By, William (Bill) Smith, Peter Anderson & Charming Evelyn
George Courser, founder of Sierra Club California’s first Committee for Environmental and Social Justice, touched many Sierra Club members throughout California before he passed away in late 2022. Working on water issues, EJ and conservation of San Diego wildlands and woodlands gave him great joy. On weekends he often hiked through one of the dozens of wildland areas he had helped save from development.
George Courser (left) Sierra Club San Diego Chapter
He was a leader at the state level in expanding and diversifying the club’s membership and impact. He provided weekly news feeds to Sierra Club members and both local and state allies. He included and retained new people in important environmental coalitions. In recognition of his accomplishments, he won the prestigious Sally and Les Reid Award for Conservation from Sierra Club California and the Conservation Activist Award from the San Diego Chapter.
Mr. Courser passionately endeavored to provide those not given a fair shake the opportunity to share his love of nature. He recognized that a secure and healthy home is a prerequisite for exploring, enjoying and protecting our planet.
His counsel and encouragement emboldened members of the CCC (California Conservation Committee for) Environmental and Social Justice to quietly lobby Sierra Club chapters to support construction of sustainable affordable homes for homeless Californians and their families who, not by choice, sleep under the stars or in vehicles every night. He supported the Angeles Chapter’s Environmental and Social Justice Committee and its efforts to remove toxic lead from the thousands of homes and yards within 2 miles of a former Exide Battery recycling plant.
Among his many and more widely recognized conservation accomplishments, Mr. Courser often succeeded in convincing reluctant San Diego County supervisors to protect his beloved native plants, animals and drinking water sources from ill-considered developments. He and his allies blocked the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill, which recycling and other programs soon afterwards eliminated the need for. Today Gregory Canyon remains the home for a myriad of rare wildlife species on land local Native-American groups consider sacred. Healthy water from the canyon continues to feed into drinking water sources for thousands of people.
He stopped developments in dangerous locations, such as 2,100 homes on 2,000 acres of fire-prone woodlands proposed for the Newland Sierra development. SAS (Stop All Sprawl). chaired by another Sierra Club member, Peter Anderson, and co-chaired by him, was instrumental to this work. The community teams he promoted have successfully modified or stopped numerous major San Diego projects that tried to circumvent CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
Mr. Courser supported global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Recently, he supported repeated lawsuits against San Diego County until it agreed to mitigate its greenhouse gases “in county” rather than overseas in countries with lax environmental enforcement. He understood the value of compromise. Rather than blocking the high voltage Sunrise Powerlink Renewable Energy transmission lines that now transmit renewable solar electricity from the Imperial Valley to San Diego, his work minimized their environmental damage.
He was active in finding a binational solution to the massive pollution in the Tijuana River and in the restoration of the Salton Sea. He led Sierra Club lawsuits that fought the bundling of general plan amendments in San Diego, fought the environmentally destructive border wall, opposed offshore oil drilling, fought to protect the Harbor Seals and Sea Lions at Pt. LaJolla, and fought for every Californian to have clean and safe drinking water.
In his many campaigns he experienced the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. The San Diego County ballot Measure A he supported would have required voter approval for amendments to the county’s general plan to increase density in rural areas. With 1% more of the voters, the measure would have passed. His team succeeded in defeating Measure B and permits for the Newland Sierra project for 2.000 homes in a wild-fire area were never issued but lost the campaign to defeat the Carlsbad Ocean Desalination Plant.
Mr. Courser worked with government, community, environmental representatives, and landowners to protect dozens of endangered and threatened species of plants and animals unique to San Diego. Landowners dedicated up to 75% of their land in exchange for higher housing densities to create the Del Mar Mesa Preserve.. The Preserve continues to support many vernal pool complexes, and to serve as a critical animal migration corridor for the City and County.
Mr. Courser strove to enable everyone to live the Sierra Club motto: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
In San Diego County, George served as the Chair of the Sierra Club Conservation Committee, a board member of the Steering Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, and a member of the legal committee. At Sierra Club California he was a member of the California Conservation Committee, Co-chair of the Environmental and Social Justice Committee and a long-standing member of the Water Committee.
One of George’s last acts was to humor my request for an article on the Carlsbad Ocean Desalination Plant, which got picked up by national news blogs. If you missed it last year, please read it HERE as we pay our respects to a great water warrior and activist.
