November 2010/11 - Major Accomplishments

Stewards is the primary support for the Russian River District "Volunteers in Parks" (VIP) programs and provides much needed funding and staffing for the recruitment and training of 400 docent/volunteer participants.

Much of the past few years have been spent battling State Park budget cuts and the threats to close our beloved State Parks. In 2009/2010 Stewards joined many other organizations statewide to successfully put Proposition 21 on the November 2, 2010 ballot. This effort involved signature gathering as well as many activities to promote the passage of the California State Parks and Wildlife Trust Fund Act of 2010. Unfortunately, that ballot measure did not pass.

In 2011, Stewards supported Assemblymember Jared Huffman's bill, AB42, which was signed by the Governor in October of 2011. This bill gives nonprofit organizations the authority to enter into operating agreements with State Parks so partially or fully operate a park. We hope this bill will help alleviate the closure of 70 State Parks throughout California.

Stewards serves between 5,000-6,000 school children with reservations for school group programs at Sonoma Coast SP and at Armstrong Redwoods SNR. Of those, Stewards schedules docent-led experiences for about 2,500 children. Through our School Group Education Programs they study: the magnificent old-growth redwoods; the fascinating intertidal zone; the life cycle of salmon; the cultural groups who lived and worked on the lands of the Sonoma Coastal area.

In 2008, Stewards launched their Docent and Community Education Program. It has been an outstanding success with 350 participants in 2011. This effort aids in recruiting about 50 new docent/volunteers for the "Volunteers in Parks" programs each year.

Since 2009, Stewards has been under contract with the Sonoma County Water Agency to monitor harbor seals on the Sonoma Coast and in the Russian River. The purpose of this project is to ensure the safety of the harbor seals who reside at the Russian River mouth while the federally-mandated Biological Opinion is implemented to restore salmon habitat in the estuary.

Since 2009, Stewards raised $1.1million dollars to restore fish passage in the Willow Creek watershed. In 2011, this project replacied six culverts with a single-span, precast, 43-foot long concrete bridge. This will reestablish channel connectivity through 1,000 feet of wetlands and allow for natural channel development. The project will also improve road safety, reduce flooding and maintain public access to existing State Park facilities and campgrounds. In October 2011, the Willow Creek watershed was ready for the release of 11,000 coho salmon that were raised at the Warm Springs hatchery by the Army Corps. This article shares the excitement we all felt about this mementos occassion.

Stewards allocated funding for a Natural Resource Management Plan for Armstrong Redwoods/Austin Creek that was completed in 2010.

In 2010, a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy funded a three-part interpretive panel that tells the story of the Willow Creek watershed, its inhabitants and restoration efforts. This impressive panel was installed at the top of Willow Creek in 2011.

Funding provided by the Owen and Virgina Keech Bird Family is funding a new beautiful panel for Armstrong Redwoods that interprets both the history of Colonel James B. Armstrong and the story of how Lizzie Armstrong Jones saved Armstrong Redwoods.

2010 Fiscal Year End Report

Stewards is primarily supported through resale of educational materials in its visitor centers, sale of firewood at State Parks campgrounds, memberships, grants, donations from individuals and corporations, and other fund development activities. A breakdown of how funds were expended is as follows:

Program Expenses - $250,825 (79%)
Administrative Expenses - $26,609 (8%)
Fundraising Expenses - $40,761 (13%)

Financial Statements and Annual 990 and 1023 are available upon request. Email mluna@mcn.org

Major Donors (2008-2011)

Foundation/State/Federal Grants
Association of Partners for Public Lands - In-kind grant - $3,000
California State Coastal Conservancy - Willow Creek 2nd Bridge Project (2008) $141,035
California State Coastal Commission - Whale Tail Grant - Sonoma Coast Tidepool Program (2009)- $8,208
California State Parks Foundation - Environmental Education Programs (2009) $5,000, (2010) $5,000
California State Parks Foundation - Earth Day Grant (2011) $2,700
Dean Witter Foundation - Docent Recruitment and Training Program (2008) $16,500
Dean Witter Foundation - Environmental Education Program Support (2009) $20,000
Department of Fish and Game - Willow Creek 2nd Bridge Project (2009) $352,000
Fisherman's Festival Sonoma Coast Programs (2008, 2009) $3,300 (2010) $1,000 (2011) $1,500
Medtronic Foundation - (2011) $8,000
National Environmental Education Foundation (2011) $5,000
National Fish and Wildlife Fund - OSPR - Willow Creek 2nd Bridget - $75,500
NOAA Open Rivers Initiative - Willow Creek 2nd Bridge Project (2010) $400,000
Save the Redwoods League - Docent Recruitment and Training Program (2008) $5,000, (2009) $4,000, (2010) 3,000
(2011) $4,000
State Farm Insurance - (2010) $500
Westamerica Bank - Education grant (2009), $500

