Saturday, November 29, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Cat Island Hike Info
Cat Island
Hike
Saturday, November 22, 2014
9:00 for carpooling
10:30 hike leaves
Trail Head.
More information on Cat Island Wildlife Refuge can be found on this website:
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Cat_Island/visit/plan_your_visit.html
photo from
http://stfrancisville.us/images/com_sobi2/clients/21_img.jpg
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
photo from http://flyingcypress.blogspot.com
WILDLIFE AREA DISAPPEARS FROM BAYOU LIBERTY STATE SCENIC WATERWAY
Bayou Liberty is a scenic bayou in St Tammany Parish near Slidell. "Bayou Liberty leads to Lake Pontchartrain and is one of the top scenic bayous in Louisiana. It's about a 15 minute ride by boat to the lake. The bayou is perfect for fishing, jet skiing, kneeboarding, or taking a leisurely cruise to see the old homes on the bayou. It is a bird sanctuary with bird feeders and purple martin house. Slidell is thirty minutes from New Orleans but has the feel of stepping back in time to a slower way of life."
http://www.vrbo.com/258118
A 60 acre parcel of property along Bayou Liberty is being developed as an Industrial Park. The developer obtained an exception to zoning laws from the Parish Council. He also received permission to clear cut the property. According to a local birder, the area cleared was home to deer, foxes, pileated woodpecker, bald eagle and a variety of other wildlife. The developer defends the removal of the pine trees and underbrush by promising that he will replace it with better, nicer looking plants like oak and cypress. Now the developer is applying for another exception to the zoning regulations. He wants to put baseball fields on his property. Residents fear the bright lights of the ball parks will destroy the natural feeling of the area.
A resident tells me the St Tammany Board of Adjustment meets on Nov 5, 4:00 - 5:30 to consider his exception to the regulations. The meeting will be held at the St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers , 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville, LA 70471
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE NEW AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
EBRP Metro Council Meeting October 8, 4 pm
Councilman Amorosa will propose that the council oppose lowering Federal Air Quality Standards at their meeting today.
to lowering Federal Air Quality
Mr Amoroso says that the new standards will cost jobs. However, studies show that the new air qualtiy standards will create jobs. See Labor Day Post below for more information about jobs vs environmental regulations.
You can find your councilperson's email address at
http://brgov.com/dept/council/lookup.asp
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Election 2014 and the Environment Information for Members
Election 2014 and the Environment
Information Packet for Members
National Sierra Club Voter Guide
Sierra Club Voter Guide: "Surprise - Polluter-Backed
Groups Using Discredited Attacks on Clean Power Plan"
"GOP's Climate Denial Problem Criticized from Inside
and Outside the Party"
League of Conservation Voters
LCV National Environmental Scorecard 2013
LCV Scorecard 2014 Recent Votes
LCV Scorecard - Senator Mary Landrieu
LCV Scorecard - Senator David Vitter
LCV Scorecard - Congressman Bill Cassidy
LCV Scorecard - Congressman John Fleming
LCV Scorecard - Congressman Steve Scalise
LCV Scorecard - Congressman Charles Boustany
LCV Scorecard Congressman Cedric Richmond
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
WARD CREEK CLEANUP
Please join the Bayou Manchac Group, Paddle BR, and Volunteer LSU
Sunday, Sept 21st from 12 to 4pm for a beach sweep on Ward Creek to remove trash before it enters Bayou Manchac and ultimately Lake Pontchartrain. We will use this cleanup as our participation in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation Annual Beach Sweep (scheduled the day before on Sept 20th).
Park in the lot behind PetsMart (10527 S Mall Dr, Baton Rouge, LA
70809), carefully cross S. Mall Dr, and meet on the banks of Ward
Creek.
Explore the area via google maps here
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3731574,-91.0632382,3a,75y,204.66h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s1UnUcaHG5rrcNW-eN01UKg!2e0
more info at
BayouManchac.com
PaddleBR.com
http://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/campuslife/service/volunteer-lsu/
http://www.saveourlake.org/beach-sweep.php
SAVE THE ALES !!!
Save the Whales!Save the Bears!
Relax with us and SAVE THE ALES! :-)
Enjoy the company of like minded people.
Join us on the Back Patio!
Chelsea's
2857 Perkins Rd
Under the Perkins Road Overpass
Wednesday, Sept. 17 (third Wed) at 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Labor Day 2014:
A Time to Refute the Myth of Jobs vs.
the Environment
Baton Rouge – The Baton Rouge
Group of the Sierra Club marked the occasion of Labor Day 2014 by calling for
an end to the myth of “Jobs versus the Environment.”
“We hear continually from some
politicians and pundits that regulations to protect the environment and human
health cost jobs,” said Sam Wilcher, member of the BR Group Executive
Committee. “But those regulations not only save lives – they also provide jobs.”
Wilcher cited a recent (2011) study
by the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute that concluded
that two new air quality rules from would create nearly 1.5 million jobs, or
nearly 300,000 jobs a year on average over the next five years.
