FALL HIKE @ IRVINE PARK SAT NOV 23 3PM-5PM: Meet at Parking Lot G. Celebrate the fall season with No Orange Heights on an easy hike in California's oldest regional park. Appreciate the long shadows, clear skies, dry winds, wildflowers, fruits, nuts and migratory birds. Full event details.
DONATE FOR LEGAL & BIOLOGIST: We need to raise more funds for the anticipated CDFW CEQA review process. Currently, CDFW has not responded to our letters probably because they are overwhelmed with new species listings and cautious that we have an attorney in preparation for a legal challenge. We just retained a biological consultant, Barry Nerhus with Endemic Environmental Services, to comment on the incidental take permit (ITP) with CDFW. His retainer cost $2500. So far, we've spent $8000 on our attorney, Winter King. We'll have to pay another deposit (amount is TBD) to continue to retain her services and potentially retain additional biological services. Donate links on our NOH webpage: https://www.naturalist-for-you.org/noorangeheights
PROP 4 PASSED: Since Prop 4 passed, there will hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for acquisition of wildlife corridors under the state's 30 X 30 conservation program. With our leverage from the CDFW's Crotch's bumble bee ITP situation, we may be able to pressure The Irvine Co. to sell to us. Winter is forwarding her CDFW letter to the The Irvine Co.'s attorney.
AB 1889 PASSED: AB 1889 also passed at the end of September, which would require local governments to consider and implement measures to protect wildlife connectivity as part of their general plan. We have to make sure that the City of Orange and the County of Orange's general plans are updated to implement these measures. The County is currently updating their general plan: https://planoc.generalplan.org/. The City of Orange last updated its geeral plan in 2010: https://www.cityoforange.org/our-city/departments/community-development/general-plan
"SAVE DEER CANYON" SUCCESS: The 500 luxury apartments that threatened Deer Canyon in Anaheim hills were denied at the recent City Council hearing at the end of October. The proposed project was in a Very High Fire Severity Zone and burned in the 2017 Canyon Fire 2, just like the 400 acres between Irvine Park and Peters Canyon. It is also a wildlife corridor supporting mountain lion and other special status species. See article: https://therealdeal.com/la/2024/11/01/anaheim-kills-plan-by-salt-development-to-build-500-homes-in-anaheim-hills/ This recent win reinforces our arguments of the No Orange Heights campaign, so we can now refer to this success when engaging with public agencies and the general public.
LETTER FROM TRIBAL PARTNERS: We have drafted a letter to be sent by Anthony Morales on behlaf of the Tongva to CDFW. The Kizh Nation is also considering sending a letter.
BUMBLE BEE EXPERTS: We're awaiting contact information of other bumble bee experts from Leif Richardson, bumble bee expert with The Xerces Society, so they can comment on the ITP as well.
CHAPMAN STUDENT FILM: We're preparing to conduct interviews for Maika and Ashley's student short documentary about No Orange Heights. If you are available for an interview next week either Tuesday 19th from 2-6pm; or Wednesday 20th from 2-6pm, please let Maika know: suaya@chapman.edu
SOCIAL MEDIA EDUCATIONAL CONTENT: We would like to consistently post educational content about special status species, tribal cultural resources and other aspects of the 400 acres by creating reels and photo posts. We welcome ideas and footage. We're also discussing the development of bumble bee and mt lion documentaries. Leif Richardson (Xerces Society), Krystle Hickman (Bee Sip/Nat Geo), Mark Girardeau (OC Outdoors) and Winston Vickers (CA Mt Lion Project) appear to be onboard.
Sincerely,
Barefoot Joel Robinson
No Orange Heights (NOH)
714-798-4392 (text/voice from my laptop)
714-639-8480 (landline)
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