EHL’s work in youth education was recognized, and we were quoted in news stories on global warming, the Foothill toll road, habitat restoration, fire management, and highway and development projects.



On June 14, 2007, the San Diego Union Tribune lauded youth education programs at EHL’s Earth Discovery Institute in Crest. According to the editorial, which specifically mentioned the contributions of EHL’s Cathy Chadwick and Leslie Reynolds, “Today's children, without easy access to field or forest like those of generations ago, need opportunities to explore and learn about nature. Cajon Valley, the Endangered Habitats League, volunteers and other organizations are to be complimented on a program that can make a difference.”

When San Bernardino County announced measures to reduce global warming, (“San Bernardino County to waive fees for solar, wind systems,” August 28, 2007, Los Angeles Times), an EHL Board Member was on hand. “Jane Block of the Endangered Habitats League, an environmental organization, praised the county's new plan. She thanked supervisors ‘for going for good things in solar energy and conservation.’"

On August 23, 2007, the San Diego Union Tribune covered the environmental impacts report for the proposed Fanita Ranch development in Santee, which threatens the integrity of the Multiple Species Conservation Plan. EHL’s Silver was quoted about the biological effects of the project, which “chops up the property, and that's a fundamental problem here.”

The North County Times wrote about a new east-west highway in Riverside County (“Mid County Parkway route named,” August 29, 2007) and quoted Silver as an environmentalist closely tracking the project. "It is not clear to me that this is the most environmentally sensitive alternative."

A follow up story ("Freeway bridges could aid wildlife,” August 30, 2007) examined proposals for bridging the highway. “It sounds like it might work for some species, not for others," Silver said, saying bridges are useful mostly for large animals. "At best, it's a partial mitigation measure . . . It's not as though they can read signs," he said.

When the Orange County Register (“Toll road runoff plans unveiled,” Sept. 14, 2007) covered the Foothill toll roads new plan to control polluted run-of, EHL’s Executive Director, Dan Silver, expressed skepticism based upon inadequate erosion control. “We're not buying their pronouncements.”

In a Los Angeles Times article on alternatives to the toll road (“Flaws found in O.C. tollway foes' study,” Oct. 15, 2007), Silver pointed out the inaccuracies in the Transportation Corridor Agency's attempts to discredit the report. “In no way does this change our fundamental conclusion that improving the 5 is eminently feasible.”

On Sept. 27, 2007, the Los Angeles Times published a letter from Silver praising the City of San Diego for adopting a resolution opposing a toll road route that would eliminate affordable coastal recreation. “We must save San Onofre State Beach from this ill-advised toll road.”

In a letter to the editor published in the San Diego Union Tribune (“Toll road agency is government ‘run amok’,” July 16, 2007, EHL praised Rep. Susan Davis’ amendment to ensure that the toll road follows state law and discussed the devastating impacts to San Onofre State Beach if the road were built.

In a San Diego Union Tribune story (“Sand excavation, wildlife habitat plan for San Diego River drawing opposition,” August 18, 2007), EHL San Diego Director Michael Beck explained the purpose of the project, which is to restore wildlife habitat and create recreational uses in the El Monte Valley along the San Diego River. “We're trying to do the right thing to save that valley.”

In an article that examined a range of fire hazard issues, the Riverside Press Enterprise (“Bark beetles in San Jacinto Mountains signal extreme fire danger,” July 19, 2007), EHL’s executive director commented on the folly of building isolated homesites in high risk zones. "There are massive public subsidies being spent, generally for well-off people who live in high-fire zones," Silver said. "We need to protect existing communities like Idyllwild, but you don't need to create new ones."

The Orange County Register (Chiquita Ridge land in limbo,” June 15, 2007) covered EHL’s eventually successful effort to intervene in litigation to stop the City of Rancho Santa Margarita from annexing NCCP reserve land. "If (the city) succeeds in this land grab, it will not be protected," said Silver.  

Silver further explained EHL’s position on the issue in the Sept. 19, 2007 Register (“Chiquita Ridge land in limbo”). "Our issue is not who owns the land but that the land remains protected."