http://www.sfvaudubon.org/">San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

Hi All,

Here is a letter describing a proposed racetrack in the Antelope Valley followed by a letter from Kris Ohlenkamp, SFVAS Conservation Chair, stating the opposition of SFVAS to the development. Contact Supervisor Michael Antonovich to make your view known.

*     *     *

Dear friends and colleagues,

As you start to mark your calendars for 2010, please set aside11 AM on Saturday, February 6.

On that day, a hearing will be held in the Antelope Valley to decide the fate of the peace and tranquility of the Western Antelope Valley and its crown jewel: The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and the adjacent Fairmont Butte archaeological site.

The Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park project is a private racetrack that is being funded by Orange County millionaires, which includes a racetrack, mechanic garages, restaurant and “full service” bar.  It is proposed for the north side of Fairmont Butte located less than 2 miles from the Poppy Reserve and includes several small archaeological sites that are part of the larger Fairmont Butte archaeological site. The negative impacts to the area are numerous. For more information about this issue, details about the hearing and other ways you can help, please refer to  http://www.sio2.com/savethepoppyreserve.

In addition, I have attached the letter submitted by the Antelope Valley Archaeological Society to the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning outlining our concerns about the project. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hearing location: Lancaster Library 601 Lancaster Blvd. I hope you can attend – politicians believe in numbers! and we need bodies to be present.

And forward this information to as many other lovers of the wild spaces of California as you can!

Best,

Dr. Darcy Lynn Wiewall
Department of Anthropology
Social and Behavioral Sciences Division
Antelope Valley College
3041 West Avenue K
Lancaster, CA 93536-5426
661-722-6300 ext.6902

*     *     *

From: kris ohlenkamp
Subject: Proposed Fairmont Buttes Motorsports Park
To: fifthdistrict@lacbos.org
Cc: jsackett@planning.lacounty.gov

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 6:09 PM

Dear Supervisor Antonovich / Jodie Sackett:

The Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, by unanimous vote, is opposed to changing the L.A. County General Plan to allow development of the Fairmont Buttes Motorsports Park. Changing the status of the area from Non-Urban to Major Commercial at the behest of a single non-resident benefactor is unjustified economically, undesirable to residents in the area, and indefensible from an environmental quality perspective.

Our chapter of the National Audubon Society includes this portion of the Antelope Valley in our territory and many of our more than 2000 members live in the affected area. We are deeply concerned about the possibility of poor decisions being made on a case by case basis that totally disregard all past “planning” decisions which were made with the totality of knowledge, and all County residents future good will, in mind.

Thank you for considering our opinion.

Kris Ohlenkamp, Conservation Chair SFVAS

*     *     *

Thank you for your support!
Jim Hardesty
Moderator
Woodland Hills

The Mission of the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society is to promote the conservation of resources, to preserve and enhance the natural habitat within our territory, to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of bird life and the natural environment, and to create a social environment that encourages individual knowledge, development, and participation. No one has worked more consistently, effectively, and enthusiastically at helping fulfill this Mission than Carolyn Oppenheimer.

She has held numerous Board of Directors positions over the last 20+ years including two years as President. However, her most valued contributions have often come from ideas that she originated and successfully followed through on. Foremost in my mind are her contributions toward making our Centennial Celebration such a rousing success, and her most recent project—the College Conservation Committee.

Her first volunteer activity with the Chapter was as a docent for our Sepulveda Basin Environmental Education Project. Now she manages SBEEP and coordinates the docents, materials and equipment, teacher training, and dozens of 4^th through 6^th grade classroom visits to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area every year.

Although Carolyn has engaged in hands-on environmental improvement activities (such as our annual trash cleanup of Haskell Creek), and direct lobbying of our representatives, her efforts always stress the importance of education (for our children, ourselves, and our elected representatives) as the best long term hope for a clean, healthy and diverse environment. We thank her for her efforts and are proud to present her with this year’s Conservation Award.

Two of our partner organizations have developed websites. Links to those sites have been added to the list in the sidebar on the right.

The first of these is Antelope Valley Audubon, organized by a group of dedicated volunteers with some support from SFVAS.

The other is the website of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area, established by and for the Wildlife Area Steering Committee to keep the community informed of events and projects in the basin.

Check out both of the sites, as well as all the others listed there!

Friday, March 5, 2010, Airtel Plaza Hotel, 6:00 p.m.

Featured speaker:
Richard W. Halsey

Richard W. Halsey is the director of the California Chaparral Institute, a non-profit research and educational organization focusing on the ecology of California’s shrubland plant communities, wildland fire, and how Mediterranean-type ecosystems have helped shape human culture. He has given more than 300 presentations over the past five years concerning chaparral ecology, how communities can adapt to fire-prone environments, and the importance of nature education. Mr. Halsey also provides living history performances focusing on the Middle East in the 1100s and California in the 1800s. He taught biology for over thirty years in both public and private schools and was honored as Teacher of the Year for San Diego City Schools in 1991.

Mr. Halsey also works with the San Diego Museum of Natural History, publishes The Chaparralian, a journal focusing on chaparral and wildfire issues, and continues to teach natural history throughout the state.

Mr. Halsey earned undergraduate degrees from the University of California in environmental studies and anthropology. During graduate work he received teaching credentials in life, physical and social science and a masters in education. He has also been trained as a Type II wildland firefighter. The second edition of his book, Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California, was awarded the 2008 Best Nonfiction-Local Interest Book by the San Diego Book Awards Association.

A registration form is included in the January issue of the Phainopepla on page 8, and is also available online. Reservations due by February 26, 2010.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

In place of the Chapter’s usual monthly field trip, the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society will once again join chapters across the country and take part in National Audubon’s 110^th annual Christmas Bird Count. The count is part of the world’s largest cooperative wildlife survey with over 50,000 participants in North and Central America, Hawaii, and Caribbean. Count totals are forwarded to and analyzed by interested researchers in cooperation with the NAS and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Members and friends of the chapter are encouraged to save the date and join one of the count groups listed below as numbers of participants are crucial to the success of the count. The more eyes in the field, the more birds are seen. Several of our count areas are underserved and can use additional help. Extensive birding experience is not necessary, only a willingness to come out and count wind, rain, or shine.

Those unable to join one of the count groups may assist by noting species and numbers of birds at backyard feeders, parks, and neighborhoods provided these counts take place within a 7.5 mile distance from the count center at the intersection of Nordhoff and Balboa. Please report such counts along with time spent observing to the compiler by letter, phone, or e-mail (Art.Langton@SFVAudubon.org) no later than and preferably before January 4, 2010.

For more information, including meeting times and places, check this file or the December Phainopepla.