July 2013 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

8/12/2019 July 2013 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

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PCL Instrumental in Initiating Project

Nearly a Decade Ago

By Rebecca Crebbin-Coates ----------------------------------------------------Ninety-two years after the San Clemente Dam was built in

Monterey County, the Carmel River ecosystem will again nd

itself adjusting to life without the 106-foot-high structure. Since its

construction in 1921, the dam has gradually lled in with sediment

and become obsolete for water storage, been identied as seismically

unsound, and gained recognition as a major hindrance to steelhead

migration. After nearly a decade of planning, a long-envisioned

solution to these problems is nally ready for action: the removal of

the San Clemente Dam is set to break ground this summer.

The $83 million project and the largest ever dam removal in

the state received unanimous approval of its nal permit from the

Monterey County Planning Commission on May 8th. The news has

excited community members and environmentalists alike. Downstream

residents support the project as the best solution to the dams recognized

earthquake safety issues; over 1,500 homes and buildings are currently

at risk if the dam fails. The project will also provide a wide variety

of environmental benets, including removing barriers to upstream

spawning areas for the threatened south central population of steelhead

trout, and protecting wildlife habitat that supports hundreds of species

like the threatened California red-legged frog.

In addition to demolishing the San Clemente Dam, the projec

also includes the rerouting of the Carmel River into San ClementeCreek. The river reroute will help reestablish ecological continuity in

the area, and stabilize the sediment in the main channel as part of the

dam removal project.

The success of this project is due to an innovative public-private

partnership between California American Water, which owns and

operates the dam, and the State Coastal Conservancy and National

Marine Fisheries Service. It has also received tremendous suppor

from more than two dozen regional, state and national conservation

groups, regulatory partners, and elected ofcials.

Im thrilled that PCL has been part of supporting this importan

effort to its completion, noted Dr. Monica Hunter, PCLFs Centra

Coast Watershed Program Manager. We have worked in partnership

with local residents and community organizations since 2004 to

bring about this outcome. Our joint efforts to help inform community

members about the project and build support for the benets of

restoring the river, the watershed and its wildlife are also importan

for the region and its tourism industry. The Carmel River is a beautifu

resource enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Added PCLs Executive Director, Bruce Reznik, This projec

is a great example of widespread collaboration leading to watershed

solutions that work for everyone involved, and will hopefully serve as

a model for future efforts to restore Californias waterways to health.

Newsletter of the Planning & Conservation League

CALIFORNIA TODAY

CALIFORNIA TODAY - Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

July 2013 Volume 43, Number 1

PLANNING ANDCONSERVATION LEAGUE

PLANNING ANDCONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

Californias Largest

Ever Dam Removal

Set to Break Groundthis Summer!...


2/8


DearFriends,

2

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther

Sanchez and Speaker of the Assembly John Prez for giving me the opportunity to serve

as an alternate on the Coastal Commission for the past three years. Councilwoman

Sanchez term on the Commission is coming to an end, and my service as her alternate

along with it.

I have served on many boards through the years, but few have given me the same

pride and insight as serving on the Coastal Commission and playing a small role in

helping the agency achieve its mission to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the

California coast and ocean for current and future generations. While the Commission

comes under attack from many corners often from people wanting to overdevelop

our coast and thereby limit public access, harm wildlife or disturb critical habitat I

have found few deliberative bodies that take their jobs as seriously as do the twelve

members of the Commission. Perhaps that is why so many Commissioners move on

to become effective legislators, including current Senators Hueso and Pavley and

Assemblymembers Achadjian, Bloom, Gonzalez and Stone, to name a few. Similarly

one would be hard-pressed to nd a more dedicated and passionate staff than the team

at the Coastal Commission, who do an amazing job despite constant underfunding and

ever-mounting pressure to see our coastline developed.

