the Foothill-South Toll Road which would bisect San Onofre State Beach and the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy will not ease traf-fic on I-5, according to a new study by the Orange County Transpor-tation Authority (OCTA). The new figures contradict optimistic projections by the toll road agency that the Foothill-South Toll Road would eliminate con-gestion on I-5 through South Orange County. OCTA’s long-range transportation plan, which was completed in July, predicts a far more congested future for I-5 than the toll agency envisions. “Even with a fully functional Foothill South, I-5 will still be bad. The tollway is not as advertised,” said Laguna Niguel Mayor Cathryn DeYoung, a former OCTA board member who unsuccess-fully challenged Patricia Bates for county supervisor in the Novem-ber election. “Both agencies should sit down, look at the data and deter-mine what they are going to do,” DeYoung said.

This isn’t the first time the toll road agency has exaggerated their traffic projections. Inaccurate traffic and revenue predictions for the San Joaquin Hills (73) Toll Road have brought that system to the brink of bankruptcy. And just a few years ago, the proposed Foothill-South Toll Road was downsized from 8 lanes to 6 lanes due to weakness of demand for the project. The OCTA has proven that the Foothill-South Toll Road will not achieve its stated goal of traffic relief on I-5. What it will do is ruin California’s 5th most popular state park at San Onofre, threaten the world class surf beach at Trestles, force the abandonment of the San Mateo Campground, and bisect the Donna O’Neill Land Con-servancy. The TCA should abandon their plans for the Foothill-South Toll Road and concentrate on real transportation solutions – like fixing I-5 - that preserve our state park, clean surf and community.

A Project of Sierra Club

friend friendto

DECEMBER, 2006

FROM TRESTLES TO SADDLEBACK—PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY—STOP ThE TOLL ROAD SOUTh

transportation study concludes toll road won’t fix traffic

8th annual hike & holiday partySAVE THE DATE: saturday, dec. 16th

hIKE: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PARTY: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

See inside for details.

Visit the OCTA website at www.octa.net to view the 2006 Long Range Transportation Plan

That day, when I learned that the Foothill-South Toll Road would go directly through a California state park, I immediately knew this was fundamentally wrong. In fact, I was horrified! The more I learned about the plan to pave through San Onofre State Beach, bisect the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy, trounce a Native American sacred site, imperil an entire list of endangered species and foul the world class surf break at Trestles, the angrier I felt. The impassioned speakers at that hearing and passionate residents who showed up in numbers to oppose the toll road inspired me. Although I had never thought of myself as an activist or environmentalist per se, I decided to join the fight. My friend Janine Robinson, who was with me that day, also was inspired into action. For several years we had been walking our dogs through local trails amid Laguna’s hard-earned open space. On our hikes, we have no choice but to see the concrete mass of toll road cutting directly through the hills. This constant reminder inspired both of us to inform our friends of the threat to other precious open space. To learn more, we contacted Brittany McKee of Friends of the Foothills, and invited her to my home to talk to a group of friends.

About 40 people showed up, and once they understood the impact of the toll road, they were all eager to help stop it, too. Shortly after that meeting, we learned that the city of Oceanside was about to pass a resolution opposing the toll road being built through a state park. Janine and I decided we could help motivate our hometown to pass a similar resolution. Using the local media and a growing email loop, we spread the word about the resolution. The night that our City Council was set to vote on it, nearly a hundred people packed the council chambers to support our efforts. Laguna’s council members passed the resolution unanimously to the whoops and cheers of the entire room. Janine and I were further inspired to join a group who were going to Sacramento to demonstrate on the Capitol steps against the toll road, and help bring the issue statewide. Throughout this process, I have learned that getting involved and taking small steps can add up to making a huge difference. This is a fight that we cannot afford to ignore. Together, we can “Save Trestles” and stop this absurd and destructive toll road!

Carey Strombotne Volunteer, Friends of the Foothills/Sierra Club

…we learned that the city of Oceanside was about to pass a resolution opposing the toll road being built through a

state park. Janine and I decided we could help motivate our hometown (Laguna Beach) to pass a similar resolution.

a couple of years ago some friends were heading out to Tesoro High School to a hearing on the proposed 241 toll road. Living in Laguna Beach, I knew all about toll roads, the years of effort to block the 73 toll road from carving through our gorgeous canyon, and how destructive and wasteful that turned out to be. I had also seen a few “Save Trestles” bumper stickers around town, and was curious to learn more about the fight to save the famous surf break.

volunteer profile: carey strombotne

inspired into actionDerek, Carey and

Rex Strombotne with Buddy,in front of the Carolyn Wood View Knoll and the Laguna Greenbelt.

