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| NOW YOU SEE IT, THEN YOU WILL NOT: Proposed site for additional peaker plant sits directly below Otay Lakes Park. Construction on this site will completely block the view of the Otay Valley Regional Park. |
Saturday, August 28, 2010
WiLDCOAST said no to proposed peaker plant in Otay Valley Regional Park
WiLDCOAST and local environmentalist say "NO" to proposed peaker plant construction in the Otay Valley Regional Park.
Friday, August 27, 2010
BBC News - Anti-whaling NGOs warn of 'contaminated' whale meat
BBC News - Anti-whaling NGOs warn of 'contaminated' whale meat
I love BBC News! Their coverage of worldwide environmental and wildlife issues is a lesson for American media.
I love BBC News! Their coverage of worldwide environmental and wildlife issues is a lesson for American media.
Wildlife and Offshore Drilling: Sea Turtles
WiLDCOAST continuously works to educate and preserve the natural habitat and nesting grounds of all species of sea turtles. This article from Defenders of Wildlife discusses the impact of the BP's oil spill on the the life of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida's Atlantic coast. More to come on WiLDCOAST's efforts to save this ancient species that has survived on this planet for more than 150 million years.
Wildlife and Offshore Drilling: Sea Turtles
Wildlife and Offshore Drilling: Sea Turtles
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
St. Therese blesses WiLDCOAST’s Otay Valley Regional Park Youth Restoration Site
St. Therese Catholic Church in Del Cerro sent 12 young disciples to work in WiLDCOAST’s Otay Valley Regional Park Youth Restoration Site on Friday, August 6. Armed with gloves, water buckets and a lot of heart, these young people spent more than two hours watering and removing invasive plant species on this three-acre restoration project lead by Katie Westfall.
Eager to work and learn, they wasted no time in getting started. Piles of invasive species were pulled from the roots. Within an hour, I was shocked at the transformation of the site. Native species of the region seemed radiant with the removal of all the dry brush.
Park Ranger John Barone was thrilled to see such a turnout. He said that the work done this day gave the young native plants a better fighting chance at survival. Barone pointed out to everyone where native plants of the region are already propagating on their own.
Westfall, working with the group all week on several projects said the group’s work all week on several projects was inspiring and in the short time that I spent with them, I see why. Their enthusiasm and work ethics were clearly demonstrated, setting an example that they can carry with them and spread to all they come in contact with.
When the morning work was completed, they wanted to know what more they could do. On their own, they took trash bags and walked around Fenton Pond, picking up trash. This program needs more volunteers like this for the restoration program to grow.
St. Therese “the little flower” is one of the greatest saints of the 20th century. “My way is all confidence and love. What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love,” she wrote. “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”
Witnessing the deeds of this group, I believe St. Therese showered these youth with her blessing of roses.
St. Therese's 12 desciples: Christine Dang, Valeria Cardenas, Sean Dowling, Geoff Supplee, Mark McHoruey, Jennie Klotz, Norma Davenport, Melody Van Tassell, Ashley Warren, Kaitlyn Gomez, Darcy Van Mouwerik, Molly Minney.
Eager to work and learn, they wasted no time in getting started. Piles of invasive species were pulled from the roots. Within an hour, I was shocked at the transformation of the site. Native species of the region seemed radiant with the removal of all the dry brush.
Park Ranger John Barone was thrilled to see such a turnout. He said that the work done this day gave the young native plants a better fighting chance at survival. Barone pointed out to everyone where native plants of the region are already propagating on their own.
Plant identification: Ranger Barone educates on the native species of the Otay Valley Regional Park.
Clean-up: Darcy Van Mouwerik, 16, moves piles of dry brush after spending an hour pulling out the invasive weeds.
Westfall, working with the group all week on several projects said the group’s work all week on several projects was inspiring and in the short time that I spent with them, I see why. Their enthusiasm and work ethics were clearly demonstrated, setting an example that they can carry with them and spread to all they come in contact with.
Always a teacher: Katie Westfall speaks to the group concerning the work of the day.
No easy work: Valeria Cardenas, 17, works meticulously to remove dry weeds, still protecting young plants.
Teamwork: Darcy Van Mouwerik, 16, Molly Minney,17, and youth group leader Sean Dowling,20, begin bagging piles of pulled weeds.
When the morning work was completed, they wanted to know what more they could do. On their own, they took trash bags and walked around Fenton Pond, picking up trash. This program needs more volunteers like this for the restoration program to grow.
Kaitlyn Gomez, 16
Geoff Supplee, 17
St. Therese “the little flower” is one of the greatest saints of the 20th century. “My way is all confidence and love. What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love,” she wrote. “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.”
Witnessing the deeds of this group, I believe St. Therese showered these youth with her blessing of roses.
Group leader Sean Dowling leads by expample.
Laughing through a morning of hard work.
Looking for more work the youth group hits the trail around Fenton Pond to pick up trash.
Photo credits/Albert Fulcher
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
WiLDCOAST program removes tons of trash on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border
I am always amazed when I meet someone who’s life is so intermingled on both sides of the border. Their personal story is such an intricate mix of their love of Mexico and America. Two cultures with just as many things in common as not. WiLDCOAST’s Paloma Aguirre is one of these stories.
Coordinator for the Coastal Conservation Program, Aguirre heads a major joint effort clean-up project in the Tijuana River Valley y cruzando la línea, en el Cañón del Alacrán (Scorpion Canyon) en Los Laureles, Tijuana.
