2011 New Volunteer Orientation

Saturday, January 8, 2011
9:00 to Noon

A General Orientation is required for all new State Park Volunteers. You will become acquainted with all the different volunteer opportunities available in Russian River area State Parks. There is something for everyone! You will also learn about the roles and responsibilities of being a State Park "Volunteer in Parks" (VIP). If you miss this orientation there will be two more later in the year. Check our website for more information.

Cultural Resources in
Armstrong Redwoods SNR and Austin Creek SRA
Saturday, January 8, 2011
12:30 to 3:30 pm

Instructors: Doris Dickenson and Carmen Finley
(local historians and authors)
John Schubert (local Russian River historian and author)
Learn about the history of this fascinating area from the pioneer days (1840) to the early 1900s. Topics include logging, railroads and the old mines in the area as well as a detailed biography of Colonel James B. Armstrong and his family.

Please register online

Contact Ruby Herrick for more information at rherrick@mcn.org.

Pinniped Monitoring Program Training
Monday, January 10, 2011, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with lunch break
Jenner Visitor Center
Please register by emailing mluna@mcn.org.

Stewards has a contract to assist the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) with monitoring pinnipeds on Sonoma Coast and in the Russian River estuary. The goal of the project is to ensure that the harbor seals are not harassed beyond what the SCWA's Incidental Harassment Permit allows. The SCWA is required by NOAA's Biological Opinion to manage the estuary as optimum fish habitat for salmonids. This requires the construction of an outlet channel during specific times of the year in order to create a perched lagoon in the estuary. Monitoring is especially important during the harbor seal pupping season.

Volunteers are needed to assist with this monitoring project, which requires being on-call and some early morning shifts on the coast. A stipend is provided for this volunteer effort.

New and experienced volunteers are required to attend this training session where an update on our data collection efforts will be presented, as well as information on how to participate effectively in this important program.

Please register by emailing mluna@mcn.org.

Michele Luna, Executive Director
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods