Summer 2004 Newsletter
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COASTWALKER THE NEWSLETTER OF COASTWALK Saving the California Coast One Step at a Time Summer 2004 Is the The Year in Coastal Trail Accomplishments Imperiled? You know how it seems sometimes that accomplishments by Richard Nichols happen at a snailʼs pace, and that nothing is really getting done? Well, at least I sometimes feel that way. I made a list The wonderful California Coastal of highlights from the past Coastwalk year to help me see Trail - itʼs the public trail we all what Coastwalk volunteers, members and staff really did - fervently want to see finished, and what your donations helped us to accomplish - and here it is, want to hike so as to experience first- off the top of my head. I think itʼs pretty impressive. Inside: hand its beauty, animals and plants, - Linda Hanes, Board President history, people and places. But is it Made history and raised CCT awareness: September Changes at imperiled as a place to inspire and 22, 2003 – Coastal Trail Expedition ʼ03 (CTE 03) members Coastwalk . 2 nurture us, by the human impacts on both land and sea? finished a 1,196-mile walk down the coast of California. Countless newspaper articles, TV and radio spots and magazine Whatʼs the Big The answer, sadly, is yes. articles featuring Coastwalk and highlighting the California Deal about the big Two new reports confirm what Coastal Trail (CCT) came out of that hike. Hearst Ranch many have known for years. The Pew Lengthened the CCT: We worked with local trail advocates deal? . 3 Oceans Commission, comprised of scientists, fishermen, conservationists, and state park personnel to lay out trail routes in Sonoma County, LA Harbor/San Pedro area, Mendocino and San Luis CCT Snapshot: elected leaders, and business leaders Obispo counties. History of the Hearst (funded by the charitable non-profit Millions of Californians hear the Coastwalk message: Ranch . 3 Pew Foundation) and the U.S. Oceans Commission, made up of business Coastwalk and our mission were featured in a half hour segment on Huell Howserʼs PBS show, which airs on various Tides & Trails: and military leaders appointed by PBS TV stations statewide, and will be re-run for a few years. Victories for coastal the Bush Administration, reached the Coastal trails accessible to all: We created a new website, advocates . 7 same conclusions: that the nation must take immediate action to avert the featuring interactive maps that show the CCT route and continuing decline of ocean wildlife descriptions of hikes as well as a daily journal from the CTE and collapse of ecosystems. 03. This website is one of three we maintain.. Printed on recycled paper see Oceans page 6 see Accomplishments page 5 New Staff at Coastwalk I am pleased to introduce our three new, energetic staff members: Sasha, Rob, and Leila. We will work as a team to improve all aspects of Coastwalk. For many Coastwalk Is... years, our organization was administered by volunteers, and then by myself. As Coastwalk has grown so has the need for the energy of additional staff to accomplish our goals. We are grateful for our partnership with the State Coastal THE COASTWALK MISSION: Conservancy. It has helped us to make this needed expansion. Complete the California Coastal We will increase our efforts to promote the CCT, educate more people through Trail (CCT) - a continuous trail along summer Coastwalks, and continue to find funding for our efforts. As Executive the entire California coastline. Director, I will do more work with other non-profits, agencies and officials to Protect the scenic and natural ensure that the Coastal Trail is completed, and work for legislation which protects environment of the coast while our valuable shoreline. Without volunteers, members and walkers, Coastwalk would not exist. You are providing public access. needed now more than ever and we thank each one of you for your continued Educate the public about the CCT support. and coastal protection, and - Richard Nichols Coordinate with government, community and trail organizations to promote the CCT, protect public access SASHA ROSE SCHAIBLE and encourage coastal protection. Director of Operations and Development I have always been passionate about the STAFF: environment. It may have started when I was Richard Nichols, Executive Director just a baby: my mother carried me on her Sasha Rose Schaible, Director of back while she helped clean up the 1971 San Operations & Development Francisco Bay oil spill. Helen Shane, Office Manager I feel fortunate to have lived near the Rob Helms, Trail Steward California coast for the past ten years. I visit the ocean often to find Leila Rand, Editor clarity and renewal and want to preserve this beautiful place for future generations. Layout & Design: Leila Rand I started working in non-profit management seven years ago, at Community Vocational Enterprise, a San Francisco organization that CONTACT INFORMATION: provides vocational rehabilitation. In 1999 I moved to Sonoma County and Coastwalk was hired to manage West County Community Servicesʼ youth program. 