West Contra Costa County Group

Hike and picnic

Saturday, July 22 (date tentative).

Plans still being developed. Contact Norman La Force at (510)526-4362.

Executive Committee meetings

Wednesday, July 26.
Wednesday, August 23.

Both meetings at 7:45 pm, Northminster Presbyterian Church (Makemie Hall), 545 Ashbury Street, El Cerrito.

West Contra Costa Group Executive Committee meetings are open to all. Come to learn about the Group's conservation issues and administration, or to volunteer your time and talents. For information contact Norman La Force, (510)526-4362.

Besides monthly ExComm meetings, we plan three or four general meetings each year. We need to know what kinds of programs and presenters you are interested in and would come to. Let us know at (510)528-2913 or visit http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/westcc.

Happenings in West Contra Costa

Contra Costa County's 13-member Hazardous Materials Commission advises the Board of Supervisors on hazardous-materials issues, including industrial safety. Members serve four-year terms, and must live or work in Contra Costa. Steve Linsley, a member of the West County Group, serves on the commission representing environmental organizations. The county is seeking an alternate to serve when Steve cannot attend. To obtain an application form, or for further information, contact Michael Kent, executive assistant to the commission, at (925)313-6587, or see the county's web site at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/maddybook/.

Emeryville resident Anne Koenig is trying to buy for residential development the open hillside adjoining El Cerrito's Hillside Natural Area. Escrow is set to close on June 24. Neighbors working to oppose development have formed the El Cerrito Hillside Organization (ECHO). Their web site is www.echopenspace.org.

The Sierra Club opposes development here and is working with ECHO. To help, contact Chapter conservation director Mike Daley at (510)848-0800, ext. 304, or Lori Dair at (510)232-6466.

Though the most recent developer has dropped plans for the Clark Road property above the El Sobrante Valley adjacent to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, another development threatens open space just to the west. The Group opposes and has sent comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Forest Green project, which would clear oak woodland and place homes on slide-prone slopes.

The East Bay Regional Park District is pursuing eminent domain to protect most of Breuner Marsh, but it does not plan to buy a portion of that land which contains unique upland habitat. In addition, other areas along Richmond's northern shoreline are still up for grabs. We continue to work with the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance to protect this shoreline from destructive development. To help, contact Mike Daley at (510)848-0800, ext. 304.

The Group continues to follow developments at the Zeneca site on Richmond's southern shoreline as well as the adjacent University of California Field Station. Information on the extent and danger of industrial toxics there continues to emerge.

For other West Contra Costa news, see articles on the updating of the Richmond general plan and the efforts of Hercules to block construction of a Wal-Mart.