Fight Reignites to Stop Keystone XL

Fight Reignites to Stop Keystone XL

piping plover

Republicans in Washington, D.C., aren’t giving up trying to ram through the Keystone XL pipeline. On Monday, less than two weeks after President Obama rejected the controversial Canada-to-Texas project, Republicans in the Senate introduced a bill that would let Congress make it a reality. They’re also scrambling to attach Keystone XL to other pieces of legislation floating around the Capitol.

We’re not surprised: Big Oil and its congressional cronies were angered by Obama’s rejection of Keystone XL. We can’t let up on the counterpressure. If it’s built, Keystone XL would, as climatologist Dr. James Hansen says, be “game over” for climate change. It would also be a disaster for Canada’s boreal forests (where the tar sands the pipeline would carry are extracted) and put hundreds of waterways and some 20 imperiled plants and animals, from the whooping crane to the piping plover, at risk of a spill — which government scientists say would be inevitable.

The Center for Biological Diversity has been at the forefront of the fight against Keystone XL, and we’ll keep you up to date on how to stop this dangerous project.

Check out our press release, read our Oregonian op-ed on the issue and learn more about our Keystone XL campaign.

Posted in Climate Change Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Oil, Mining, and Gas Water Pollution | Leave a comment

Presentation: Exploring the Laguna de Santa Rosa

 
Kayaking in the Laguna de Santa Rosa after the recent winter rains.
Photo credit: Indigo Bannister
Presentation: Exploring the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Tuesday, February 7, 7:00-8:30pm
REI, 2715 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa (free)David Bannister, executive director of Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, will introduce you to the rich ecology of the Laguna and the variety of ways you can get out and discover its natural treasures.Find out best times to hike its trails, enjoy bird watching, and kayak its 14-mile channel. Learn about guided outings, volunteer opportunities, and other ways you can get involved to help protect this valuable habitat.

If you register for this free presentation at www.rei.com/santarosa, REI will hold a seat for you until the scheduled start time. Seating may be available at the door, even if registration is closed.

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World Wetlands Day

February 2 each year is World Wetlands Day. World Wetlands Day first began in 1997 and marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands back in 1971 at the Ramsar Convention in Iran. The Ramsar Convention was put together to address global concerns regarding the loss and degradation of the worlds wetlands. Its mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.”

Ramsar’s list of wetlands of international importance now include 1,970 sites from all over the world including the Laguna de Santa Rosa! Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits. Read more.

Posted in Streams and Wetlands Impacts | 1 Comment

Cosmetic Chemical Hinders Brain Development in Tadpoles

Interupted development

Interrupted development. Even small concentrations — 1.5 parts per million — of a biocide used in cosmetics interrupted neurological development in tadpole brains. (Credit: Aizenman lab/Brown University)

ScienceDaily (Jan. 10, 2012) — A new study finds that low concentrations of the chemical methylisothiazolinone has subtle but measurable negative effects on the neural development of tadpoles. The chemical is found in some cosmetics, although the study does not provide any evidence that cosmetics are unsafe for humans.

Scientists, health officials, and manufacturers already know that a chemical preservative found in some products, including cosmetics, is harmful to people and animals in high concentrations, but a new Brown University study in tadpoles reports that it can also interrupt neurological development even in very low concentrations.

In the cosmetics industry, the biocide methylisothiazolinone or MIT, is considered safe at concentrations of less than 100 parts per million. Lab studies, however, have found that lower concentrations affected the growth of animal neurons. Picking up from there, the Brown researchers performed a series of experiments to investigate how 10 days of exposure at concentrations as low as 1.5 ppm would affect whole, living tadpoles as they develop. Their results appear in advance online in the journal Neuroscience.

Continue reading

Posted in Salmonid/Wildlife Impacts, Waste Discharge Pollution | Leave a comment

Seventh Annual Wavemaker Awards

Wavemake Invite 2012

Posted in Coastal Impacts | Leave a comment

Celebrating the Return of the Salmon! Sunday, February 26th 3-6pm

Save the Date

Celebrating the Return of the Salmon!   A Progress Report and …Community Social

Sunday, February 26th 3-6pm

at the Salmon Creek Falls Environmental Center (Salmon Creek School)

Please join Gold Ridge RCD, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Prunuske Chatham Inc., and the Salmon Creek Watershed Council, as we host an informational me! eting and community gathering to report on the status of Coho Salmon recovery in the Salmon Creek Watershed. In addition, experts will share information on how landowners can improve salmon habitat.

Brittany Heck, Executive Director

 

Gold Ridge RCD

P.O. Box 1064

Occidental, CA 95465

(707) 874-2907

brittany@goldridgercd.org

www.goldridgercd.org

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Support Tree Protection in Sonoma County, Tues., Jan. 31, 9 am

Forest Supporters,

This Tuesday, January 31, at 9 am, please come to support a County “freeze” on any new vineyard and orchard development in Sonoma County until June 1st of this year.  At that time, VESCO (Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance) will be updated to incorporate tree removal protection language.

