Greetings,

We're off to Park Advocacy Day in Sacramento and will join about 170 people meeting with legislators about State Parks issues, including advocating for the State Parks Initiative. There are about seven of us going from Stewards and we will also be talking about how the current campground closures on our coast are affecting local businesses, some of whom are experiencing a 60% loss in income so far this year.

It was a lovely day for the Willow Creek Education Program orientation and our seminar on the Natural and Cultural History of Willow Creek. Special thanks to Marianne Hurley, our State Park Historian, who spoke about the fascinating history of the structures in the area. We were reminded about how important getting funding for deferred maintenance projects is. We are loosing historic structures every year because there is no money to stabilize them before they collapse. I also want to thank Brendan O'Neil, our State Park Senior Environmental Scientist for doing an on-site talk about our exciting restoration efforts, a ten-year project that will open up 4 miles of coho salmon and 7 miles of steelhead habitat.

Public Access Partnerships
Accessing our public lands after they are acquired is most times a challenge. Stewards has been assisting in this effort on two properties. The first is what we call the new acquisition in Willow Creek or the upper watershed. This area was acquired in 2005 and is open through the expert management of LandPaths and their permit program. Stewards provides docent-led programs for adults and school groups in the watershed. Our school programs take place in the lower watershed between Pomo Canyon Campground and the coast. We do schedule and conduct docent-led hikes on the new acquisition. Landpaths and Stewards also work on stewarding this land. Watch for fence removal work days that Stewards is planning in the months ahead. Taking down old ranch fencing will increase habitat connectivity for wildlife and native plant communities.

We are assisting with public access on the new Jenner Headlands as well. The Sonoma Lane Trust (SLT) and the Wildlands Conservancy are working together to come up with a suitable public access program. Different then Willow Creek, the Jenner Headlands will only be open for guided hikes for the time being. This is a very complex property with many issues to address. Stewards will be offering a hike on April 3rd from 10-3. Along with SLT staff, Stewards' docents will introduce the wonderful natural and cultural resources that this land has to offer. Register early because this hike is limited to only 20 participants.

Enjoy our parks during the nice weather this week!

In stewardship,

Michele Luna, Executive Director

Pinniped Monitoring Program Training
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 10:00am - 3:00pm with lunch break

There will be another training for the Pinniped Monitoring Program, which takes place on the Sonoma Coast on Wednesday, March 10th. Volunteers need to be available during the week and for at least a half a day at a time and sometimes on very short notice. A stipend is offered for this program. This program is a partnership between Stewards and the Sonoma County Water Agency and funded by them as well. Please contact Michele Luna at mluna@mcn.org if you are interested in attending.

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.

New Volunteer Orientation &
Plant ID Hike at Armstrong

State Parks Volunteer Docent/Stewards General Orientation – FREE
Saturday, March 20
9:00-11:30 am
Facilitated by Staff and Docents
Learn about the State Parks "Volunteers in Parks" program and the many volunteer opportunties offered in our State Parks. General orientations are required for new volunteers.

(Lunch Break)

Plant ID Hike at Armstrong Redwoods
12:30-2:30pm
Instructors: Joyce Bacci (Docent), Keith Nelson (Docent) and Norman Hill (Docent)
Discover the plants and wildflowers of Armstrong Redwoods, like the trillium to the right. This is an easy hike through the park.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED ON OUR WEBSITE OR
EMAIL rherrick@mcn.org
$15 donation for Community Members
$5 donation for members/volunteers
No one will be turned away for inability to donate.

Michele Luna, Executive Director
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods