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In the mid-1930s, concerned that the new bridge from San Francisco might bring a wave of sprawling development which would harm Marin's natural assets and destroy the county's beauty, a few energetic Marin citizens formed what is now the Marin Conservation League. Starting with its work to have the County enact its first zoning ordinance, MCL has been in the forefront of efforts to protect Marin’s natural and recreational areas. MCL DIRECTOR PETER ASMUS TO GIVE A TALK ON ENERGY Saturday, June 20 in West Marin, 1pm: Journalist and author Peter Asmus,whose latest book Introduction to Energy in California (UC Press, 2009) has recently been released, and Phyllis Faber, the editor of the UC Press Natural History Guides Series, will be discussing the role West Marin "locavolts" are trying to play in greening the local economy with green energy. The talk will go for for 30 to 45 minutes and will be followed by a walk with Phyllis. This event takes place at the auditorium at the Bear Valley Visitors Center in Point Reyes Station. MMWD WATER CONSERVATION SUMMIT, Wednesday, July 8 at Embassy Suites in Terra Linda: The Marin Municipal Water District invites you to participate in a watershed event –– its first Conservation Summit. This four-hour summit, which includes free breakfast, will include a panel discussion by leaders in water conservation, who will discuss conservation efforts in Marin, in the state, and across the country, addressing the question, "How Far Can We Go?"Click here for more information.
CURRENT PROJECTS AND ISSUES MCL IS TRACKING: State Parks: MCL has warned the Governor that his proposal to cut funding to California State Parks as a tool to help balance the disaster that is the state budget is short-sighted, inefficient and dangerous. North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) Freight Rail Project Draft EIR: MCL has carefully reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) prepared for the NCRA's rail operation project, which will run through Novato, and finds that it still has significant flaws, particilarly as to the adequacy of measures proposed to mitigate significant impacts. Our May 29, 2009 letter to the NCRA outlines these concerns. Open Space Encroachment: MCL strongly supports public open space and believes it should be protected from encroachment from private landowners. The permitting of an encroachment could set a precedent that could be very disadvantageous to open space in the future. An example of this is an issue that arose in San Rafael recently and there are similar situations occuring in other parts of the county. MCL's letter of April 28 to the city of San Rafael is available here, and the Marin IJ's editorial of May 29, 2009 is a clear presentation of the argument for protection of public open spaces. San Rafael Airport Sports Complex: A DEIR for the proposed San Rafael Airport Recreational Facility in North San Rafael has been prepared by Lamphier-Gregory for the City of San Rafael. MCL has reviewed the report, has found it lacking in many areas and has sent a letter to the San Rafael Planning Commission detailing these concerns. The public can also review the DEIR here, or go to the City of San Rafael for a loaner copy. The Skywalker Properties, Ltd. (Lucasfilm) proposal to construct a monster building for a digital technology-based film production studio and complex of offices, restaurant, general store, guest suites, screening rooms, costume storage, and reshape the landscape of Lucas Valley has returned‑13 years after the EIR was certified and master plan was approved. Everything about the project is massive, from the footprint of the building to the 90-foot twin towers to the scale of excavation and filling of the site. The Marin Community Development Agency requested comments on the proposal by May 7. Marin Conservation League’s response was brief: The EIR and Master Plan, approved in 1996, must be revisited in light of changed circumstances. Canalways: MCL's letter of May 5 to San Rafael Community Development Agency spells out the organization's concerns with the owners' pre-application request to subdivide the "Canalways" property, near Home Depot. The pre-application has now been reviewed by San Rafael planners. HOT Lanes: MCL opposes the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's proceeding to adopt an 800-mile regional network of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes throughout the Bay Area without adequate public dialogue or complete study of its ramifications at the locaL level. MCL's April 20, 2009 letter to MTC is available here. Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan: MCL is in general agreement with the National Park Service's Alternative 3 (the Preferred Alternative) as described in the Plan's Final Environmental Impact Statement - with some comments. MCL's April 21, 2009 letter to the National Park Service is available here. Whaler’s Point Master Plan/Precise Development Plan and Tidelands Permit: MCL concurs with the Board of Supervisors' denial of the permit application to develop a hotel on this sensitive Richardson Bay site. A copy of MCL's April 9, 2009 letter to the Board of Supervisors is available here. 650 North San Pedro Road Development: The Marin Conservation League has been following the evolution of project development proposals for 650 North San Pedro Road in Santa Venetia since 2004. A DEIR has finally been prepared for a proposed 12-unit Master Plan clustered development by West Bay Builders and Thompson Development, Inc. on this steep and highly constrained 14.8 acre site near China Camp. Marin Conservation League and concerned residents of the Santa Venetia Neighborhood Association provided critical comments