More BMP failures at Oak Creek today. We continue to urge the Regional Water Board to take strong action against this developer for continuing violations of water quality regulations.
Yes on Measure A comments by Mayor Paul McNamara and Vista Councilmember Corinna Contreras
North County Officials support Yes on Measure A.
Don’t miss this great news conference held today in Escondido. The video is here. Please watch the comments of these leaders in the North County who support Yes on Measure A.
Volunteer with Produce Good and pick excess fruit in our area on Feb 1
My name is Dominique Dashwood and I am an AmeriCorps fellow working with the non-profit, ProduceGood. I saw on your website that Escondido Neighbors United is committed to improving the Escondido community for residents. This is why I am reaching out to you with a great opportunity to alleviate hunger and conserve the environment in your city.
Environmental Community meeting, January 28th at 7 PM at Chalice
Our friends at Sierra Club North County Group will be holding their first monthly meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 28th, 7 PM at Chalice in the Blue Room. Address is 2324 Miller Ave.
Education and Action
Meeting
Plans and Environmental
Ballot Measures A and B
learning about local environmental issues
to 8:30 PM
Room, 2324 Miller Ave,
Escondido Contact conservation@sierraclubncg.org with questions.
New Chatham Monitoring Results posted- Contamination still in Felicita Creek, levels rise in some monitoring wells
Today, the Chatham Barrel Yard October 2019 SemiAnnualDataSbmtl was posted showing the results of the October, 2019 monitoring event.
Escondido Neighbors United will be reviewing the document and expects to have detailed comments, however a quick review shows that contamination is still in Felicita Creek in areas where people use the creek and several monitoring stations have higher contamination results than in previous sampling events. At least one well that is supposed to be sampled has not been.
ENU will also be asking questions about what the most recent massive erosion event caused by failure of the Oak Creek developers to control storm water may have on movement of contamination. This failure has already led to a Stop Work order and a Notice of Violation from the city.
We will share further information as we review the document.
Rock Concert for the Environment- Spin Doctors in Escondido Feb. 16th
We have a great opportunity to hear a great concert and raise funds to Stop Sprawl in San Diego.
THE SPIN DOCTORS will perform a concert on February 16, 2020 at the Escondido Arts Center. Here is the info https://www.stopsprawl.org/events
Buy tickets here
Uncontrolled sprawl is one of the the most serious problems in our region. From increawsing carbon emissions, reducing quality of life, undermining our transit planning, and fire. We have to stop relying on this antiquated type of development. Instead, we need to provide more housing in our urban core areas that is available to more economic levels. Vote Yes and Measure A and NO on Measure B in the March 3rd election.
This concert is a fun way to help stop sprawl.
Don’t Miss It!!!! We can save our region!
Oak Creek receives Notice of Violation and a Stop Work notice for failure to comply with storm water regulations
An update on the complaint filed by ENU.
The City issued a Notice of
Violation/Notice of Correction to Oak Creek on 12/31/19. While they worked hard
to get their BMPs in order by the deadline of today, we reinspected and found
them still deficient and issued a Stop Work Notice on January 6. The site will be inspected again later
this week.
NOV and Photos of violations
unannounced last Thursday and those results are pending.
weeks for the remainder of the rainy season.
Stay Tuned.
Oak Creek poor construction practices significantly erodes into Felicita Creek
We hate to say ‘we told you so’, but there it is. One of our major concerns about this development was the risks it posed to the creek, the park, and downstream residents.
Now that the rains have come, the construction site of ‘Oak Creek’, having cut the oaks, is now damaging the creek.
Downstream neighbors have spent the week cleaning up the creek, removing debris, and loads of sand from Felicita creek. The creek in the Park is brown, even days after the last storm.
ENU documented just some of the problem which we believe is a violation of the storm water regulations.
We attempted to report to the city (as it is Escondido’s storm water permit which covers this site) but were unable to. The website for reporting still says that ‘Oak Creek’ is not in the city of Escondido.
As we brace for another storm tonight, ENU has reported this situation to the Regional Water Board and the County.
23 Environmental, Climate Coalition join forces to Oppose Harvest Hills in Escondido
more than 20 environmental, conservation, and climate organizations sent a letter to the Escondido City Council urging opposition to the proposed Harvest
Hills Development.
groups noted that, in spite of a new marketing position, the project formerly
known as Safari Highlands Ranch is substantially the same when it comes to key
impacts, namely location in a high-risk fire zone, high evacuation hazards for
new and existing residents, and thousands of new cars on the roads in already
traffic constrained areas.
groups noted that, in spite of a new marketing position, the project formerly
known as Safari Highlands Ranch is substantially the same when it comes to key
impacts, namely location in a high-risk fire zone, high evacuation hazards for
new and existing residents, and thousands of new cars on the roads in already
traffic constrained areas.
of concern are traffic and long-term climate impacts from the addition of
67,000 daily vehicle miles traveled in a time when we need to be
reducing VMT in order to comply with climate protection goals. The destruction
of critical habitat areas key for successful adopted and proposed Habitat Management
plans are also a significant impact.
is one serious concern. Dan Silver, Director of Endangered Habitats League
said, “Experts have shown that this
project cannot be safely evacuated if threatened by a fast-moving wildfire, and
it will endanger the ability of the surrounding community to evacuate as
well. Elected officials need to
prioritize public safety and not create a fire trap.”
Courser, Conservation Chair of the San Diego Sierra Club stated, “This sprawl
project is one of the worst we have seen proposed. This area is more
appropriate as key wildlife habitat for local adopted conservation plans. As
the state burns, we hope the elected officials will search their conscience
before locating more housing in an extreme fire risk area.”
on the relationship of development and climate impacts, Sophie Wolfram of the
Climate Action Campaign stated, “Sprawl
development is one of the key culprits driving the climate crisis. At a time
when we have to be doing everything in our power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
denying this project, which will vastly increase vehicle trips and tailpipe
emissions, is just a no-brainer.”
that the change in marketing of an old proposal fails to address the
fundamental concerns. “Safari Highlands Ranch may have a new name but it
remains the embodiment of reckless urban sprawl and the antithesis of Smart Growth.
When we know better, we must do better. Bottom line: Harvest Hills is the Wrong
Plan in the Wrong Place,” said NeySa Ely, President of the San Pasqual Valley Preservation
Alliance, a local community group.
organizations signed on to the letter include Sierra Club San Diego, Endangered
Habitats League, San Pasqual Valley Preservation Alliance, Escondido Neighbors
United, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, Environmental Center of San Diego,
San Diego Audubon Society, Preserve Calavera, San Diego Democrats for Environmental
Action, California Chaparral Institute, Buena Vista Audubon Society, Southwest
Wetlands Interpretive Association, California Native Plant Society, Friends of
Rose Creek, Friends of Agua Hedionda Creek, Escondido Chamber of Citizens,
Endangered Habitats Conservancy, San Diego Coastkeeper, Climate Action
Campaign, North County Climate Action Alliance, The Chaparral Lands
Conservancy, Palomar Audubon Society, and San Diego 350.
Environmental Action Meeting, Thursday, November 14, 7:30 PM
learn about:
- Escondido
Creek restoration - Plans
to OPPOSE Harvest Hills sprawl development - Plans
to SUPPORT more housing density at Palomar Heights - Plans
to SUPPORT a Regional Transportation Plan that protects the climate
action on important
issues
together with
others.
Sponsored by North County Group of the Sierra Club.