Bird Nesting Box Walk Saturday, May 12

The Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley will have a Bird Nesting Box Walk on Saturday, May 12, 2012, 9am to 12 noon.  Samantha Dempster and Dan Lacek, naturalist and bird nesting box specialists, will be taking us to some of the 45 nesting boxes on the area and show us how to inspect, clean and survey the boxes. Contact Sue Nash 909-228-6710.

Beginning Bird Walk Saturday, May 12

The Friends will have a Beginning Bird Walk on Sunday, May 13, 9am to 11am. Come and join Rosedith and Joyce at the SJWA to observe birds feeding, mating, nesting and watching us watching them. Rosedith Marx (951-321-9812) and Joyce Schwartz.

Please call to confirm the walk if there have been recent rains.  Do not drive on Davis Road if it is muddy.  Please call wildlife area headquarters at (951) 928-0580 during regular office hours for current information on road conditions.

Meet at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area Headquarters located at 17050 Davis Road, Lakeview.  From Highway 215, take the Ramona Expressway east to Davis Road in Lakeview; go north on Davis Road 2.3 miles to the headquarters.  From Hemet/San Jacinto areas, take the Ramona Expressway west to Davis Road in Lakeview; go north on Davis Road 2.3 miles to the headquarters.  Please note the only access to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area is from the Ramona Expressway in Lakeview.  Davis Road is closed from Moreno Valley.

Bring hand lens, binoculars, bird book, sturdy walking shoes, hat, sun screen, insect repellent (for mosquitoes), lunch or snacks, plenty of water, and wear appropriate clothing for the weather.  For more information, call (909) 228-6710

VOL lawsuit: A Big Win for Friends

Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley v. County of Riverside re: Villages of Lakeview (RIC 10007572) On April 11, 2012, the Court (Judge Sharon Waters) issued its proposed statement of decision. The court found in Friends’ favor on 8 of the 11 issues: the EIR failed to adequately evaluate GHG impacts and possible mitigation of these impacts; the county was required to recirculate the EIR as new information added after the close of the public comment period revealed a substantial increase in the severity of environmental impacts; the EIR did not adequately analyze the project’s impacts on air quality and the related health impacts; the EIR failed to conduct an adequate review of the project’s impacts on regional traffic; the Project is inconsistent with the General Plan Circulation Element; one of the County’s findings in support of the extraordinary amendment to the general plan is inadequate. The parties are preparing a final judgment consistent with the statement of decision. Friends are asking that the County be ordered to set aside all project approvals and the general plan amendment. We will notify you when the judgment is final and will let you know if and when an appeal is filed. Click here to download the document: 990kb

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March 2012 Newsletter
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or click here to download the pdf)