on the adequacy of the DEIR to the County's Planning Commission on January 26th. Among the conserns are the removal and replacement of 200 trees, potential flooding and drainage impacts due to increased amounts of impervious surfaces and removal of mature trees associated with the development, consistency with neighborhood character, the mitigation plans for the loss of an existing blue heron rookery, preservation of endangered species habitat for the red-legged frog, proper siting of the houses outside of wetland conservation areas , and the implementation of open space protections for the undeveloped portions of the property. The environmental consultant to the county, the Berkeley firm of Design, Community and Development, will now be preparing a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) in response to the many comments made on the DEIR. MCL will continue to follow and provide its recommendations on this project proposal throughout the FEIR, public review, and approval process before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in the coming months. Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project, Aquatic Transfer Facility for Dredged Material: The preferred method being proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers for the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project is to create an Aquatic Transfer Facility (ATF) by excavating a 77-acre basin in San Pablo Bay north-east of China Camp and south-east of Hamilton to store materials. Later, the materials would be used to finish the important restoration work in 10 years rather than 18, for $200 million reduction in cost. At stake, however, is the balancing of benefits (e.g., earlier establishment of habitat in the restoration site, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases over time, more efficient disposal of dredge materials from various navigation projects), against potential impacts to San Pablo Bay recreational fisheries and habitat of the threatened North American green sturgeon, burial of benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms, turbidity from suspended sediment and potential indirect impacts to tidal habitats along the China Camp shoreline and the mouth of Gallinas Creek, which are inhabited by the endangered California clapper rail and salt marsh harvest mouse, and eelgrass beds to the east. MCL submitted comments on the Draft EIS/EIR to the Corps and Conservancy on December 22, 2008. The final environmental document will be finished in mid-2009. If approved, the ATF would be constructed in 2010. Invasive Species Removal Fund: San Rafael and Marin Conservation League are now in our sixth year of a collaborative effort to remove invasive broom species from the Dominican and Gold Hill neighborhoods of San Rafael. Highly flammable and readily adaptable to our climate, this species invades clearings and lightly forested areas by broadcasting millions of long-lived seeds from its ripened pods. It has naturalized throughout Marin and the Bay Area and now presents a fire hazard as well as a threat to the biological diversity of native plant species. The project has been administered by MCL and funded by the Jones-Smith Foundation and others in the community. To contribute to this important project, click here and specify Invasive Species Removal Fund in the "Program Designation" drop-down menu.
Legacy of the Land - A History of the Marin Conservation League by Barry Spitz: One of the highlights of MCL's 75th Anniversary project will be the release later in 2009 of ourorganization's history. Written by well-known local writer Barry Spitz (Mill Valley, The Dipsea), Legacy of the Land will take the reader from 1934 and the extraordinary story of the four founders of the League through the creation of the vast areas of parks and open space we know and love so well, to League's present day's environmental advocacy work. 4/29/09 - Marin Independent Journal - MCL is a Green Business 4/17/09 - Pacific Sun - Going Green: The Harold Gilliam experience 4/16/09 - Marin Independent Journal 4/13/09 - Marin Independent Journal - MCL Celebrates 75 Years Document LinksCurrent Newsletter May-June 2009 Past Newsletters Available:March-April 2009, January-February 2009, November - December 2008, August-September 2008, April - May 2008, February- March 2008, December 2007-January 2008, and October-November 2007. 2007 Annual Report MCL's efforts to protect Marin's natural assets continue today: Marin County has now recently completed amending its countywide plan. MCL and three other Marin environmental organizations have prepared Community Marin [doc] [pdf] which contains MCL's environmental vision for the County. The Countywide Plan adopts many (but not all) of the positions recommended in Community Marin. Questions? Want more information? Email MCL We welcome your support and participation in MCL's activities.
Updated 06/26/2009 Wsllk and Lyford House photos byDru Parker |
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PICNIC ON THE PORCH, Saturday, July 25, 3:00 - 6:00 pm: It's a party! Please join MCL in celebratingsummer at our annual barbecue and Picnic on the Porch at our 
State Park: The celebration of MCL’s 75th Anniversary continues through the remainder of the year with four free “Walks into Conservation History” that will take MCL members into some of Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) and California State Park lands MCL helped acquire for the public. The first Walk, on June 20 at the "North Ridge," consisting of Baltimore Canyon, King Mountain and Blithedale Summit, was led by Parks and Open Space District naturalist David Herlocker, who led about fifteen MCL members on a lively and informative trek into the flora and fauna of the ridge.
