Eco-Bulletin ~ April 13, 2007

Hike with a Natural San Luis Docent at enjoy the wildflowers in bloom at Guidetti Ranch at 9am on Saturday, April 14. Make reservations thru ECOSLO, 544-1777, as there are a limited number of spots available. The hike is 5 to 6 hours (depending on the speed of the group). There is a hill at the very beginning and some gentle inclines throughout the hike. People should bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water.

This April 14th, tens of thousands of Americans will gather all across the country at meaningful, iconic places to call for action on climate change. As part of the Step It Up Campaign, a “Community Gathering Potluck Free Event” will be held at 11am on Sunday, April 15 in the large community room at the SLO Public Library at Osos and Palm in San Luis Obispo.

You have the opportunity to speak up about protecting the Oceano/Nipomo Dunes at the next San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, April 17. The Board will decide whether to sell County-owned land within the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area and Pismo State Beach Dune Preserve to the State of California. They will consider an appeal by Tom Roth, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation-Oceano Dunes, David Sousa, David Pinheiro and the Central Coast Motorcycle Association of the Planning Commission's determination that the proposed sale by the County to the State of approximately 584 acres consisting of 29 parcels located in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area and Dune Preserve, is not in conformity with the General Plan.

Click here for the Staff Report on the Oceano Dunes.

Click here for the Agenda for April 17.

Late last year, Supervisors discussed an offer to sell almost 600 acres of county land in Oceano to the Off Highway Division (OHV) of State Parks and Recreation for 4.8 million dollars. In December 2006, the SLO Planning Director determined that the sale was consistent with the recreation component of the county's general plan. There was no public hearing scheduled. Larry Bross, an Oceano resident, appealed to the SLO Planning Commission, who, through public input, found that Off-Highway Vehicle use on county land was contrary to the recreation component of the county's general plan.

Please attend the April 17 meeting if you don't want vehicles on Oceano Beach or Nipomo dunes. If you aren’t able to attend this meeting at 2pm on April 17, write a letter to the editor or your Supervisor. Suggested areas of focus: preservation, environmental protection, health and safety concerns, economics, and area image.

Send letters to:

Smtletters@santamariatimes.com

bmorem@thetribunenews.com

eslater@timespressrecorder.com

letters@thetribunenews.com

letters@newtimesslo.com

mail@santamariasun.com

mhodgson@timespressrecorder.com

sbnpedit@newspress.com

voices@newspress.com

Chairman Lenthall ( jlenthall@co.slo.ca.us )

Supervisor Achadjian ( kachadjian@co.slo.ca.us )

Supervisor Gibson ( bgibson@co.slo.ca.us )

Supervisor Ovitt ( hovitt@co.slo.ca.us )

Supervisor Patterson ( jpatterson@co.slo.ca.us )

Pat Brown will take walk participants on a tour of the Elfin Forest from a butterfly's point of view on Saturday, April 21 at 9:30am. Pat has taken many photos of butterflies in all stages of development, from eggs to mature butterflies, and will present those images along with many fascinating facts about the butterflies that make the Elfin Forest their home. She'll point out some of the plants that are host to butterflies, and will lead you to the places where you can see Variable Checkerspot caterpillars munching on leaves of the Sticky Monkey-flower plant, Moro Blue butterflies flitting about among Silver dune lupines, and perhaps a Swallowtail, some Hairstreaks or a Fiery Skipper. Pat will also share information about butterfly books, web sites and butterfly-related materials. She recommends that you bring a hand lens and a pair of close focusing (5-10 ft.) binoculars.

The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility invites you to share Earth Day 2007 with renowned activist and environmentalist Diane Wilson on Sunday, April 22, from 4-6pm at the San Luis Obispo Public Library. Suggested donation for General Admission is $20 and for Students with ID, $5. Space is limited; call 772-7077 for reservations. An evening soiree with Ms. Wilson at a home in San Luis Obispo (by reservation only) will follow the library event at 6:30pm. Suggested donation is $40 per person and includes refreshments, conversation and inspiration. To make reservations call 772-7077. Both the library event and the reception are available for a special combination price of $50, with all proceeds benefiting the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.

Ms. Wilson is the co-founder of Code Pink, was a keynote speaker at the Bioneers conferences, and was presented the 2006 "Blue Planet Award" by the foundation for ethics and economics in Berlin. A fourth-generation Texas fisherwoman, she first fought to save the bays of her hometown from polluting corporations using hunger strikes and other forms of civil disobedience. She has since spoken out against Dow Chemical (for neglecting the victims of Bhopal) and the war in Iraq, and has been arrested and served time in jail for her convictions.

The Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay opened its doors in July 2006. Educational programs for school groups and adults are in development, as is a website and finance committee. Volunteers are needed now. Share your knowledge, experience and enthusiasm by becoming a docent!

Docent Training Schedule 2007

- April 28: 9 am – 4 pm

- May 2: 6 pm – 9 pm

- May 5: 9 am – 4 pm

- May 9: 6 pm – 9 pm

- May 24: 4:30 pm – 8 pm

Located at beautiful and historic Hearst State Beach, the theme of the facility is “Connecting Land and Sea.” Visitors to the Coastal Discovery Center learn about local natural and cultural resources, take a video voyage to the deep sea, watch live rainbow trout, and listen to a talking tidepool.

Board member Cal Wilvert has represented ECOSLO at two recent joint meetings of the Morro Bay City Council and the Cayucos Sanitary District. The antiquated sewage treatment plant they operate is below standard and is required to be updated. Perhaps the exceptionally high sea otter mortality in the Morro Bay-Estero Bay area is linked to the discharge of inadequately treated sewage. ECOSLO, along with a number of other environmental organizations, is urging that the upgrade be to the tertiary level. Contact information: