Tag Archives: california

National Forests, National Parks, News

Peter T. Hoss: Yosemite draft plan won’t benefit Merced River

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Peter T. Hoss has penned an editorial for the Monterey Herald about the idiotic Draft Merced River Plan.  In it, he lays out issues with the plan which I wholeheartedly agree with.

From the editorial:

An ad hoc group of retired people from all aspects of Yosemite life, small in number but vast in experience, has protested the current Draft Merced River Plan and the accompanying environmental impact report, which led to my testimony before a congressional subcommittee on July 9.

This plan, which would dramatically reduce recreational use of parts of Yosemite National Park, is not a political issue. Followers of all political persuasions cherish visiting Yosemite.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, applied to the Merced River, was never intended by its draftsman, now-retired Congressman Tony Coelho, to apply to the 81 miles of the river within Yosemite. That portion made the final draft because of an administrative oversight when the House and Senate versions of the legislation were combined.

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Conservation, National Forests, National Parks, News, State Parks

Our Forest Place

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

If you are interested in land management in California, I encourage you to visit (and join!) OurForestPlace.com.  From the website:

The idea for OurForestPlace came about when a group of Forest Service planners were brought together to create a regional assessment for California that embraces the intent of the Proposed 2011 Planning Rule and the groundswell of collaborative efforts throughout the region.  This group of planners realized early on that the traditional assessment product – a static document informed by public and stakeholder involvement only at limited, predefined points – restricts its very usefulness and success. We needed to shift the focus from the product to the process. Through consultation with federal, state, local government and non-government groups it became clear that a successful assessment is the by-product of a robust, collaborative process.

Get involved in YOUR California!

You can visit the OurForestPlace.com website HERE.

Conservation, News

$84M removal of San Clemente Dam on Carmel River set to begin in July

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

California’s largest-ever dam removal is set to begin in July.  Officials are calling this the state’s largest dam removal project ever.  Dismantling the 106-foot-tall concrete dam and reroute half a mile of the river is schedules to take three years.

From Wikipedia:

The San Clemente Dam, built in 1921, is located 18 miles upstream from the ocean, and once provided drinking water throughout the Monterey Peninsula. It had an original capacity of 1,450 acre·ft (1,790,000 m3), but as of 2002, the capacity had fallen to less than 150 acre feet (190,000 m3). It is no longer used to store water and is now 90 percent silted up. State regulators declared in 1991 that it was in danger of collapsing in an earthquake and spilling the 40 million US gallons (150,000 m3) of water trapped behind its crumbling walls. In January, 2010 an agreement was reached with the California American Water Company to dig a new half-mile channel to bypass and strand the sediment behind the dam at a cost of $84 million, beginning in 2013. This will open up a 7 miles stretch of historic steelhead rainbow trout habitat on the river.

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Activities, Adventures, National Forests, National Parks, Off Roading

Wilderness Collective Video: Sequoia to Yosemite, Off Road

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Wilderness Collective has posted a video from their recent motorcycle trip from Sequoia to Yosemite (WC-000).

They’re hosting another similar adventure October 12 through the 14th.  From the website:

This is your opportunity to ride the epic Sequoia to Yosemite route that you’ve seen in the WC-000 film. 3 days of off-road riding through the some of the best mountain riding in the US. We’ll cover over 300 miles as we trace our way through foot-hills, over 8000’+ summits and along rushing rivers. This is the ultimate trip in terms of remote riding, incredible landscape all within one weekend. As usual we will be bringing along a cook, camera man and everything you need to make this trip one you will never forget.

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News, State Parks

California State Parks launches Parks Forward Commission

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Press release from the California State Parks:

California Natural Resources Agency, California State Park Officials Announce Sweeping New “Parks Forward” Initiative

New Commission Created to Transform California’s State Parks System 

SACRAMENTO , CA (Mon. June 3, 2013).–California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird and California State Parks Director Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret.), today unveiled “Parks Forward,” a collaborative initiative to undertake a top-to-bottom evaluation to improve and sustain California’s underfunded State Parks System. A distinguished volunteer panel, known as the Parks Forward Commission, will lead the new Parks Forward initiative, designed to implement the directives of the California State Parks Stewardship Act of 2012 and to revive and improve California’s State Parks.

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