Born in America, Aguirre lived her life in Mexico until 2001. Leaving Puerto Vallarta to live in San Diego, she arrived just a few days before 9/11. Aguirre said that she always wanted to come back here for an education and also to be a bodyboarding competitor.
Catching waves in Imperial Beach is where she met Serge Dedina. Aguirre said she saw him placing water signs on the beach. Curious, she went to him to ask what he was doing. She had no idea of the pollution problems that this tiny beach town has suffered for years. With her love of the ocean-came the love of the cause. Aguirre began volunteering for WiLDCOAST in 2005.
Aguirre volunteered for two years, worked part time and then went back to school. Graduating USD in psychology she has been program coordinator for WiLDCOAST’s bi-national cleanup efforts for a year. She said she is a passionate advocate of ocean conservation and that clean up of the Tijuana River Valley is an vital portion of keeping the estuary and ocean clean.
These clean-up projects are well coordinated, volunteer based and enabled by concerned citizens on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. In one day, with more than 50 volunteers removed a half ton of trash and 100 waste-tires from Effie May’s Trail.
On July 24, more than 20 city workers and 45 residents in Los Laureles, Tijuana gathered with WiLDCOAST to remove solid waste and trash from Cañón del Alacrán. Using two heavy duty excavators, two dump trucks, this team of volunteers removed more than 15 tons of solid waste and trash.
Aguirre has many goals for her program. She said her goal is to inform stakeholders on both sides of the border the effects of trash and river run-off and its impact on our entire local ecosystem.
Encompassing 1,739 square-miles the Tijuana River watershed has been a doorway of pollution leaving a path of trash and contaminants, fed into the ocean at the river’s mouth. WiLDCOAST reports show that depending on ocean current this pollution impacts beach water quality from Playas de Tijuana, Mexico up to Coronado.
This is a bi-national problem, and WiLDCOAST, with the hard work of people like Aguirre are pulling two nations together for a common cause.
Aguirre said it is not easy with a life that crosses the border constantly, but she has WiLDCOAST in her blood.
“I grew up in Mexico and all of my family lives there,” said Aguirre. “WiLDCOAST has been a constant in my life-my extended family. Under the leadership of Dr. Dedina, someone with such a passion, it is a great family to be a part of.”
Paloma is always looking for volunteers that can work on both sides of the border. Lend a helping hand. Contact her at paloma@wildcoast.net.
Here is a link to a WiLDCOAST press release on the event with an amazing photographic slide show.
http://bit.ly/a5oiTx
Coordinator for the Coastal Conservation Program, Aguirre heads a major joint effort clean-up project in the Tijuana River Valley y cruzando la línea, en el Cañón del Alacrán (Scorpion Canyon) en Los Laureles, Tijuana.
Born in America, Aguirre lived her life in Mexico until 2001. Leaving Puerto Vallarta to live in San Diego, she arrived just a few days before 9/11. Aguirre said that she always wanted to come back here for an education and also to be a bodyboarding competitor.
Catching waves in Imperial Beach is where she met Serge Dedina. Aguirre said she saw him placing water signs on the beach. Curious, she went to him to ask what he was doing. She had no idea of the pollution problems that this tiny beach town has suffered for years. With her love of the ocean-came the love of the cause. Aguirre began volunteering for WiLDCOAST in 2005.
Aguirre volunteered for two years, worked part time and then went back to school. Graduating USD in psychology she has been program coordinator for WiLDCOAST’s bi-national cleanup efforts for a year. She said she is a passionate advocate of ocean conservation and that clean up of the Tijuana River Valley is an vital portion of keeping the estuary and ocean clean.
These clean-up projects are well coordinated, volunteer based and enabled by concerned citizens on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. In one day, with more than 50 volunteers removed a half ton of trash and 100 waste-tires from Effie May’s Trail.
Effie May's Trail: Solid waste covers the trail. More than a half ton of trashed was removed in one day.
Photos courtesy of WiLDCOAST
On July 24, more than 20 city workers and 45 residents in Los Laureles, Tijuana gathered with WiLDCOAST to remove solid waste and trash from Cañón del Alacrán. Using two heavy duty excavators, two dump trucks, this team of volunteers removed more than 15 tons of solid waste and trash.
Aguirre has many goals for her program. She said her goal is to inform stakeholders on both sides of the border the effects of trash and river run-off and its impact on our entire local ecosystem.
Encompassing 1,739 square-miles the Tijuana River watershed has been a doorway of pollution leaving a path of trash and contaminants, fed into the ocean at the river’s mouth. WiLDCOAST reports show that depending on ocean current this pollution impacts beach water quality from Playas de Tijuana, Mexico up to Coronado.
This is a bi-national problem, and WiLDCOAST, with the hard work of people like Aguirre are pulling two nations together for a common cause.
Aguirre said it is not easy with a life that crosses the border constantly, but she has WiLDCOAST in her blood.
“I grew up in Mexico and all of my family lives there,” said Aguirre. “WiLDCOAST has been a constant in my life-my extended family. Under the leadership of Dr. Dedina, someone with such a passion, it is a great family to be a part of.”
Paloma is always looking for volunteers that can work on both sides of the border. Lend a helping hand. Contact her at paloma@wildcoast.net.
Here is a link to a WiLDCOAST press release on the event with an amazing photographic slide show.
http://bit.ly/a5oiTx
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