825 Gravenstein Hwy. North, Suite 8 During this time I also attended New College of California, majoring in Sebastopol, CA 95472 Culture, Ecology & Sustainable Communities. My studies here renewed my (800) 550-6854, (707) 829-6689 commitment to help create a world where people and nature live in balance. www.coastwalk.org More recently, I worked with West Sonoma County schools to www.californiacoastaltrail.info implement a program for service learning. Here I started a leadership program for students to learn about and act upon environmental and social issues. I also facilitated teacher trainings and created a plan for organizational development that continues to guide the district today. As I learn about Coastwalkʼs history, I see remarkable success and growth, clearly the result of many peopleʼs time, energy and support over the years. Looking to the future, I see that we still have much work to do to complete the California Coastal Trail while we raise awareness and advocate for coastal protection. I am honored to be a part of the next leg of the journey. As the new Director of Operations and Development, I will work hard to increase efficiency and sustain funding so that Coastwalk thrives well New Digs into the future. I will oversee the day-to-day business of the Coastwalk After three years in a small office in office, coordinate staff efforts and organize our “home base” to better downtown Sebastopol, Sonoma County, support our volunteers and various activities. I will raise awareness of Coastwalk has moved to some new digs. our programs and attract new people to our walks through increased Also in Sebastopol, the new office has outreach and by introducing new Coastwalk experiences. Your feedback space to accommodate our expanded staff about Coastwalk is essential and I would love to hear from you. (weʼre now five employees plus several volunteers) and numerous projects. ROB HELMS Our new address is: Trail Steward, CCT Project 825 Gravenstein Hwy. North, Suite 8, My family has a history of community Sebastopol, CA 95472 involvement, starting with my grandparents, If youʼre ever in the area, stop by! who planted what is now a Memorial Forest. My aunt spent endless days improving see Staff page 6 2 Coastwalk News from the California Coastal Trail Summer 2004 Is the Hearst Deal Good for the Public? by Richard Nichols Over a year ago, the Hearst The 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch, Corporation released a one located on some of San Luis page, five-point “Framework for Obispo Countyʼs most breath-taking the Conservation of the Hearst coastal and mountainous lands, has Ranch,” and began recruiting been the subject of a great deal of endorsers for the deal with the public speculation since the Hearst State. At the time the SLOcoast Corporation announced its intention Alliance of environmental groups to make a deal with the State of (including Coastwalk), led by the California to conserve the 128 local San Luis Obispo chapter of square mile property. As it stands, the Sierra Club, did not endorse the Hearst Corporation will gain the framework, but instead $95 million in public funds from called for disclosure of details, the deal. Environmentalists and and at the same time expressed outdoor enthusiasts, among many some cautious optimism that others in the community, have long the framework would benefit argued that the property should the public. In the last year the be preserved for its countless rare Hearst Corporation, along with species of plants and animals, and the American Land Conservancy, that the public at large should have has been in secret negotiations access to its historic coastline. with state agencies to hammer see Hearst Deal page 4 Mapping the CCT In the midst of all the drama surrounding the Hearst by Rixanne Wehren Ranch deal, we can forget the actual piece of land Coastwalk volunteer mappers will be out on the that everyone is fussing about. Yet this land is not trail this summer with their GPS units and cameras, only a stunning, diverse slice of the State, including detailing the California Coastal Trail. They will what we have hoped will be a new 18-mile length be using a set of fieldwork maps I, as Coastwalk of the CCT, but an actual place with a living, Mapping Coordinator, have made, in order to locate breathing history. In many ways this history mirrors certain points along the trail, and collect information Californiaʼs as a whole, and reminds us all why about them. We are collecting data on over 60 access to public lands, and particularly to our coast, characteristics, from firepits to trail surfaces to is so important. Our beautiful coastline is a huge impassable rocks, and taking pictures of each site.