NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PACIFIC REGIONAL OFFICE PAID Travel with Us 350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza OAKLAND, CA By Jared Dial Suite 1100 PERMIT #2030 Oakland, CA 94612 oin us on one of our small-group RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED educational adventures, where you’ll Pacific Region | Summer 2019 Jhit the trails or explore via small-ship cruise. Land tours are limited to just 16 participants plus two guides and include meals, accommodations and on-trip transportation. See the full lineup of NPCA trips at npca.org/trips. Zion and Beyond September 28–October 4, 2019 October 26–November 1, 2019 Travel under the regular tourist radar this fall as we explore the less-traveled trails, vistas and cultural sites of three iconic Southwestern national park sites: Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase- Park Service Leads Escalante National Monument and Zion EmpowHER National Park. Woolsey Fire Recovery Efforts Campout By Laura Torres By Dennis Arguelles and land management agencies prepare for what turned out to be one of the wettest PCA’s efforts to develop more he Woolsey Fire burned nearly Southern California winters in decades. Seasons of Yosemite outdoor leaders and advocates 100,000 acres of the Santa Monica The rain, while needed, posed additional September 22–27, 2019 FLOWERS, WHALES AND ADVOCACY often starts at the community level, Mountains National Recreational N T threats to the burn areas by increasing the long before we meet with our elected Area in just two short weeks last November. October 13–18, 2019 chance for landslides. officials, by introducing people to the The most devastating fire in the recreation By Laura Torres wonders of national parks. EmpowHER The largest trees in the world and area’s history, it impacted 88 percent of is a program that recognizes that women, picture-perfect Yosemite Valley reign on he Santa Monica Mountains National the National Park Service-managed lands and especially women of color, are often this journey that transcends time and Recreation Area represents the closest in the park, much of which provided critical leaders in their communities. When retraces the steps that inspired naturalist national park unit to Los Angeles and habitat for protected and endangered T brought together to camp, connect and species. Western Town at Paramount and philosopher, John Muir. a gateway for many families to the broader explore, we provide a launching point national park system. This spring, we Ranch—a National Historic Register site for them to continue learning about and iconic filming location—was also organized a trip for families from the San the outdoors and supporting each other Fernando Valley to Point Dume, in the destroyed, as were a joint NPS/UCLA along a journey of building confidence, research center, ranger housing and other Joshua Tree and recreation area’s coastal zone. The purpose leadership and advocacy. was to learn about grey whale migration critical park facilities. In all, over 600 Death Valley and share the parks’ beauty with the families. March’s EmpowHER campout at Red Rock park structures burned, as did hundreds of homes and businesses in the surrounding November 4–9, 2019 The amazing flower bloom taking place at Canyon Park, managed by the Mountains the time also allowed us to discuss engaging Recreation & Conservation Authority, communities. with the outdoors responsibly. While the provided 12 women with technical outdoor Explore the startling, surreal and sublime In the aftermath of the fire, NPS helped families lived less than 30 miles from skills, while also giving them the time to The BAER effort demonstrates the critical landscapes of Joshua Tree and Death Valley mobilize a Burn Area Emergency Response Point Dume, none of the participants had reflect on the power of their voice and to role NPS plays in the aftermath of such as you head deep into the heart of the (BAER) Team, an interdisciplinary group previously visited this site. Thrilled by the set personal goals. Part of what makes disasters and highlights its potential to Mojave Desert. tasked with assessing sites that could be opportunity to see grey whales, seals and this program so special is that it provides assist other areas in and around the Santa impacted by future erosion and debris flow. other wildlife so close to the city, the families a safe space to share challenges and fears. Monica Mountains National Recreation BAER efforts helped minimize threats by were enthusiastic about future opportunities, The women feel heard; they feel compas- Area, particularly if the proposed “Rim of prescribing and implementing emergency which fueled a conversation about protecting sion for one another and receive a the Valley” expansion is successful. The treatments that reduced threats to life and our public lands and working together to tremendous amount of support to be expansion will add more than 193,000 property and prevented further degradation build a greener future. Part of that discussion