Another important tour came to Sharp Park Golf Course on Saturday afternoon June 13.
However, unlike a PGA Tour, it came with no publicity and no fanfare, no international golfing champions, no galleries of thousands — just a group of casually attired folks from San Francisco, who referred to themselves as "PROSAC." Yes, the City of San Francisco does have a sense of humor, if not a sense of irony, even in these stressful times of deciding the fate of the Sharp Park Golf Course.
PROSAC is an acronym for Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee.
PROSAC led by SF Park and Recreation Planning Director, Dawn Kamalanathan, SF Park and Recreation Natural Areas Manager Lisa Wayne, and its Committee Chairperson Jean McKinney, along with committee members: Nancy Wuerful, Mary Lipian, Anne Zelinsky, Frank Triska, Bill Wilson, Linda Shaffer and Bill Carlin came to Sharp Park Golf Course to not only observe the Sharp Park Golf Course land, but also to see the archery range, located in the eastern canyon of the former Honora Sharp Estate, which has been used for over fifty years as a local archery range by a volunteer organization called The San Francisco Archers. PROSAC was also given information about the former Sharp Park Rifle Range location, which, although closed now for several years, is still awaiting remediation of the "brownfields" to be done by the City of San Francisco.
Moving ahead slowly.
The San Francisco committee has been asked to report its findings back to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. PROSAC's visit was triggered by last month's decision by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to amend the San Francisco Park Code Article 3, by "requiring the Recreation and Park Department, no later than July 31, 2009, to develop a plan, schedule and budget for restoring Sharp Park habitat for the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake in conformance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and transferring Sharp Park to, or developing a joint management agreement with, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), and the City of Pacifica and/or the County of San Mateo, in accordance with the deed granting Sharp Park to the City and County of San Francisco and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 23.41. No later than August 31, 2009, the department shall provide to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors a report detailing the steps taken and the progress made to achieve the goals set forth."
It is the intention of the Ordinance that such restoration plans be based on the best scientific information available and shall include alternatives that (1) retain the 18 hole golf course or redesign the golf course into nine (9) holes or (2) eliminate the golf course entirely.
The City of Pacifica has been diligently pursuing all avenues to make sure that Sharp Park Golf Course not only remains a golf course but that it remains an 18 hole golf course.
As the San Francisco visitors walked into the rear meeting room of the Sharp Park Restaurant before the tour began, Mayor Julie Lancelle, Councilmember James Vreeland, City of Pacifica Golf Task members Barbara Arietta and Mark Duane, along with a group of very interested Sharp Park golfers headed by Juanita Mercado, and Jack Rauch, Past President of the San Francisco Archers greeted the guests.
"Thank you for coming today. I wanted to let you know that Pacifica is a very environmentally conscious community and has been for a long time. I myself served on the Open Space Task Force, the Open Space Committee and later was a board member on the Pacifica Land Trust," said Lancelle. "Over the years, Pacifica has added lands into the GGNRA, preserved and restored habitats and created trails through these areas.
Pacifica has many trails and natural areas, but we only have one golf course, and this golf course is very important to us as a source of outdoor recreation for many people of all ages, who might not otherwise hike the trails.
It is a beautiful mature golf course. Most other golf courses that are this beautiful are private. This is unique because it is a beautiful public municipal golf course that everyone can enjoy. I am happy to answer any questions and would like to say Welcome to Pacifica!"
After Lancelle's greeting, the group exited the clubhouse and proceeded to the waiting golf carts for their caravan through the Sharp Park Golf Course. A prime point for inspection of "Horsestable Pond," where the pump station is located, and the "Laguna Salada" water area, where Red-Legged Frogs lay their eggs, was from high atop the berm that acts as a seawall between the golf course and the Pacific Ocean. Lisa Wayne was the group's guide throughout the two hour and thirty minute tour. Information about the hydrology problems and subsequent annual flooding problems was a topic of concern among the visitors. Wayne assured them that the pumps had been repaired. "That doesn't mean that the golf course won't flood next year. We can't guarantee that," said Wayne. (Apparently not everything has been fixed, there appears to be a lingering drainage problem from comments made by some local folks in the tour group)
Wayne also told the group that a certain water level must be maintained, however, for the protection of the Red Legged Frog's eggs. She advised that there is a level beyond which they are not allowed to draw the water down. "We are required by law to protect the Red Legged Frog's eggs," said Wayne."If we draw the water level down too low, the eggs are left high and dry."
Wayne went on to tell the group that San Francisco is concerned about its potential liability in this situation. She said that both Fish and Wildlife and Fish and Game are involved in the solution attempts.
Councilmember Vreeland reminded Wayne that when the golf course floods, there is also a potential of flooding lower Sharp Park residential neighborhood. Wayne said that they are trying to fix the hydrology so that area doesn't flood anymore.
One of the main problems with the Laguna Salada area is the formation of tall grassy vegetation, which has literally choked off the flow of the waters. "Laguna Salada is one-third of its original size," said Wayne.
Wayne then spoke about future measures that are planned for Sharp Park Golf Course in San Francisco's Compliance Plan with federal regulations. She enumerated five of multiple measures that San Francisco is planning on taking:
1) There will be a biological monitor to walk in front of the lawn mowers where the wetlands meet the golf course lands.
2) All inorganic fertilizers will be eliminated.
3) Eliminate pesticides.
( A local member in the touring group said that it was his understanding that there has been no pesticides used at Sharp Park Golf Course for over 10 years.)
4) Install a fence and signs along the edge of the levee (berm) to limit the potential "Take" of the San Francisco Garter Snake (by either people or animals).
5) Golf carts will be limited to riding on the paths only.
The group was then driven in cars to the eastern side of Highway 1, to see the former rifle range area, which was formerly located on the old Sharp's Estate land. Councilmember Vreeland reminded both Kamalanathan and Wayne that Pacifica had submitted a very detailed plan for use of that area for potential soccer and baseball fields and other possible recreational pursuits last year to the SF Parks and Recreation Department and to date has received no definitive response as to what shall happen in that area.
The tour finished up at the SF Archery Range, also located in the eastern canyon across Highway 1. Out of the 410 acres of the former Honora Sharp's Estate, the Archery range occupies approximately 40 acres. On those lands you can find multiple forms of wildlife, including bobcats and skunks, according to Wayne. The range itself is composed of 56 targets scattered throughout 2 walk-around field ranges. The SF Archers have been in business since 1936, but utilized a location originally in San Francisco for their shooting range.
"It wasn't until 1952 that the we came down to Pacifica to build an archery range and that was because they kicked us out because they were building the UCSF hospital campus, where our original range was located in San Francisco, " said Past President Jack Rauch. It is composed of all volunteers. It is considered a "5-star" archery range that is host to many archery competitons throughout the year. On the first and third Sunday mornings it is open to the general public for lessons from nine to noon.