Environmental Committee

The Environmental Committee works to protect the watershed and to educate the public on forestry issues, erosion control, hazardous waste, recycling and other issues. We also monitor government policies and procedures.

Events

River & Road Cleanup with Save Our Shores
September 17, 2011 • 9am – 3pm
View 2011 flyer for more information.

Watershed Festival of Events
On-going

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Fall 2011

The 25th Annual Al Haynes Memorial

River & Road Clean Up

With BBQ Celebration to Follow – Saturday, 9/17

When Al Haynes had the idea 25 years ago to hold a River clean up, he knew the community would respond and help – and they did. The basic pattern of involving students, families and individuals, keeping recyclables separate from trash, weighing the materials, and enlisting the support of the SLV Water District and the County to haul the materials to the dump, and then celebrating at a BBQ at Highlands Park was established. Al was the Watershed Analyst for the Water District, and applied for grant money to support the event the first year. Nancy Macy helped out, learned the process, and took over coordination of the event under the auspices of the Valley Women's Club the second year.

Each year has been an adventure, and many VWC members became annual volunteers, helping staff the tables, helping at the BBQ, or working all day picking up trash. And hundreds of community members came to help, bringing in over 95,000 pounds of junk over the years. Some years there were a dozen appliances hauled in, another year there was a remarkable collection of electronic discards – then there was the year of the car parts, including an entire VW bug hauled from the River north of Boulder Creek and a dozen tires hauled from along a creek in Felton. Of course an entire house could have been furnished with chairs, beds, couches and other broken, dirty discards, and a wide variety of sports equipment has been hauled in… And cigarette butts, always cigarette butts.

So, especially this year, your help is needed—to honor Al (who passed away last December), to pick up trash, to celebrate our River and its watershed. The clean up will take place on Saturday, September 17th from 9 am to 3 pm. Following the Clean Up, from 3:30 to 5, the free-for-participants BBQ celebration will take place at Highlands Park down on the deck by the playground. We'll have a special gift for ALL volunteers, prizes for "extra effort," awards, and memories to share and honors to give.

You can help in many ways –

• Staff the sign-in tables (8:45-12 or 11:45 to 3) in Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond or Felton (Felton afternoon only)

• Help come up with prizes for the "extra effort" awards

• Help with the BBQ – planning, bringing salads or desserts, cooking, set-up, clean-up

• Getting the word out

CALL OR EMAIL NOW TO LET US KNOW YOU CAN PLAN TO HELP! Call Nancy at 345-1555, or Email. Download the flyer.

Assembly Member Bill Monning to Speak on the Environment

For the third year, State Assembly Member Bill Monning is setting aside time to come to the SLV to discuss environmental issues impacting us from the point of view of the State Legislature. The Forum, organized by VWC Environmental Committee Members Tai Stills and Mark Becker, will take place at Felton Community Hall on Saturday, October 15th from 3 to 4:40 in the afternoon.

The VWC Environmental Committee is putting together questions/issues that we would like Monning to address in his remarks, along with those things he feels are of interest and concern to us. There will be a long Q&A period where individuals can ask our Assembly Member about issues that concern them.

You are invited to help with the planning, bring finger food, help with set up and clean up, or to attend, bring your questions and your friends.

Growing Proof of the Connection: Chemicals and Obesity

Have you ever heard of "obesogens"? They are chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. It is already known that these are linked to early puberty, impaired immune functions, different types of cancer, birth deformities, and other diseases.

"Now obesity and metabolism are on that list," according to Bruce Blumberg, a University of California at Irvine professor of developmental and cell biology, who has studied the effect of endocrine disruptors on obesity in mice.

Paula Baillie-Hamilton, an expert on metabolism and environmental toxins at Stirling University in Scotland, was among the first to make the link. She wrote back in 2002 that exposure to these chemicals act as chemical calories, hence the name, "obesogens."

A recent article in Grist, discusses this issue, gives examples of our exposure to these chemicals and how to avoid them.

Spare the Air, Your Health and Your Wallet

—with the 2011 Wood Stove Change-Out Program

By Mark Stone, Fifth District Supervisor

With the autumn season right around the corner, it's an ideal time to plan ahead for heating our homes efficiently. Taking steps now will help control your heating costs, help preserve our air quality, and also protect our health and the health of our neighbors.
We have come to realize over the years that there are significant environmental and health impacts associated with traditional wood burning fireplaces and stoves. While healthy people are generally not at risk from smoke-related health problems, people with chronic illnesses are much more susceptible. Wood smoke pollution contains particulate matter, gases, and even toxic compounds. These pollutants can cause or aggravate health effects, including eye, nose, and throat irritation and respiratory disease.

However, EPA-certified wood burning stoves burn more efficiently and cleanly than older models. As a result, much less creosote builds up in your chimney. EPA-certified stoves also release 60% to 80% less smoke up your chimney.

If you're interested in reducing wood smoke pollution in your home and neighborhood, or if you're looking to lower wintertime home heating costs, the following incentive program may be of interest to you.

Starting in September, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (Air District) will once again be sponsoring a program to help property owners replace non-EPA certified wood stoves and to upgrade existing fireplaces with EPA-certified stoves and fireplace inserts. This program, which is a partnership between the County and the Air District, provides financial incentives to help residents change out their old wood stoves with cleaner-burning options, ranging from gas to high-tech wood stoves certified by the EPA.

In order to assist property owners who wish to upgrade to cleaner alternatives, the following discounts will be available through participating hearth products dealers:

• $1,250 for San Lorenzo Valley property owners

• $750 additional discount for qualified low income property owners

• $250 additional when converting from wood burning to a natural gas, propane or pelletized system

For more information, contact my office (831-454-2200 or Email) or check for program updates on the Air District's website.

Recommended Reading:
Definition of a Watershed

A Go Green Column, written by Ron Duncan and Rob Ketley appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel in May. It has a super, succinct explanation of a watershed and how it works (or doesn't work). Read and share. And be sure you are making wise decisions about your impact.

Photo by Fred McPherson

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