The UMass study also concluded:
“Since 1970, investments to
comply with the Clean Air Act have provided $4 to $8 in
economic benefits for every $1
spent on compliance, according to the nonpartisan Office
of Management and Budget. Since
the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments in
1990, U.S. average electricity
rates (real) have remained flat even as electric utilities have
invested hundreds of billions of
dollars to cut their air pollution emissions. During the same period, America’s
overall GDP increased by 60 percent in inflation-adjusted terms.”
“We hear the same story about job
loss from the same players when any new regulations, such as those currently proposed
for carbon emissions, ground level ozone, and water pollution, are put forward,”
said Wilcher. “But the record shows that these doom and gloom claims have never
been true.”
Wilcher pointed out that the same
politicians and pundits who attack environmental and health regulations as “job-killers”
routinely ignore the job growth in clean energy industries such as solar power.
“Solar power is a growth industry,” said Wilcher, “and has experienced several
record years. 2013 was the industry’s largest year on record for installations
of solar systems, and in 2013 there were nearly 143,000 solar workers in the U.S.,
a 20% increase over 2012.”
In Louisiana, the solar industry
has grown from about 5 firms to over 200 in the last four years. Around 1000
full-time solar industry jobs were created in Louisiana between 2009 and 2012,
and an additional 2,000 full time jobs are expected to be created in the state
by 2015.
Some Louisiana politicians are
holding the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline up as a desired job-creator. Since
the Pipeline would not be constructed in Louisiana, it is unknown how many jobs
the state might gain if it were built, though some state-based firms could
participate.
“Unlike the construction jobs
that are predicted to be created [in states it crosses] if the Keystone XL Pipeline
were built, the jobs created by the solar industry in Louisiana are long-term
jobs,” said Wilcher, “without the negative environmental and health impacts
that the Pipeline would bring if it were built.” Although the State Department’s
January 2014 report predicted that 42,000 construction-related jobs would be
created on a national level during the Pipeline’s estimated two year building
period, it also concluded:
“Once the proposed Project enters
service, operations would require an estimated 50 total
employees: 35 permanent employees
and 15 temporary contractors.” (p. 4.10-5)
“Clean air and renewable energy
can create jobs without an environmental legacy of pollution, health impacts,
and sea-level rise,” said Wilcher. “It’s clearly an area where Louisiana needs
more investment, and that investment will create long-term jobs.”
For
more information on the activities of the Baton Rouge Group and the Delta
Chapter of the Sierra Club, go to www.lasierraclub.org.
References:
University of Massachusetts Political Economy
Research Institute, “Employment Effects Under Planned Changes to the EPA’s Air
Pollution Rules” (2011); http://www.eenews.net/assets/2011/02/08/document_gw_01.pdf
Solar Energy Industries Association, “Solar Industry
Data,” http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data
Gulf States Renewable Energy Industry Association, “Industry
Impacts,” http://www.gsreia.org/jobs-community/
U.S. Department of State, “Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement Keystone XL Project,” http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/documents/organization/221186.pdf
National Drive Electric Week Event
The National Drive Electric Week celebration will take place at
Whole Foods in Towne Center, near the electric vehicle charging stations
outside of the store on Saturday, September 20 from 10am-2pm. The
celebration will include an electric vehicle display and information
about electric vehicles and charging stations in our area, along with
free food, prizes, music and fun!
We encourage you to bring your electric vehicles, and any questions about driving electric!
Visit https://driveelectricweek.org/ to find out more about National Drive Electric Week.
For more information about the event or to participate, please contact Lauren Lambert-Tompkins at llambert@louisianacleanfuels.org.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
The Wilderness Act at 50
Sierra Club Celebrates Wilderness Designations in Louisiana
General Meeting at The Backpacker
July 24, 2014 7:00 PM
In recognition of the nationwide celebrations observing the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the US Wilderness Act this year, Charlie Fryling, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at LSU will make a presentation on the origin and history of the Wilderness Designation which protects irreplaceable parts of America's Natural Heritage. Fryling's presentation will include photographs of the Breton Islands Wilderness in St. Bernard Parish which are one of three wilderness areas in Louisiana with this protective designation. The Sierra Club in Louisiana was instrumental in obtaining the Wilderness designation for these islands in the 1970's. Find out more about Wilderness Areas in the USA and Louisiana on the www.wilderness.net and catch up on all the fun this year on Wilderness50th.com.| wilderness50th.com |
RSVP with us here and share this event with friends on Facebook.