a few months back, a 30 year struggle to preserve and restore something wonderful, necessary and important along Southern California’s coastline succeeded. The Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach had been taken hostage 100 years ago by oil drilling interests to be continuously abused and exploited - fi-nally to face the ultimate Southern California coastal open space battle-to become a luxury housing development. To stop the destruction of this fragile habitat, local residents organized and began educating the public about the value of these wetlands and their impor-tance to the fragile Southern California ecosystem. Finally, astonishingly, preservation won out over concrete. The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are preserved and its restoration is now ongoing. A new Coast Highway bridges a newly dredged inlet allowing ocean water to clean and revital-ize the wetlands. 30-years and hundreds of millions of dollars spent - to put back, as God originally intended it to be – 900 acres of wetlands. Now drive 30 miles south from Bolsa Chica, to the perfect San Mateo Creek flowing from its pristine 20,000 acre coastal watershed, to a vibrant wet and wild ocean experience called Trestles. You’ve entered San Onofre Beach State Park. The San Mateo Watershed contains the pristine San Mateo Creek and a vast undisturbed coastal watershed. The gold standard for all other south-coast water-sheds. Whole and vital. Call it naturally perfect and you’d be right. Because that’s what it is. Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. No toll road. Not here. Not ever. Our coastline can’t afford it.

Friends of the Foothills/Sierra Club volunteers at the San Clemente Fiesta Day spread the word about the destructive Foothill-South Toll Road. We collected over 1,000 signed cards which we will deliver to the California Coastal Commission asking that they protect Tres-tles Beach and the San Mateo Campground from Foothill-South Toll Road.

If you would like to volunteer at our next outreach event, contact Brittany at 949-361-7534 or email brittany.mckee@sierraclub.org

BY REBECCA ROBLES, Chair, Native American Sacred Sites Task Force

the state park at San Onofre State Beach is a treasure for numerous reasons. To local Native Americans, San Onofre is known as Panhe-(Pange or Panxe), one of the original villages of early California. The Portola Expedition of 1769 provides the earliest written descriptions of this historic coastal region. As the Portola expedition crossed the coastal portion of present day Southern Cali-fornia several villages were encountered. Near the mouth of San Mateo Canyon, Francisco Crespi, a member of Portola's expid-ition, was told about two Indian children who were dying at the inland rancheria and he vis-ited them to baptize them before they died. This is the origin of the name Los Christianitos. Panhe was the largest village according to the traditional history of the Acjachemen Nation (Juaneno.) The population of this thriving village became the labor source for Mission San Juan Capistrano. Panhe has been correlated with archeological site CA-ORA-22 at the mouth of San Mateo Creek. This sacred site is part of San Mateo Archeological District, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Native American Heritage Commissions Sacred Lands file. Panhe was part of a signifi-cant network of villages which are now paved over and inaccessible for cultural activities. Panhe is an active ceremonial site. It plays a crucial role in Acjachemen history and is a place where traditional ceremonies and reburials have occurred. It is irreplace-able and cannot be mitigated or replaced in present time. The loss of this sacred site, located on public land, would be a gross tragedy.

inspired the bolsa chica wetlands: an inspirational success story

BY JERRY COLLAMER

foothill-south toll road threatens native americansacred sites

www.friendsofthefoothills.org

P.O. Box 3942San Clemente, California 92674

A Project of Sierra Club

FROM TRESTLES TO SADDLEBACK—PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY—STOP ThE TOLL ROAD SOUTh

don't miss the annual hike and holiday partysaturday, december 16th!

Congratulations to everyone who has called, emailed and sent letters to Governor Schwarzenegger to let him

know that you oppose the proposal to extend the Foothill-South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach. As a

result of your efforts, the governor’s email page now offers, “SAN ONOFRE TOLL ROAD” as a subject, along with

other state issues including Education, Caltrans, and Immigration. This demonstrates that we have the Gover-

nor’s attention and have succeeded in raising the profile of the campaign to statewide significance.

Help us keep the pressure on!Send the governor an email telling him to oppose the Foothill-South Toll Road.www.govmail.ca.gov

san onofre state beach on governor’s websitePRESORTED

FIRST CLASS MAILUS POSTAGE

PAID WALNUT, CA

PERMIT NO. 50

Saturday, January 13SIERRA SAGE/FRIENDS OF ThE FOOThILLS

san clemente ridgeline Enjoy this ridgeline walk with panoramic views of the San Clem-ente back country and Dana Point on a clear day. The trail is hilly and mostly paved. Meet 8:30 am at the end of Calle Cordillera in the San Clemente Business Park. From I-5, go 1 mile east on Ave. Pico and turn right on Calle Amanecer. Go 0.3 mi and turn right on Calle Cordillera to end. 3 mi. rt., 200’ gain. Bring water, hat, and sunscreen. Rain cancels.