Agency Contracts and Grants
Sonoma County Water Agency - Pinniped Monitoring Program (2009) $25,000, (2010) $79,000
Sonoma County Water Agency/Trout Unlimited - Willow Creek 2nd Bridge Project - $100,000

Corporate/Business Donors & Sponsors ($5,000 or more)
Pacific Gas and Electric
Russian River Getaways - Camille LeGrand
Sebastopol Rotary - $2,000

Corporate/Business Donors & Sponsors ($3,000 or more)
A Hot Tub Place
Affinity Solar Energy
Christopher Queen Galleries
Russian River Rec and Park

Corporate/Business Donors & Sponsors ($1,000 or more)
Barefoot Wines
Bohemian
Cresco
Gene Gaffney Insurance Services
Guerneville Graphics
Fern Grove Cottages
Korbel California Champagne
Sonoma County Gazette
Sonoma Cutrer
Sonoma West Times and News
Whole Foods

Corporate/Business Donors & Sponsors ($500 or more)
Applewood Inn and Spa
Chef Patrick
Coffee Bazaar
Corks Restaurant
Earthworks
Frank Howard Allen
Gregory Hayes Photography
KRCB
Old World Winery
Redwood Credit Union
Russian River Chamber of Commerce
Russian River Times
Russian River Travel
Russian River Vineyards
Sonoma Uncorked
State Farm Insurance
Washington Mutual Bank
Watermark
West County Gazette
Westamerica Bank

Individual Donors ($10,000 or more)
Betty Reiss

Individual Donors ($5,000 or more)
Camille LeGrand
Owen and Virginia Keech Bird Family

Individual Donors ($500 or more)
Lisa Bacon
Lisa Brom
Sarah Burkdoll
Art Carter
Ann Chambers
In memory of Emmet Crisp
Terry and Joanne Dale
Doris Dickenson
Gregory Fearon
Barbara Gegan
Diane Gifford
Terry Grant
Gary Heck Foundation
Ron Hemmerich
Lawrence E. Jones School Expeditionary Learning
Tina Kelly
Michael & Margaret Kennett
Tina Kelly & Mark Quattrocchi
Lanny and Joann Keyston
Carolyn & Jim Losee
Kathie Lowrey
Fred & Michele Luna
Leah Mahan
Dennis Martino
The Neil and Amelia McDaniel Charitable Trust
Carol and Clark Mitchell
Rita O’Neill
Jan Randall
Gilbert Roberts/Penelope Cohen
Warren & Janis Watkins
Julie and Kurt Whitaker
William Zavora

Auction Donors
Kate Ambrust
BBQ Smokehouse Bistro
Beau Wine Tours
BR Cohn Winery
Bea Brunn
Christopher Bryant
CA State Parks
Lenore Carrion
Cher Church
Coffee Bazaar
Connie Cloak
Laura Close
Leslie Moody Cresswell
Doris Dickenson
Rob Dickerson
Jan de Wald
Jenny Donovan
Sandy Eastoak
Carol Farnes
Kate Fenton
Fern Gove Cottages
Frank Field
Tina Freimuth
Freeman Winery
Fritz Underground Winery
Jane Gardner
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
Harvest Moon Winery
Roz Hendy
Carolyn Horan
Robert Hunter Winery
Intrepid Urban Adventures
Michelle Irwin
Robert Janover
JackiGail Jackson
Norma Jellison
Harmony Kalch
Lanny Keyston
Doug and Audrey King
Rich Lawton
Wanda Lee
Karen Lockert
Rebecca Love
Andrea Mapes
Marcia McCord
Harvey Mendelson
Lollie Mercer, River’s Edge
Jacque Mielke
Monte Rio Cottages
Susan Moore
Moshin Vineyards
Carol Norick
Kevin O’Connor
Deborah Padrick
Joelle Peebles
Jim Pollare
Steve Pryputniewicz
Quercia Gallery
Amy Racina
Russian River Getaways
Mara Shepard Designer Jewelry
Joel Slaton
Sophie’s Cellars
Gail Steven, Le Visage
Gary Tharler
Barbara Tobin
Mr. Trombly’s Tea
Troy Michael Salons
Elizabeth Vega
Style and Comfort Limo
Marsha Vas Dupre
Village Inn
VJB Vineyards & Cellars
Nomi Wagner
Gretchen Williams
Worldly Goods

Wine/Beer Donations
Arbios
Balletto Vineyards & Winery
Barefoot Cellars
Graton Ridge Cellars
Hook and Ladder
DeLoach Winery
Freeman Vineyards
Gallo Family Vineyards
Hobo Wine Co.
Kenwood Vineyards
Korbel Champagne Cellars
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Lake Sonoma Winery
Martin Ray Winery
Russian River Brewing Co.
Third Street Aleworks
Wildhog Winery
Old World Winery