As someone who has been an advocate in front of the Commission for over a

decade, sitting on the other side of the dais was certainly an eye-opening adjustmentI must confess, Im not sure if I best serve Californias environment and people in

the role of decision-maker, or as someone pounding the podium (usually guratively

sometimes literally) on issues affecting our coast and ocean. Either way, I feel lucky

to have been afforded the role of Commissioner, and am condent seeing things from

that perspective has made me a more effective advocate while better appreciating

the challenge that comes with being the ultimate decider on issues in front of the

Commission.

I must thank Speaker Prez for the faith he showed in me, and commend his effort

to make strong appointments to the Commission. He follows a long line of Speakers

who have recognized that our coastline is perhaps Californias greatest treasure, and

that it must be protected for every resident of and visitor to our state. Nowhere was thi

commitment more evident than his appointment of Esther Sanchez to the Commission

I got to know Ms. Sanchez in her role on the Oceanside City Council while Iwas a coastal activist in the region, and respected her as one of San Diegos most

thoughtful and outspoken advocates for the coast. She certainly did not disappoint

as a Commissioner, where she quickly gained the reputation as one of the agencys

strongest voices for public access and environmental

protection. My only complaint about her service is that

she hardly ever missed a Commission meeting, meaning

my opportunities to assist during my tenure were limited!

That aside, it was a great privilege to serve when called

upon, and I thank both Councilwoman Sanchez and

Speaker Prez for the opportunity.

As we go to print on this issue of California Today,

Esthers replacement has not yet been named. While I

am condent the Speaker will continue his strong record

of Commission appointments, whoever gets the call will

have big shoes to ll!

Sincerely,

Bruce Reznik

PCLF Board of Trustees

David Hirsch, Chairman

Ralph B. Perry III, Vice Chairman

Daniel S. Frost, Secretary-Treasurer

Coke Hallowell, Trustee

PCL Officers

David Mogavero, President

Jan Chatten-Brown, Vice President

Phyllis Faber, Vice President

Kevin Johnson, Vice President

Fran Layton, Vice President

Amy White, Vice President

Bill Center, Secretary-Treasurer

Sage Sweetwood, President Emeritus

Board of Directors

Elisabeth Brown

Esther Feldman

Randy Kanouse

Zahirah MannJohn McCaull

Tony Rossmann

Rich Tolmach

Keith Wagner

Dwight Washabaugh

Terry Watt

Denny Zane

Organizational Members

California Association of LocalConservation Corps

California Oaks Foundation

California Rail Foundation

California State Parks FoundationCalifornia Wildlife Foundation

Community Conservation Solutions

Friends of Rose Canyon

Friends of the Swainsons Hawk

Friends of the West Shore

Laguna Greenbelt

LandWatch Monterey County

Marin Conservation League

The Mountains Recreation &Conservation Authority

Save Mount Diablo

Sierra Nevada Alliance

PCL/PCL Foundation Staff &Consultants

Bruce Reznik, Executive Director

Jonas Minton, Water Policy Advisor

Dr. Monica Hunter, Central CoastWater Program Manager

Abigail Okrent, Legislative Director

Rebecca Crebbin-Coates,Water Campaign Manager

Michelle Oyewole, Membership &Events Coordinator

Bill Duarte, Accountant


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CALIFORNIA TODAY - Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation 3

The Planning & Conservation League is hosting a fundraising

event in Los Angeles to honor the work of long-serving PCL

Board member John Van de Kamp. Join the PCL family and many

special guests as we recognize Johns contributions to Californias

environment and present the rst annual John Van de Kamp award to

The Compton Creek Natural Park project (at Washington Elementary

School) and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. For information on

how to register as a sponsor, please visit www.pcl.org.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE/TIME:Thursday, November 14 at 5:30 pmVENUE:

Los Angeles River Center & Gardens

TO SPONSOR/FOR MORE INFO:Contact Tricia Riffenburgh at 818-400-4804 [email protected]

PCL Looks toGrow our League

JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 14th

IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE CELEBRATION

By Rebecca Crebbin-Coates ----------------------------------------------------Recent press coverage of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has

focused on long-term planning efforts like the Bay Delta Conservation

Plan (BDCP). There are numerous reasons to be concerned about the

far-reaching environmental and economic consequences of these

proposed decisions. At the same time, there are also many positive

near-term actions underway in the Delta that contribute to ecosystem

restoration, ood management, levee stability, water supply

reliability, and the recognition of the Delta as a unique place.

