SAVE VAN NORDEN MEADOW © 2008 www.SaveVanNordenMeadow.org Photo courtesy of The Society of California Pioneers Van Norden Meadow is the jewel of Donner Summit. This mountain meadow was used for thousands of years by Indian tribes as a summer hunting ground, and as a passage over the rugged Sierra. The meadow later became known as Summit Valley, providing a welcome haven for emigrants enduring the arduous journey to a new life in the West.  The high meadow also served as a summer grazing area for dairy cattle, which provided milk for residents, and for passengers on the intercontinental railroad. In 1900 a dam was raised on the meadow by the South Yuba Water Company, drowning thousands of years of history.  PG&E, subsequent purchasers of the meadow/lake, had to breach the dam because of seismic hazards. They later sold the meadow to a consortium formed by Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge, who split the property between them. Despite an incomplete breaching of the dam, resulting in a small residual impound of water, Van Norden Meadow has recovered beautifully, once more functioning as an integral component of the headwaters of the South Yuba River.  However, Van Norden Meadow and the headwaters of the South Yuba River are once again threatened, this time by Royal Gorge LLC, as they seek to rebuild the dam, and inundate the meadow, submerging  both a precious link to the past, and a vital link to the future for the wildlife dependent upon the meadow and surrounding wetlands and woods. This website will provide background on Van Norden Meadow, and it's unique place in a complex and delicate ecosystem. Various contributors will detail, among other things, its role as a wildlife corridor, its historical significance, and its priceless contributions to the health of the South Yuba River.  This website is maintained by Kathryn T. Gray.  Suggestions and written contributions are welcome.  I may be emailed at kathryntgray@gmail.com  For further information related to the South Yuba River, please visit www.syrcl.org.  SYRCL accepts donations to protect the headwaters of the South Yuba River. For information about Royal Gorge LLC's development proposals for the larger Donner Summit area, please view  www.saveserenelakes.org VAN NORDEN MEADOW: WHY DEVELOP WHAT DOESN'T NEED DEVELOPING? by Tom Appelbaum Printable Version... The idea of using any part of Van Norden Meadow for anything other than current usages is a puzzler to me.  As it is, the meadow is a multi-use property that must surely satisfy most if not all of anyone's outdoor needs. Besides the Winter fun, hiking, running, treking, fishing, kayaking, birding, and taking in the wonders of a meadow in transition are certainly as valid as anything proposed by Foster/Syme, and we don't have to do anything to develop interest in these activities except leave the meadow alone. The folks from Royal Gorge who work in and around the meadow (I'm talking about the guys in the company trucks) have been pretty nice to us homeowners by allowing these low-impact off-season activities, asking only that we don't bring motorized vehicles onto the property, and that we help watch over the meadow by reporting unauthorized use. It's a nice relationship that seems to work all year.   So here, then, are some questions:   Why rebuild the dam and use the water for more homes?  Well, we'd have a deeper lake to noodle around on from Spring until the resource is used up, but to what end?  The lake already exists (as do the Serene lakes, all the lakes around the summit, and Donner Lake), and the seismic reasons for taking down the dam haven't gone away.  In fact, with global warming and the subsequent climate changes that are now predicted, it seems that water will be the next highly coveted resource, rivaling oil as a cause for regional conflict.  If you'd like to find out about the need for a free-flowing Yuba River, just contact the members of SYRCL, the South Yuba River Conservation League... downstream use is of paramount importance to the health of the river and everything living in and around it. It may even be wise to think of taking down the rest of the dam, or at least cleaning up the area around the breached portion and returning the rivers's pathway downstream of the spillway to a more pristine condition.  It's pretty grungy from late Summer to the first snowfall.   Why develop the area with an interpretive center, skating rink, parking, and employee housing? Yipes.  Perhaps a small kiosk for the purpose of disseminating information about how the meadow as part of the summit is such a special place would be appropriate, as are the current Royal Gorge out-buildings for cross-country skiing,  but to surround the meadow with so many more potential sources of light and noise pollution, as well as site-source pollution that would ultimately reach the river, is not wise, and seems contradictory to the values that a so-called conservation community would emphasize.   Why build out on 18 home sites?  Again, more potential sources of all types of pollution, as well as increasing the load on the area's resources.    Why establish Soda Springs/Royal Gorge as a destination for year-round activities?  It already exists, albeit on a smaller scale than proposed.  Also, there's been a history of economic failure here at the summit for over a century, and the current scene is no different.  Check out the property from 1-80 to the intersection of Donner Pass Road and Soda Springs Road...not too much going on.  You don't own a business up here to make a lot of money.  Why not invest whatever monies are available in keeping the meadow as part of a prime example of a Sierra watershed?  Sounds good to me...   To begin a question with why is to get, eventually, to the real reason behind any activity, something I don't want to address in this little essay.  This is simply a request to save Van Norden Meadow.  But beyond all these questions is the fact that there simply aren't enough resources here at the summit to support a project of the magnitude that Foster/Syme proposes, and the fixes that have been floating around on the rumor mill not only won't work, but won't be tolerated in the current and future conservation climate here in California.   