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Features: August 2004
WEBSITES and NEWS IN BRIEF:
Cows in Big Sur? 
Ever wonder about cows grazing in Los Padres National Forest ("Land of Many Uses") at San Carpaforo, Gorda and Cozy Cove, among other prized Big Sur locations? Turns out the Forest Service is currently reviewing grazing leases in the Los Padres, and the fact is that they lease public lands to ranchers for only $1.43 per head per month, which is at least eight times less than private lands lease for. The lease fees, however, don't begin to address the loss of native plants and flowers of Big Sur's precious coastal terraces.
For more information, go to www.pelicannetwork.net
Big Sur Locals Pissed Off At Pristine Views. 
One odd side war in the effort to update the Monterey County Local Coastal Plan (LCP) has been the continuing roar from a few Big Sur residents and developers regarding efforts to protect scenic views in the world famous coastal stretch. The Carmel Pine Cone has been running inflammatory news stories/editorials weekly and now the yelling has hit the Monterey Herald newspaper as well.
Catch up on the screaming match at, go to www.montereyherald.com
California Energy Commission (CEC) 
overrules Coastal Commission will allow Duke Energy to continue to destroy Morro Bay. In a stunning setback for wildlife in Morro Bay, two public officials with the CEC have issued a written statement saying they have the power to overrule California Coastal Commission and allow Duke Energy to continue to use Morro Bay as a cooling source for Duke's Morro Bay power plant. For fifty years the plant has killed every living thing in the ecologically important bay approximately once every three days. Last year, the Coastal Commission found that, in connection with DukeÕs proposed $800-million dollar plant upgrade, it was feasible and logical to use dry cooling methods, eliminating the need to suck up one-third of the entire bay every day.Ê Instead of spending the extra $200 million to save Morro Bay, Duke instead concocted a bogus $12-million dollar "mitigation plan" which was unanimously rejected by the Coastal Commission. Without logic and in utter disregard of environmental quality, the CEC officials are attempting to win the day for Duke at the cost of permanent degradation of Morro Bay for future generations. The CEC has one last chance to redeem their credibility when the entire Commission meets in Sacramento on May 5 to finally decide the matter.
See the entire story at www.sanluisobispo.com