This will be held in the Supervisors’ Chambers, 575 Administrative Drive, Room 100A, Santa Rosa.

Thank you.

 Larry Hanson,
Board President, Forest Unlimited
Larryjhanson@comcast.net
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
Posted in Agriculture Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Logging Impacts, Salmonid/Wildlife Impacts, Vineyards | Leave a comment

36th Annual Sonoma County Environmental Awards Dinner, Saturday, March 3, 2012

Sonoma County Conservation Council and Sierra Club Sonoma Group’s

36th Annual Sonoma County Environmental Awards Dinner

Building Healthy, Just &

Sustainable Communities

IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Paloma Pavel, PhD, President of Earth House Center

and Executive Director of Breakthrough Communities

 Saturday, March 3, 2012

Sebastopol Veterans’ Auditorium, 5:30 – 9:00pm

282 South High Street, Sebastopol

 MC: Leticia Romero, Vice-President, North Bay Organizing Project and

Community Organizer, Committee for Immigrant Rights Sonoma County

                                                 2012 Environmental Awards

Nominations open until 2/6 midnight: www.envirocentersoco.org/awards

Silent Auction and Raffle

Gourmet Dinner: A La Heart Catering

Tickets: $40, after 2/20: $50

Students with ID: $25, after 2/20: $30

Non-Profit Group Discount: 5 tickets for the price of 4, $160 until 2/20

Tickets: www.envirocentersoco.org

or send a check payable to SCCC to: PO Box 4346, Santa Rosa, CA 95402

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Communicate With Water Words That Work, February 1, 2012

Communicate With Water Words That Work

February 1, 2012  ||  8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

835 Market Street, San Francisco

This workshop is designed for people who need to communicate with public audiences about water resources, coastal and watershed management, and land conservation.

Are you tired of struggling with environmental message design and delivery? Would you like to learn what words work when communicating about water and coastal issues? Then attend Communicate With Water Words that Work on February 1st and let communication expert Eric Eckl show you how to make a splash with your communications!

For those trained in different disciplines, environmental communications for everyday citizens can be a frustrating challenge, but the Water Words That Work message method makes it much easier to succeed. It’s designed to turn those blank stares into nodding heads — to turn passive “environmental awareness” into pro-environmental behavior.

Workshop Overview

8:45     Sign in and refreshments

9:00     Morning Session:  Water Words That Work

Make a splash with your communications! Relearn the language that everyday citizens use and you’ll become more confident and successful as you set out to enlighten the uninformed and persuade the undecided to take a stand or take action on behalf of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. The Water Words That Work environmental message method is a four-step process for transforming professional language into action language that will help make your next fundraising, issue advocacy, and behavior change campaign a success.

12:15    Networking Lunch (provided)

1:15     Afternoon Session:  Combat Communications for Conservationists

Conservation and controversy go hand in hand. Sooner or later, the mud will fly and your work and your reputation will be on the line. In this training, you will hone messaging skills you need to set the record straight and come out on top!

To register

Reserve your spot online:  http://www.sfbaynerr.org/ctp/programs/program_detail.php?PROGID=CoVYY2X .  Registration closes on January 20th or as soon as space fills.

About the instructor

Eric Eckl has over 15 year experience planning and carrying out behavior change campaigns, fundraising and issue advocacy.  His “Water Words That Work” approach is a highly successful workshop series, and he is a sought-after speaker for environmental, marketing, and technology conferences.

Participants in this workshop have said …
“Eric’s passion for people and communications is evident in the work he does, touching on issues that matter to most of us. He is a great teacher and presenter. Anyone who attends his workshop sessions will walk away excited and ready to implement what he has clearly explained, with an ‘I can do this’ attitude.”

For more information

Contact Marina Psaros, Coastal Training Program Coordinator at mpsaros@sfsu.edu

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Mercury in the Water

Mercury has been a high priority pollutant in the Sac River Watershed for many years with TMDL’s and a number of cleanups.  I’ve always wondered why the North Coast Board has not done likewise.  The Russian River receives the contribution of the many abandoned mines in the Geyser’s District as well as that lovely relic on Sweetwater Springs.  Is there any history of anyone looking at these and their legacy impacts?  Oh yes, and we shouldn’t forget the Scaggs Springs district, now upstream of and inundated by Lake Sonoma.  Thanks,
Ray
Not only the mercury in fog is of interest …
have a fine day,
Rue
The State Water Resources Control Board is developing a Statewide Mercury Program to reduce mercury in California’s waters. It is expected that the following two elements will be part of the program:
- New water quality objectives for mercury in the tissues of fish that humans and wildlife eat.
- A policy or plan to reduce mercury in our state’s reservoirs to attain the new water quality objectives and protect both humans and wildlife that eat reservoir fish. The policy or plan may include provisions for responsible parties to initiate actions to help address mercury reservoir problems.
Posted in Environmental Impacts, Salmonid/Wildlife Impacts, Streams and Wetlands Impacts, Watershed Related Concerns | Leave a comment