One great example brings two important projects together. A

benecial tidal habitat restoration project in Dutch Slough presented

a concern: brackish water could contaminate the unlined Contra

Costa Canal, currently being replaced with pipeline to protect

drinking water quality. Working cooperatively with the Departmentof Water Resources, Contra Costa Water District was able to switch

the sequence of their project using grant funds for a different section

of pipeline to line the portion of the canal near Dutch Slough rst.

Both projects can now proceed without issue, providing an excellent

precedent for coordination and innovation between agencies and

stakeholders.

Another positive action in the Delta is the creative sh-and-rice

partnership project between biologists and farmers at Knaggs Ranch.

This experiment to release juvenile Chinook salmon into 20 acres

of ooded rice elds in Yolo Bypass has been very successful in its

Near-TermDelta ProjectsMove Forward

early stages. The rice elds mimic the natural marsh habitat of the

sh, and the salmon raised through this project have been bigger and

healthier than salmon living nearby in the Sacramento River. These

benets, combined with relatively minor impacts to rice farm yieldsand prots, suggest that future projects modeled after this could help

restore salmon populations.

The Coalition to Support Delta Projects a group of over 80

diverse stakeholders from environmental, agricultural, and water

export backgrounds, including the PCL Foundation views these and

many other near-term actions in the Delta as worthwhile. This group

of individuals has had remarkable success in identifying 43 near-term

projects that are widely supported to move forward through regulatory

and other processes, and is hoping to see 4-6 of these projects break

ground this year. A Water Education Foundation tour of some of these

proactive projects is being planned for this fall by the Coalition.

By Bruce Reznik ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Since it was formed, the Planning and Conservation League

has been just that a league of groups working together on policies

to better Californias environment. When PCL was established

in 1965, there was no unied voice for conservation efforts in the

Capitol; we played a pivotal role representing local organizations

and communities that would otherwise have been left out of thedialogue. Even today, with an increased environmental presence in

Sacramento, local groups are often disengaged and overlooked in the

policy-setting debate. In response, PCL is looking to dramatically

grow, diversify and revitalize our League membership. It is only

by having a robust and engaged membership that PCL will be as

effective as possible in impacting public policy at the state level

A vital PCL will also magnify the power of local organizations and

communities that are still underrepresented in Sacramento. Simply

put, League partners are our eyes and ears on the ground, while PCL

is their voice in the Capitol.

Recognizing todays economic realities, we have updated our

organizational membership dues (paid annually) to a sliding scale

based on budget size. For as low as $250, an organization can now

become a League organizational member. We have also revised

member benets to ensure that joining is worthwhile, and well

be coordinating a League meeting this fall to get feedback on ou

legislative and campaign priorities going into 2014.

For more information or to join the League, please contact Abigail Okrent at

[email protected] or 916-822-5633, or visit www.pcl.org.

Photo provided by Restore the Delta

PCL Honoringthe Life & Work ofFormer CaliforniaAttorney GeneralJohn Van de Kamp


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CALIFORNIA TODAY - Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation4

Expanding Support for Law throughOutreach, Coalition Building, andAdvocacy Campaign

By Abigail Okrent ------------------------------------------------------------------------When our last issue of California Today was published in

December, the outlook was bleak for the California Environmental

Quality Act (CEQA), which was under assault from major developers

and polluting industries. Six months later, we are happy to report

a much more positive outlook for Californias environmental bill

of rights.

