February 2006 -- Save the Mesa gave a $2,000 grant to the Dana Adobe for emergency repair of Nipomo's historic landmark. Heavy rains damaged the south wall of the adobe structure, threatening the integrity of the entire building. Save the Mesa responded with $2,000 to provide temporary repairs until a more substantial renovation of the wall can be undertaken. Δ

June 2004 -- Save the Mesa made a grant of $1,000 to the Blind Bat Educational Program to enable the organization to continue teaching programs in San Luis Obispo County. Δ

May 2004 -- Save the Mesa awarded three scholarships totaling $5,000 to high school seniors living in the Nipomo High School boundaries. Kelsey Theriot received $2,500, for her essay titled "Preserving Paradise." Meghan Girvin and Brooke Boehning were each awarded $1,250 for their environmental essays. Δ

April 2004 -- Save the Mesa awarded a grant of $65,000 to the Land Conservancy to add more resources to their fund to secure grants for riparian land purchases. Δ

April 2004 -- Save the Mesa awarded a grant of $5,000 to Greenspace, Cambria Land Trust to help with an initiative for an oak tree preservation ordinance in the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. Δ

March 2004 -- Save the Mesa made a grant of $15,000 to the Lucia Mar School District for Environmental Scholarships. The funds will be used to provide college scholarships in 2004, 2005, and 2006 to Nipomo High School seniors who write the best environmental preservation essays or perform community projects to restore and preserve the Nipomo Mesa. Δ

February 2004 -- Save the Mesa granted $5,000 to Pacific Care Wildlife to help rescue, care for, and release rehabilitated wildlife found homeless, sick, or injured in the South County area. Δ

November 2003 -- Save the Mesa made a grant of $4,500 to the Dana Adobe to complete their master plan for attracting donors, investors, and volunteers to help development of the historic site in Nipomo. Δ

November 2003 -- The Judge ruled in favor of Save the Mesa's suit against the County. He stated that the County had abused its discretionary powers in approving a zoning change without adequate environmental analysis. The Judge ordered an environmental impact study be conducted to evaluate the effect of a higher density project on the water, traffic, growth inducement and air quality. No monetary damages were sought or received by Save the Mesa. Δ

October 2003 -- Save The Mesa made another grant of $7,150 to Salmon Enhancement for environmental education in local schools. The funds from the first grant provided in-classroom demonstrations of environmental protection and the trout life cycle. This program was a big success with the local school children. Δ

June 2003 -- Save the Mesa conducted a presentation for Black Lake Residents. Δ

February 2003 -- Save the Mesa awarded $63,000 to the Land Conservancy. They are conducting a study of the Mesa to provide the South County with the first map of its kind to include the resources and areas warranting protection. Δ

December 2002 -- Save the Mesa awarded three grants to community groups. The Nipomo Community Advisory Council received $5,000 for books and community clean-ups, Central Coast Salmon Enhancement got $5,000 for environmental education in local schools, and Ride Nipomo Equestrian Alliance got $10,000 to help build a horse trail along Camino Caballo connecting the Woodlands to Nipomo Community Park. Δ

August 2002 -- Save the Mesa settled its lawsuit with PH Properties over the Woodlands development. In exchange for dropping the lawsuit, Save the Mesa was granted the right to monitor the project as it proceeds to help ensure that the mitigations that were promised are indeed carried out. The group was also given $250,000 to distribute to the community to help mitigate negative impacts the development will have on wildlife habitat, etc. PH Properties reimbursed Save the Mesa for its legal costs. Δ

May 2002 -- Save the Mesa took legal action to challenge a decision by the County Board of Supervisors to approve a zoning change, without an environmental impact report, to allow 16 one-acre home sites and a school on rural lands near Black Lake Golf Course. Developer Ken Craig asked for 16 home sites instead of the 7 sites current zoning allows (the land in the neighborhood is zoned for five-acre lots) and in return proposed making a portion available to the school district for a future site. The County Planning staff studied initially determined that an environmental impact report was required. In Addition, the County Planning Commission, composed of five members, each appointed by a County Supervisor, determined that the plan was unacceptable and voted to deny it. When the Supervisors (with the exception of Peg Pinnard, and with Harry Ovitt absent) voted to approve the zoning change without an environmental impact report, Save the Mesa's board voted to challenge that decision, which would not only change the rural character of the neighborhood, but would have a growth-inducing affect on surrounding areas. According to the California Environmental Quality Act, public agencies are required to follow environmental guidelines set forth in the act. When those guidelines are not followed, it is the duty of the public to enforce the act "by legal action or the threat thereof." Δ

January 2000 -- Save the Mesa contested the County of San Luis Obispo's action to exceed its own growth cap of 2.3% per year by approving 180 building permits over the limit. The County agreed in a legal settlement not to exceed the 2.3 percent growth cap for the area, and to conduct an environmental impact report on the total development activity on the Nipomo Mesa. The report will study such concerns as water, air quality and traffic as they are affected by current and planned development. The County agreed not to grant exceptions to the growth cap until the report was completed or until the end of 2001, whichever came last. As part of the settlement, the County paid the legal costs of Save the Mesa. Δ