OTTERSON ROAD BOONDOGGLE with Chris Nelson
SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL with Mary Muchowski
ECO 635                                         11 JANUARY 2022
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Chris Nelson is the host of the Peace and Justice Program, Fridays, 11:30-1 PM. She is a tireless activist for peace, the environment, people without homes, and many other causes for social and environmental justice. She is currently working to educate the public on the new Otterson Drive extension which, she says, will use taxpayer money to put in a private driveway for a well connected developer, destroying the Comanche Creek Greenway.  According to the City website, “The Hegan Lane Congestion Relief Project aims to relieve congestion and improve vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation in southwest Chico. The study area includes Park Avenue, Midway, Hegan Lane, and Otterson Drive, as well as the trails and intersections that connect to these roadways.”
Download or listen to this interview.

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Our second guest was Mary Muchowski, executive director of Altacal Audubon, the host of the Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway, an event held at the end of January. In addition to describing the festival, she discussed the Pacific Flyway and the birds who use it, as well as the threats  to birds and other wildlife due to climate change and declining habitat.  Listen or download the interview..

SITES RESERVOIR
ECO 634                                                                                     4 jANUARY 2022

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In this program we discussing the proposed Sites Reservoir with three activists who are opposed to the building of the Sites Reservoir in Northern California.  Regina Chichizola is Co-Director Save California's Salmon <savecaliforniasalmon.org>, a writer for TruthOut, and an advocate for tribal water rights, clean water, and the salmon. Barbara Vlamis is Executive Director and Jim Brobeck is Policy Analyst for AquAlliance, defending Northstate Waters <aqualliance.net.>.  By way of background, we read an Associated Press article dated December 15. Reporter Adam Beam presented what seems to us an even handed description of the project and its perceived pros and cons. <Read article> The plan is to build a new lake in Northern California that, when full, could hold enough water to supply 3 million households for one year. Supporters need about $4 billion to build it. Wednesday’s vote by the California Water Commission means the lake — named Sites Reservoir — is eligible for about $800 million in taxpayer money, or about 20% of the project’s price tag.
Listen to or download the program.