NEWS ARTICLES/OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

[Kathryn Gray]

RISING CALLS TO REGULATE CALIFORNIA'S GROUNDWATER

SLCWD has backup wells, and at one time Royal Gorge LLC was proposing to bring on groundwater (which might incidentally come from the same place as the water that feeds the other wells and lakes around here) Maybe how California treats groundwater vs surface water may be going to undergo a sea change (sorry)

The article is in the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/scien ... ss&emc=rss

[Kathryn Gray]

(this is cross-posted from another strand--I couldn't figure out how to delete this entry, so please forgive the repeat)

SLEEPING PARTNER OR RED HERRING?

Here's something to look at on a sweltering Sunday, if you're not out enjoying the heat(!!)

Go to http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/ and enter 'Royal Gorge' Take a look at Royal Gorge L.L.C., James Wood, agent of service of Process in Irvine. Is this Rancho Monterey still in the game, a sleeping partner, or somebody who is doing some other development dealing with a Royal Gorge somewhere else? (however, it is of note they've registered their L.L.C. in California.) Do note here this L.L.C. was formed in the month of RG's purchase, and is still active--the curious thing, if it's not a red herring, is that it was formed after the purchase contract was signed, but the day before the loan.

http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowL ... rinter=yes

Why would this matter? It's commonly assumed that Fosters and Syme are the guys in charge--but are there perhaps others in the driver's seat?

Oh, if you notice the one with Joel Rubenstein as agent for service of process, that's cancelled--- I think that one is when Slouber and Siebel/and or Sugar Bowl purchased the Van Norden Meadow, then immediately split it up.

Now look at this one, for Rainbow Lodge. http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowL ... 8727800042 Curious? And there's this one, for Rainbow Holding Company http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowL ... 8822300007 How many llc's are there, and who owns them?

[Kathryn Gray]

HOW ABOUT HOBBIT HOUSES FOR ROYAL GORGE?

Here's something fun and creative http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/ar ... es.DTL&o=0

Oh, and Tamara's recent post about how SLPOA isn't exactly transparent with info? She's right on, and I bet quite a few of us share her viewpoint.
It's almost as if we're supposed to sit around in our little round hobbit cabins and wait for the might Gandalf to pull a rabbit out of the hat, or blow some smoke rings. What explains the absolute fear of letting any information about pretty much everything leak out until it's all neatly wrapped up in its fait accompli packaging? People might have other opinions, and actually speak up about them? Last time I looked, we lived in a democracy, but it seems like an autocracy around here...and heck on building a community with real give and take.

[Kathryn Gray]

Fifty-Three Sierra Organizations Pledge to Adapt to Climate Change
Sierra Nevada region committed to adapting and preparing for unavoidable changes in climate

http://yubanet.com/regional/Fifty-Three ... Change.php

SLPOA and DSAA are on Sierra Nevada Alliance's Membership list, but they didn't sign on to this pledge--I wonder what's going on there? The principals seem pretty well articulated, and my feeling is that with things like the Royal Gorge Proposed development, and Brost's large hotel, climate change issues should be at the forefront on Donner Summit. I'd imagine, if asked, most SLPOA members would be pleased to see SLPOA sign on with the 53 groups--I notice SYRCL, and Sierra Watch, and MAPF, and Sierra Club are there. Please notice that even Placer County Planning Department signed it.

[Tamara]

Has anyone asked SLPOA and DSAA why they have not included themselves?

Tamara

[Kathryn Gray]

SLPOA AND DSAA'S FAILURE TO SIGN SIERRA GLOBAL WARMING PLEDGE

Maybe we should send an 'open letter' to them and request their reasoning. It's pretty frustrating, as they put themselves forward as representing Donner Summit, but not signing seems a little head in the sandish, no? And maybe not terrifically representative of consensus on Donner Summit?

Look at what SLPOA and DSAA signed onto in the group of 8's recent "vision" :

8. Maintain and improve regional air quality and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Control of greenhouse gasses involves minimizing traffic and using alternative sources
of energy.If greenhouse gasses are not controlled, virtually every climate model shows
there will be no snowpack in the northern Sierra by the mid twenty-first century.

You think they're addressing global warming, but actually they're sidestepping admitting global warming exists, with this watered-down reference to green house gas--maybe they got bogged down in the "angels dancing on the head of the pin" argument about whether it's man-made or not? The thing is, while "minimizing traffic and using alternative sources of energy" is a good start, it's a drop in the bucket--the pledge went much further than this--and unless things like sprawl, and new development prevented where there are not resources to support it, and carbon sequestration, etc. aren't addressed...

