Sierra Santa
Margarita Group
Michael H. Momeni, PhD
Environmental Nuclear Scientist
Déjà vu 1982
All
Federal and State elections have environmental consequences. Unless we are proactive, we will lose our
protected national and state parks, and the public lands. The changes may open
these cherished nation heritages to commercial exploitation. These actions would be nicely couched in
mantra of creating job, or energy-independence using the natural resources
located on the public lands.
I
remember it well! As our previous
experience during 1967 to 1975 in California, and then again during January
1982 to 1989 indicates, the institutions that have protected our air and water
(EPA), labor safety (OSHA), and our national forests and public lands
(Department of Interior) all will be made ineffective by cutting their budgets,
eliminating the important regulations such as 40CFR Code of Federal Regulations, and by reducing their
technical staff. The assault on the
institutions of higher education and the intellectual cadre of our society was
the low mark of the 1982-1989 periods.
We
may argue against the outcome of the 2016 election. Where did we go wrong? But, for now, we can’t back down; we have to
protect our air, water and our public lands.
Transportation
The
transportation corridor from Ontario to San Diego has exceeded the highway carrying
capacity. Increasing the number of lanes
will briefly alter the present congestion and but will only increase air
pollution problems. The population of the southern California has been
increasing for decades. It will increase because of demand for new developments.
To
remedy the problem, jointly we must expand both the existing mass-transit
system and create rapid electric trains from Ontario to San Diego. The train tracks could be placed between the
north and south bound traffics on Highway15.
This option would be cost-effective, would reduce commuter travel time; but
more importantly, it will reduce the impact of noxious exhaust on public health
by improving the air quality in Temecula valley.
Members
of the Transportation Task Group from the Santa Margarita Sierra Club have
regularly attended the monthly Transportation-Now conference of the Riverside
Transit Agency. We are looking forward to working with Joseph Morabito,
representing the Southwest Transportation-Now group, to advance the expansion
of Mass-transit system within the Southern California region.
Altair Development Complex in Temecula
Altair Specific Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Report SCH No.
2014111029 was reviewed. The results the Review of Altair Specific Plan, Draft Environmental
Impact Report SCH No. 2014111029, is posted as:
http://sierraconservation.blogspot.com/2016/12/review-of-altair-specific-plan-draft.html
The Land and People of the
Santa Margarita Watershed
Eleanora Robbins was
our speaker on our January monthly meeting. Her fascinating lecture
centered on the
geology of the Santa Margarita watershed. She said, in some respects it
resembles many characteristics of the East African Rift Valley. The
cities of Temecula and Murrieta lie in a tectonically active rift.
The background of Dr. Robbins is fascinating. She started her professional career in the
Peace Corps as a geologist with the Geological Survey of Tanzania; on vacation,
she mapped in the East African Rift Valley for Lewis Leakey. Then
she was a researcher for the US Geological Survey for 34 years, working on
mineral deposits, coal, and petroleum. In San Diego, she served as
adjunct faculty for 14 years at San Diego State Univ. Her current
research on the sulfur cycle of the San Diego River is with the San Diego River
Park Foundation.
Hikes:
Gary
Marsalone and Robert Bob Audibert guided two tours:
- Eureka Peak Hike, December 3, 2016; and Sierra Santa Margarita
Hike: West Side Loop
- Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, January 14, 2017.
Christmas Holiday Celebration
We had a very joyous holiday celebration
at the scenic Vail Lake Resort just east of
Temecula. The music (Caren Hanson) and sing along Christmas carols lead
by Elena Garcia “Joy to the world... and heaven and nature sing...the resounding joy...” We enjoyed hayride on open wagon; it was a reminiscent of
experience some of us have enjoyed a long time ago. I still remember my first
hayride; I was a junior high teacher. We
all brought a dish to share: salads, cookies and cakes. The pizza and barbecued pulled chicken were among
the hot items.
I think we all had a good time.
Planned
Events
Earth
Day: The
Sierra Club is planning an Earth Day Celebration Fair. Earth Day is Saturday, April 22nd. The details are at the planning stage. Caren Hanson is the event coordinator.
Outreach
to Children: Caren Hanson has been organizing
outreach to children in elementary schools in Temecula. She has collaborated
with ‘Kids4Birds to donate hummingbird feeders to schools, arrange visit to the
classroom to discuss correct feeding of birds.
Caren loves birds and wants to instill the same love in children.
February
9, monthly meeting: Brenda
de Luna will be the speaker; the topic is “Youth Speakers on the Environment”. She
will bring her students that have been working on community environmental
education through a speaker program.
Valentine's Party: We will celebrate 2017 Valentine Day
on February, 12. Our
club members will meet for dinner at the Macaroni Grill in Temecula.
