STEELIES/26c3
12-02-2009, 04:43 PM
I grew up within a 5 minute walk to the Alameda Creek and there I saw my first steelhead... and spent thousands of hours as a boy and later, a young man... exploring that watershed.
So despite that I live here now... Alameda Creek is and will always be near and dear to my heart.
In many ways this small gem is a mirror of the American River where I now thrive. Both watersheds are situated in densely-populated, urban areas yet hold great potential to sustain tons of wildlife and anadromous fish species. Both once held amazing runs of salmon and steelhead. Both have been severely and increasingly altered and denuded to supply water to consumers.
Unlike the American River and the greater, SAC/SJ Delta which it ultimately feeds, however... a major victory has recently been won on the Alameda Creek Watershed which has included; removal of dams, construction of fish ways/ladders, and a serious restoration and rehabilitation effort thanks to Jeff Miller and the Alameda Creek Alliance.
Unfortunately, the folks who control Calaveras Dam and its releases are not acting in good faith to ensure that the ACA's efforts will result in future healthy populations of steelhead and salmon.
Below is more info. Please read and attend the public hearing if possible.
Thanks,
Mark Lynn
To the Alameda Creek Alliance e-mail list:Please Attend the Sunol Hearing on Calaveras Dam December 14
Environmental review is underway for the Calaveras Dam replacement project, potentially the most significant restoration opportunity for Alameda Creek. With all major fish passage projects in the watershed now underway, stream flows for fish below the San Francisco dams is a critical last piece of the puzzle for the full restoration of Alameda Creek.
The San Francisco Planning Department will hold a final public hearing on the flawed draft Environmental Impact Report for the Calaveras Dam project on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Sunol Glen Elementary School 11601 Main Street in Sunol.
Come speak at the public hearing in Sunol. Talking points for speaking are posted here:
http://www.alamedacreek.org/Press_Releases/Calaveras%20Dam%20EIR%20released%2010-7-09.pdf
This is the most controversial project of the entire Water System Improvement Program. We need a strong showing of public support for restoration to send a clear message to the SFPUC that they need to comply with environmental laws and restore steelhead as part of this project. Wear your Alameda Creek t-shirt to the hearing.
The SFPUC is proposing to operate the rebuilt dam in a manner that is incompatible with restoring steelhead below the dam. The proposed operation of Calaveras and the related Alameda Diversion dams and stream flow releases for migratory fish are inadequate. The proposed mitigations for what will be significant construction impacts on habitat for numerous endangered species are meager and inappropriate.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions about the problems with the project and EIR.
Please Sign Your Group or Organization Onto Our Group Comment Letter on the EIR.
Click here to read the letter and contact me to sign your group onto the letter by December 14.
So despite that I live here now... Alameda Creek is and will always be near and dear to my heart.
In many ways this small gem is a mirror of the American River where I now thrive. Both watersheds are situated in densely-populated, urban areas yet hold great potential to sustain tons of wildlife and anadromous fish species. Both once held amazing runs of salmon and steelhead. Both have been severely and increasingly altered and denuded to supply water to consumers.
Unlike the American River and the greater, SAC/SJ Delta which it ultimately feeds, however... a major victory has recently been won on the Alameda Creek Watershed which has included; removal of dams, construction of fish ways/ladders, and a serious restoration and rehabilitation effort thanks to Jeff Miller and the Alameda Creek Alliance.
Unfortunately, the folks who control Calaveras Dam and its releases are not acting in good faith to ensure that the ACA's efforts will result in future healthy populations of steelhead and salmon.
Below is more info. Please read and attend the public hearing if possible.
Thanks,
Mark Lynn
To the Alameda Creek Alliance e-mail list:Please Attend the Sunol Hearing on Calaveras Dam December 14
Environmental review is underway for the Calaveras Dam replacement project, potentially the most significant restoration opportunity for Alameda Creek. With all major fish passage projects in the watershed now underway, stream flows for fish below the San Francisco dams is a critical last piece of the puzzle for the full restoration of Alameda Creek.
The San Francisco Planning Department will hold a final public hearing on the flawed draft Environmental Impact Report for the Calaveras Dam project on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Sunol Glen Elementary School 11601 Main Street in Sunol.
Come speak at the public hearing in Sunol. Talking points for speaking are posted here:
http://www.alamedacreek.org/Press_Releases/Calaveras%20Dam%20EIR%20released%2010-7-09.pdf
This is the most controversial project of the entire Water System Improvement Program. We need a strong showing of public support for restoration to send a clear message to the SFPUC that they need to comply with environmental laws and restore steelhead as part of this project. Wear your Alameda Creek t-shirt to the hearing.
The SFPUC is proposing to operate the rebuilt dam in a manner that is incompatible with restoring steelhead below the dam. The proposed operation of Calaveras and the related Alameda Diversion dams and stream flow releases for migratory fish are inadequate. The proposed mitigations for what will be significant construction impacts on habitat for numerous endangered species are meager and inappropriate.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions about the problems with the project and EIR.
Please Sign Your Group or Organization Onto Our Group Comment Letter on the EIR.
Click here to read the letter and contact me to sign your group onto the letter by December 14.