Even though I don't go for any part of the size and scope of the proposed development at the meadow, let alone the whole project, I believe Foster/Syme should have an out that doesn't cost them any money, or that could even give them a profit, at least as far as the meadow is concerned.  The various land acquisition agencies that exist (reference the Martis Valley compromise) could be contacted with the goal of saving the meadow from any unneeded changes.  A true conservation community would, I believe, already have thought of this in light of the results of the residents' survey that have recently come to light.  We don't want this kind of growth, and isn't it nice that vehicles exist that could provide a win-win situation for all involved?   I would ask Foster/Syme  to scale back the proposed development, and a good starting point would be to leave the meadow as is; then, move toward scaling back their plans and working, REALLY WORKING, with the community to ensure development that would retain the feel of the summit... conserve, if you will, those characteristics that make the summit a very special place. Photo courtesy of Lorrie Poch Articles of Interest: ...AND WHAT OF THE TREES?  Printable Version... The latest piece posted on the Save The Summit web site, "The Case of the Missing Trees", has stirred some thoughts in this old conservationists mind, and I'd like to share them with you.  I'll relay a story of not 500 trees, but one tree, one majestic redwood, that fell for all the wrong reasons.   We value the trees around our modest cabin, the pine, fir, and different deciduous species that climb gracefully to the sky, providing beauty, shade, and calming whispers in the wind on warm summer nights or, with a bit more impact, during rowdy winter storms.  They help to put us in what we believe is the proper perspective.  They are such an integral part of our lives, both at The Summit and at our home in the San Francisco Bay Area.   Several months ago my wife and I returned from a couple of days at The Summit to find, much to our great dismay, that a coastal redwood that sat on our neighbor's property, at the corner of our two properties, had been cut down, the stump ground out, and the detritus of the foul act left lying around the scene, where it still is today.  This tree and I were of approximately the same age, and meant a lot to me, for a lot of reasons.  About a year earlier, part of the tree had fallen into our yard, causing several thousand dollars of damage, which was covered by our insurance.  That initial occurrence put the fear of liability into our neighbors (two lawyers), and I had to beg them to leave the healthy part of the tree standing.  They assured me they would.  To make a long story short, another branch fell from the tree, another neighbor complained, and the tree was gone.  A choice was made, a promise was broken, and there the story ends...but the ramifications, although justifiable to some parties in this story, continue to plague me.   "The Case of the Missing Trees" and our own loss of a very special tree are at the opposite ends of the spectrum with regards to volume, but very much the same in terms of the lack of responsibility to the world around us.  Economic gain, whether through monies spent, not spent, or collected, can be a very powerful factor in luring one away from doing the right thing, and that can manifest itself through broken promises, acts of desperation, or some such devious doings.  In this case, it was a personal thing for Jeanne and I, and that colors our opinion very brightly.    With regards to Van Norden Meadow, do the risks of development and the consequences of same outweigh the responsibilities we have to the land and to future generations?  Does economic gain, and not at all assured economic gain, trump the conservation ethic that would save an entire watershed?  We're talking, after all, about the headwaters of the Yuba, all the downstream users, and, oh yeah, the flora and fauna that make up the landscape of this most beautiful river.  We can all see the results of the initial development at Soda Springs.  From the breached dam down to past The Always Inn, and further to the treatment plant, the river is severely impacted, especially just past the old spillway.  The opportunity to revive this part of the river still exists, but not if a dam is built, not if more homes are built, not if an unnecessary interpretive center, ice rink, employee housing, and whatever else is in the mix are built.  The water would be gone, used to maintain yet another scar on the Sierra Nevada landscape.   And what of the trees?  How many would be gone from our consciousness if this development in its current form goes forward, both at Van Norden Meadow and at the rest of the sites mentioned in the Foster/Syme proposal?  Do we trust a developer to do the right thing environmentally?  Can we truly believe that future decisions would be made on a rational level, with conservation issues outweighing economic gain?  The actions of the recent past, all throughout the Sierra Nevada, and indeed in our own back yards, show otherwise.  The closed-door meetings and clandestine decisions that go on behind our backs, in all aspects of our lives, are an unfortunate reality, and have made some of us wary to the point of distrust.  So no, I don't believe we can trust folks to do the right thing, whether it involves one tree, 500 trees, or thousands of acres of land.  Although the Martis Valley accord decreases some small percentage of our doubts and fears, we remain on guard for the protection of the rest of these most beautiful Sierra Nevada ecosystems.    We maintain hope that the folks at Foster/Syme will see the light.  True stewardship of the land, and the opportunity to create a model for future development in the Sierra Nevada range, should be a powerful draw towards doing the right thing.  