Greetings,

It was quite a week of rain, some local flooding and lots of tree limbs falling during some gusty winds. We had to move things up to the 3-foot mark at the Jenner Visitor Center in case of flooding. Special thanks to Frances Werner, Mickey Fernandez and Don Lind for their help. With the high tides and high river flows the water started lapping over the lower deck last week. As I write this, the rain is again falling pretty good and we expect more intense rain this afternoon, which again means we will be watching Fife Creek.

On Saturday, the rain let up in time for our Redwood Ecology seminar with Brendan O'Neil, State Park Senior Environmental Scientist. It was a full seminar and I expect the participants went away feeling energized and more knowledgeable after an interpretive walk through Armstrong Redwoods with Fife Creek flowing so beautifully. Brendan is a wealth of information about our redwood giants.

We have a break this weekend in our Seminar and Docent Training series, however on February 6th we will feature a new instructor, Rebecca Perlroth, the Chair of the Geology Department at SRJC, for our Geology of Sonoma Coast seminar. Don't forget to register online. We will also be conducting an orientation for volunteers who are interested in being a docent for our inspiring Environmental Living Program in the afternoon.

I also want to thank all of our dedicated volunteers who are out collecting signatures for the State Parks Initiative. We are doing well. This past weekend we were at the Cloverdale Fiddle Festival and received a postive response. Thanks to Amy Racina for setting up and working the festival both days. Also thanks to the other volunteers who staffed the event.

Have a good week! Let's hope we get the rain we need without any devastation.

My best,

Michele Luna, Executive Director

Jenner Headlands Community Meeting
January 30, 2010, 4-5:30 at the Jenner Community Club

Please join the Sonoma Land Trust on January 30th to learn more about the Sonoma Land Trust, a few of their partners, and their plans to develop a comprehensive resource management plan for the Jenner Headlands that balances public use with the protection of the property's incredible biological and cultural resources. They are holding this public meeting at the Jenner Community Club from 4-5:30, where they will present an overview of their planning process and their initial public access plans. After the presentation there will be time for Q&A. The JCC is located in the town of Jenner at 10432 Hwy 1.

Geology of Sonoma Coast                                

Saturday, February 6, 2010
9:00am-2:30pm (includes lunch break)

Instructor: Rebecca Perlroth, Geology Instructor, Department Chair, SRJC, Earth and Space Sciences Dept.
This seminar will take place at Shell Beach and Bodega Head. Learn about the geologic formations, landforms, geologic history, plate tectonics, and their significance on the Sonoma Coast.

Environmental Living Program Logistics for Docents - 2:30-4:00pm
Learn about this inspiring environmental education program for middle school students where they learn about the cultural groups that have lived and worked on the Sonoma Coast and in the Willow Creek watershed.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED ON OUR WEBSITE OR
EMAIL rherrick@mcn.org

Whale Watch Hike
Sunday, February 7, 2010 12:30 to 2:30pm, Bodega Head

Join Norma Jellison for a leisurely hike along the Bodega Headlands path looking for migrating Gray Whales and other marine mammals, birds, emerging wildflowers and whatever else presents itself and learn a little history of the nuclear power plant once planned for the Head. Rain cancels.

Register Online

Park Advocacy Day - March 8, 2010

The 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day (PAD) will take place on March 8th in Sacramento from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Visit the California State Parks Foundation website to sign up for PAD 2010.

Also email stewards@mcn.org to let us know that you plan to attend and we will work out carpooling for this interesting and empowering event. Training is provided and you will mentor with other experienced advocates. Don't miss this great opportunity to meet with legislators in person!

Sudden Oak Death Seminar

Master Gardeners and Stewards Partner to Save Our Oaks
Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 am, FREE - no donations requested

A team of Sonoma County Master Gardener specialists are partnering with Stewards to present a free seminar on Sudden Oak Death (SOD) on Sat., March 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Armstrong Redwoods.

The Master Gardeners have received a grant from the USDA Forest Service to educate the public about the causes, distribution and treatment options of the disease.

The SOD specialists Ann Chambers, Janet Calhoun, John Chavez and Phyllis Turrill will describe the symptoms of the disease, the extent of the infection and what local oaks are susceptible.  They will also suggest ways to keep oaks as healthy as possible and demonstrate the latest preventative treatment options. The talk will also include a walk through an area in the Park that has been infected by SOD.

The specialists have recently received extensive training in SOD from experts at the University of California and other leading scientists in the field.  In particular, they have studied the pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum that causes the disease.  For more information, call the Santa Rosa Master Gardener office at 565-2608 or visit www.sonomamastergardeners.org or register online for the seminar.

Michele Luna, Executive Director
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods