Delta Regional Group:

"Conservation Planning in East Contra Costa"

Thursday, January 18, 7:15 pm, Antioch Library, 501 West 18th Street, Antioch.

January 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Delta Regional Group. We look back on 20 years of interesting environmental challenges and congenial group activities, along with an awareness of the changes those years have brought to the East Contra Costa landscape. Looking ahead, there are many plans under way to create new patterns of change, including e-Bart, the Highway 4 Bypass, countless housing developments already approved for construction, and new threats to the Delta's ecosystem.

A regional plan to help regulate and facilitate some of these changes in East Contra Costa is now in the approval process. In 2001 a coalition of groups in Contra Costa County was formed to prepare a Habitat Conservation Plan for East Contra Costa. The final HCP/Natural Community Conservation Plan was published in October 2006, and local approval of the plan is under way. The plan's purpose is to balance open space, natural resources, habitat protection, agriculture, and urban development through acquisition and conservation of habitat land from willing sellers while streamlining the permit process for new planned-development areas. The final plan covers 174,000 acres and 28 species, and would conserve approximately 24,000 - 30,000 acres. Habitat-conservation activities would be funded by new development fees and state and federal grants. The Bay Chapter is generally pleased with the work done on the East Contra Costa HCP/NCCP and has signed on to a letter to that effect.

Tonight we'll hear details about the final plan from John Kopchik, principal planner with the Conservation Programs Division of the Contra Costa County Community Development Department. John will be joined by Brentwood resident Dick Vrmeer, who has participated in the planning process as a representative of Greenbelt Alliance.

Join us and bring your comments and questions about this important plan to guide future changes in our East Contra Costa community. We'll also have time to socialize and munch goodies, and to briefly discuss our activity calendar and current environmental concerns.

Group program meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday or Wednesday in January, March, May, September and November. A newsletter listing Delta Group programs, outings and activities is available by $5 subscription. To receive the newsletter, send a $5 check payable to "Sierra Club, Delta Group" to:

Tish Brown
51 Danridge Court
Antioch, CA 94509.

For information about Delta Group activities, call Janess Hanson at (925)458-0860. For information about Delta area environmental concerns, call Tim Donahue at (925) 754-8801.

Upcoming hikes and activities

For details, see the Events and Activities calendar.
Sat., Jan. 6 - Walnut Creek Regional Trails, 1A hike.
Sat., Jan. 13 - Delta bird safari.
Sun., Jan. 14 - Heather Farms Park, Walnut Creek, sketch hike.
Sun., Feb. 11 - Mount Wanda, Martinez, sketch hike.
Sat., Feb. 25 - Martinez to Port Costa, 2A hike.