Join our Facebook Discussion Group for more announcements about future Outings give us a Like our Official Facebook Page
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
GOING SLOW in BATON ROUGE: CREATING CHANGE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM
Baton Rouge Sierra Club General Meeting
"Ultimately, I believe that slowness is an act of resistance, not because slowness is a good in itself but because of all that it makes room for, the things that don't get measured and can't be bought." - Rebecca Solnit
Bryan Alexander visits the Sierra Club's Baton Rouge Group on Thursday, June 26th to give a presentation on Slow
Food USA’s mission to create dramatic and lasting change in the food
system. Through its Baton Rouge chapter, Slow Food USA seeks to reconnect
Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils
and waters that produce our food. It also works to inspire a
transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so
that those ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we
eat. Bryan will put forth S.F.B.R.'s pursuit of these goals
through educational outreach and in the local schools and in the wider
community. Some of their projects include Greauxing Healthy Baton Rouge
model Farm To School program, The Crop Circle Learning Farm, Cooking
Matters for Families is a national nutrition and cooking skills
curriculum, and the Urban Agriculture Workshop Series held at the Burden
Center.
 |
| Bryan Alexander |
June 26, 7:00 pm
RSVP with us here on Facebook and join our Group for more announcements about future Outings give us a Like our Official Facebook Page
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Tunica Hills / Clark Creek Outing
GOT A SUMMERTIME HIKING ITCH THAT NEEDS SCRATCHING?
BATON ROUGE GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB CAN HELP WITH THAT. WE'RE LEADING A HIKE AT THE CLARK CREEK NATURAL AREA ON JUNE 14. MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
Clark Creek Natural Area in the Tunica Hills is a member favorite hiking destination located just across the state line in Mississippi which was a part of the Delta Chapter in our founding years. This area has waterfalls and hiking trails deep in the Tunica Hills. There are improved steps on the hillsides, on some waterfalls, and most trails are maintained with primitive trails also available.
Difficulty: Clark Creek can be a challenging hike. Due to summertime afternoon heat conditions, please come prepared with PLENTY of WATER, good hiking shoes, nutrition, bug and sunblock, a hat and anything else experienced hikers would require. Some hikers prefer to carry poison ivy neutralizer to wash off with after a hike. Rain may be expected and a change of shoes is advisable as well as optional swimwear to splash in the waterfalls.
Parking: Trail-head parking is limited and may require parking on side of road. Bring cash for honor system visitor fees. Carpooling strongly encouraged. (See links below for details.)
Some supplies may available at POND GENERAL STORE near the trail-head which is a local tourist point of interest, otherwise plan ahead for needed provisions before departing Baton Rouge.
Questions? - RSVP? Where are we meeting to carpool?
Persons requesting carpooling may RSVP as a courtesy before the hike, leaving your name, # of hikers, and phone number with the contact persons listed below for your area. All participants arriving on their own must check-in with a Chapter Outings Leader at the trail-head! We won't leave anyone behind on the trail!
Contact: Nancy Grush - nancygrush<at>gmail.com
Meet: 11:00 AM - Campus Federal Credit Union Perkins near Quail.
6230 Perkins Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Keep up with your friends before and after the hike, post pictures and share experiences on our Facebook Event Page
Refer to below sites for more info:
http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx
http://alltrails.com/trail/us/mississippi/clark-creek-primitive-trail
http://www.hikelouisiana.org/detailsclark.html
Keep up with your friends before and after the hike, post pictures and share experiences on our Facebook Event Page
Refer to below sites for more info:
http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx
http://alltrails.com/trail/us/mississippi/clark-creek-primitive-trail
http://www.hikelouisiana.org/detailsclark.html
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Bayou Manchac Paddle with Trash Sweep
Bayou Manchac Trash
Sweep will actually be in Bayou Fountain on April 19th from 9am to 3pm.
You can participate for as long or as little as you'd like, but let us
know asap at info@bayoumanchac.com if you'll need a loaner canoe or if you have an extra you can bring.
The
paddle launch site is at Highland Rd Park, behind the archery range
(same side of the road as the Observatory). If you have a small motor
boat and can help ferry collected trash, be sure to contact us at info@bayoumanchac.com for directions to the nearest boat launch.
Once
in the water, we'll go upstream as far as Bluebonnet Swamp, then clean
downstream for 3.5 miles to Bayou Manchac. Along the way, you'll be
able to see the 2000 year old Indian Mounds at the back of Country Club
of Louisiana (See page 5 here for info on the Indian Mounds http://www.laarchaeology.org/newsletters/1985%20No.%203.pdf).
The bayou is gorgeous this time of year, so don't forget your camera.
For an idea of the hundreds of bird species utilizing this swamp system
visit http://www.braudubon.org/bluebonnet-swamp-bird-monitoring.php.
The numerous otters are typically only seen at dawn and late afternoon,
but being curious creatures, they may make a quick appearance to see
what's going on. The Florida Manatee spotted in early October is long
gone. They migrate here in later summer and return to Florida before
the weather turns cold.
With
no litter controls and street drainage that flushes directly to
waterways, Baton Rouge is the single largest contributor of trash into
the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and quite possibly the entire northern Gulf
of Mexico. Trash we clean out of Baton Rouge's Bayou Fountain is trash
that won't show up later in Bayou Manchac, the Amite River, the
Diversion Canal, Lake Maurepas, Pass Manchac, Lake Pontchartrain, and
the Gulf.
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