VICTORY FOR THE FOREST!

The Cleveland National Forest was defended by the Descanso Planning Group on 17 August 2000 when the Group voted unanimously to recommend that the County of San Diego Department of Planning & Land Use deny the Stallion Oaks project. This massive proposed project would cut and fill over 42,000 cubic yards of material to construct 125 cabins and a 70,000 square foot mega-spa/resort in the oak woodlands just northwest of Descanso within the Cleveland National Forest. The Descanso Planning Group also voted unanimously to reject the Specific Plan as inconsistent with the County's General Plan, to find the Environmental Impact Report inadequate, and the proposed project as not meeting any of the findings required of a Major Use Permit under the County's Zoning Ordinance Section 7358. Congratulations to the Descanso Planning Group for protecting the Cleveland National Forest and the country town of Descanso!

BIODIVERSITY AND WILDERNESS ISSUES OF THE PECHANGA FIRE

The Pechanga Fire burned 11,734 acres on the northwest slopes of Palomar Mountain from July 28-August 10, 2000. An integrated USDA Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection incident command team led the suppression efforts, with more than 1700 firefighters committed at the peak of the fire. Smoke was visible several afternoons from North County San Diego. Several people have asked about the fire history and vegetation on the mountain, the use of dozers to open former firelines in the wilderness, and about protection of special resources.

You are cordially invited to an informal discussion about BIODIVERSITY AND WILDERNESS ISSUES ON THE PECHANGA FIRE on Monday evening, August 28, 2000 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Cleveland National Forest Supervisor's Office.

The Cleveland National Forest Supervisor's Office is located at 10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200 (go about 1 mile west of I-15 on Rancho Bernardo Road, turn left on Via del Campo and immediately turn left into the parking lot; we're the building on the left).

Please attend Monday, August 28 at 7:00 pm (no RSVP necessary). If you have any questions about the location or format, please call Public Affairs Officer Joan Wynn (858-674-2984 or jwynn01@fs.fed.us).

Many thanks to Byron Lindsley and the Mountain Defense League for calling this event to our attention!