On December 26, 2001, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance received a generous $5,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor, with specific instruction that it be used to raise money toward the completion of the Black Cone Trail Reconstruction Project. What we need now are donations toward this matching grant from our members and the public at large, each dollar of which will be matched by two dollars from the BCT Match Grant. In other words, every dollar donated to the project puts $3.00 into the Black Cone Trail coffer - $25 gets us $75, $50 gets us $150, $100 gets us $300, and on up to a total of $2,500 getting us $7,500 when all is said and done. Any donations made toward the matching grant as well as the grant itself will be specifically earmarked for the Black Cone Trail project, and can only be used toward the re-establishment of the Black Cone Trail. As of the date of this writing, the Black Cone Challenge has raised $1,210 toward the grant, which means we only need another $1,290 to take full advantage of the grant.
So for those of you who have hiked the Black Cone Trail, plan to hike the Black Cone Trail, or just like the idea of backcountry trails in useable condition, this is an excellent opportunity to make your fully tax-deductible contribution to the effort go three times as far! So please, take a moment to pry open those checkbooks and write up a little "note of support" to the Black Cone Trail, and to Wilderness Walking in general.
To contribute, simply make checks in any amount payable to "Ventana Wilderness Alliance" with a notation on the check of "Black Cone Trail." The matching grant has a time limitation of March 15, 2001, so please make your contribution to this important project before that date in order to have your dollars tripled.
Mail checks to:
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
PO Box 506
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Attn: Black Cone Trail
And remember, the VWA is an IRS code 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation, so any donations you make are fully tax deductible. More info: Boon Hughey.
The several months of wilderness volunteers meetings; contact with local business, political, and community leaders; plus several slide show presentations to church, environmental, and service club groups; as well as 17 different "show me" hikes to our dozen or more proposed additions (adjacent to the Ventana, and one to the Pinnacles) have generated a strong number of support letters. These have been sent to our Regional Coordinator, Ilysia Shattuck, who has forwarded them to Congressman Sam Farr and Senator Barbara Boxer. They both are very interested in permanently protecting these PWAs (potential wilderness areas), as well as the several pristine portions of four Ventana streams and rivers: on Tassajara Creek, the Arroyo Seco River, the Little Sur River, and the Carmel River -- 62 miles in all. Both of our representatives to Congress have been impressed with the thoroughness and intensity of our efforts.
Over 200 groups have now signed on as members/supporters of the California Wild Heritage Campaign, the state-wide effort of which we are a part. VWA members with suggestions on groups or organizations where the Campaign slide show presentations might be scheduled should contact Paul Danielson.
On November 1, 2001, the long-awaited decision notices regarding the fate of the 8 Big Sur coastal grazing allotments were published by the Forest Service, making clear their intention to continue environmentally harmful livestock grazing on 5 of them for another 10 years. On December 21, 2001, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity filed an appeal to the decisions, claiming violations of the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, the National Forest Management Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act and implementing regulations for these Acts.
Due to the aforementioned violations of applicable laws and regulations, we have requested a complete withdrawal of the Decision Notices and Findings of No Significant Impact for all of the allotments. For the 5 allotments that were to be authorized or reauthorized for 10 years (Cozy Cove, Salmon Creek, Gorda, San Carpoforo and Alder Creek), we have requested a stay of the proposed decisions to reopen the allotments to grazing until a full Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared that compares alternatives using a transparent, objective and rational decision-making procedure using the best available scientific evidence and practice, that fully analyzes impacts of the proposed actions on all resource values, and is in accord with all applicable law.
Additionally, in the appeal we have also requested that the decision notices for the three allotments that were not slated for reauthorization (Torre, Twitchell and Buckeye) be remanded and the decisions be reissued with a provision to permanently retire each of them rather than just leave them vacant for the 10 year term.
On January 10, 2001, two members of the VWA Grazing Committee met for 4.5 hours with key Forest Service personnel in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement of the appeal. While valuable information and points of view were shared extensively, no mutually acceptable agreement was reached, leaving the decision up to the USFS Regional Office.
The full text of the appeal document can be accessed onlineat:
http://www.ventanawild.org/projects/grazing/bigsurappeal.html.
For more information on this project or to get involved, contact Steve Chambers or Boon Hughey.
The Los Padres National Forest, along with three Southern California Forests, is currently revising its Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The Forest Service is directed to revise these plans every 10 to 15 years. Contributing to the process, the VWA recently submitted numerous comments and suggestions regarding the Notice of Intent Proposed Action. The Proposed Action is the starting point for the process of determining how the forest will be managed until the next planning cycle. Additionally, potential wilderness additions in the Monterey Ranger District were identified and submitted for incorporation into the planning documents. A part of the forest, "The Indians Special Interest Area" of approximately 1,200 acres was identified as being in need of special management to protect its unique features and characteristics. The VWA is also preparing a comprehensive Wilderness Management Plan to be submitted as an alternative to the more general management direction provided by the LRMP. More information concerning the revision process is available on the web at: http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sccs/. VWA contact: Gordon Johnson.