Remembrances
“George welcomed me so warmly to the Conservation Committee. I was new to the Committee, and it made all the difference. George was an amazing advocate for conservation and a good person. ” – Lisa Kaczmarczyk, Conservation Committee Member
“George was so supportive of our fight against the environmentally destructive San Marcos Highlands project. He was right there by our side every step of the way, from requesting funding from our Chapter for the Administrative Record for the litigation, to the LAFCO hearing where the annexation of the Highlands property to the City of San Marcos was approved by the LAFCO Board. His support meant so much to me. He was a wonderful Chair of the Conservation Committee — his dedication to our battles on behalf of the environment throughout the County was extraordinary. And he was always optimistic, cheerful and very kind. I deeply grieve his loss.” – Mary Clarke, Conservation Committee Member
“George WAS Mr. Conservation. It seemed that George knew something important about every environmental issue we faced. He was always happy to help, providing guidance and expertise. He wasn’t afraid to speak up and let city council members, mayors and supervisors know where he, the Sierra Club and environmental community stood on issues. Above all he always had time to listen, made you smile, even if he was telling you that you were wrong, friendly and generous with his time. He was a wealth of information, an inspiration to everyone and will be a great loss to the Sierra Club and environmental community.” – Richard Miller, San Diego Chapter Director
“I first met George in San Luis Obispo after one of the Sierra Club’s Conservation gatherings, many years ago. He was a devotee of the natural environment and we immediately connected. When I came home to San Diego, George greeted me as an old friend and colleague. He had the soul of a citizen who cared so deeply for the natural environment. His example will live on in each of us.” – Pam Heatherington, Chair, North County Group
“Eric Bowlby and I were George’s first introduction to environmental activism. He was a jet-fast learner and the fight for his community of Hidden Meadows culminated in a smaller, more eco-friendly project. He represented the Back Country Coalition in the County’s Interest Group Committee meetings for the General Plan update. His contributions to an improved Sunrise Powerlink (SDG&E) project were awesome. He was a true environmental hero and steadfast friend. His loss is heartbreaking for all who knew him.” – Bonnie Gendron, Conservation Activist
“The small amount of time I got to know George has had a big influence on my life. His kindness, compassion, depth of knowledge, and connections within the environmental community will be missed. George leaves a rich legacy of conservation and activism.” – Ron Askeland, Chair, Conservation Committee
“George Courser was an invaluable chair and member of the Conservation Committee. He truly cared and was very helpful to the Sierra Club Seal Society. His passing is a great loss.” – Carol Archibald, Sierra Club Seal Society
Here is my last message to George – Martha Marquez, Administrative Assistant, San Diego Chapter.
“Hello, George. I just read your letter that you’re stepping down due to health issues. Your health is the priority and I hope you have a great medical team and family support to get you through this difficult time.
Thank you for your assistance, as you have always made yourself available to me and those, I referred for your greater expertise & knowledge. Most importantly, I have truly enjoyed your sunny disposition, charm, and generosity. You, Richard, and Rochelle have been my mentors from day one.
I have not seen you in probably a year or so and have missed your presence & energy. You will be missed my friend and thank you for all your contributions to making the world a better place. If you need anything do not hesitate to contact me. Much Love, Martha Marquez”
“I remember George as a Conservation Committee Chair as a co-worker on many issues the chapter took on. He would write letters, attend the city’s various committee meetings and speak up for the environment in a convincing manner, while being polite and respectful. His heart was truly in the right place, and we are all better for his leadership.” – Ellen Shively, Past Chapter Chair, Seal Society leader
“George Courser was a great defender of the earth. He was one of those activists who loved the planet and nature and loved people just as much. He cared deeply about environmental justice and did everything he could to make the world a better place. He will be missed.” – Laura Hunter, Chair Conservation Committee, North County Group
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“At one of the last California Conservation Committee meetings held near San Luis Obispo, George’s blend of social and environmental activism enticed me to join him in co-chairing the CCC Environmental and Social Justice Committee. Often when I called him, he would describe the enchanting wildflowers and other wildlands he had hiked through earlier that day. Then we would go on to discuss how the Sierra Club could help enable under-resourced members of California communities obtain the water, food, clothing, and homes they needed to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet, the legacy he continuously strove for.” Bill Smith, Co-Chair, Environmental and Social Justice Committee.
I first met George many years ago as a newbie to the Sierra Club CA Water Committee. When we finally did meet in person, he greeted me like a long lost friend with a big hug and asked me to sit right next to him. So began a friendship. Over the years I would reach out for help on the San Diego Water Authority issues with MWD or Carlsbad while we fought Poseidon over Huntington Beach ocean desal. George always came through, introducing me to others I could liaison with. In one of his final emails to me on an issue I asked about, this was his introduction to those who didn’t know me: “My dear friend Charming,
I’ll attempt to be brief on a difficult and thorny subject. Please let me establish as an introduction that your volunteer work overshadows anything I’ve encountered in SC – on any scale. The battles you’ve been involved with are amazing, your record of success legendary. It’s incomprehensible to me how you accomplish so much effective work. I’m in awe.” – No, it is I who is in awe and so deeply grateful for your friendship and vast knowledge, you were always so willing to share. Charming Evelyn, Chair Water Committee Angeles Chapter, Co-chair Sierra Club California Water Committee.