Environmentalists have done much to restore salmon runs to
the Pacific. It is time to restore Steelhead runs to the Bay
from the eastern flank of Mt. Tam's watershed
As we become aware that protection of the watershed is
crucial to the health of our creeks and streams we face the
challenge of reviving fish runs to San farncisco Bay. It is
indisputable that we have fish in the creeks on the eastern
watershed of Mt. Tam. Conservation efforts in Southern Marin
should now concentrate on increased protection of the lower
flanks of our watershed from the impacts of concentrated
runoff, and the ersoion associated with it, resulting from
additional impervious surface in the form of houses and
driveways intruding on sensitive habitat areas. At the same
time, we can give our anadromous fish (steelhead and coho
slamon, so called because they divide their lives between
freshwater and saltwater habitat) a fighting chance to
reproduce successfully by identifying and removing fish
barriers in our creeks and streams. We need to recognize
that we are blessed to have functioning habitat within our
built environment in Southern Marin and that we have a duty
to protect and, where possible, restore it. As a
Councilmember in Mill Valley I led the way to passage of a
heritage tree protection ordinance which prevents mature
redwoods, oaks, and madrones from being removed without a
permit, and consistently supported open space acquisition.
As a citizen I applied for and became Chair of the Site
Priority Committee, appointed by the City to categorize
remaining undeveloped lots for preservation. When the
Committee's report was submitted I worked with a group of
citizens to initiate preservation of the most vulnerable of
these lots. The result is a key 4 acre donation in Mill
Valley's Cascade Canyon and a purchase agreement for another
lot, which together will exclude any future vehicular access
into a recreational trail area that includes spotted owl
habitat
|
