Sibley group camp would threaten wildlife

The East Bay Regional Park District has plans for over 20 new group camp sites - more than it can finance or build for decades - yet it is planning one more - in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, encroaching on the East Bay's most important wildlife corridor. The District's Board is expected to vote in January or February on a Land Use Plan Amendment containing the campground.

The park district designates a preserve as a park unit primarily for protection and enhancement of wildlife and habitat, and therefore not for intensive recreation. Sibley is a popular and well-used day-hiking area, but as a preserve it does not contain the kind of recreational infrastructure found in the District's parks. It is a quiet contemplative place to hike and walk, but a large group camp would destroy that ambience.

Moreover, the site is poorly suited for camping. It is windy and cold with no trees or other wind breaks. Construction of facilities, and then campers driving through the middle of the park to get there, would destroy the ambience of this tranquil preserve.

Mountain lions have been reported entering nearby residential areas of Oakland, but the park district staff have denied that lions could be a problem at the campground and plans no study of the hazards - to both campers and lions. In fact, the District has refused to study any potential impacts on the wildlife corridor.

Other organizations joining with the Sierra Club in opposing this group camp include the Golden Gate Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society, and Regional Parks Association.

WhatYouCanDo

Write to:
President Beverly Lane and Boardmembers
East Bay Regional Park District
P.O. Box 5381
Oakland, CA 94605-0381.

Urge the Board to stop the proposed group camp in Sibley.

To join with the Sierra Club's efforts to stop this group camp, contact Norman La Force, chair of the East Bay Public Lands Committee, at (510)526-4362 or email n.laforce-at-comcast.net

Norman La Force