The way I see it, with SLPOA, and DSAA also, there's very little transparency, and very little solicitation of public input. The survey DSAA conducted a year ago or so was very clear about how the majority of us felt, but, sometimes, particularly in regards to how DSAA remains neutral towards Royal Gorge development, it seems the survey results are an "inconvenient truth"

It's one thing for SLPOA and DSAA to be "big fishes" in the small pond of Donner Summit, and sign on with 6 other groups on their "vision"--but it's certainly disturbing they're not willing to join 53 other groups to stand in solidarity, and work together to address what is a Sierra Wide problem.

It's worth reading the YubaNet article about the pledge, and going to Sierra Nevada Alliance's site for more information. Here's an excerpt from the YubaNet piece:

"The commitment of these organizations demonstrates that leadership and innovative solutions will be coming from rural areas like the Sierra, and not just from Sacramento or Washington D.C.," stated Marion Gee, Water and Climate Program Associate at the Sierra Nevada Alliance. "Our Sierra communities can be safer, have reliable water, diverse wildlife and robust economies if we plan ahead. Their commitment is a model for the nation."

I'd like to think SLPOA and DSAA were on board with this commitment.

[Kathryn Gray]

Resort Development in the Sierra, particularly up at Donner Summit, is slowing down--it seems banks don't want to take big gambles--the absolute disaster of other resort developments, including the melt-down detailed in the following article may shine some light on why proposed developments, such as Royal Gorge LLC's, have been marking time for the past two years.

Greed, Bankruptcy, and the Super Rich - The Atlantic (May 20, 2009)
Source: www.theatlantic.com
Shady deals put a ritzy Montana ski resort at risk. Then along came a common-sense judge. http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200905u/yellowstone-club

[Kathryn Gray]

Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski: Good Will Hinting

May 25, www.savethesummit.com

[Kathryn Gray]

CRITTERS AT DONNER SUMMIT

This isn't about Donner Summit Critters, but it's a nice column about watching animals--I remember that lovely picture Jenyth Utchen had up on SLPOA of the coyote on our frozen winter lakes-- we're lucky to have so much wildlife around up here to watch.

The Consolation of Animals

http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009 ... f-animals/

[Tamara]

I saw a Coyote about a month ago. He came right up to my deck. I stood on a chair in the doorway to take pictures so the sound of my steps across the snow on the deck wouldn't scare him. I'll have to share those pictures ... If I can figure out how.

Tamara

[Lorrie Poch]

Big critters have been sited recently too. This last weekend a local told me that his car had been broken into by a bear. (He had foolishly left food in it overnight.) Unfortunately, recent bear activity is the kind of information that I always thought should be posted on the SLPOA site to inform us all when bears are on the prowl in the neighborhood and remind us that it is our behavior which determines whether a bear lives a natural bear life or becomes spoiled and even eventually destroyed for it's actions. Sadly, again, SLPOA has cut off it's nose to spite it's face. I post this information here for the five or six of you who read this site.

Please properly store your food, your dog's food and your garbage. If you see a bear getting into trouble do your best to scare him off by making lots of noise and throwing small rocks, but not at his head. California bears are not a direct threat to humans. There is no reason for a civilian to ever shoot a bear. Unfortunately a corrupted bear may sometimes have to be shot by the authorities.

[Kathryn Gray]

Here's a way for landowners to preserve trees and maybe makes some $$$--California Forests Hold One Answer to Climate Change http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 2894.story

[Kathryn Gray]

Donner St Memorial Park is on the governor's list of parks to go on "caretaker status" Look for it on page 2 under "Sierra" http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifor ... 00390.html

[peter wiley]

Yes, Lorrie. That was another important consideration and aspect of the SLPOA forum that has been diminished, that is to say Bear reports in Serene Lakes and the surrounding community.
Looks like something got in a garbage can at 6656 Yuba Drive. There's garbage and litter strewn all over the place. Scenic. Garbage doesn't break down on Donner Summit. I tried to do some small scale composting of corn husks and coffee filters, etc. It doesn't breakdown. Even burying it doesn't work. I tote it out and put it in my compost pile in Sonoma.
I'm hoping someone over at SLPOA will make moves to open up the forum again. There's a lot of stuff I miss, stuff for sale or even better, free. Lost pets. Bear reports. Talk on high speed internet service. Earlier on I found postings by Dan Wexler to be informative and humorous.
I found Steve Evans comments to be straight forward, honest thoughts and opinions, except he seemed to take exception to KTG.
I don't mean to rancorous but some of these self appointed SLPOA peeps need to change their vantage point of looking at the world through the small opening in their belly button
to one that's above their graying chest hair. Looking at the world through your belly button leads to zenotropicphobia, that is to say, a quickly decaying rational mind.....
As always, Peter Wiley

[Kathryn Gray]

SYRCL OPPOSES GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO CLOSE STATE PARKS

http://yubanet.com/regional/SYRCL-Oppos ... -Parks.php