As reported in December, CEQA survived the previous legislative

session through massive defensive efforts by environmental groups

and our allies, including labor, public health and environmental justice

advocates. Despite this victory, we prepared to enter a legislative

session where further attempts to weaken this law were well-

positioned with Senator Michael Rubio, author of the CEQA-gutting

SB 317, as the head of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

PCL Annual Symposium Focuses on CEQAWe began 2013 with the annual PCL Symposium, this time

CEQA-themed. CEQA: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, which drew

overow crowds, highlighted speakers from the Ofce of Planning

and Research, Capitol staff, environmental justice advocates, and

inll developers, among others. It featured Senate President Pro

Tem Darrell Steinbergas a keynote speaker, Senator Rubio on an

opening panel, and awarded Senator Noreen Evans for her work

championing the environment, along with Center on Race, Poverty

and the Environment Executive Director Caroline Farrell. Breakout

sessions highlighted CEQAs diverse application in California,

focusing on CEQAs impact on agriculture, transportation, water

projects, and community empowerment. The Symposium would

not have been possible without tremendous support from UC Davis

School of Law and their Environmental Law Society, as well as the

support and interest of all our sponsors, speakers and attendees.

CEQA Works Coalition Launched

CEQA Works (www.ceqaworks.org), an alliance of

organizations supporting a strong CEQA, was launched in the wake

of the Symposiums success. Nearly 200 organizational members

strong, and growing every week, CEQA Works has been instrumental

in outreach and advocacy efforts aimed at protecting and strengthening

CEQA. Coalition partners have been able to organize responses to

good and bad press and place our own letters and op-eds in papersaround the state, while also tracking CEQA successes on the ground

and efforts in the legislature aimed at amending CEQA.

PCLs CEQAEfforts PayingDividends

Community Workshops SuccessfulIn addition to CEQA presentations to a variety of community

groups throughout California, PCL has also hosted two CEQA

Community Workshops this year. Aimed at empowering loca

communities to engage in the decision-making process, these daylong

workshops were held in San Diego and Orange counties, and were

now looking to bring workshops to other communities, including th

Central Valley and the East Bay.

CEQA in the Legislature: A Tale of Two SessionsIn addition to the renewed coalition and outreach work, PCL

has helped CEQA to hold its own in the legislature. We entered thi

session with a large class of new legislators and a list of ideas for way

to strengthen CEQAs environmental protections and participatory

provisions and saw these ideas turned into a number of bills. Th

goal was to bring our offensive game to the eld, not just wait for a

bad bill we would have to oppose.

Shortly after the legislative session started, Senator Rubio

stepped down to take a position with Chevron Corporation

dramatically changing the debate in the Capitol. With a lesse

focus on combatting the standards-based approach championed by

Senator Rubio, PCL was able to work closely with Senator Evans

and Assemblymembers Ammiano, Campos, and Dickinson to

introduce ve bills that would, between them: make CEQA noticesthat trigger public participation available promptly and electronically

mandate translation of these notices where a signicant part of the

affected population speaks limited English, ensure that environmenta

reviews consider the effects of the physical environment including

earthquake faults and air pollution on the project, and provide fo

clear enforcement of mitigation provisions. We were able to get al

ve bills through their policy committees, and two of the bills are

continuing to move forward, having passed out of their houses of

origin; the remaining legislation are now two-year bills that will be

heard in 2014.

Of equal importance, there are no bills currently moving tha

would signicantly weaken CEQA. SB 731, authored by Senate

President pro Tem Steinberg, is omnibus CEQA reform that doecontain some measures that concern PCL, while other aspects of the

bill represent positive, common-sense reforms. PCL continues to track

and provide feedback on all CEQA legislation positive and negative

to ensure the core provisions of this foundational environmenta

law remain intact. More about these bills, and other CEQA bill

PCL is tracking, can be found on our website, www.pcl.org.