Land swaps, scaled-down plans, a true environmental ethic...all these things could and should make for a proper development, and leave Foster/Syme with a project that they could be quite proud of, especially in terms of respecting the land and doing that elusive right thing.   And the trees, at least a good percentage of them, would survive, and the land would be just that much more protected, that much less scarred.  The Yuba River, these several ecosystems, the Sierra Nevada, this Range of Light, all deserve that and more.   -Tom and Jeanne Appelbaum THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND Printable Version... After having attended many of the various meetings held so far with all concerned over the fate of the Summit, here are what my wife Jeanne and I would like to see happen with regards to further development...nothing.  Of course, this is an unrealistic desire, but maybe something close to that is feasible.  Read on. We don't much like change.  We mourn the loss of favorite places, whether they're undeveloped areas or special restaurants, beloved landscapes or convenient small businesses that serve our needs.  Having been part of The Summit in varying degrees since 1962, we especially want this lovely area to remain isolated from the rampant development that is threatening the entire Sierra range.  Selfish?  I suppose so.  But for those of us who have hiked, skied, biked, fished, or just generally enjoyed the relative solitude found at The Summit, most notably in the off-seasons, the feeling of needing to be a steward of the land is certainly valid.  We relish our time here... Is it OK to suggest that, instead of proposing development that would bring us right to the brink of the resources of the area, and most likely beyond that fragile point, we propose what would be a more economically successful and appropriately-sized project?  The following suggestions include all of Soda Springs, not just the Foster/Syme land. Simply put, we suggest that it would be logical and correct to:   Infill the business district with viable commerce that would add to the resources that both full- and part-time residents would use and enjoy all year.  Don't duplicate what's already here.  Don't crowd the land.  Think clearly about what we truly need, and don't insult the area's residents by not asking us what we'd like to see in terms of useful businesses. Pay attention to the results of the recent survey that show what the vast majority of the folks up here want.  Put those opinions at the forefront of all discussions about how the community would grow. Include all undeveloped lots in the entire Donner Summit Area in any calculations for resource use, including the approximately 200 undeveloped lots in Serene Lakes.  Use common sense in any plans, and remember that conserving natural resources, especially in a time of changing weather patterns, is paramount to any discussion of future growth.  Don't push for maximum build-out if it would inevitably tax resources.  That's a dangerous road to travel. Finally, if development is going to happen, and it will, use the correct economy of scale in deciding what needs to go where.  In other words, don't stuff the maximum amount of stuff in the minimum amount of space, and don't incorrectly label the spaces that you're working with. Since it's unfortunately quite unrealistic to expect no growth at all, we'd love to see a true conservation development unfold here at The Summit.  The opportunity exists for a developer, possibly Foster/Syme, to create a model for other communities in the Sierra Nevada mountains to copy, a model that has the characteristics to truly fit the area in which it's proposed.  Imagine Donner Summit and the surrounding environs as the prime example of how the Sierra can accommodate modest growth while maintaining both its identity and integrity.  What a wonderful ending to what could be a successful and non-confrontational growth process. Tom and Jeanne Appelbaum A CONFLICTED MEADOW ON DONNER SUMMIT? Summit Valley, aka Van Norden Meadow, aka the headwaters of the South Yuba River- what does the future hold for it? A quick recap:  In three meetings held for the Donner Summit community in March of 2007, Royal Gorge repeatedly made assurances that they'd protect Van Norden Meadow as a nature preserve, with a history and nature interpretive center, and natural open space.  They also said that they would work to improve the headwaters of the South Yuba River. Read More... A LEGACY OF WASTE IN THE SIERRA At least several times a week our household receives thick, glossy invitations to invest in time-shares, fractional ownerships,  or second homes in resort communities near and far.  Montana, Idaho, the Sierra, Palm Springs--the locations vary, but the message remains the same.  "You've earned this."  "Live the good life."  "Bond with your family."  "Build a legacy."  More.... VAN NORDEN MEADOW MUSINGS Van Norden Meadow, with the passage of time, has also been a place of passages for people and wildlife.  Early Indian tribes used the meadow for literally thousands of years; records of their time up at the summit can be found in petroglyphs, and tool fragments still found around the area. More.... A SEWER RUNS THROUGH IT That the upper South Yuba River still exists in its stunning, bouldered beauty, is a bit of a miracle.  In the gold rush, rivers were diverted, channeled through canals, and dammed in order to provide water for the hydraulic mining that so scarred the northern gold country, and the South Yuba was no exception.  Minerals were the prize most desired in the gold rush, but lumber and water ran them a close second, More.... THE BUTTERFLIES OF DONNER SUMMIT Butterflies are probably the last thing to come to mind when one hears of Donner Summit.  One might think of the ill-fated Donner party, the dramatic granite landscape, copious snow, and skiing- but fragile butterflies?  Yet it turns out that Donner Summit and environs contain an abundance of butterflies.  Dr Art Shapiro, of UC Davis, has noted that, "Donner, for area, has one of the richest butterfly faunas documented in North America." More....

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