WEE SLEEKIT, COW'RIN TIM'ROUS BEASTIES ON DONNER SUMMIT

No, not me. And, actually, not the animals and other creatures- but it's Bobbie Burn's Day today (hold that haggis, please), and aside from the fact that I had to memorize this poem a long time ago in high school, it actually speaks to a big problem in the state, and up here on Donner Summit.

When CEQA was passed, everyone's (or maybe almost everyone's) intentions were for the best- if a proposed development would impact a species, whether of a rare plant or animal,  attempts would be made to mitigate the damages- perhaps by funding acquisition of habitat for the threatened species elsewhere.  Like all things, though, the proof is in the pudding, and in many people's minds mitigation has come to represent "never having to say you're sorry", as development has covered so much of California in the last 30 years. 

For all the brave hopes that damages caused by development could be "mitigated" away,  the sad fact is that California has the most endangered species in the nation.  So, what do we think when a developer buys up a huge chunk of Donner Summit, and, from one month to the next variously proposes damming Van Norden Meadow, damming Serena /Ice Lakes Creek down near the Onion Creek experimental forest and headwaters of the North Fork of the American River, and also proposes creating 2 artificial lakes in  a sensitive area, and a underground leach field that will require clearcutting, and fences to keep people out? How can one ever  mitigate all the damage to wildlife habitat and wildlife caused by those actions?  There are going to be quite a few species who may never recover from Royal Gorge LLC's big, bold plans.

So-a little more Robert Burns, and imagine this addressed to one of the species at risk up here- a Pacific Marten, or a fragile nest of Willow Flycatchers...

From 'To a Mouse':

I'm truly sorry Man's dominion

Has broken Nature's social union,

An' justifies that ill opinion

Which makes thee startle,

At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,

An' fellow mortal!

But, to end on a positive note, here's more from the same poem:

"The best laid schemes o'mice an men

Gang aft a -gley."

Maybe the Martens have half a chance.