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Environmentalists supporting and promoting local sustainable agriculture through education, research, conflict resolution and advocacy

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We Believe a diversified and healthy agricultural community is important to our individual health and to our community's and our nation's safety, economy and environment.

The Alliance for Local Sustainable Agriculture (ALSA) is a Marin, California-based environmental group. We are here to help farmers and ranchers with the many challenges they face:

We are advocates for the use of good science and fair processes.
Through education and conflict resolution, we create an environment of support and understanding.

For more information about saving Drakes Bay Oyster Farm, go to: www.drakesbayoyster.com

We believe the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm is important to you because it:

provides more than 50% of the California state leased shellfish growing area
helps keep the Drakes Estero healthy for a wide variety of flora and fauna
is a sustainable, environmentally friendly food source. Not only does it provide us protein for a fraction of the carbon of traditional ranching, but it also is a long-term carbon sink.

Resources

Dr. Corey Goodman's presentation on the lack of science in the 700 page DEIS.Dr. Goodman takes us through the DEIS and its relationship to DBOC in a presentation that is easy to follow and understand.

We had a great turnout for the October 30 event
"Perspectives on the Culture of the National Park Service" with author Paul Berkowitz and former Congressman Pete McCloskey. If you missed the event, or would like more information, here's a link to an interview by Indian Country Today with Paul Berkowitz about his work within the NPS and as a whistleblower promoting honesty and integrity in the National Park Service.

Here are some additional resources that can help you better understand the situation:

Letter to Secretary Ken Salazar from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Sent on October 20, 2011 the letter begins with: "It has come to my attention that scientific misconduct by the National Park Service (NPS) may be jeopardizing the right of a small business to operate in Marin County, California." It begins the process of collecting information for a hearing by the committee.

Dr. Corey Goodman has placed his presentations analyzing NPS science about the oyster farm on Youtube and provided links to additional information.
He will be putting additional information up shortly analyzing the science contained in the Draft EIS.

Bad Science Leads to Bad Policy No Matter Your Political Beliefs
Dr. Peter Gleick, Huffington Post

www.oysterzone.worpress.com is also a good place to find more.

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Donna Yamagata
415-669-9691
alsamarininfo@gmail.com

San Rafael, CA, April 10, 2013--Marin Superior Court Judge Duryee today granted the Alternative Writ of Mandate filed Friday, April 5 on behalf of the Alliance for Local Sustainable Agriculture (ALSA), by Zachary Walton, Chris Wade, Liz Bridges, and Corie Calfee of the SSL Law firm, against the California Coastal Commission (CCC).

The writ requires the CCC to show good cause why cease and desist and restoration orders (Orders) issued against the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm February 7, 2013 should not be withdrawn. The hearing date is July 9.

Petitioners Phyllis Faber and ALSA were pleased with today’s decision. ALSA spokesperson, Donna Yamagata, said “We are deeply appreciative of the work of our pro bono legal team and of the court’s decision. The Court’s insistence on a review is especially important since the Orders inexplicably contradict the Marin County Local Coastal Plan, previously approved by the CCC.”

ALSA views the Orders as violating both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act and believes they would actually cause environmental harm to the Estero. The Petition noted that CCC staff’s affirmative exclusion from the record of substantial evidence that the Orders would cause significant negative environmental impacts constitutes a violation of CEQA. Remarkably, the CCC argued that evidence of harm from the Orders should not be considered at all.

In addition, while the Coastal Act declares that the Commission may not adopt regulatory controls over aquaculture that duplicate or exceed those of the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Orders disrespect CFGC authorization of shellfish cultivation in Drakes Estero as regulated by CDFW.

The Coastal Act and the Local Coastal Plan (LCP) support sustainable aquaculture as a coastal dependent use; both are disrespected by the CCC Orders. Although the Coastal Act requires the CCC to support agriculture and, specifically, aquaculture, CCC staff has misused the Coastal Act to undermine working landscapes of the California coast, threatening the viability of Marin’s agricultural infrastructure and the State’s aquaculture.

ALSA and Faber reiterated their strong support for both the California Coastal Act and the LCP. Said octogenarian environmentalist and former Coastal Commissioner Phyllis Faber, “our purpose with this lawsuit is to remind the Commission of its statutory obligation to comply with CEQA, respect CFGC’s Constitutionally delegated authority, and to support aquaculture, agriculture and other coastal dependent uses and visitor services in California.