CA: Coastal Commission opposes Bush admin. plan for more security fences and surveillance roads

AP ^ | 10/7/03

[Jean S]

Staff advisers to the state Coastal Commission oppose a Bush administration plan to build additional security fences and surveillance roads along the southwesternmost corner of California because they would harm the environmentally sensitive area.

Under federal legislation adopted in 1996, the government is erecting triple fencing along a 14-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, between the Otay Port of Entry and the Pacific Ocean.

[Mears]

Good Lord,will this ever end? We have to close our borders soon or we'll be overrun. Is the saving of a few shrubs worth it?

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[VU4G10]

yeah yeah .. whatever

[KantianBurke]

"Their decision, however, can be overturned by the president."

Ball's in your court Mr. President. We're waiting.

[2nd amendment mama]

But a report by the coastal agency's staff says fence construction along the westernmost five miles would destroy rare coastal sage scrub habitat and increase erosion that could cause silt to smother the Tijuana River National Estuary and reduce tidal flushing.

But thousands of illegals trampling over this same sage scrub won't harm it??? Stupid f$#@*$g idiots!!!!! Secure our borders and secure them NOW!!!!!

[TopQuark]

We already know the position of this Administration on fenses: Powell repeatedly called a similar measure by Iraelis "unhelpful" and destabilizing.

[the Real fifi]

Let's see sage or security? How hard is it to make THAT call?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[MontanaBeth]

coastal sage shrub vs. stopping illegal aliens?
Get out the Round UP.

[sgtbono2002]

Put some land mines in there.

[blaze]

Ask Dr. Bill Watenburg, KGO Radio San Francisco, about these jerks!He's on the internet, and radio Sat. and Sun. nite 10pm-1am.west coast time.He knows what a bunch of Eco-whako frauds, these clowns are!!!!

[archy]

"Feasible alternatives are available that would significantly lessen adverse impacts to coastal zone resources and still enable the Immigration and Naturalization Service to meet its Border Patrol needs," the report said.

I agree.

[WestCoastGal]

Most of that area is like the sewer pit of Tijuana. Nothing there to preserve!!!!

[Rockitz]

The RNC called me asking for money and I told them nothing until W does something about illegal immigration. She said she'd been hearing a lot of that. Hopefully he's got the message.

[Maria S]

destroy "rare coastal sage scrub habitat"!!

Come on, people!! How about the continuing destruction of our rare democratic republic?!?

[gubamyster]

ping

[TLI]

http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/BFS/main/tje/HTML/XELA.htm Scientific name: Xenopus laevis Common name: African Clawed Frog INTRODUCED: Native to southern Africa. (wtf?) Distribution within study area: Recorded from Tijuana River drainage. Size: 2-5.75 in (5-12.5 cm) Distinguishing characters: A highly aquatic species; smooth skin; forefeet unwebbed, hindfeet fully webbed with sharp black claws on inner toes; small head with blunt snout; eyes small, lidless and turned upward; olive to brown on dorsum with darker spots, blotches or mottling; whitish on venter; head and body flattened. Juveniles: Similar to adults. Dimorphism: Female is larger and has cloacal claspers. Similar Species: Should not be confused with other frog species. The only totally aquatic frog in California. Additional notes: Introduced to the U.S. in the 1960's(???) and feeds on native amphibian tadpoles. Will move overland at night during rains, and may show up in very unlikely places including golf course ponds, streams, ditches and lakes. Very slippery, but harmless, when handled. These species thrive in disturbed and polluted habitats and are most closely associated with the Tijuana River.

The diorama shows examples of the plant and animal life found in the Tijuana Estuary. There are specimens of invertebrates, fish, birds, and plants. The invertebrates and fish in the diorama are listed on attached sheets. The plants include, cordgrass, pickleweed, sea lavender, dodder, lemonadeberry, and jojoba. The bird specimens include: a great egret, great blue heron, american avocet, light-footed clapper rail, red knot, wiuet, marbled godwit, black skimmer, common yellowthroat, short-billed dowitcher, northern harrier, and black-necked stilt. All birds in our exhibit were found either dead or dying and mounted for display, we are fortunate to have them for visitors to see.

Anyone seeing a trend here?

http://www.ib-chamber.biz/Esturary.htm "Thousands of years ago, terns had the run of the coast," said Brian Collins, a biologist with the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. "They could lose hundreds of eggs and their species would go on. Now we have to protect the wildlife. They can't withstand predators, let alone human disturbance." The nesting season runs through August and chicks are just (now) beginning to hatch. "The least tern's pebble-sized eggs are so well camouflaged by their sandy color that they are difficult to avoid stepping on, even when if you know what you're looking for," Collins said. Signs and wire fences within the refuge warn visitors away from nesting sites. "It's a closed area, but we don't have people here to enforce the rules," he said. "That's why we need volunteers: not to enforce, but to educate."

And the eco-wacks DON'T want this area to be fenced off? Because a fence will "cause erosion?"

http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/coast&ocean/suchive/TIJUANA.HTM

What's So Important about This Estuary?

The estuary has a sullied reputation, based on a very real, very troubled history. Now, though, much of the pollution that once overwhelmed parts of the estuary is controlled, and the sad games of the Border Patrol and the illegal immigrants are played out mostly to the east, in the Otay wilderness and other inland areas. Except for the almost constant presence of thumping helicopters, the estuary is a very quiet and truly serene place (The helicopters are not associated with the border, but part of the age-old U.S. Navy helicopter training facility just next door, at the Imperial Beach Landing Field).

Well, let's see. We seem to have a highly polluted u.S. / mexico sewer that contains dead and dying birds and some South American frogs not native to the area that thrive on polluted environments that were not around before 1966.

TLI

[Defender2]

CA Coastal Commission....Aiding....Abetting Our Enemies!!!!

[MissAmericanPie]

Now this is news, now where did this heretofore unpublizied commission pop up with power that overrides the Fed? Where did it come from, who instigated it, and how long has it been around?

I suggested a citizens commission with the ability to impeach federal judges and politicians and the majority opinion was that such a commission could not exist. At least the members of the commission I suggested would be elected.

Who are these unelected commission members that wield so much power over the people and the government that smells of a U.N. agenda?