March 9, 2001
WRITE YOUR LETTERS TO WASHINGTON DC TODAY
DON’T FORGET THE DEMONSTRATION ON FRIDAY, MARCH 30 – 12:00 NOON
OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS CAPPS
1428 CHAPALA STREET, SANTA BARBARA
POINTS TO MAKE IN YOUR LETTERS/CONTACTS
¨ This is the only beach available in this geographical area serving over 65,000 people
¨ For over 100 years citizens of this community have access to this beach
¨ Last nesting season, citizens organized a docent program to protect the plover habitat
¨ Secured a grant to enhance the docent program for this nesting season
¨ Plover has over 80% of the beach area
¨ Beach closure or curtailment has a detrimental impact on the morale and recruitment for Air Force
¨ 1994-99 32.5% of the nests were lost due to predators and only .006% lost due to human contact.
¨ VAFB has put together a management plan to control the predators.
¨ VAFB prepared to mitigate for lost habitat due to ice plant and beach grass eradication.
¨ 2000 nesting season resulted in an increase of nests from 78 in 1999 to 106 in 2000.
¨ There is little, if any, scientific data to support the US Fish and Wildlife decision to close this beach
¨ Although the endangered status applies to the entire Pacific Coastline, the USFWS has chosen o direct the most punitive efforts toward the Point Reyes National Seashore and Vandenberg AFB.
¨ USFWS has never produced the required recovery plan. Plover listed on March 5, 1993 as “threatened”. VAFB beaches designated as “critical habitat” on December 7, 1999.
¨ The census over an eleven-year period ranges from 78-242 birds. The lowest census in 1999 is attributed to biologists studying the subject to be due to the lack of kelp and invertebrates, the primary source of food for the Plover.
¨ The Plover and humans can co-habitat on the only beach available to residents of the Lompoc Valley and Vandenberg Air Force Base.
¨ Proposed access to Surf is unsafe, does not address the needs of the elderly, and physically challenged.
¨ The USFWS proposal of after 25 violations, the beach will be closed is totally unreasonable.
¨ Extreme and Stringent enforcement requirements are being imposed on VAFB creating an impact on its military budget.
¨ This beach closure has a detrimental impact on the economy of the Lompoc Valley. This beach attracts visitors from around the world who spend dollars on hotels, restaurants, gasoline and other needs while visiting Lompoc.
Alice Milligan. Call me at 736 4005 if you need assistance with any letter writing.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
President George W. Bush
United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500
202 456 1414
202 456 2461 (Fax)
Vice President Richard Cheney
United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DD 20500
202 456 1414
202 456 2461 - fax
Ms. Gale Norton
Secretary, Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington DC 20240
202 208 3100
Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary, Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 202500
703 697 5737
General Michael F. Ryan
Air Force Chief of Staff
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington DC 20330-167-
703 697 9225