Greeneroo

Learn more about Climate Change from the perspective of a TROUT.  When I was living in Daly City, I dreamed of tropical paradises, and although I enjoyed the fog (it was so clean and sparkly and made the street noise quieter), I know climate change is not what I hoped for. Imagine being a trout, your living space is changing rapidly and you can’t move on, pack up and leave, or install a water temperature gauge. You have to try to stay alive…. Climate change from a trout’s eye view.

Now add the other factors that affect the streams, environmental disasters, oil spills in Louisianna, toxic runoff, loss of salt marshes, and you’ll be wishing you could live in a place where people thought about the earth.  Read SOS California’’s Native Fish Crisis.  (pdf)  If you care about Salmon or Steelhead….. read this well written report.  You do want to know.

This is a list for the entire United States. It has been so hot lately that I can barely get out of my chair…. so I loved looking at National Geographics extensive list, and have pulled out some California highlights. If you can go anywhere, you’ll want to see the entire National Geographic GREAT HIKES list, it is a fantastic addition to any Just Say Yes, or bucket list.

These four choices are great, and I would add San Bruno Mountain (Daly City, CA) and Mt. Tamalpais (Marin) to the list because they are easy to get to and have the best vistas in the bay area. If it is a hot day, try San Bruno Mountain in the morning, the fog will lift your spirits and cool you off. Ahh!

A Great Lodge: Sorenson’s Resort // California
GPS: 38°35′N 119°48′W

Set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Lake Tahoe, Sorenson’s Resort is a kind of hiker’s dream town, containing 33 whimsical log cabins, chalets, and homes—a sod-roof Swedish cottage and a bungalow rescued from a defunct Santa’s village among them—moved from elsewhere and rearranged here. Hikers can depart directly from the lodge into the surrounding national forest on Indian Head Trail or drive a short distance to unlimited options. In late summer try the six-mile (ten-kilometer) round-trip to Round Top Lake from Carson Pass on Highway 88. Beginning at 8,573 feet (2,613 meters), the trail wastes no time reaching timberline. Back at the resort, the café’s beef burgundy and berry cobbler can elicit Proustian nostalgia.

Vitals: $115; www.sorensensresort.com

A Classic Hiking Trail: John Muir Trail: Ritter Range // California
GPS: 37°41′N 119°11′W

Every backpacker dreams of someday hiking the John Muir Trail, that 211-mile-long (340-kilometer-long) pageant through the High Sierra from Mount Whitney to Yosemite Valley. Rightly so. The JMT traverses some of the finest alpine scenery in the U.S. But until the ol’ vacation account accrues 17 days (that’s the length of an average JMT thru-hike), content yourself by sampling one of the trail’s best and most accessible sections on a weekend-length, 31-mile (50-kilometer) route into the Ritter Range. Even if you don’t know the Ritters by name, you’ve seen their stony facades on calendars and posters, especially the shark-tooth Minarets. “There’s nothing like the Minarets elsewhere in the Sierra. They’re dark and intimidating, especially on a cloudy day,” says David Roberts, who leads weeklong backpacking trips into the Ritters for the Sierra Club. Your tour begins at Reds Meadow near Mammoth Ski Area, where you pick up the JMT northbound to Shadow Lake. Leaving the JMT, walk west to camp at Ediza Lake, which reflects the 17 Minaret spires. At this point you face a no-lose decision. Backpackers with off-trail know-how can proceed south to Cecile Lake, where the trail ends and the ad hoc Sierra High Route takes over. The less experienced should double back at Ediza Lake to rejoin the JMT to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. Follow the PCT southeast to Agnew Meadows, where you can catch a free shuttle bus to your car.

Vitals: For wilderness permits, visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra.

City Hike: Topanga State Park // Los Angeles, CA
GPS: 34°07′N 118°25′W

Located between Malibu and Beverly Hills, this 22-acre (9-hectare) parcel of wildland may be the most valuable park in the country. But for now, no Hollywood mogul manses or rehab centers blight the prime real estate surrounding 2,126-foot (648-meter) Temescal Peak. Everyone hikes the seven-mile (eleven-kilometer) circuit from Trippet Ranch to Eagle Rock, which is why you should opt for the 14-mile (23-kilometer) out-and-back from Trippet up Hondo Canyon to Saddle Peak, with its meadows, stream crossings, and blockbuster views of the Pacific. The ten-mile (sixteen-kilometer) backcountry trail will also lose any Vinnie Chase-style entourage.

Vitals: For maps, visit www.tomharrisonmaps.com.

