly. I was put on a month’s wait for a library
copy. Its effect is so charming and its intent so
innocent that it was assured of success.
Nevertheless, when a friend wanted to buy a copy
for her four-year-old grandson, I persuaded her not
to. Over coffee I told her what I know about where
balloons REALLY go, if they don’t happen to make
it to Heaven. All the while I felt as anyone must who
spoils a positive impulse with reminders of negative
consequences: that is, very like a Grinch.
Balloons are celebrative, and as such they are
released in bright multitudes at weddings, birthdays,
graduations, church groundbreakings and, of course,
memorial ceremonies where they symbolize the
glory of life and the soaring of a soul to its heavenly
home. Their release is satisfying and, indeed,
uplifting. But a revelation of the real destinations of
those balloons is sobering. Many of them will drift
into forests, and into alpine meadows and streams,
where they will be a source of pollution both
chemical and visual. Some of them have been found
in the throats of dead wildlife, especially oceanic,
choked to death on what they have mistaken for
food. (Only this morning a friend reported having
just seen a downed mylar balloon in the Kern
Wildlife Refuge.) Balloons have become entangled in
power lines, causing blackouts, and they line the
alleys and gutters of cities, adding to the already
unhealthful and dismal mess of carelessly discarded
debris. They ALWAYS return to earth, whole or in
fragments, and they NEVER go to Heaven, except in
the imaginations of children.
I have waited a long time to speak out about this
because to do so is to be a killjoy. However, the good
news is that in many schools, children have found out
about the problem of balloon pollution and have
found creative alternatives, including the release of
white homing pigeons, which may be thought of as
proverbial doves. They are more beautiful in flight
than balloons are, and they go right home after their
release to a good supper and a cozy perch until the
next time they are called upon to help our spirits rise.
Please, dear readers, do ponder this if you haven’t
already. I am sorry that a wider awareness of the
problem may have a chilling effect upon the balloon
industry, but just think what an inspiration it will be
for the lovemaking of doves. You can’t get more
biblical than that! By Ann Williams
Kern Kaweah Chapter, Bakersfield, CA 93385
Executive Committee 661-324-1923
Paul Gipe, Chair — Glenn Shellcross, Vice Chair
Arthur Unger, Secretary — Richard Garcia, Funds — Ara Marderosian,
Conservation — Lorraine Unger, Membership
Harry Love, Political — Gordon Nipp, Monte Harper. At large
Regional Delegates, Sub-Committee Chairs
Harry Love, Ara Marderosian, RCC
Lorraine Unger, SC Council — Theresa Stump, Outings
Larry Wailes, Treasurer — M. Lockhart, Roadrunner
Carla Cloer, Chair, Sequoia Task Force
Buena Vista Group 661-589-0595 (Bakersfield)
Leah Hagemei, Chair; Alex Brown, Vice Chair; Mary Helen Barro, Sec.;
Ari Sarzotti, Trea. Open to all. Call 661-324-5213 for info on next
meetings.
Condor Group 661-242-0423(Pine Mtn Club)
Ches Arthur, Chair; K. Royle & D. Johnson, Conservation.
Rustvolds, M. Bigler,Treas.; E. Feldman, Hospitality
E. Cordes & B. Kelley, Publicity; D.Sheets, Webmaster;
H. Nelson & B. Kelley, Outings; M. Lockhart, newsletter
Kaweah Group 559-781-0594 (Porterville)
Theresa Stump, Chair; Dianne Jetter, Vice Chair
Carla Cloer, Conservation; Jim Clark, Outings; Boyd Leavitt, Treas.
Pam Clark, Agriculture
Mineral King Group 559-739-8527 (Visalia)
Harold Wood, Chair; Mary Moy, Vice Chair
Cynthia Korval, Sec.; Janet Wood, Treasurer
Neil Fernbaugh, Conservation; Beverly Garcia, Program
Richard Garcia, Fund raising; Brian Newton, Outings
Patricia Phillips, Agriculture
Owens Peak Group 760-375-7967 (Ridgecrest)
Dennis Burge, Chair; Steve Smith, Vice Chair
Jeanie Hayes, Cons.; Dolph Amster, Treasurer; Janet Westbrook,
Webmaster Don Peterson, Outings; Carol Hewer, At large
8
THE ROADRUNNERTHE ROADRUNNER
8

THE ROADRUNNER
April - May, 2001
You can find it on the web
www.sierraclub.org/chapters/
kernkaweah/
Folks, here is your chance to be even more in touch wih the
Send Wildflowers
latest. Activities, alerts, and special features that won't be able
to appear in your bi-monthly paper copy of the Roadrunner will (acres of them)
be posted on your Kern-Kaweah Chapter web site.
A special plus will be six additional numbers of Ann William's
Midgebuzzings, a favorite of so many of you. Sorry that we can't
Memorial or Commemorative gifts are a unique way
to honor an individual or special event and at the
make this available to all our members but do be reminded that
same time provide important funding towards Sierra
your local library or a friend may have web access that you can
Club's longterm goals. And like the memories you
use to tap in AND for folks who really want a paper copy, just
hold, this is a gift that will last forever.
send a note to
Ann Williams, 3112 LINDEN AVE, BAKERSFIELD, CA, For more information call (415) 977-5587.
93560. Ann has generously offered to send it to you. Memorial/commemoratives Program
85 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA
MANY THANKS
94105
To ANN WILLIAMS and MICHELLE HOFFMAN for
preparing the Roadrunner for mailing; LORRAINE UNGER for
collecting and editing the hiking events; and HAROLD WOOD
for putting us on the web.

Not a member of Sierra Club? Not a member of Kern Kawah List of telephone numbers to keep handy for making calls:
Chapter? Want this newsletter? Send $5 to Federal Govt. Numbers:
L.Unger, 2815 La Cresta Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305 White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111 or 800-374-
General Publication Information 6702
George W. Bush's e-mail - president@whitehouse.gov
Deadline: May 5th for June/July issue White House Address - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washing
*Want to submit an article? ton, DC 20500
650 words max., shorter is better. US Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121
*General questions about outings? California numbers:
Call Theresa Stump, 559-781-0594 Gov. Davis: 1-916-445-2841
*Calendar information? Calif. Legislative Switchboard (receptionist will help you
Send to alunger@juno.com ID your Senator and Assembly member if you are unsure):
*Want to sign up to receive ALERTS? 916-322-9900.
Send to alunger@juno.com
*Submission after deadline? Yes, I want to join the Sierra Club. Check enclosed.
No guarantees but we will try.
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POBox 52968, Boulder, CO, 80322
THE ROADRUNNER 9