Sunday, February 11SIERRA SAGE/FRIENDS OF ThE FOOThILLS

donna o’neill land conservancyEnjoy the beautiful natural scenery on this slow-paced nearly level walk. Expect early wildflowers. A Friends of the Foothills mem-ber will discuss the ecological importance of the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy and the surrounding area. Meet 8:30 am at the South Orange County rideshare parking lot. Conservancy dona-tion of $5 to support the work of the DOLC is appreciated. 3 mi. rt. Bring water, sunscreen and hat. Rain cancels.

Saturday, March 17SIERRA SAGE/FRIENDS OF ThE FOOThILLS

trestles beach Enjoy this walk to the famous surfing beach at Trestles and the extensive wetlands area through which San Mateo Creek flows. A Friends of the Foothills member will discuss the ecological impor-tance of the surrounding area and the damage that connection of the proposed Foothill-South Toll Road at I-5 would do. Meet 8:30 am at Trestles surfers’ parking lot. (Take Cristianitos off-ramp from I-5 at south end of San Clemente, go left one block and left to lot). 4 mi rt. 100’ gain. Bring water, hat, and sunscreen. Rain cancels.

Saturday, May 5SIERRA SAGE/FRIENDS OF ThE FOOThILLS

donna o’neill land conservancyEnjoy the beautiful natural scenery on this slow-paced nearly level walk. Expect early wildflowers. A Friends of the Foothills mem-ber will discuss the ecological importance of the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy and the surrounding area. Meet 8:30 am at the South Orange County rideshare parking lot. Conservancy dona-tion of $5 to support the work of the DOLC is appreciated. 3 mi. rt. Bring water, sunscreen and hat. Rain cancels.

Ever wonder what great open spaces and wonderful vistas lie beyond the fences and park-

ing lots of South Orange County? Let experienced Sierra Club hike

leaders show you some of Southern California's

most beautiful places.

SOUTh ORANGE COUNTY (SOC) hIKES RIDEShARE MEETING POINT: Ortega Business Center parking lot, southeast corner, at the intersection of Ortega highway and Rancho Viejo Road in San Juan Capistrano.Important information for all hikes: Always bring water; sturdy, comfortable shoes; hat. Wear sunscreen. Rain cancels.

hikes

SAVE THE DATEannual starr ranch BBQ

Sunday, April 22SIERRA SAGE/FRIENDS OF ThE FOOThILLS

All Sierra Club members and friends are invited to the annual Sierra Sage Starr Ranch Barbecue to enjoy this authentic bit of Old California ranch life with a “genuine country barbecue.” Prior to the barbecue we will have birding walks and hikes within this beautiful rustic 4,000 acre Audubon Sanctuary. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Friends of the Foothills campaign. Details will be provided in the Spring newsletter. For more informa-tion, please contact Mike Sappingfield at 949-768-3610

For more information or directions call Brittany McKee, Conservation

Organizer at 949-361-7534 or brittany.mckee@sierraclub.org

SaturdayDec. 16th8annual

h i k e a n d h o l i d a y p a r t y

th

Friends of the Foothills is a community-based effort made up of thousands of local residents, business owners, and organizations including the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation and the Audubon Society dedicated to protecting valuable open space in our region, including protecting San Onofre State Beach.

hike10:30am to 11:30am

Enjoy an easy educational walk through San Ono-fre State Beach, and learn from a knowledgeable Sierra Club volunteer about the importance of the San Mateo Watershed, San Onofre State Beach, and the rich Native American history of the park. We’ll also talk about the damage that the proposed Foothill-South Toll Road would do to this area, which scientists say is of global significance.

Meet at at the Trestles surfer's parking lot (Take Cristianitos off-ramp from I-5 at South end of San Clemente, go left one block and left to lot). Bring water, hat, and sunscreen. Rain cancels.

party11:30am to 1:00pm

guest speaker: Rebecca Robles

Chair, Native American Sacred Sites Task Force

After working up an appetite on the hike, please join us for a picnic (provided by Sierra Club) at the San Mateo Campground Amphitheatre at the San Mateo Campground. We’ll celebrate another year that we have successfully fought the Foothill-South Toll Road, enjoy great food and honor our most hardworking volunteers with an outdoor pic-nic at the park.

KIDS AND FAMILY ARE wELCOME

rsvp: Brittany McKee at 949-361-7534 or Brittany.McKee@sierraclub.org

Please join the Sierra Club and the Friends of the Foot-

hills Coalition for our annual holiday celebration. It’s our

way of saying thank you for all of the hard work you do

to protect Orange County’s valuable natural areas and

clean creeks and surf. Our grassroots campaign could

not be successful without you.

Photo by: www.jenniferbroussardphotographs.com