National Park:  Yosemite National Park // California
GPS: 38°01′N 119°57′W

John Muir was prophetic when he wrote that in Yosemite Valley “Nature had gathered her choicest treasures, to draw her lovers into close and confiding communion with her.” That communion can get downright cozy with the park’s 3.6 million visitors in 2007. But the truth is, they don’t all need to squeeze into the seven-mile (eleven-kilometer) valley. Marvel at the temple, by all means, but look to high country, low country, and the unsung glories of the Sierra Nevada for your solitude. There’s a lot of park out there.

One-Night Stand
Just off Tioga Road in Tuolumne Meadows is the trail to Elizabeth Lake. It’s only a five-mile (eight-kilometer) hike, but one that distills all the joys of the High Sierra into an easy jaunt. You’ll take in granite outcroppings; lodgepole pines; grassy, flower-strewed meadows; and, finally, the frigid reflecting pool of Elizabeth Lake. The glacial tarn lies at 9,508 feet (2,898 meters), beneath 10,823-foot (3,299-meter) Unicorn Peak. Camp here and you’ll have seen Yosemite‚ even if you never venture into the valley.

Three Days or More
If Yosemite has a gentle side, it’s near the settlement of Wawona, in the southern portion of the park. The elevations are lower but this is still the majestic Sierra‚ just with a longer hiking season and fewer crowds. For a three-day highlights tour, forge a 22-mile (35-kilometer) clockwise loop, hiking from Wawona to Buena Vista Pass. Along the way, stop off at Chilnualna Fall, a series of foamy tumbles that would be a major tourist attraction were it in Yosemite Valley. Camp the first night just down from the pass at Buena Vista Lake, in a beautifully carved cirque below 9,709-foot (2,959-meter) Buena Vista Peak. On day two take it easy: Wind your way through forest until you reach the picture-perfect campsites at either Johnson or Crescent Lakes.

Must-Do Secret
It sounds preposterous, but there’s a hidden path in the heart of Yosemite. The 13-mile (21-kilometer) Valley Floor Loop Trail is an old bridle path that hasn’t seen much traffic since the 1950s. Still, the trail is signed and very much intact. Pick it up behind Yosemite Lodge or Camp 4 and walk west, hugging the base of El Capitan, as far as Pohono Bridge. There, the trail crosses over to the south side of the valley, then east past Bridalveil Fall, through El Capitan Meadow, and across Swinging Bridge over the Merced River for a stunning view of Upper Yosemite Fall.

Vitals: The cedar-shrouded cabins at Evergreen Lodge, about 500 yards (457 meters) from the park’s western boundary on the road to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, are a good way to dodge the larger and louder campgrounds in the valley (www.evergreenlodge.com). For park info and free backcountry permits, visit www.nps.gov/yose.

This article is excerpted from the RePower America Newletter, Extreme Weather and Climate Change. To get your own copy sent to you, sign up!  The Repower America Web site is shared by the Alliance for Climate Protection and the Climate Protection Action Fund.
Learn more about the distinction between the efforts of these two organizations through Repower America.

Extreme weather is putting hundreds of thousands of lives and livelihoods at risk all around the world. In order to avoid the worst and most devastating impacts of the severe weather events that are consistent with climate change, we must begin to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about climate change and extreme weather and make sure your friends and family get the facts.

Get the Facts: Extreme Weather and Global Climate Change

Pollution from human activities is warming our climate. The 10 warmest years on record all occurred since 1990, and the last decade was the hottest recorded since worldwide record keeping began more than 100 years ago. The period between January and June of 2010 was the warmest six months on record.
A warming climate increases the chance that we will experience extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and intense storms, and ramps up the risk that severe weather events will cause catastrophic damage.
The floods, fires and droughts we’re seeing in places like Pakistan and Russia are consistent with the effects of global warming, including temperature increases, increased precipitation in some parts of the world, and droughts in others.
In early August, a 97-square mile chunk of ice–the largest since 1962–broke away from the northwest coast of Greenland. (1) Canadian officials fear the massive “ice island” could pose a risk to ships and oil platforms. (2)
Unless we significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, we are likely to see even more extreme weather events and the consequences they bring.

References:
1. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Earth Observatory, “Ice Island Calves off Petermann Glacier,” August 13, 2010.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=45112
2. Randy Boswell, “Giant iceberg drifting toward Canada could threaten ships, oil platforms,” Montreal Gazette, August 10, 2010.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Giant+iceberg+drifting+toward+Canada+could+threaten+ships+platforms/3382103/story.html

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a provider of protection, information and conservation to species and habitats around the world.  If you haven’t enjoy meandering through their site, now is a good time! They have a Marine Fund Raising drive going on right now.

On a hot August day, many of us enjoy sandy beaches and rolling waves. But oceans are more than just great vacation spots, they are also important centers of our planet’s vital biodiversity. That’s why WWF’s marine program isworking to conserve the coldest seas to the warmest tropical waters on earth. Won’t you help support WWF’s conservation work, such as protecting and preserving marine environments, with a symbolic species adoption?

