Local HEROES Clean Water

Water Ski Lakeis Back yet AgainTransit OrientedDevelopmentBy Anna RansomeIt’s been a few years since we heardfrom these people – and now they aretaking a new approach toward theirgoal of a water ski lake in our back yard.I oppose the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers (USACE) granting a Section404 permit and the North CoastRegional Water Quality Control Board(NCRWQCB) granting a 401 Permitfor the Vineyard Lake Project, aka thewater ski lake off Mill Station Rd. inSebastopol. This infamous project hadwidespread opposition to the buildingof the lake and then to a use permitapplication which would have legalizeda water-skiing business. That usepermit application was unanimouslydenied by the Sonoma County Boardof Supervisors. Now the applicants areattempting to retroactively get permitsfor the “stock pond.”The lake was constructed with a cheapgrading permit and no environmentalreview, destroying wetlands andirreversibly altering the hydrologyof the Atascadero Creek watershed.We have our own studies that refutethe studies presented with the 401and 404 application. This project iswithin a quarter mile of both therecent wetlands trenching incident(O’Brien) at 9170 Occidental Rd. and thewetlands destruction several years agoon Mill Station Rd. (Tomich) in whichthe USACE was involved. AtascaderoCreek is an anadromous fish bearingstream and all these projects have hada deleterious effect on the creek andsurrounding wetlands.Many of us on this list have workedfor years to find ways to reverse theeffects of the building of this lake inU.S. jurisdictional wetlands. There is apractice in Sonoma County of buildingprojects without permits and thenretroactively applying for permits for aproject which would most likely havebeen denied on application. I’m sure wedo not want to encourage such unethicaltactics to circumvent federal, state andlocal laws and regulations.If you would like to make detailedcomment by reading both applications,please call the NCRWQCB by phoningthe main desk at 576-2220 to get theaddress and file viewing hours. Theapplicant is Gerald Bybee of VineyardLake Associates, LLC and the projectaddress is 9499 Mill Station Road,Sebastopol. I am attempting to getelectronic copies of the applications andwill send them to this list if I do.There is no deadline yet for commentsto NCRWQCB. The date for commentsto USACE is January 23, 2009. If youoppose the applications, a general letteris sufficient. Addresses are below:Katerina GalacatosU.S. Army Corps of Engineers1455 Market Street - Floor 17San Francisco CA 94103 -1398Refer to 404 Application 28994NSteven BargstenNCRWQCB5550 Skylane Blvd. - Suite ASanta Rosa CA 95403Refer to 401 Application for VineyardLake Associates, LLCBy Jenna BragerConservation Action, GreenbeltAlliance, and Urban Habitat arecosponsoring a fantastic workshopon transit oriented development -TOD 101 . Now that SMART Trainand Pathway passed, we need to beready for what comes next. Please post,publish, announce, and spread the wordas best you are able. Info is below.This Workshop Will Teach You To:1) Articulate the need for TOD2) Understand the components of TOD -transit, housing, amenities, and openspace.3) Identify the benefits of TOD - healthyenvironment, minimized traffic,transit support, improved air quality,preserved open space, economicvitality, walkable communities,increased social capital, sense ofplace, opportunities for meaningfulinput.Instructors:Denny Rosatti, Executive Director,Sonoma County Conservation ActionDaisy Pistey-Lyhne, North Bay FieldRepresentative for Greenbelt Alliance*Workshop curriculum developed byUrban Habitat, Bay Area non-profitwhose mission is to promote TOD andensure equity for all communities inthe development process. Workshopwill be attended by Laurie Neighbors,Education and Training Coordinator forUrban Habitat.*Cosponsored by Sonoma CountyConservation Action, ConservationAction Fund for Education, GreenbeltAlliance, Urban Habitat.CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!707-571-8868jenna@conservationaction.orgwww.conservationaction.orgTRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT 101Saturday, January 24, Environmental Center, 55ARidgeway Ave, Santa Rosa$10-30, scholarships available*Light refreshments provided*Laguna Docent Training ClassIf your goals for 2009 include havinga positive effect on the community andthe natural world, consider trainingto become a volunteer docent for theLaguna de Santa Rosa.As part of its mission to restore,scientifically understand and educatepeople about the Laguna, The LagunaFoundation trains people as docentsto volunteer with elementary schoolstudents. Trainees learn about thenatural and cultural history of theLaguna and how to run the LearningLaguna classroom and field activitystations while developing practicalskills for working with 2nd-4th gradestudents. All it takes to get started iscuriosity, enthusiasm and a desire tofoster a connection to nature in schoolchildren.Being a docent for the Laguna ismeaningful, fun and rewarding. Thework benefits schools, children, thecommunity, and the Laguna directly.Plus, each person who becomes a docentpersonally feels the rewards by sharingthe wonder of nature with children.Training begins March 16 and runsfrom 9:30 am -2:30 pm on consecutiveMondays thru May 18. Informationand orientation events are scheduledfor Tuesday, February 10th from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Sebastopol Library andMonday, February 23rd from 6:30-8:00at the Central Santa Rosa Library.For detailed information visit www.lagunafoundation.org or call EducationPrograms Director Christine Fontaineat 527-9277x10222 - www.westcountygazette.com - 1/15/09