Monterey project could set dangerous precedent for single-project desal plants by Barbara Bass Evans A 92,000-square-foot mixed-use project called Ocean View Plaza with 45-foot tall buildings is proposed for Cannery Row between El Torito and the Chart House and reaching from the Recreation Trail to Monterey Bay. This massive project would be very detrimental to both the coastal zone and the water supply for the Monterey region. Its sole source of water would be a desal plant with a 3- to 6-day backup water supply. The project's desal technology is not reliable and creates impacts to coastal waters. If the plant fails, the huge development would tap into Carmel River water through a Cal Am hookup... [more]   This to-scale overlay shows the configuration and size of the proposed development from the Rec. Trail. Photo credit and overlay to scale by Bob Evans.   Here's the view from the Bay. Photo credit and overlay to scale by Bob Evans.

by Julie Engell
Parties to the long-simmering legal and political conflict over Rancho San Juan, the largest development proposal in Monterey County history, settled their differences on April 8.

The Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition and LandWatch Monterey County agreed to drop their CEQA suit against the project and promised not to challenge the project again. Their agreement was based upon a vastly improved project and a commitment by county supervisors to adopt protective policies in the new general plan.... [more]

by Virginia Draper
"I myself think that nuclear power has a great future," said Gov. Schwarznegger in March at a national conference on the economics of reducing global warming. He went on to decry environmentalists who use "scare tactics" to "frighten everyone."

The governor's remarks were surprising (he had never mentioned nuclear power before) and quickly challenged by an LA Times editorial (3/25) and by a letter from Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, Chair, Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee. The letter was co-signed by Sierra Club California's Senior Advocate, Jim Metropulos, and representatives from three other environmental groups.... [more]

The planet simply cannot sustain our wasteful lifestyle indefinitely. In the U.S. we consume ten times more resources per capita than the median for all other countries, and about double that of the other industrialized nations. But that's not all. Goaded by U.S-driven globalization, the rest of the world is scrambling to catch up. Take, for instance, the 1.3 billion Chinese Ñover four times the U.S populationÑ who also are striving to drive Hummers, eat fast-food jumbo burgers, and refrigerate their homes in summer. China has made it a top priority to surpass the U.S. economy by about 2020.

What can we, as individuals, do about this?... [more]

Have you seen the festive carnival-like banners on the former Carmel Convalescent Hospital Site at Hwy. 1 and Valley Way in Carmel? These banners are actually what are called story poles, erected to represent the height and size of a proposed development. Imagine 46 condos on this site.

After being turned down unanimously by Carmel's Planning Commission, Developer Bob Leidig and current owners, the McDowells, applied to the County to rezone the Carmel Convalescent Hospital property on Hwy. 1 at Valley Way from single family residential (2 units per acre) to high-density multifamily (12.5 units/acre). This upzoning is in opposition to the County's General Plan and Carmel's Local Plan. The property is in Carmel's "sphere of influence" and the local coastal zone... [more]

Come on a wildflower walk with us This Fort Ord Pink Star Tulip (Calochortus uniflorus) was spotted on a wildflower walk at the former military base in April. You might spot something equally wonderful. Check out the outings schedule.

> Big Sur fire update > Come join us in sacramento for Lobby Day > Priority Bills for 2008

The gentle art and pleasure of gardening for butterflies is one way to light a slender candle of hope as the relentless forces of humanity disturb, fragment, homogenize, and destroy the natural habitat, snuffing out the shining lights of individual species one by one. —Stanwyn G. Shetler, "Butterfly Gardening and Conservation," Butterfly Gardening, Creating Summer Magic in your Garden, Xerces Society, 1990.