The Yodeler

Bay Area Young Sierrans on the move. Photo by Kent Lewandowski.

Becoming a leader in Sierra Club activities–carrying on the Club’s oldest tradition

Do you enjoy meeting new people? How about sharing the activities you love with others? If your answer is “Yes”, think about becoming a Sierra Club activity leader. The Bay Chapter’s activity sections will welcome you with open arms, and offer training and mentoring to help you learn needed skills. Every year hundreds of Chapter volunteers lead thousands of participants on land, water, and even indoor excursions throughout the area, carrying on the tradition that began with John Muir in 1901. Muir believed that taking people into the wilderness—to see its beauty as well as its destruction—was the best way to create more people … [Read More]

Zero Waste

Separating compostables is easy, neat, and effective.

Don’t leave apartments out of Oakland Zero Waste plan

Oakland is designing a new “Zero Waste” collection system to be implemented in 2015. The proposal has many excellent points, but it still needs some improvements. Under the current proposal, single-family residences would continue to put out separate carts for recyclables, compostables, and … [Read More]

San Leandro bans polystyrene foam

After a two-year battle, on Oct. 3 San Leandro enacted a ban on distribution of food-packaging containers made of polystyrene foam, joining such Alameda County cities as Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, and Oakland. Polystyrene foam, better-known by the brand name … [Read More]

Bay, Water, and Watersheds

EBMUD to weigh Mokelumne River on March 27

Correction (Feb. 16, 2012): the original version was mistaken in saying that the Board would be voting on March 27. EBMUD's decision about protecting the Mokelumne River has been postponed. The EBMUD Board is now scheduled to discuss the issue at its workshop on Tue., March 27, 9 - 11 am, at the … [Read More]

View of coastal prairie and former baylands of the Freethy property in North Richmond, one of the ecologically valuable properties that should be protected by General Plan changes. Photo courtesy of Citizens for East Shore Parks.

North Richmond compromise coming to Commission, Council

Update (Feb. 21, 2012): On Feb. 16 the Richmond Planning Commission failed to agree on a recommendation regarding the North Richmond shoreline. The decision will now go to the City Council on March 6. The last remaining issue regarding the Richmond General Plan is what level of private … [Read More]

Date set for desalination conference

"Bay Area Regional Desalination Facility--Solution or Problem?” March 31, 8:30 am - 2:45 pm (ending time approximate), CSU East Bay Oakland Conference Center, 1000 Broadway, #109, Oakland (at 12th Street Oakland BART station) . Learn about the pros and cons of the proposed Bay Area … [Read More]