Certified Site Stewards continue with their monitoring work despite the lull in leadership at the Forest Service level. Things look encouraging with the recent announcement from the Forest Supervisor of the new appointments of Joan Brandoff-Kerr as Forest Archaeologist and of Brenda Reed as the archaeologist for the Monterey and Santa Lucia Ranger Districts working out of King City. Moves are afoot to reactivate the program with a form letter sent to all the trained volunteers containing requests for their site visit reports. More info: Paul Danielson.
Last October Congress worked out a compromise for the Interior Appropriations Bill and sent the legislation to President Bush to sign. The compromise included an extension of the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program (RFDP) by another two years. Fortunately, this is not the four-year extension that President Bush had originally requested and was passed in the House version of the bill. However, it is greater than the one-year extension that recreation groups recommended to Congress and much greater than the elimination of the program that we in the anti-Fee Demo movement want. The program is now set to expire on September 30, 2004.
Meanwhile, local and state opposition to Fee Demo continues to grow, with 15 governments, including three states (CA, NH, OR), ten counties and two cities officially against it. More info: Joy Greenberg.
Congressman Sam Farr announced on November 15, 2001, that the Navy has dropped its proposal to build a practice bombing range at Fort Hunter Liggett. This is a great political victory for Congressman Farr who has worked diligently to convince the Navy that FHL is not an appropriate location for this activity. Congratulations to Congressman Farr, to all the VWA members who worked hard at opposing this proposal, and to the many other local activists and organizations who also joined in the struggle. More info: Tom Hopkins.
The Defensible Fuels Profile Zone (DFPZ) project on the Monterey District has been changed from a Categorical Exclusion to a Environmental Assessment (EA) and back to a Categorical Exclusion over the past few weeks. Categorical Exclusion requires the least amount of analysis and study under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The Ventana/Silver Peak Wilderness Fire Management Plans, an EA, are currently being developed by the USFS. More info: Steve Chambers.
The Monterey District is still waiting for funding (either in FY02 or FY03) to conduct an Environmental Assessment (EA) on re-opening and/or removing slides on the road. Until the EA is conducted and implemented, the road will remain closed to motor vehicle traffic. More info: Steve Chambers.
The Monterey District has "lost" and recovered -- many times recently -- the approximately $165,000 in funds for trail projects within the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness this fiscal year. Acting District Ranger Bradford recently said that if these projects are not funded this year, they will be at the top of next year's list. Most, if not all, of the projects within the Ventana were directly related to trails damaged by the Kirk Complex Fires of 1999. The Pimkolam Trail Crew (PTC) "dirt eaters" are still attempting to understand the budgeting process of the Forest Service. PTC projects this year will be directed towards non-focused trails in or around the Silver Peak Wilderness: Prewitt Loop, Salmon Creek, Buckeye, and Cruickshank Trails. Non-focused trails are a local USFS designation for those trails that they are not going to maintain. About two-thirds of the trails on the Monterey District have been classified as non-focused. More info: Steve Chambers.
The VWA Trail Crew is looking forward to an enjoyable and productive year, with plans for backcountry work expeditions to the Black Cone Trail, Ventana Double Cone Trail and Big Sur Trail, as well as shorter outings to various other trails in the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness areas. More info: Boon Hughey.
The VWA has been working with Monterey District staff to develop an agreeable set of Leave No Trace ethics for the northern Santa Lucia. The District recently hired a Recreation Assistant with a wilderness background, and we hope to complete this project within the next few months. More info: Steve Chambers.
The quarterly meeting of the VWA Board of Directors will be held on January 26 in Santa Cruz and interested VWA members are encouraged to attend. This is a great opportunity to meet other VWA members and to develop your understanding of what the VWA is and does. More info: Jon Libby.
The Board had decided that the annual membership meeting of the VWA, which in the past had been in January, will be scheduled in April or May so that it may be held outdoors when the weather is better. Date and location will be forthcoming. More info: Jon Libby.
***Ventana Wilderness Alliance Volunteer Coordinator (Volunteer Position)***
Creative, enthusiastic VWA member needed to identify and recruit other VWA members for volunteer participation in many new VWA activities. You will have the satisfaction of enabling other members to achieve joy in their VWA involvement, while helping VWA protect, preserve, enhance and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within the northern Santa Lucia Mountains. Most work will be from your home computer and phone but the ability to attend VWA functions is a requirement. We ask for a one year commitment and expenses incurred will be reimbursed.
***Ventana Wilderness Alliance Outings Coordinator (Volunteer Position)***
The VWA is looking for an organized, resourceful VWA member to set up and coordinate VWA outings and field trips as the VWA continues to pursue its mission through expansion of its activities. This position will coordinate activities between VWA members, VWA board, USFS recreation staff and others as necessary. Most work will be from your home computer and phone but the ability to attend VWA functions is necessary. We ask for a one year commitment and expenses incurred will be reimbursed.
If you think that you might have an interest in either of these positions please contact Jon Libby to express your interest and to get further details. This is your opportunity to have a lot of fun with a great group of people while you are furthering the mission of the VWA. Don't be shy, please. More info: Jon Libby
The VWA Board Members are:
Jon Libby, President
Steve Chambers, Vice President
Tom Hopkins, Treasurer
Boon Hughey, Secretary
Gordon Johnson
Paul Danielson
