Update on San Onofre State Park/Trestles vs. Proposed Toll Highway

1. The California Coastal Commission is scheduled to hear the proposed Toll Highway on Thursday October 11th in San Pedro. The staff at the Coastal Commission has issued a report that blasted the proposed route. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) has requested a postponement; but the Commission staff did not agree. However, the TCA may directly request that the Commission, at its October 11, 2007 meeting, grant a postponement and agree to a time extension. If this were to be granted, the hearing would not proceed as scheduled on October 11, 2007, but would be scheduled at a subsequent Commission meeting. Note: Many of the opponents of the toll highway are coming by bus to the meeting. Such a request for a postponement is a common tactic to avoid dealing with large numbers of opponents.

2. Opposed by 66% in Orange County - A recent survey of voters in Orange County revealed that 66% oppose building a toll highway through San Onofre State Park.

3. Los Angeles Times Opposes. The Los Angeles Times published an editorial strongly opposing the toll highway.

4. TCA sued by the State Attorney General's office. The Attorney General has sued the TCA because of the route's potential impacts on the American Indian archaeological site (which is still used for religious ceremonies by Jueneno Indians), damage to the park, and more. Also, TCA has been sued by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

5. San Diego City Council vote to oppose. We are still waiting for Mayor Sander's approval or veto.

6. TCA offers $100 million for state parks if TCA gets approval. $70 million would pay for the lease of Camp Pendleton Land and $30 million would go to Crystal Cove State Park. On hearing about the TCA's offer, some opponents used the word "bribe." The long-term advocate for Crystal Cove has rejected that offer.

7. TCA hints they may appeal to the Federal Government. Because federal land is involved (Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base), the TCA may appeal to the Federal Government; probably the Commerce Department.

Question: Do Federal bureaucrats have the power to override California's environmental laws?

Another Sewage Spill

In South Bay, about 15,000 gallons of sewage spilled. Government workers estimate that they captured about 9,000 gallons; leaving about 6,000 gallons flowing into a storm drain, then to Sweetwater River, and into San Diego Bay.

Recovery effort for steelhead fish species

The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a interim Recovery Outline for Southern California Coast Steelhead Fish Species. The planning area extends from the Pajaro River, in the North, to the Tijuana River at the U.S-Mexican border.

The outline identifies Specific threats to steelhead populations, including: (a) Blockage of access to 90 percent of historic spawning and rearing habitat above dams; (b) De-watering of streams by dams and diversions; (c) Loss of riparian vegetation from agricultural, residential, and commercial development, and related flood control activities; (d) Filling and degradation of estuarine habitat; (e) Introduction of non-native, exotic fish and amphibians; and (f) Point and non-point pollution from up-slope land use practices.

Priority recovery actions identified in the document include:
* Establishing access above impassible barriers (road crossings, dams, debris basins)
* Restoring flow regimes for migration and over-summering habitat
* Reducing point and non-point pollution sources
* Developing and implementing a comprehensive habitat monitoring and stock assessment program

For more information, see http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/So_Cal.htm

Escondido faces higher, $1.8 million fine for sewage spill.

The saga continues on sewage spills by Escondido and subsequent fines. Recently, the State-level water water quality board has overridden a settlement by the Regional-level board. Originally the proposed fine was $1,800,00 million. Then the City of Escondido and Regional Board agreed to $690,000, plus the costs of two technical studies. Then that agreement was challenged at the state level because it relied on primarily on a statement by the City. Now the State wants to impose the original fine. The City of Escondido will probably submit more evidence in the hopes of lowering the total.

Balboa Park: new financial baseline study begins

A new, independent study of Balboa Park is underway, sponsored by three foundations: the Legler Benbough Foundation, the San Diego Foundation, and the Parker Foundation. They want to find out: (1) How much the City is spending vs. income, (2) Accumulated unfunded obligations, (3) An estimate of the likely funding that the City will provide, (4) Other alternatives for governance and financial support of Balboa Park.

Proposed Hotel on Buena Vista Lagoon

In Oceanside, on the northern edge of the sensitive Buena Vista Lagoon, a 4 acre hotel has been proposed. The staff of the California Coastal Commission has recommended that it be rejected because of the needs for public access, public recreation, protecting wetlands, etc. The Commission will discuss this proposal at their hearing on October 11th. Previously the project was approved by the Oceanside City Council in a 3 to 2 vote.

New good rail transit does bad thing.

When the East-West "Sprinter" tracks were recently built, the North County Transit District did not prevent water runoff from polluting nearby streams. The district may have to pay a fine of up to $160,000. That's a shame both for the damage to the streams and because of the desperate need of money for transit.