Check out the January 26, 2012Marin IJ column by Huey D. Johnson on the subject of wilderness protection at Pt. Reyes. The ongoing conflict over the lease extension has helped focus attention on how “sound science” is used as a political tool, allowing our elected officials to avoid the tough decisions that will protect our natural heritage for generations.

The ‘Marin Voice’ column begins: “The Point Reyes oyster conflict has accomplished at least one result of positive national environmental importance: Related research by the University of California has exposed and could solve a disastrous hurdle for U.S. environmental legislation.

It is the practice of legislators’ corrupt use of science. The formula is to call an environmental project’s scientific work inferior, state that the public needs “good science,” and then do one or more scientific studies to review that which has already been done. Faking a need for a better research effort is nothing but a smoke screen to avert a vote and to provide time to manipulate legislation. The tactic has actually been used in Congress 900 times.”

The University of California Law Review Article described in the column can be found here

California’s State Parks Commission met on January 27 in Brentwood, CA, to “reconsider” its decision last fall to remove vital protections from Washoe Meadows State Park by reclassifying significant portions of parkland. Despite overwhelming public response opposing the move, the Commissioners had voted on October 21 to downgrade some 20 percent of Washoe Meadows in order to move 9 holes of the Lake Tahoe Golf Course into the parkland as part of the Upper Truckee River Restoration Project. Continue reading →

The citizens’ campaign to save Lower Point Vicente (LPV) Park from development marked a victory on August 10 when the Annenberg Foundation released a statement noting that “unforeseen delays this past year and changed circumstances related to entitlements compel the Foundation to withdraw its application.” The Foundation had sought for three years to develop a Companion Animal Care Center in the Park despite the clear contravention of the Park’s deed restrictions and despite admonitions from the National Park Service and other agencies. In opposition, the “Save LPV” coalition worked tirelessly to reveal the particulars behind the nearly 3-acre project and its impact on the Park’s open space and land use legacies. Defense of Place salutes the Save LPV advocates. They exemplify the efforts of activists throughout the United States who sacrifice personal time and resources to defend protected lands from betrayal by private and public entities.