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ALERTS
HERE !!!! 
SAVE OUR SANDHILL CRANES HIGHLIGHTS OUTREACH, LETTERS
AND ACTIONS Plans for 2008:
We have many exciting new
endeavors underway for 2008. Already
this year, we have been featured on CBS Channel 13 in a news program that
discussed some of the issues and threats faced by Sandhill Cranes in the Sacramento Valley.
To view this in video online go to:
http://cbs13.com/beatenpath/off.the.beaten.2.662486.html
We have also collaborated with a
couple of very talented local nature photographers who will be producing a very
exciting video/slideshow of the Cranes in their natural environment.
Public Outreach and Education 2007- 2008:
SOSC is committed to increasing public awareness about Sandhill Cranes
and their habitat needs.
First Annual Galt Winter Bird Festival –
Designed to showcase the rich variety and abundance of birdlife at the
Consumnes River Preserve, SOSC Board Members were instrumental in helping to
get this important festival off the ground.
Crane Culture Theater – SOSC
obtained a grant to support the Crane Culture Theatre – a theatre production
group that promotes cultural and environmental awareness by featuring stories
about Cranes from around the world.
Sandhill Crane Viewing and Learning Tours – SOSC
Board Members led four monthly public outings to view the Cranes in their
natural habitat this past season. Our
tours began at the Visitor Center at the Cosumnes Preserve, and ventured
southwest into the Delta’s Staten Island where
tour attendees were able to see literally hundreds, if not thousands of
wintering waterfowl including Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and many other
species. Our tours have been enormously
popular - with as many at 50 people attending to hear local bird experts talk
about Sandhill Cranes and their peculiarities. If you haven’t yet experienced a
tour, please be sure to watch our website for next year’s tour dates so you can
experience the sights and sounds of these magnificent birds.
Public Events – SOSC
Board members participated in public outreach efforts to educate citizens about
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat needs at a number of local events during
2007. The events we participated in last
year included: Wings of Spring at the Sacramento Zoo, Walk on the Wild Side at
Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Earth Day at CSU
Sacramento, Sacramento City College Earth Day, The Salmon Festival at the
Nimbus Fish Hatchery, The Sheldon Festival, and The Lodi Crane Festival
Presentations to UC Davis Student Organization – SOSC
Board Members delivered a presentation to a group of UC Davis students who are
interested in conservation efforts. This
year, we were invited back to do a similar presentation.
Local Land Use and Conservation Efforts 2007- 2008:
Along with our commitment to public education about Sandhill Cranes,
SOSC recognizes that rapid growth and land use practices have serious impacts
on our Sandhill Cranes and other local wildlife. The SOSC Board is committed to working with
other organizations and local agencies to promote smart growth alternatives, and
find a balance between the needs of people and the needs of wildlife.
East County Land
Use Issues – SOSC Board Members played a key role in planning and
organizing the successful March 14th effort to quash a development
proposal outside of the urban services boundary along the Eastern Sacramento
County line. Far from existing county service lines, the
development of this area would have been costly for the county, leapfrogged
across existing agricultural zoning areas, and detracted from important re-development
efforts within our older neighborhoods and commercial corridors.
Sacramento County General
Plan – SOSC Board Members developed extensive comment letters
to communicate concerns about proposed elements of the Sacramento County Draft
General Plan update. SOSC attended
community workshops and numerous hearings.
We also developed comments on the Land Use, Open Space and Conservation
Elements, and assisted in the development of comments prepared by other
organizations. We believe that
participating in the general plan process is critical to insure that the needs
of Sandhill Cranes and other native wildlife are not overlooked in future
growth planning.
South Sacramento County Habitat
Conservation Plan – SOSC Board Members participated in the South Sacramento
Habitat Conservation Plan steering committee meetings. The SSHCP is key to offsetting the effects of
new development by requiring that permanent conservation of wildlife habitat
land occurs in conjunction with new development approvals in the south county.
North Natomas
Development – SOSC Board Members participated in the public
dialogue opposing the Greenbrier project.
A development proposal to add nearly 3,000 more homes in flood-prone Natomas Basin, the Greenbriar project will also
eliminate prime habitat for Giant Garter Snakes and Swainson’s hawks.
Proposed Elk Grove Expansion – SOSC
Board Members also participated in the public dialogue opposing the proposed
extension of Elk Grove’s Sphere of Influence boundary further south to the Cosumnes River. The SOSC Board believes Elk Grove
has substantial land left to develop within its existing boundary, and has not
as yet provided credible evidence to support the need to grow south. A southern expansion of Elk Grove’s existing
city boundary line could compromise farming activities in the south county,
remove critical habitat for Swainson’s Hawk and other important species, and
further compromise the Cosumnes
River watershed.
Galt General Plan – SOSC
Board Members continued to participate in the Galt General Plan process to
ensure that the needs of Sandhill Cranes and other wildlife are not overlooked
in future growth planning.
LETTERSMarch 12, 2007 -Sean Wirth, SOS Crane board
member, letter providing
comments to the Sacramento Board of Supervisors on the Open Space
Element of the Sacramento County Draft General Plan.
February 21, 2007 -Sacramento Bee, EDITORIALS
section -Supes
roll over for developers by Jacqueline DeLu
"The crisis is accelerating," letter, Feb. 15: It is obvious to
everyone who reads the paper that global warming and urban sprawl need
to be addressed by our governments at the federal as well as local
levels. However, after sitting in the Sacramento County Board of
Supervisors meeting for three hours, I can say that newspapers are not
read by these elected officials.
February 7, 2007 -LAFCo
Open Space Workshop -SOS Cranes board members, Mike Savino,
Tara Hansen, Sean Wirth, Tina Suarez-Murias gave a comprehensive
presentation.
January 23, 2007- Tara Hansen, SOS Crane board
member, letter
providing comments to the Sacramento Board of Supervisors on the Land
Use Element of the Sacramento County Draft General Plan.
December 5, 2006 -Tara Hansen, SOS Crane board
member, comment's for the Sacramento
County Draft General Plan Workshop 20.
November 21, 2006 -Department of Water Resources
to Honorable Heather Fargo, Mayor of the City of Sacramento on Natomas Basin Risk Reduction
on flood protection.
November, 2006 -The American River Parkway by
Warren V. Truitt & Betsy Weiland, Save The American River
Association
November 5, 2006 -Letter to Sacramento Local
Agency Formation Commission regarding the November 1 Workshop
October 18, 2006 -Letter to Mayor Heather Fargo
regading Greenbriar
Project, Environmental Impacts.
October 10, 2006 -SOS Cranes letter to Chairman Tooker, LAFCo
Commissioners, and Mr. Brundage.
Aug.
& Sep. 2006
-SOS Cranes letter to LAFCo - Comments on the Greenbriar
DEIR!!
June 28, 2006 -Audubon
letter to City of Galt - Wastewater Treatment Plant
Expansion/Upgrade
February 2006- SOS Cranes letter to LAFCO for
February meeting: LETTER
SOS Cranes letter to Galt Residents: LETTER
Aerial Photo of Area "G" and Waste Treatment
Plant: PHOTO
Fact sheet explaining why Sierra Club and FOSH
oppose expansion onto sensitive habitat north and west of the City to
their sphere of influence: FACT
SHEET
Map of Core Sandhill Crane Wintering Areas in the
Delta: CRANE HABITAT
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