The growth which fashioned our current megalopoli from once fertile agricultural and scenic areas of the State is now encroaching on the remaining scenic and environmentally rich rural areas. Despite Open Space plans, Coastal Commissions and Agricultural Preserves, fish and wildlife populations in the path of needed and/or speculative land fracture are being exposed to possible decimation and extinction faster than we become aware of the problems that occur as a result of our political decisions. Examples of the present or potential effects of political decisions on fish and wildlife populations in San Luis Obispo County are cited. Concerns about flood control projects in the San Luis Obispo Creek watershed, harbor improvement in Port San Luis, proposed supertanker port construction in Estero Bay, and a wrecking yard almost on the shore of Whale Rock Reservoir are discussed. Professional fish and wildlife biologists are urged to take an active role in the questioning and exposing of the views of local political candidates regarding their views on fish and wildlife resource conservation.
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