Redwood Reader

87. A Busy Week in California
This week has really seen a lot of articles relating to our work. Rather than post each one to discuss, I will trim the discussion to be sure to include as any items as possible. I find it ironic there were three California environmental articles in LI’s Newsday on a Saturday, when readership drops off.
Calif. Salutes Global Warming Fighters
http://www.newsday.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-forest-practices,0,3848731.story?coll=sns-ap-science-headlines
Lawmakers this week endorsed the California Climate Registry to reward private forest land owners for sequestering CO2 in forests. It doesn’t say what rewards would be available but it is worth noting they are talking to industry, cities and government agencies are using the system to track their emissions. We note logging as the second largest source of CO2 and point out that CO2 emissions from land disturbance and glomalin destruction is not yet part of the equation. More science is needed here. The states Climate Action registry was created by law four years ago, and lawmakers approved incentives two years ago. The work goes beyond owning timberland to actively managing carbon capture and making that permanent by using conservation easements.
We are approaching the truth concerning carbon sequestration but must include fungal storage in the soils to really enumerate and appreciate the processes. We will find emissions from ground disturbance an unexpectedly large source of CO2, and that development releases CO2 that can not be put back into developed areas while CO2 released by logging is accumulated as the land regrows. Also not understood yet is the relation between glomalin conditioning the soil to absorb precipitation and store it.
California Climate Action Registry: www.climateregistry.org Pacific Forest Trust: www.pacificforest.org
Calif. Nixes Tiger Salamander Protections
http://www.newsday.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-tiger-salamander,0,7598056.story?coll=sns-ap-science-headlines.
Tiger salamanders are under pressure from agriculture ands development in the Bay Area and Central Coast. Once again the issue is the quality of the science and development. The Bush administration, which often ignores bad news is saying the science is poor, yet their own people shot down the high quality science brought to inform the decision makers after requesting it. State lawmakers feel there are enough populations to deny listing. Federal listing does not include habitat preservation or improvement. Panels asking for more information should act on it when it is presented to them.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://sacramento.fws.gov/ Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org
California Natural Resources Group: http://www.cnrgonline.com/
Agency: Calif. Water Shift Won't Hurt Fish
http://www.newsday.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-delta-water,0,1440972.story?coll=sns-ap-science-headlines
The US Bureau of Reclaimation approved a plan to increase water flows to Southern California after NOAA assured them they would not be harming any of five threatened or endangered salmonid runs, including Northern California and Southern Oregon coho. They plan to send 27% more water south, but it is not clear if any of this is from the Trinity-Klamath. Environmentalists charge NOAA with political considerations riding over objections but NOAA denies it. The state and feds are trying to integrate their parallel pumping and storage systems and begin signing water contracts for 25 to 40 year periods. This is where bad science can go really wrong because once the contracts are signed it will be a litigious mess or complete ecological disaster trying to undo them. Both California Senators, Nancy Pelosi and several other California lawmakers are asking for delays for more information. Meanwhile Commerce and Interior are looking at improprieties at NOAA regarding their initial draft findings.
Bureau of Reclamation: www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/index.html
4. Mushroom boom is on -- don't forget your permit
Saturday, October 23, 2004 - The Times-Standard
http://www.times- standard.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,127%257E2896%257E2487538,00.html
Tan oak, or matasuke, mushroom picking permits go on sale October 25 for National Forests. The season runs November 1 to December 15.The early onset of rain together with warm temperatures should bring a large crop this year. Japanese cooks love the mushroom despite an unpleasant fragrance as picked. The Forest Service issues four different commercial permits, and patrols areas and sets up checkpoints to assure compliance. Penalties range up to six months and $5ooo. Permits are available at Gasquet, Orleans and Willow Creek Ranger Stations.
*Two-day permit for $20. * Three-day permit for $25. * Seven-day permit for $50. * One month permit for $100. Personal permits are free.
Not mentioned in the article is the fact that BLM also offers permits for King Range. They usually have about 20-30 requests per year.
5. Comment Period for CA Rocks and Islands http://www.ca.blm.gov/pa/coastal_monument/ccnm_rmp_index.htm BLM is doing the public comment thing on its draft for the old Rocks and Islands off the California Coast, now called the California Coastal Monument. Comment period ends December 16. "People interested in the California coast provided valuable comments that we used in drafting this document," said California Coastal National Monument Manager Rick Hanks. "We hope people can continue to help us in developing the final plan and EIS by attending a meeting and providing comments." A meeting was held in Trinidad Thursday night, according to their schedule.
In addition to participating in a public meeting, people can send comments to: California Coastal National Monument, 299 Foam St, Monterey, CA 93940, send them via email to cacam@ca.blm.gov, fax to the monument office at (831) 647-4244 or comment online www.ca.blm.gov/pa/coastal_monument/comment_page.htm.
Comments must be received by Dec. 16, 2004.
The draft plan and EIS have been mailed to requesters. The documents can be viewed online at www.ca.blm.gov/pa/coastal_monument/. Printed or compact disc copies are available by contacting the monument office. The documents can also be reviewed at the monument office in Monterey and at BLM offices in Sacramento, Arcata, Ukiah, Hollister, Bakersfield, Palm Springs and Moreno Valley.
California Coastal National Monument 299 Foam Street Monterey, CA 93940