Issue: GGNRA Should Use Composting Toilets in Stinson
Letter from Gordon Bennett on February 21, 2003
Stinson/Bolinas Work-Group c/o Gordon Bennett 105 Sunset
Way Muir Beach CA 94965
February 21, 2003
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Attn: Heather Marashi
Building 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco CA 94123
Re: Stinson Beach Restroom Project L76 (GOGA-PLAN)
Dear Ms. Marashi:
The Sierra Club – Marin Group, on behalf of its 7,000 Marin County members,
urges GGNRA to eliminate its proposed low-flush toilets and substitute composting
toilets in its Stinson Beach Restroom Project.
Current summer-weekend water use has regularly over-drawn Easkoot Creek,
killing endangered steelhead and coho. Even low-flush toilets would
represent a large percentage of this weekend water use. Composting toilets
use no water and for this reason are in common use throughout parklands worldwide.
Composting toilets are permitted within GGNRA’s federal jurisdiction and,
in the proposed Restroom location, would not impact neighboring private properties.
Composting toilets should be part of an over-all water management plan that
involves both GGNRA and Stinson Beach County Water District (SBCWD).
GGNRA should do its part by installing composting toilets, seasonally turning
off showers and picnic area faucets, installing low-flow automatic turnoff
handwash stations, and planting drought resistant landscaping. SBCWD
should do its part by concluding its long-term water management plan, under
design for some time, but beyond the scope of this letter.
Absent SBCWD’s long-term plan, GGNRA should pursue an interim agreement
with SBCWD to assure that water saved by its publicly funded Restroom Project
will remain in Easkoot Creek to protect public resources, rather than being
diverted for increased private use that will impact public resources.
Since federal law prohibits use of public funds for private benefit, if GGNRA
cannot come to agreement with SBCWD to protect the saved water, then the Sierra
Club urges GGNRA to accomplish the same end by asserting any riparian rights
it may have for its Easkoot Creek Riparian Restoration Project (per the page
21 Recommendations of the Redwood Creek Water Rights Assessment / GGNRA /
Technical Report NPS / NRWRD / NRTR-93/16).
Lastly we suggest GGNRA change the second goal of the 2/13/03 letter to
project reviewers, which now reads: "Site the new facility to reduce environmental
impacts..."
To broaden the intent of the goal, we urge that it instead read: "Design
the new facility to reduce environmental impacts..." Thank you for
the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
Gordon Bennett, Sierra Club – Marin Group Executive Committee