brave and bold in the pursuit of their acres to the park and greatly enhance the Top: Hiker overlooking Zion Canyon to natural and cultural resources. The work ©Tobinakehurst | Dreamstime Middle: Yosemite centered on identifying and acknowledging generations. This was our second outing Above: Enjoying the beauty of the flower bloom aspirations on and off the trail. Moreover, proved useful in helping local communities waterfall reflection in water ©Pettys | Dreamstime the barriers to park access. Most importantly, with the group, and our next activity will during a short hike. ©Laura Navar the feeling of sisterhood creates a network continued on page 2 Bottom: Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National the families walked away with a sense of include a Civic Voice Workshop to help that they can rely on into the future. Park, California ©Tobkatrina | Dreamstime increased ownership and responsibility further develop their skills and confidence Top: Vibrant yellow wildflowers covering Corral Canyon, Malibu, California in Spring 2019, four months Printed on 100% post-consumer content after the Woolsey Fire of November 2018 destroyed this area. ©Andrew Konieczny | Dreamstime Above: continued on page 3 for protecting these places for future as park advocates. Devastation caused by Woolsey Fire, November 2018 ©NPS FIELD LETTER FROM THE SENIOR REGIONAL DIRECTOR Another Shot at Halting Cadiz NPCA Helps Secure Major Clean Air Victory in California Fire, Rain and Hope By Chris Clarke for a vote in late May. We are optimistic REPORT By Mark Rose By Ron Sundergill alifornia has another shot at halting that SB307 will continue to do well in the park field trips have on younger the proposed Cadiz water mining Legislature. Summer 2019 people who are experiencing t’s no secret that three of California’s his Field Report covers project, which would siphon 16 billion beautiful national park sites C most famous national parks—Yosemite, numerous issues, gallons of groundwater each year from Ordinarily, the kind of environmental Pacific Regional Office Staff for the first time. What’s more, Sequoia and Kings Canyon—suffer from including the devastat- underneath national parks and monuments assessment mandated by SB307 would I 350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza • Suite 1100 T they’re turning this new-found some of the worst air quality of any parks ing impact of fire on Santa in the Mojave Desert, drying up critical be performed by federal agencies under Oakland, CA 94612 passion into action to protect in the nation. This is why NPCA’s Sierra Monica Mountains National desert springs. the National Environmental Policy Act. 415.728.0839 Nevada office has focused its efforts on a Recreation Area (SMMNRA). these places. As NPCA But Cadiz, whose former lobbyist David Ron Sundergill continues its work to establish SB307, introduced in the California Bernhardt recently won confirmation as coalition-driven grassroots campaign to SR. REGIONAL DIRECTOR We also examine the rain- an LA-based Young Leaders Legislature by state Senator Richard Roth Secretary of the Interior, was spared that pressure state agencies into cleaning up Neal Desai storms, both bad and good, Council, we are seeing a (Riverside), would require state agencies legally required review when Bernhardt’s the regional air pollution originating in the DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS which equally affect our parks. metaphoric bloom that is just to conduct a thorough review of Cadiz’s Interior Department reinterpreted a 19th neighboring San Joaquin Valley. Following Chris Boone as amazing as the flowers. likely effects on the delicate ecosystems century railroad law to exempt Cadiz from a successful NPCA-led lawsuit that helped We hope this plan will ensure the air quality state incentives and contains no plan B REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Raining down on us right now of Mojave National Preserve and Mojave review. NPCA is challenging Interior’s push the California Air Resources Board within and surrounding these three parks should the state fall short of what is required. I take great hope in the fact is a troubling proposal from Trails National Monument. In April, the decision in federal court, in a case set to (CARB) to act, we now have a clearer path will finally begin meeting the federal PM2.5 Going forward, NPCA will continue its push Kati Schmidt that new leaders are emerging the administration which bill won approval by the state Senate’s begin hearings this June in Los Angeles. toward obtaining this goal. In January, health standards established more than 20 to see the plan effectively implemented ASSOC. DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS to work on protecting the California desert would open federal lands in California— Natural Resources and Water Committee; Stay tuned for updates. CARB finally approved a long overdue plan years ago. Unfortunately, despite numerous and the relevant deadlines met. For more Shareeka Spooner from the Cadiz water mining operation.