Moving ForwardWhile the CEQA picture is indeed rosier than we would have

expected six months ago, we must remain vigilant if we are to protec

this law and in turn protect ourselves and our environment. Please

sign up for the PCL Insider to stay tuned on how you can be involved

and contact Abigail Okrent at [email protected] 916-822-5633i

you want more information on CEQA happenings, if youre interested

in hosting a CEQA Community Workshop or want a presentation, o

want to know how you can be involved in our CEQA Works coalition


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CALIFORNIA TODAY - Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation 5

2013

SymposiumReview &2014Preview

Once again, PCL would like to give a big round of thanks to our 2013 Symposium sponsors, speakers,

and attendees. We encourage you to check out www.pcl.org for details on our 2014 Symposium atUC Davis on February 1ST, 2014!

The California Association of Local Conservation Corps nDavid Hirsch n Carole and Peter Clum n San Francisco Foundation

John and Nuri Pierce n Gideon Kracov n Lance Olson n UC Davis Extension n San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council n Doug Linney

PCL Board member Bill Centerpresents Legislator of the YearAward to Senator Noreen Evans.

PCL Executive Director BruceReznik presents award toCaroline Farrell.

Guests enjoying the luncheonwhere Senate President pro TemDarrell Steinberg spoke.


6/8

CALIFORNIA TODAY - Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation6

Court Finds Provision Aimedat Bypassing Superior CourtUnconstitutional

By Bruce Reznik ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Judge Frank Roesch of the Alameda Superior Court has ruled

that a key provision of AB 900 (Steinberg, 2011) is unconstitutional.

In the section of the bill challenged, AB 900 would have forced

environmental litigants in politically-favored cases involving the

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to commence their

cases directly in the Courts of Appeal. Only the provision aimed

at bypassing Superior Court review has been struck down; the rest

of the law was not challenged and remains standing. The case was

brought by PCL and its Executive Director Bruce Reznik.

In his statement from the bench, Judge Roesch concluded, It

is inescapable to me that the provision of AB 900 found in Public

PCL Prevailsin AB 900CEQA Litigation

Resources Code section 21185 [which would create exclusive

jurisdiction in the California Court of Appeal] is so inconsistent with

the constitutional mandates of where writs of mandate can be brough

as to be unconstitutional. The Court does not lightly as a Superior

Court declare statutes unconstitutional.

AB 900 was introduced in and enacted by the Legislature on

the last day of the session in September 2011; the bill took effect

in January 2012. AB 900 stipulated that certain major developmen

projects could apply and pay for streamlined court review if they face

litigation under CEQA. Under AB 900, such litigation would proceed

directly to the California Court of Appeal and skip the step of review

by a superior court.

The lawsuit argued that the Legislature overstepped its

constitutional authority in dictating to the courts at what judicial leve

a specic case should be initiated, and depriving citizens of their

constitutionally-guaranteed access to all of the courts of California.

Bart Lounsbury of Rossmann and Moore argued the case for

PCL, which was also supported by experienced CEQA attorney

Keith Wagner of Lippe Gaffney Wagner. The state was represented

by Deputy Attorney General Sylvia Cates.

By Martha Dina Argello & Monika Shankar --------------------------Many of us living and working in Los Angeles have faced the

realities of inll and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policies

for decades. Touted as an environmental and economic solution,

inll and TOD, if implemented hastily and without public input can

lead to negative impacts on communities. With the release of Senator

Steinbergs SB 731, a bill intended to provide for greater certaintyaround inll development, we must acknowledge the downsides to

inll and TOD that are rarely discussed yet are central issues to social

justice and public health advocates. That is, not all TOD and inll

development results in equitable development.

The lived experiences of residents and multiple studies have

shown that smart growth often means housing built near heavy

trafc roadways and freeways and increased exposure to unhealthy

air pollution and increased vehicular trafc. It can also raise

rental and housing costs, change community aesthetics, and lead

to gentrication and displacement. And while smart growth can

transform neighborhoods, it fails to help the long term underemployed

and unemployed who cannot access newly created jobs or afford the

new amenities or even basic goods and services.Research done by the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional

Policy found that transit investment frequently changes the

surrounding neighborhood. According to the 2010 study, the

most predominant pattern is one in which housing becomes more

expensive, neighborhood residents become wealthier and vehicle

ownership becomes more common. The study also reveals that

transit development can have unintended consequences for core

transit usersusually renters and low-income residents who are

priced out in favor of higher-income, car-owning residents who are

less likely to use public transit for commuting. Consequently, the

most vulnerable in our communities (renters, low-income and people

of color) are pushed to the urban fringes away from jobs, schools and

amenities, contributing to what has been dubbed the suburbanization

of poverty, and increased air pollution.