 Six critical marine regions are highlighted in this donation campaign– WWF is  intensively working at the field level in each one:

• Adopt a Humpback Whale ($25 donation)
• Adopt a Sea Turtle ($50 donation)
• Adopt a Dolphin ($100 donation)
• Adopt an Iguana ($50 donation)
• Adopt a Blue Whale ($50 donation)
• Adopt a Clown Fish ($50)

Please feel free to share this LINK with people you know around the state and ask them to call.

Hi Everyone! This is one of our priority Sierra Club Calfornia bills for 2010. If we can’t get this bill passed, we might as well forget about saving the planet. Low hanging fruit, people. Let’s just make that call today. Thanks SO much.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Denny
Sierra Club California Executive Committee

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It is critical to get 7 yes votes out of the list of Senators listed below in order to get AB1998 to Gov. Swartzenegger’s desk (where he has promised to sign it).

We’ve heard that at least one Senator Leland Yee is concerned due to the effect on small minority businesses. I don’t have a perfect response to counter this argument other than saying if all businesses follow the same rules no one business is put at a disadvantage. One of the reasons grocers, including the Green Grocers Assoc. support this bill is it is actually easier on businesses to have one law regarding single use bags than for a business to have to follow all the locally enacted single use ordinances. So you could push that this bill will actually simplify the regulatory environment for businesses, at least in this one environmental area.

See the other talking points below.

Thanks in advance for your time in making that call. And Loma Prietans, I didn’t notice but our new Senator Sam Blakesley is on the call list so we can say we are Sierra Club and our Chapter supports this legislation and it is a priority Sierra Club California bill.

Ann Schneider
Chair, Loma Prieta Chapter Zero Waste Committee
Sierra Club

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Here is an email that you can use to ask folks to support AB 1998. Thx, Lesli

AB 1998 will eliminate approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California. Plastic bags are a primary component of urban blight and plastic marine pollution. Local government incurs significant costs to clean up plastic bag litter. And California families are unknowingly paying these costs in the form of higher fees and taxes, in addition to higher grocery costs. AB 1998 will encourage reusable bag use. AB 1998 bill will also conserve paper resources by requiring retailers sell recycled content paper bags.

This is our target list of Senators who need to be told to support and vote yes for AB 1998:

1. Gloria Romero (Azuza, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, La Puente, LA, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina) 916-651-4024
2. Lois Wolk (Davis, Fairfield, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Vacaville, West Sacramento)916-651-4005
3. Ron Calderon (Montebello, Huntington Park) 916-651-4030
4. Lou Correa (Santa Ana/Fullerton) 916-651-4034
5. Tom Harman (Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa) 916-651-4035
6. Mimi Walters (Laguna Niguel) 916-651-4033
7. Roderick Wright (EQ) (Compton, Gardena, Hawthorn, Inglewood, Lawndale, Long Beach, LA, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro) 916-651-4025
8. Leland Yee (San Francisco) 916-651-4008
9. Gilbert Cedillo (Alhambra, LA, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena and Vernon) 916-651-4022
10. Denise Ducheny (Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral City, Chula Vista, Coachella, Coronado, El Centro, IB, Indio, National City, SD, San Ysidro) 916-651-4040
11. Dean Florez (Bakersfield, Coalinga, Delano, Dinuba, Fresno, Hanford, Lemoore) 916-651-4016
12. Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona) 916-651-4032
13. Alex Padilla (Canoga Park, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacoima, San Fernando, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Van Nuys, Winneka) 916-651-4020
14. Curren Price (Culver City, Hancock Park, Hollywood, LA) 916-651-4026
15. Sam Blakeslee (San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara) 916-651-4015

Main Talking Points:

1- The problem is global and permanent:

a. RECYCLING IS NOT THE ANSWER. Four years after the passage of AB 2449, mandating recycling systems at all large grocers, only 1-5% of plastic grocery bags get recycled. We need source reduction—the first “R” of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

b. PLASTIC IS HARMING OUR ENVIRONMENT: Plastic bags are blight to our communities, and harm the environment.

c. PLASTIC AFFECTS HUMAN HEALTH AND IS CONTAMINATING OUR FOOD CHAIN:

2- AB 1998 will save taxpayers money; plastic bags cost cities money in disposal, recycling and cleanup

3- Cities are already moving to ban bags and we need AB 1998 to create a uniform policy throughout the state that stops single-use bag pollution once and for all.

4- AB 1998 is good for green jobs. Most manufacturing facilities in California make dozens of different products – not just plastic bags. They will not have to close their doors. AB 1998 will create opportunities for green jobs in CA.

