Kachemak Bay Conservation Society Winter 2012 Homer Adventurer Walks Across Spain The Camino de Santiago is a network of the elderly, the handsome ancient pilgrimage trails that run through- and those who thought they out Europe, based on the tomb of St. were, the cautious, the flirty, James discovered in Galicia in the 9th the generous, the gentle, the century. Pilgrims have walked the Camino assertive, the curious, the for over 1,000 years; today approximately open, the grumpy, hippies, 100,000 people walk it annually. Which- hippie wannabes, introverts, ever of the numerous routes one starts extroverts, runaways, along, all roads lead to the cathedral in professionals, students, Santiago, Spain. stoners, the wealthy, the Homer adventurer Christina Whiting poor, cancer survivors, walked across northern Spain on the those walking in honor of Camino Frances, or the French Route, last loved ones, the scared, the fall. She began her journey in St. Jean Pied brave, the wounded, the de Port, a small city in the French Pyrenees, damaged, the famous, the and ended 40 days and 500 miles later desperate, religious people, in Santiago. Come join the Kachemak atheists, the athletic, couch Christina Whiting, will share her adventure along the Camino Bay Conservation Society at our annual potatoes, Spanish, English, Santiato trail at the KBCS Annual Membership Meeting on Feb- membership meeting to hear the stories Irish, German, Japanese, ruary 29 at Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. The meeting will and see the images from her journey. French, Canadian, French begin at 6:30 pm Stories of joyful surprises encountered Canadian, North American, along the way, from being emotionally South American, Latin American, Native resuscitated by a dog, to being gifted a rare American, African, Italian and the rumor of In This Issue jar of peanut butter, to finding the last box another Alaskan, though I never did meet of Band-Aids in a small, rural village. And, up with him. Walk Across Spain 1 oh, the challenges, from backtracking miles As varied as the terrain and the pil- in rain and mud to feed a cat, to near- grims are, the individual reasons for setting President’s Message 2 homicidal thoughts during the nighttime out are even more so. I was motivated by a snoring frenzy, to being hit on by a “priest”. desire to explore my inner and outer world; Road Easment in KB Park 2 And beautiful pictures of the people, places that is, to move within a country I’d never and paths along the way. been to, to interact with people from differ- Personal Jet Craft 2 The Camino is as varied as those who ent cultures, to walk with all I needed on walk it. In her inimitable style, Christina my back, and to create a physical distance Public Land Purchase 3 tells how: I passed through sleepy rural from my daily life in order to re-evaluate villages, quaint small towns, bustling large my path. Nature has long been a spiritual KB Water Trail 4 cities, along rolling countryside, flat farm- path for me, so this was a wonderful way to Aerial Wolf Kill 5 land, traversing mountainsides, on roads reconnect with my Self. of dirt, sand, gravel, cobblestone, grass, Did I achieve what I set out to? In Beach Clean-up 5 leaves, asphalt and mud, narrow pathways some ways, yes, and in some ways, not and major highways, skirting fields of corn even close. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Jack-up Rig Update 6 and vineyards, pastures of cows, donkeys, From funny to sad moments, the challeng- horses and chickens, coming upon friendly ing times to the joyous, I hope you’ll join Annual Meeting/Elections 7 and not-so-friendly cats and dogs, encoun- me sharing some of the highlights from this tering farmers, hunters, children, families, amazing journey. Become a Member 7 1 DNR Proposes Road Message from the President… Easement in KB State Park Hello all, The Alaska Department of Natural Resourc- Though we had high hopes, we could not continue Hal Shepherd’s position as es (DNR) is currently proposing to grant a acting executive director due to financial constraints. Early in 2011 we submitted a road easement through a section of Kache- grant proposal to ACF for a $20,000.00 grant. ACF awarded 6 grants statewide to mak Bay State Park, in the Cottonwood- environmental groups to support organization and administrations; sadly we were Eastland section (on the Homer side of the not one of them. However, ACF did grant us $10,000.00 to produce a white paper bay), to provide access to the 40-acre Shaf- and rule-making petition about Escopeta’s Company (now known as Fury) drilling rig, ford Heights subdivision, which is surround- Spartan 151, to drill for oil and gas in CI (See Spartan 151 Article). Hal worked on the ed on three sides by