A case study exemplifying this phenomenon is downtown

Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities of Pico Union and

South Park. As major housing and entertainment development made

downtown a hip place to live, work and play, low-income residents

experienced increasing police harassment, rising costs of living

more trafc and a deep sense that they were no longer welcome in

their own neighborhoods. These trends were documented in a healthimpact assessment conducted by Health Impact Partners in 2012

which showed signicant demographic shifts, with African American

and Latino populations moving out and a substantial growth of

college age individuals and some baby boomers. Displacement

and gentrication have health impacts related to mental stress

and anxiety. Even small uctuations in rental rates can mean less

money to spend on food, health care, and education, all of which are

determinants of health.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is one

of the few tools communities have to address developments with

these negative impacts. In addition to requiring a cumulative health

impact assessment, CEQA leverages a communitys ability to

assess how a project will impact their health and environment, and

mitigate harm through active participation in the process. We mus

prioritize and protect communities by ensuring equitable growth

and we accomplish this by strengthening community participation

conducting more robust health impact assessments, and protecting

communities through planning and policy.

Why Smart Growth is Different fromEquitable Growth: CEQA and SB 731

Martha Dina ArgelloExecutive Director,

Physicians for Social Responsibility - LA

Monika Shankar,Health and Environmental Associate,

Physicians for Social Responsibility - LA


7/8


By Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins --------------------------------I grew up in Appalachia, in the mountains, pretty far from the

coastline. It wasnt until I moved to San Diego more than thirty years

ago that I developed my love and concern for the coast. I am thrilled

now to represent almost all of the San Diego coastline in the State

Assembly, from Imperial Beach to Del Mar. And when you really

love a place, you want to protect it.

The people of California feel the same way I do. When I came to

California I was particularly impressed by the peoples commitment

to protecting everyones access to the beach. That is why they

created the California Coastal Commission in 1972 through the voter

initiative process and the legislature passed the Coastal Act in 1976.

In addition to guaranteeing public beach access, the Coastal Act

prohibits unauthorized development and damaging environmentally

sensitive habitats.

But the Coastal Act is very difcult for the Coastal Commission

to enforce. Currently, the Coastal Commission can issue cease and

desist orders to violators, but must pursue litigation through the

California Attorney Generals ofce in order to enforce those orders

if they are ignored a costly and time-consuming process. TheCommission has only pursued litigation four times in the past decade.

StrengtheningtheCoastal Act

7

National WildlifeFederationNews

Yet, the Commission currently has over 1,800 open enforcemen

cases, most of which relate to public access, and new violations arereported to them more quickly than they can close existing ones.

My bill, AB 976, will allow the Coastal Commission to ne

violators in much the same way other environmental agencies do

Fines would be capped at three-quarters of the amount that can

currently be sought in court. Those nes range from $1,000 to

$15,000 per day.

AB 976 will also ensure opportunities to challenge ne

and provides rigorous due process protections. Fines could only

be imposed by a vote of the Coastal Commissioners at a noticed

public hearing with all the due process protections provided in the

Administrative Procedures Act. And the Commissions nes could

still be challenged in court, the same way that any administrative

decision can be challenged.

Californias coastline is the iconicsymbol of the Golden State and is integral

to our economy and our lifestyle. My bill

will ensure that the agency tasked with

its protection has the tools to perform its

mission, while avoiding costly litigation

and ensuring the fair treatment of all.

