S.F. Bay’s slide in mud worries scientists
By Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, October 5, 2009
Millions of tons of sand and clay that Gold Rush miners scoured from the Sierra Nevada have finally flushed out to sea after more than a century in San Francisco Bay, according to the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
While that has led to a remarkably clearer bay in the past decade, scientists are worried about the implications for fish and wetlands, which require a certain amount of free-floating silt for survival.
"This sediment was introduced during hydraulic mining, and the ecosystem adapte...
Point Isabel in Richmond Picked as #1 Dog Park In Country
By Patrick
Monday, October 5, 2009
Today, Petside.com counted off the top 10 dog parks in the country and, most notably, they included the Bay Area's Point Isabel Regional Shoreline as it's number 1 choice. I'm not sure exactly how you judge dog parks that are across the county from one another and I'm not entirely sure why petside.com has decided to undertake such a grand account of the best dog parks in America (probably so blogs like ours will talk about it), but there is little doubt that they were anything but spot on in picking the Richmond park as their ...
West County Times 9/30/2009
Letter to the Editor
September 30, 2009
The sights, sounds and fragrances of our shoreline and wildlife need to be protected. We need to preserve it for ourselves and for our children — in perpetuity. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.
The traffic congestion at the intersection of Central Avenue and Rydin Road is already very frustrating. Further intrusion will permanently destroy our wildlife and views, and pollute our air.
I enjoy Kohl's. I especially need to shop without going on the freeway (to Hilltop Mall or elsewhere). Instead of bringing more blight to ...
West County Times 9/28/2009
Letter to the Editor
September 28, 2009
As a Richmond resident, I hope the city of Richmond will support shoreline access and keep the current designations for all shoreline parcels. Our shorelines are one of our greatest assets. I urge the city to protect all of our shoreline and especially North Richmond, South Richmond and San Pablo Peninsula.
David Moore, Richmond
Find more Letters to the Editor at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/letters
West County Times 9/17/2009
Letter to the Editor
September 17, 2009
Richmond's proposal to rezone Point Isabel for commercial development and housing circumvents the community's desires, while benefiting Kohl's.
Kohl's leased property at Point Isabel more than two years ago. Then it announced plans to open a 99,011-square-foot department store.
That land is zoned light industrial, minimizing the impact on adjacent critical wildlife habitat.
Kohl's needed Richmond to spot-zone for commercial development. That required a hearing and the public was against it. We want to preserve the shorel...
Richmond’s casino plan clears hurdle
by Blanca Torres
Friday, July 31, 2009
The City of Richmond and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs have completed the environmental impact report for a proposed $1.5 billion casino, hotel and resort development on a 415-acre site.
The controversial casino project is expected to generate close to $1 billion per year in revenue, create 12,000 permanent jobs and aims to raise Richmond's cachet as a vacation destination. The developers estimate it would also raise more than $100 million per year in tax revenue for the city.
The site is a former Naval fuel depot ...
Point Molate Casino Plan Draws Concerns, Praise
By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 30, 2009
The massive draft environmental impact report on what could become California's first Las Vegas–style metropolitan casino reveals sharp divisions among Richmond residents.
But those opinions were gathered four years ago, during an economic boom that has since crested and collapsed.
Berkeley developer James D. Levine, partnered with a Napa developer, a former Clinton cabinet member and two Native American tribes—one impoverished and the other flush with gambling wealth—plans a billion–and–a–half–dollar ...
Fate of Golden Gate Fields Still Uncertain
By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 30, 2009
The fate of Golden Gate Fields, the Bay Area's last remaining horseracing venue, remains uncertain as parent Magna Entertainment continues to undergo bankruptcy proceedings in the United States and Canada.
In a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, creditors of the ailing company claim it illegally siphoned off $125 million in assets to other companies controlled by Magna Entertainment chief executive Frank Stronach.
Representatives of Stronach's company have denied the allegations, according to Frank ...
Rumor’s of Eastshore Park Closure Untrue
By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 30, 2009
Despite reports from the state Department of Parks and Recreation, Eastshore State Park isn't about to close, reports Larry Tong, interagency planning manager for the park district.
“Over my dead body,” said Robert Cheasty, who chairs Citizens for Eastshore State Park, the advocacy group that has helped raise funds for the shoreline park used by countless Bay Area residents and visitors.
Tong said he has asked the state agency to correct the erroneous reports, which were broadcast Tuesday night on some regional ...
Of Birds and Humans- Aquatic Park
Would fixing the flooding in West Berkeley hurt the fish in Aquatic Park?
By Eric Klein
July 29, 2009
Berkeley officials are studying a plan to improve circulation in the stagnant lagoons of Aquatic Park. They say the stale water kills fish, increases algae growth, and gives the park a distinctive odor that you can enjoy when you're speeding past on I-80. But environmentalists fear the plan will increase storm water runoff, killing fish and degrading the environment in one of the Bay Area's most important waterbird habitats.
Aquatic Park is Berkeley's largest ...