parklands, below Old project for the duration of the grant, which ended 10-31-11. Hal continues his Director East End Road, near Maria Road. The Preliminary Notice of Director’s position for the Center for Water Advocacy which allows him to focus his passion for Determination regarding establishment of environmental work on water issues. a public road easement in Kachemak Bay KBCS is currently working on some pressing issues the Alaska Board of Game has State Park is available on the DNR website voted to approve the shocking proposal for aerial wolf killing in Areas 15A & 15C which http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/pubnot- includes the Homer Area (See Aerial Wolf Kill Article). The controversial Jet ski (PWC) frm.htm. The deadline for public comments issue has come back to haunt us. Kachemak Bay Coalition has been reactivated has been extended to March 12, 2012. from the Jet ski issue ten years ago and is having regular meetings every month (See Please point out to DNR that this park PWC Article). We are also commenting to Division of State Parks in regards to the is best suited to public access through proposal for the vehicular access through Cottonwood and Eastland State Parks (See day-use trails. The proposed road ease- ment should not be granted because it State Parks Article). We again led the ever popular Overlook Park Hike at the annual would likely lead to further subdivision into Shorebird Festival. We also completed the sale of bear resistant garbage containers smaller lots in Shafford Heights, leading and the program netted us $20,000.00. These funds are to be used for bear related to more development and increasing road issues (See article on F&W Land Purchase). We also continue to sponsor Friends of traffic through parklands. This would be Woodard Creek and Karen Hornaday Park. detrimental to park resources and to the KBCS continues to be very lucky in sharing office space with Cook Inlet Keeper and public interest of recreational enjoyment want to thank them for their continued generosity. We also want to welcome Wayne by members of the local community. Send Jenkins as the new CEO of CIK. We look forward to working with him. comments to: Jack Sinclair, Kenai Area Superintendent, P.O. Box 1247, Soldotna, Linda Gorman and new B.D. member Cindy Birkhimer have developed a member Alaska 99669, (907) 262-5581, ext. 1, Fax E-mail list for Action Alerts. We are hoping you will assist us in our continued efforts to (907) 262-3717, [email protected]. protect the beautiful environment on and around Kachemak Bay. —Pamela Brodie Sincerely, Roberta Highland, President There is No Place Like Homer The quiet beauty of this town, its surround- in maneuverability and acceleration they ings and the Kachemak Bay Watershed, can overcome marine mammals and sea Board of Directors hold a very special place in the hearts of birds much more quickly than if they were the local residents and visitors. They voiced in a boat. The animals have less time to Roberta Highland, President their opinion a decade ago when they voted change their course. Laurie Daniel, Vice-president against allowing personal water craft in the Another problem lies in where personal Linda Gorman, Treasurer bay. These feelings have not changed. jet craft are operated. Because they tend Cindy Birkhimer, Secretary The Personal Water Craft Industry to be ridden in the shallow waters that hug Board Members at Large Association (PWIA) claims some substan- the coastline, they have a similar effects on Sharon Baur tial improvements have been made to local residents and tourists. They harass Nina Lisowski those machines, but no manufacturers non-motorized sport enthusiasts, kayakers, Pierre Ostor have actually published numbers backed stand up paddlers, divers, surfers and up by scientific data, and even if they did, motorized recreational boaters by quickly this is not the answer to the problem. The invading and monopolizing those areas. annoyance created by those crafts is not As far as safety is concerned, personal proportional to the number of decibels jet craft represent 5% of all watercrafts in they emit. A continuous sound of 90 dB is use in the U.S., yet they are involved in less disturbing than an intermittent one of 38% of all watercraft related accidents. 75 dB accelerating and decelerating while There are not many places left on this driving doughnuts and figure eights. planet where humans and wildlife can The problem lies in the way jet craft coexist peacefully and in harmony. In the are operated. Even nature lovers on future, we don’t want to have to close our personal water craft endanger marine eyes, plug our ears, and click our heels mammals and sea birds by virtue of and say, “There was no place like Homer.” their eagerness.