By Beth Pratt, California Director NWF --------------------------------------

NWF California recently launched the Wildlife and the

City initiative, which aims to inspire people to transform their

backyards, schoolyards, businesses and places of worship into

wildlife friendly spaces, and to connect with their communities

by helping both wildlife and people thrive. The organization

assembled two initial working groups in Los Angeles and the

East Bay of nonprots, government agencies, and interested

individuals to explore possible collaborations. Utilizing the over

10,000 existing Certied Wildlife Habitats in the state, the project

will help create wildlife corridors across urban spaces and focus

on species of concern in these areas. The overall goal is to certify

a total of 50,000 homes by 2015 and create a vibrant network

of citizen stewards across the state. A UCLA graduate student

has already completed some preliminary research by mapping

current habitats alongside other green space and analyzed related

demographics as well.

In other news, Ranger Rick has been very busy in California.

Ranger Rick recently made appearances honoring AspenElementary School in Thousand Oaks as the rst Green Flag

NWF EcoSchool in the state, visiting a Science Fair at the Sierra

Foothill Charter School, swearing in new Junior Rangers at

National Junior Ranger Day in Yosemite, and attending the Leo

Politi Elementary School Conservation Art Show, where Ranger

Rick busted some moves and was mobbed like a rock star (you

can see the video on the NWF California YouTube Channel).


8/8

PCL has made a few additions to its Board and Staff in 2013. Joining the Board of Directors is Randele Randy

Kanouse, who served as Special Assistant to the General Manager for the East Bay Municipal Utility District from

1989-2011, where he managed EBMUDs congressional and state legislative programs and the agencys Bay-Delta

Program. Randy represented EBMUD in myriad landmark water legislation, including requirements linking local land

use decisions to the availability of an adequate water supply and phasing out the use of lead in the manufacturing o

faucets and other drinking water plumbing parts. Prior to joining EBMUD, Randy served as the Chief of the Legislative

and Public Affairs Ofce for the State Water Resources Control Board, and as staff counsel at the California Energy

Commission. He brings a wealth of expertise on water issues and navigating the Capitol to PCL.

Whos New?

Rebecca Crebbin-Coates joined PCL Staff in February 2013 as our new Water Campaign Manager. She

graduated summa cum laude from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Biology, where her studies

focused on aquatic ecology and policy. Rebecca developed a eld-based thesis project on storm water runoff at

Younger Lagoon, and has additional aquatic eld experience in the Delta and eastern Australia. She worked on Gaia

Magazine for two and a half years, including a year as Co-Editor-in-Chief. Rebecca also has previous experience

in communications and development at an environmental non-prot. In her current work at PCL, she strives to

promote sound planning and sustainable water management in California, focusing on issues surrounding water

supply and use. Rebecca has taken over for Evon Willhoff, who has moved on to continue promoting sustainable

water solutions for California as an Environmental Scientist at the Department of Water Resources after ve and a

half years managing PCLs water efforts.

Finally, after serving over two months as a Legislative Intern with PCL, we are pleased to welcome

Michelle Oyewole as our new Membership and Events Coordinator. Michelle graduated magna cum laude from

the University of California Los Angeles, with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Geography

Environmental Studies. She was a student organizer in the statewide campaign to protect AB 32 in 2010, and

has since worked for environmental organizations in San Diego, California, and Lagos, Nigeria. She has also

volunteered on an organic farm in northern Ecuador. Michelle plans to continue in her environmental research as

she begins graduate study at UC Santa Barbara in the fall. She believes that her previous non-prot experience

and zeal for natural resource protection will allow her to play a large role in supporting PCL in its planning and

fundraising capacities. Michelle has replaced Margaret Lecey, who has moved on to a new opportunity after

serving as our Membership and Events Coordinator from 2012 to April 2013, working diligently throughout tha

time to organize PCL events and outreach projects.

VISIT US ON THE WEB:www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

Randele Randy Kanouse

Rebecca Crebbin-Coates

Michelle Oyewole

Non-Prot Org.

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PLANNING ANDCONSERVATION LEAGUE

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July 2013 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

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Transcript of July 2013 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter