Page 45 - Sonoma County Gazette January 2016

Jenner made the spotlight on the 11 O’clock News recently with localized flooding caused by the mix of a stormy ocean in a “king tide event” washing over the closed river mouth sandbar and backing the river up into the low lying areas of town. The recently reroofed visitor center, standing on piers at river’s edge was flooded and the Post Office and Café Aquatica parking lots a “duck’s playground”.
Ilove the New Year. It’s a start date for new beginnings of new ideas. It allows for us to bring in those personal changes to our health, our personal life, and our daily patterns. Personal is the key word. It is about you! It is also time
to clean out the clutter, clean out the negative, and bring in the good around
Just upstream, the Estuary’s influence on the “perched” streams was readily apparent as the river back up hundreds of feet into Sheephouse Creek, a welcome respite from the ongoing dry drought conditions.
to surround you. One idea I want to share with you I learned this last year
is to take an empty jar and write notes of good things that happened in that day or that week so I will remember those good feelings and the big and little moments (after all it is the little things). On the evening of the 31st or the
first day of the year I will empty this jar to look back at all those blessings. I encourage you to do this as it reminds us what a beautiful life you have.
Yet, with all of the excitement over Jenner’s flooding, a few miles upstream the gravel/sand bars stood out in stark contrast along the narrow river channel. The accumulated rainfall to date had hardly produced any measurable stream flow in the watersheds and main stem of the river. The season’s rains so far were still soaking in.
Getting OUTdoors
My favorite kind of storms; lots of moisture without a lot of wind! With all of the El Nino hype, and personal memories of severe wind storms accompanying the last El Nino, these gentle soaking storms are welcomed, indeed. More rain is forecast in the coming weeks. The increase in River flow coupled with the Christmas Full Moon King Tide series should have Jenner residents on watch once again.
The international movement to get outdoors starting the year off with the “First Day Hike” is now becoming a tradition for many people on our coast.
If you are reading this before January 1st, 2016, please join Fort Ross State Historic Park at 10:00 for their fun and educational hike or join Salt Point State Park for their walk. Visit the website for all the needed details at fortross.org
or call 707-847-3286. I know many of you already work outside, but getting
out and walking with a family member or a friend is very relaxing, welcomes conversation between you and others, is a great way to meet a few new folks, and offers a great way to burn a few calories. So come on now, step out of the house and take in this beauty that surrounds you! You don’t need hiking shoes, or all the ‘right’ gear. You can come solo or bring a friend.
Perhaps the best part of these early winter storms is the clouds. There is nothing like catching an ocean sunset as the storm clouds are parting. It is humbling and renewing at once. I prescribe it to my Sonoma County neighbors as the perfect way to start the New Year.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chris Brokate of Clean River Alliance (CleanRiverAlliance.com, 707-322-8304) who, along with the Garbage Patch Kids (his hardy crew of volunteers) has been working through inclement weather to clean up trash-covered riverside homeless encampments. With increased rainfall predicted and the Russian River on the rise, their hard work has kept a monumental amount of garbage from being washed downstream. Chris can always use a helping hand, even if it is just to haul the massive piles of trash bags that they have filled to the dump.
Out and about on the coast the Gualala Art Center often offers hikes. To get those dates and details visit their web at gualalaarts.org/Events/index.html. The Thursday Ramblers is a wonderful hiking group to join. Dates are often listed in the ICO. Another place to hike on your own is the new Point Arena- Stornetta Public Lands, a unique and one of a kind area that includes access
to 12 coastal miles of undeveloped federal and state-managed public lands, coastal bluffs, the estuary of the Garcia River, sandy beaches and dunes, and adjacent small islands accessible during low tide. blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/ stornetta.html
River pollution comes from many sources: homeless encampments, failing septic systems, vineyards, dairies, farms, cattle, logging operations, urban runoff, and a myriad of other man-made causes.
YOUR TIME - your most valuable gift
Historically, our Russian River area was developed mostly as summer homes which were only used a few months out of the year. Cesspools and Redwood “seep boxes” were the standard for sewage disposal. Houses were built in great numbers with little thought of the long range environmental impact. With these homes now occupied full time, we are seeing the cumulative effect.
I would like to make an appeal to all of you in our community regarding Volunteering. I capitalized this as it is a “title of a hero”. Volunteering at your local parks, the schools, our pet rescue areas, or with many of the non-profits
in our area is such a gift to those on the receiving end. I know you might be thinking “how would I fit this in” but even four hours in the weekend or every other week, or one evening a week or once a month makes a huge difference. Volunteering with your kids is a bonus as they learn about community and how it feels to make a difference. Bringing your talents and skills to your volunteer service is great, but you don’t have to be an expert in the areas you would like to volunteer for. It might be that you will learn a new skill in your volunteer service which is also great.
SPOTLIGHT
If you are a local business and would like to be highlighted in this ever growing popular paper on our coast please contact me. THANKS to Liz Perillat, you can pick up a copy of the Gazette at the following locations. If you want her to deliver the Gazette to your business, please contact VESTA at 707-887-0253 or vesta@sonic.net
I sincerely wish you all a wonderful New Year.
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board-SWB) is drafting a new policy to meet the legal mandate that requires the SWB develop statewide regulations or standards for septic systems. Systems within 600’ of an ‘impaired waterway’ are garnering the most scrutiny by State officials under the latest mandate.
Each state is required by federal law to routinely assess the quality of its surface waters to determine if they support the beneficial uses designated for the waters. Common beneficial uses for surface water include drinking water, support of aquatic life, and recreational contact-sports such as swimming. Owners of septic systems that are located adjacent to a surface waterbody that exceeds water quality standards for bacteria or nitrogen compounds, such as nitrates, may have to retrofit the septic system with supplemental treatment.
In Jenner, where they have to live with the end result of upstream polluting, city leaders are inviting the County Well & Septic officials to attend a “septic symposium” at their Jenner Community Center. With the State finally in
a position to put some “teeth” in their regulations, they are imploring our County to do their part.
FORT ROSS
GUALALA *
Surf Market
Gualala Post Office Breaker’s Inn
Sea Trader *
Gualala Hotel & Saloon Redwood Coast Chamber
ANCHOR BAY * Anchor Bay Store Upper Crust Pizza
As Jenner Community Club board member Ken Sund (victorsund@comcast. net) states, “In Jenner there are septics in the river at high water. Is that safe for boaters and wildlife?”
Fort Ross Store
Timber Cove Inn * Ocean Cove Store Ocean Cove Bar & Grill Sea Ranch Lodge
* = Newsstand
Warmest Holiday Regards to my friends and neighbors. These small steps we are taking on the ‘long hike’ to healing our environment are steps in the right direction. We have momentum!
POINT ARENA
you so you can shine.
I want to personally wish you all a great year ahead with many blessings
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Arena Market & Cafe Point Arena P.O.