CP&DR

Species Flys In Face of Continued Development

Sep 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 09 Sep 1999

Ever since the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly was listed as an endangered species in 1993, it has been a poster child for opponents of the federal Endangered Species Act. Now, the fly is the latest endangered species to take center stage in the continually urbanizing Inland Empire. Other controversial endangered species, such as the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly and the gnatcatcher, can at least win support for aesthetic reasons. But a fly? Few people are easily convinced of the redeeming value...

TMDLs: The Revolution is at Hand

Aug 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 08 Aug 1999

The next big thing in water quality management — measuring specific pollutants in bodies of water and setting limits for those pollutants — is likely to impact land use and planning, but the exact ramifications remain unclear. After years of delay, federal and state agencies are developing definitions to show how much pollution can be allowed in a water body before it becomes polluted. These definitions are known as total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs. Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Wat...

Envirnomentalists, Lockyer Say Valley Dairies Deserve Subsidy

Jul 1, 1999

Larry Sokoloff, Local Watch, Vol. 14 No. 07 Jul 1999

Dairy expansions in the southern San Joaquin Valley have slowed after Attorney General Bill Lockyer submitted legal challenges and an environmental group filed lawsuits. Lockyer and environmentalists have forced local planning departments to examine their practices in approving dairies, and to begin preparing environmental impact reports. "The issue seems to be focussing on cumulative impact," said Leonard Garoupa, Madera County's planning director. Prior to Lockyer's involvement and lawsuits fi...

Housing Plans Still in Trouble San Diego County, Cities

Jun 1, 1999

Larry Sokoloff, Local Watch, Vol. 14 No. 06 Jun 1999

A pilot program is underway in San Diego County to self-certify the county's housing element, as well as the housing elements for each of its 18 cities. But despite San Diego's receiving the autonomy desired by many local jurisdictions, the allocation of low-income units continues to hamper the planning process. The state-approved program was designed to give local governments more flexibility in meeting affordable housing goals and avoiding oversight by the state Department of Housing and Com...

Regulators Cast a Huge Net For Rare Butterfly

May 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 05 May 1999

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly is the latest endangered species to cause confusion and controversy in Southern California, joining such famed animals as the Stephens kangaroo rat, the California gnatcatcher and the Delhi sands flower loving fly. The butterfly was at first thought to live only in a few regions of Riverside and San Diego counties, where colonies have been found. But the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued a map in January showing potential Quino Checkerspot habitat in parts o...

Stable Funding Sources Elude Several State Land Conservancies

Apr 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 04 Apr 1999

Money problems for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy earlier this year have highlighted a need among most of the state's six land conservancies to find a long-term funding source to carry out their mission of acquiring, restoring and preserving open space. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which acquires land throughout Los Angeles County and in southeastern Ventura County, announced it had run out of money to even pay administrative costs as of June 30. A state Assembly budget subcommitte...

Lockyer Indicates He Will Take Active Role in Green Issues

Mar 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 03 Mar 1999

The state's new Attorney General, Bill Lockyer, ran for that office as a friend of the environment, and early indications are that he intends to have a high profile on environmental issues. Lockyer mentioned protection of natural resources in his inaugural speech, and, in one of his first official acts, announced greater involvement by his department in a lawsuit to ban personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis, from Lake Tahoe. Since then, the Democrat from Alameda County has requested more money to beef...

Inter-County JPA Will Deal with Tracy HIlls Transportation

Feb 1, 1999

Larry Sokoloff, Local Watch, Vol. 14 No. 02 Feb 1999

No sooner had the fast-growing San Joaquin County city of Tracy settled a lawsuit and agreed to set up a joint powers authority on traffic issues than it was hit with a second lawsuit challenging its water supply and other facets of another huge development. In December, Tracy, Alameda County, the nearby city of Livermore, and the Sierra Club announced a settlement to a lawsuit brought over traffic issues raised by the city's approval of the 5,000-unit Tracy Hills project. Under the settlement, the J...

Placer County Undertakes Habitat Conservation PLan

Feb 1, 1999

Environment Watch, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 02 Feb 1999

A pro-active approach to preserving open space and create a Natural Communities Conservation Plan is taking shape in Placer County in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Members of the county's planning staff are working with the Sierra Business Council to design a countywide program that may serve as a model for other urbanizing counties in the Sierra. The program, known as the Placer Legacy, seeks to set up an NCCP before the county is forced to do so by a legal challenge or a government agency, and also...

Davis Administration May Deal with Growth Issues; Appointments, Budgets Suggest Direction

Feb 1, 1999

Featured Articles, Larry Sokoloff, Vol. 14 No. 02 Feb 1999

Despite the heavy emphasis on education issues, newly elected governor Gray Davis has sent some early signals that planning and development will also be important to his administration. The strongest signal yet has been his appointment of strong environmentalists to his Cabinet, as well as comments in his State of the State speech and the budget request he submitted to the Legislature during his first week in office. In his speech, the governor said: "After education and public safety, the most voc...