5- We have a unique group of stakeholders supporting: environmental groups, local gov’t, grocers, (including the California Grocers’ Association), retailers, UFCW

Lesli Daniel
Sierra Club California
lesli@sonic.net
209-337-8648

Monitoring towers are set up in 5 continents, involving many countries to understand the dynamics between carbon, water and temperature. This collaboration of scientists is gathering data. For more information, read the full article.

Visit Fluxdata.org

It’s been a battle, and many many meetings and petitions later, there is news. The issue wasn’t simple although it was often distilled into jobs, environment and 12,000 homes.

Seven years ago, a $100 million deal by the federal and state government to purchase 16,500 acres of industrial salt-evaporation ponds along the southern shoreline of San Francisco Bay made national news.

It was to be the biggest wetlands restoration ever attempted in the West, an opportunity to bring back fish, birds, harbor seals and other wildlife to levels not seen in perhaps a century. But then came years of scientific studies and public meetings.

For the full story, check out these links:

San Jose Mercury News, dated August 17, 2010

Cargill’s profits

Environmental Review of the Cargill Project, dated May 21, 2010

Many of the green initiatives are focused on owners rather than renters. Buying solar panels can make sense to add to your home, and energy star appliances ARE a great idea, but places come with refrigerators, water heaters, windows, washer/dryers etc when you rent. And in alot of apartments there isn’t much incentive to take the time and money to make these big green efficiency improvements. Landlords might get a little cranky if you start remodeling and replacing things, (sure!) but there is alot you can do.

You can ask! Yes, ask for a clothesline, or double paned windows or having broken single paned windows replaced with double paned. Maybe a patch of unused land can be converted to tomatoes and basil. Containers on the roof? Saving rain water in barrels? Who knows?  Go ahead and ask, be your own best advocate. And many rental agencies are responding. Green, saves them money too.
You may not have your own plot of land, but investigate to see if there are community gardens near you, or you can go to a you-pick garden, or try container gardening. There are option, be curious, explore.
In Palo Alto, here is what they do:

The Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) has taken on that responsibility. The largest low-income housing organization in Palo Alto, PAHC has implemented many green practices and components throughout their complexes.

Georgina Mascarenhas, PAHC director of property management, said that most units have weatherstripping on doors and windows to save on heating and cooling costs, low-flow toilets to decrease water bills and drought-resistant landscaping. All laundry machines are EnergyStar-rated. PAHC is also looking into solar power and Mascarenhas said that the Alma Street location is ideal for harnessing energy from the sun’s rays.

PAHC also signed a new contract with Quick Light Recycling from Brisbane, which conducted recycling presentations, provided larger communal recycle bins and gave personal recycle bins to residents.

“I think (residents) do want to be green.” Mascarenhas said. “For the most part, it is all about education.”

Mascarenhas said the main green thing PAHC residents can do right now is recycle. She also said that PAHC provides a written conservation plan with suggestions on energy-saving methods, such as setting the thermostat to automatic mode.

“Nobody wanted to take time to sort through the recycling before,” she said. “But, now that it is more convenient, more residents are doing it.”

The Sierra Magazine rates the TOP 100 Cool Schools, many of them are University of California campuses (Of Course) and each of them offers a variation on green – some are agricultural like UC Davis, and others are so green it makes you want to jump in,  like UC Santa Cruz and others …. go ahead take a look…  Top 100 Green Schools.

Reusing and reinventing clothing has been a big part of the fashion scene. Goodwill encourages this trend with the Eco Chic Fashion Show. This year’s 2010 event will be held on OCTOBER 8 in downtown San Jose. There will be several themes: “little black dress challenge” and a “mayoral design challenge” Contestants will have a budget and pull together an amazing outfit at any local Goodwill Store.

Goodwill Special Events Director, Susan Lucas, gets a chance to show-off her re-purposed clothing, and inspire us to stop and think before we say…. “We don’t have anything to wear”!

According to the EPA Americans throw away about 70 pounds of clothing a year per person. Clothing and textiles are helping to clog our landfill comprising about 4% of munincipal solid waste.

The Goodwill Green pages are very informative and have several hints, links, and ideas. Carpet Recycling is a great idea you can find on this page.  Here is an excerpt from Susan Lucas’ blog:

From the September 2009 Eco Chic Fashion Show Event: Join us at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The proceeds will be used to create jobs for the disadvantaged and disabled by providing them with vocational and occupational training. In this economy, Goodwill is one of few companies actually hiring and placing people in new jobs! So consider donating a dress that doesn’t fit, a bag that you’re tired of and shoes that hurt your feet! These will benefit many people and you will be green! Simply fill some bags and drop them at any Goodwill location.

Thanks for writing off your old perception of Goodwill!

For more information contact Susan Lucas at: susanl@goodwillsv.org