9-29-2015

Tim McKusick
Timber Cove/Jenner, CA
To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Re: Strengthen Our Development Rules in the Fragile Coastal Environment
As a lifetime Sonoma County Resident (1949) I implore the Board of
Supervisors to tread lightly in our fragile coastal neighborhoods. We are at
a tipping point with the eco-system worldwide, and it couldnt be more
apparent than in the areas immediately adjacent to our coastline.
We scratch our heads wondering why the native fish populations have
disappeared. We cant figure out why the streams have all gone dry. In the
meantime, the life-giving trees that act like wicks in the coastal mists are
harvested like row crops; already dry streams are sucked down even further
in the name of dust control on the logging roads.
WAKE UP! That era is OVER! Yet new vineyards are given free rein to cut
down all the trees, suck the water tables down and sequester water that
historically went into these precious streams, with little or no thought given
to a sustainable existence.
And I love the way that some big vineyards are releasing some of their
sequestered water back into the streams and acting like they are heroes
That water would have normally flowed into the stream if they hadnt
grabbed it first. They should be ashamed!
It is time for a RIGHTS OF NATURE ORDINANCE to try to achieve a
balance in this out of whack scenario. Someone has to stand up for the
Environment. And speak out against the further Wine-Country-MeetsDisneyland mentality that seems to permeate the New GreedI mean New
Breed of thirsty wine makers who have discovered our misty hills.
It is Time To Plant Trees NOT VINES!!! Before it is too late!!! The more fog
grabbing trees we can plant in this coastal area the better. It is time to give
something back after all these years of taking (from Mother Nature). The
streams would come back to life, hopefully.
To sum up my thoughts:

No wineries in our rural areasThey are industrial in nature and have no

place here where our natural resources are already overstretched to the
point of breaking; to say nothing of our emergency services being
overwhelmed.
No Tasting Rooms,
No Event Centers,
No More Grape Plantings in the Coastal Area.
More tree plantings in our Coastal Area.
A moratorium on logging in the coastal area while the native habitats are
restored and enhanced.
More open space set aside managed like Jenner Headlands.
And Most Importantly:
A RIGHTS OF NATURE ORDINANCE ENACTED Immediately!!
I really love our County and hope it will lead the way into a sustainable
future where Natures Rights trump the almighty $$$.
Tim McKusick