Sanctuary Suit is Settled

The Mayacamas Sanctuary Settlement

Birds of Great Brittain

Madrone Volunteers

The Transportation Ballot Measures

Thank You

A Walk on the Wild Side

Observations

Midweek Walkabout Results

Pee Wee Report

Things To Do

Pee Wee Audubon

October Birding in Sonoma County

Through the Garden Gate: Backyard Birding

Welcome New Members

Fewer Ducks

Future Pee Wee Events

Sanctuary Suit is Settled

by Joannie Dranginis, President

ON BEHALF OF THE Madrone Chapter, I want to thank our Mayacamas Committee volunteers, the National Audubon Society, and Audubon-California for their invaluable services in our recent joint litigation against the City of Santa Rosa. Thanks to National Audubon's resources and to the tireless efforts of the Committee, a satisfactory settlement has been achieved.

The suit was filed by National and the Madrone Chapter over the City's proposal to run a pipeline through our Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary. This is the pipeline that would carry treated wastewater from Santa Rosa up Pine Flat Road to "recharge" the Geysers steam energy fields.

Title to the Sanctuary is held by National, but it is used and monitored largely by members of the Chapter. When the pipeline issue surfaced, just over a year ago, National Audubon responded to our concerns, and brought their resources and experience to bear.

Our compelling concern was a "Forever Wild" conservation easement that was purchased in 1994 by the Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District to protect the property from development. As Dan Taylor, Executive Director of Audubon-California, has pointed out, much needs to be done at the State and local level to make such "Forever Wild" protected properties less susceptible to encroachment by public bodies. The settlement provides that the City will participate in a Task Force to develop recommendations on this matter.

Most Madrone Audubon members by now have received a special letter from the Chapter and the California office, describing the Task Force and other terms of the settlement; for a summary, see the article.

Audubon's attorneys and the volunteers who worked on the case have carefully considered each of the points in the final settlement. Both NAS and Madrone's Board of Directors are convinced that we did everything legally possible to protect our sanctuary, and that our action was both necessary and worthwhile.

At this writing, it still is not clear just what the final route for the pipeline will be, or, in fact, whether it will ultimately be constructed at all. Meanwhile, we are actively involved in developing further plans for the protection , enjoyment and appreciation of the Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary.