page 1 • San Diego Chapter • November/December 2003 • Hi Sierran

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Activities, MeetingsSierra Club Ski Calenadar!Classified AdsConservation HighlightsNotes from the Chapter CoordinatorPrograms for November & December!Inner City OutingsNorth County GroupOutings ListingsCanyon’s Campaign Update!View from the ChairSaving the San Diego RiverWilderness First Aid class2003 Chapter Awards Nomination!

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HI SIERRANSIERRA CLUB SAN  DIEGO CHAPTER , SERVING IMPERIAL AND SAN  DIEGO COUNTIES

W ORKING TO PRESERVE THE SPECIAL NATURE OF SAN DIEGO FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY 

Vol. 63, No. 6 http://sandiego.sierraclub.org November/December 2003

EXPLORE, ENJOY AND PROTECT THE PLANET.

What is it worth to us and future genera-tions to accomplish six major goals for theenvironment in San Diego County?

• Limiting sprawl• Focusing tax dollars on solvingurban problems• Reducing traffic and air pollution• Protecting forests and wildlife• Preserving drinking water quality• Preventing increased pollutedrunoff and beach closures

We now have the opportunity!The Rural Lands Initiative has received106,000 petition signatures and will beadded to the March 2004 ballot. The initia-tive will establish large-lot zoning by pro-viding designations of one dwelling unitper 40, 80, or 160 acres across 700,000 acresof the most distant rural areas in the coun-ty. These rural areas are the source watersof our rivers and streams and include SanDiego’s mountain ranges and groundwa-ter dependent areas where wells have been drying up in record numbers overthe last few years.

The initiative has been endorsed by Sierra Club , BayKeeper , SurfriderFoundation, Audubon , and many other

environmental groups. The San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council has alsogiven their endorsement, which shows thegrowing consensus that stopping sprawlwill revitalize our cities and benefit every-one, including workers. The AffordableHousing Coalition of San Diego County hasalso endorsed the initiative so that tax dol-lars won’t be wasted on supporting unaf-fordable, estate - sprawl in the backcountry.

We have only a few months leftuntil the March election. This is perhaps themost important thing you could do for theenvironment and the future of San DiegoCounty. Help us preserve our rural scenictreasures, dark skies, wildlife and ruralserenity for the next 20 years by voting ‘yes’on the Rural Lands Initiative.

Can you volunteer?Can you ever! You could connect us withother groups for presentations! To offer yourhelp, contact Eric Bowlby at 619-284-9399 , oremail savewetlands@compuserve.com, or con-tact Tom Mullaney at 619-296-8231. If you’dlike to help stop urban sprawl, send yourcontributions and make checks payable to:

Sierra Club3820 Ray Street

San Diego, CA 92104

Please write: “Stop Sprawl” in the memospace of your check. Every contributionwill help, but contributions of $1,000 ormore are perfectly fine.

Saving our Backcountry with your help!by Tom Mullaney and Eric Bowlby

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A NIGHT ON THE TOWN - J ANUARY 7TH  , ‘04Start the New Year off right by joining us for an evening "On the Town.” The event plan-ners for the Conservation Committee and Inner City Outings have found the perfectrestaurant and show to pull you from your holiday slumber!

Enjoy a light dinner at the French-style St. Tropez Bistroacross from Horton Plaza. After dinner, stroll to the downtownCivic Theatre for a European-style interactive circus, without thecaptive animals. CIRQUE-DREAMS is an exhilarating spectacleof acrobatic performances. The engaging, interactive entertain-ment is suitable for the entire family and any of your friends, andthe athleticism is sure to astound.

Net proceeds will support the various activities of theConservation Committee and Inner City Outings. Mark yourcalendars now and find the coupon on p. 5 of this newsletter.   HS

urban problems

runoff and beach closures