March 28, 2007
California, Letters

Support the preservation of Mt. San Jacinto

Dear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:

One of Southern California’s most important scenic landmarks, the North Face of Mt. San Jacinto and the Snow Creek alluvial, is currently being threatened by a massive 2400 acre industrial windmill complex. The proposed development consists of 51 windmills dispersed along the northernmost ridgeline of Mt. San Jacinto, beginning high on the mountain at 4080 Ft. elevation and descending in a row to a large group of windmills on the desert floor. The windmills proposed for the mountain ridgeline are 360 ft. The windmills on the desert floor, which will stand directly in front of spectacular views of Mt. San Jacinto are to be 410 ft. Both will have a bladespan of over 295 ft.

Named WECS 118 by the Riverside County Planning Dept., this proposed development is in White Water, Ca. 92282 on privately owned land at the western entrance to The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument just south of the I-10 Freeway and just west of Snow Creek Road near the Palm Springs Highway 111 Exit of the I-10 Freeway. This wilderness recreation area, surrounded by northern reaches of the San Jacinto Mountains features the state’s second highest waterfall, the University of California’s Oasis De Los Osos wetlands reserve, the highest point and one of the most awe inspiring stretches of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Snow Creek Rock Shelter archeological site and extensive evidence of ancient Indian life.

This development is to be located in close proximity to a group of creosote rings, some of which are estimated to be over 10,000 years old, and in the path of an important wildlife migration area between the San Gorgonio and the San Jacinto Mountains. The windmills proposed for the San Jacinto ridgeline are directly above the Oasis De Los Osos, where the canyon’s unusual plant and animal life have been studied since 1970 under the stewardship of The James Reserve and the University of California.

The North Face of Mt. San Jacinto and the Snow Creek alluvial is some of the most dramatically beautiful land in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and one of our states important landmarks. It should be utilized for its tremendous natural, scenic, cultural and recreational assets, not sacrificed for the grave effects of a poorly sited, land intensive, extremely high profile industrial development that will be seen for miles around and completely alter the entire local landscape and use of the area.

Please support the preservation of this extraordinary wilderness where abundant waterways and verdant inland mountains meet the desert floor, by contacting the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and asking them to deny approval of this completely inappropriate development and protect this special place for the enjoyment of National Monument visitors.

Sincerely,

Les Starks
Palm Springs, Ca


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/28/support-the-preservation-of-mt-san-jacinto/