Recent tetrataenia News

[infernalis]

This was recently sent to me, I thought I would share... This took place in December.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has put a stop to turning Sharp Park over to the federal government by vetoing legislation that would have most likely turned the park and golf course back to its natural state. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors, voted 6-5 earlier this month to turn the park over to the federal government, two votes shy of overturning a veto by the mayor. The 400-acre course was built nearly 80 years ago on wetlands that is home to the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake, both endandered species that inhabit the park. The supervisors were hoping that turning the land over to the federal government would have aided in restoring the park to its natural state, which would have helped both the frog and snake populations.

In vetoing the legislation, Mayor Lee cited skepticism to any federal money becoming available to turn the golf course into federal parkland. "I believe in striving for an equilibrium between environmental and recreational needs," Lee wrote in his veto letter to the board of supervisors.

City park officials have come up with a plan to protect both the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake while retaining the 18 hole golf course by reconfiguring three holes and restoring the wetlands. The estimated cost to tweak the golf course is $5 million. The golf course is in San Mateo County but is managed by the city of San Francisco. In its current state, it is reported to operate at a loss of $100,000 a year. The city is currently working to restore 19 acres of habitat, according to a report in the San Francisco Examiner, and is working with San Mateo County officials to come up with a management plan for the park.

The California red-legged frog was made famous by Mark Twain's short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Listed as threatened in 1996, Rana draytonii is the largest native frog in the Western United States. It grows from 1.5 to 5 inches in length and sports an olive or brown back and reddish legs and belly.

The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1967. It has been estimated that only 1000 to 2000 adult snakes remain in the wild. It feeds primarily on the California red-legged frog and can be found in densely vegetated bodies of water that has ample areas for basking.

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure if this is good or bad news as I have little trust in any branch/level of government.
Especially when it comes to the welfare of the environment or the creature that live in it, us included.

[infernalis]

Restoring a postage stamp size plot will not accomplish much.

20 acres out of 400?? please.

[EasternGirl]

I guess you could at least say someone is trying...it's better than nothing...a step in the right direction perhaps?

[Stefan-A]

Not sure if this is good or bad news as I have little trust in any branch/level of government.
Especially when it comes to the welfare of the environment or the creature that live in it, us included.

It's bad news.

Not to turn this into a general politics discussion, but over here the government is in the tricky position that it usually has to sell out the environment to some degree, no matter what's at stake. If a corporation, or any land owner wants to do something on their land, it's the government's job to enable it. It's not there to protect the environment, it's there to make sure you don't wipe out more than 90% (fictive number) of it.

[chris-uk]

Not good news really. I'm not convinced that the area could be converted back to its pre-golfing state soon enough to make a difference. But the mayor sounds like he's a bit of a corporate sell out, he can't even claim that his veto has saved the city money when the golf course will continue to loose money.

[infernalis]

It's terrible news really, money and politics aside, at least if the land was turned over to become a federal issue, the golfers would be tossed out forever.

No more lawn mowers, no more golf carts, no more people wielding clubs to strike out at the first slithering serpent to cross their paths, etc..

It was so close, so very close to happening, and then this...

[EasternGirl]

Oh okay...I read through it quickly the first time...the mayor stopped them from turning the land over to the federal government. Yeah, that's pretty crazy. What a shame...

[guidofatherof5]

Here's a link to the Mayor's Office.
I plan on crafting a professional message an sending it.

Office of the Mayor : Contact the Mayor

[infernalis]

He may be busy golfing Steve.