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Environmental Disaster at Barona Casino Racetrack
Barona Indians Destroying
the Environment!
The Barona
Band of
Mission Indians have great power and responsibility on their tribal
lands. If you follow their own advertising, they also claim to be
environmentally conscious. We, their neighbors, do not see them
that way. We see them
as poor stewards of the environment, because even though they know and
understand how
they are affecting the local environment, they continue to endorse, and
even
increase, the activities that are creating excessive noise and ruining our local streambed, Little
Klondike Creek. Please read on
for more information, and judge for yourself.
Background
Who
is responsible?
Barona
Tribe Claims Immunity from Federal Law!!!
Photos
and Video of Habitat
Our
solution
Links
to those who can help
The Barona Indian Tribe, owners of the Barona Indian Casino, operate an unpermitted motocross track on their reservation that is an environmental disaster you wouldn't believe to exist in these modern times.
Here is some background: The California Mini Motorcycle Club (CMMC) moved to this location at Barona Oaks Motorcycle Track as a MINIBIKE track for children, sometime between 1976 and 1978. Low power minibikes that go pretty slow were supposed to be what was raced there. There was just one small track in the beginning. Over the years, the track has expanded a lot, to the point now that it is way beyond what anyone could have ever imagined. Currently, really large, fast, full-sized motorcycles ridden by adults race there. Not much of their program is minibikes any more. If you check their website at http://baronaoaksmx.com, you can see the tribe has expanded the operation considerably. You can't really call it a "Mini" motorcycle track any more. Good for the riders, but bad for the land and the environment.
Above is an aerial view of the dirtbike track and the Barona dragstrip and dirtcar tracks, all on the north end of Wildcat Canyon Road in San Diego County. Little Klondike Creek flows right through the middle of the dirtbike track. Follow the line of trees, which normally are found on the sides of streambeds, where water accumulates. In this photo, you can actually SEE water standing in the bed of Little Klondike Creek. Little Klondike Creek then meets up with San Vicente Creek, which then empties into San Vicente Reservoir, an important local source of drinking water.
The track is built on the streambed
of the Little Klondike Creek. All the dirt that is loosened up by
the earthmovers and motorcycles ends up in the streambed, choking off waterflow.
That silt and the pollutants it traps end up in San Vicente Reservior,
which is everyone's drinking water.
The noise being
generated from the track is also considered pollution. The United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a regulation on the
books concerning noise generation. In 1981, enforcement of this
statute was transferred to state and local authorities, yet the law
remains on the books. The Barona Tribe are bound by regulations
of the USEPA, and so should be following this regulation. Click
here to read more at USEPA:
The results were mixed: Noise is VERY high: 50 decibels is considered the maximum for rural county areas, and the noise was measured to exceed that limit 66 to 88 percent of the time during track operation, with a range over 12 decibels above the maximum.
Dust measurements during the test period were reported as "not excessive," due to the size of dust particles sampled. Only extremely fine particles of dust, PM2.5 and PM10, the type that would be inhaled and cause lung damage, were measured. The dust we get is larger particles, and trust us, it is very bad.
Here is a copy of the first page of the report. Email us for a copy of the full PDF file.
Who is responsible for all this
environmental damage you are reading about? Two Barona tribe members
operate the track: Walter Banegas and Dayton Banegas.
The Barona Tribal Council approves all land uses on the reservation. These people are ultimately responsible and accountable for the noise, dust, and environmental degradation of this land. They are: Edwin "Thorpe" Romero, Chairman; Beth Glasco, Councilwoman; Charles "Beaver" Curo, Vice Chairman; Adam Reyes, Councilman; Edward Joseph Welch, Councilman; Linda Curo, Councilwoman; Brandon Banegas, Councilman.
Please read the
following brochure, from Summer 2008, keeping in mind the image the
Barona Tribe is trying to project. Then, read the rest of this website
and see if YOU agree that they are doing what they claim in their
brochure.
$3.25 MILLION of charitable contributions in 2007 alone? Why won't they move their track for a few thousand easy dollars?
Environment Connection?
How do they justify
a bulldozed motocross track in the bottom of a senstive
streambed? How does THAT clean up the environment?
Wellness Connection?
These people are driving us INSANE with the noise! How does that contribute to the health and well-being of the entire community?
Family Connection?
We have children who can't sleep in the afternoon because of the noise. How is that pro-family?
Barona Tribe Claims Immunity from Federal Law!!!
The United States Environmental Protection Agency visited this track in November of 2006, with the permission of the Barona Tribe. For two weeks prior to this announced visit, earthmoving was taking place, presumably to cover the diesel spill you'll read about later. What is interesting are the recommendations the EPA made to the tribe, basically telling them to stop grading in the bottom of Little Klondike and Klondike Creeks.
The first two sheets are from the EPA. The second two sheets are from the Barona attorney, speaking for the tribe. You won't believe their answer: They have the GALL to claim the Clean Water Act is BAD LAW and doesn't apply to them! Well, just who the heck do they think they are????
Here are the letters:
Barona claims that the bulk of the track construction was accomplished in 1973-1974. Below is a series of photos from the County of San Diego from that time frame and later, which concretely disproves this statement. The Barona Tribe are LIARS! They say whatever suits their purpose. These people can not be trusted to tell the truth about anything!
This first photo was taken in January of 1974. NO TRACK!
This second photo was taken October 1976. NO TRACK!
This last photo was taken November 1978, and the track is about half its current size, with no set course and no apparent bulldozing, just a bunch of trails.
Below is a photo from 1994, showing only ONE track.
This next photo shows TWO tracks in May of 2002. The older one on the left is now the main track, and the new "Pee-Wee" track for small motorcycles is on the right.
In the letter from their lawyer, they claim that the bulk of their construction occurred in 1973-1974, and in other statements they claim that after that time, all they have done is "maintenance." If you follow the timeline, there is MUCH more bulldozing going on than "maintenance." They are constantly expanding this track, and should be getting permits every time. But they don't, because they think they are above the law!
So, how do you think they responded to the EPA's recommendations in that letter? The operators graded even more, and started an off-road racing and paintball complex!!!!!!
Here is a photo of a bulldozer moving dirt on the Barona Oaks Racetrack. This activity is a violation of many Federal rules and regulations concerning moving of dirt near sensitive habitat.
Just HOW do these people get away with this? They just go out and break laws because nobody is watching! Can you imagine if a normal person tried to grade around a stream like this????? Keep reading! It gets even WORSE!
Here are some of the wild critters that live behind our houses, and that would live in Little Klondike Creek if they could.
Kangaroo Rat, an endangered species. This one was hiding in a pocket of an unfinished swimming pool wall, in a yard backing up to the track. The homeowner rescued him alive and released him back into the wild.
A small frog, species unknown.
A salamander of some sort.
Here are an aerial shot showing relative locations, a photo and two videos of Little Klondike Creek upstream of the motocross track. As you can see, upstream of the motocross track the environment is very natural, and makes a good habitat for endangered species.
This is what the barren motocross track just a few yards downstream would look like if it weren't bulldozed every week and wiped out by motorcycles.
Overview of vernal ponds upstream of motocross track.