Page 61 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

Cleanup report for the first 8 months of 2018
Clean River Alliance and with the help of over 1,100 volunteers and over 500 hours have helped to remove over 160,800 pounds of trash and debris from the Russian River watershed this year already.
Over 23,000 pounds were collected by Casey Carr in Cloverdale with almost half of that staged by the local homeless for him to pick up.
The folks living without homes have staged over 87,000 pounds of trash for us to pick up from Cloverdale to Monte Rio.
TO DATE since starting Clean River Alliance in Jan.of 2015 we have helped to remove over 520,000 POUNDS
OF TRASH AND DEBRIS from out watershed!!
We would not be able to do all
of this with out our fiscal sponsor Russian Riverkeeper and Don McEnhill , our support from our county Supervisors and community partners and all the volunteers also known as The Garbage Patch Kids and the Santa Rosa Trash Mob.
Join us for the Watershed Cleanup coming Sept. 15th all over the watershed.
Planning for the future in Petaluma ~
Update on Helen Putnam Park
As a result of last year’s Putnam Challenge Grant, nearly $200,000 has been allocated to
improvements in this beloved Petaluma park.
Park visitors will notice improved trail access, a rock retaining wall overlook above the pond, and new picnic tables. Over the next 12 to 24 months, expect more trail work, habitat restoration, enhanced directional and interpretive signage and an upgrade of accessible parking and pathways to restrooms.
The Earth Island Institute’s Kelly Creek Protection Project, led by two longtime Petaluma residents, is working to purchase the Scott Ranch property adjacent to Putnam Park. The vision is that this property -- which includes iconic red barns, beautiful vistas and exceptional habitat for the imperiled California red-legged frog -- would eventually be added to Putnam Park.
Description of Priority Projects
Challenge Grant History
Thank you donors one and all! With your generosity, we were able to match our anonymous donor’s $50,000 matching grant for projects at Helen Putnam Park in the summer and fall of 2016.
including but not limited to:
Planting and protecting oak trees, native grass and understory. Monitoring for Sudden Oak Death.
Other activities that improve the ecological health of the Park’s oaks. Goat and/or Sheep Grazing performed in short intervals that will benefit
The challenge grant improvements constitute a multi-year project, with work underway as of May 2017 and continuing until completion in 2018-2019. With the unexpected diversion of Regional Parks’ field and planning staff
in the aftermath of the wildfires, work at Putnam has been delayed a bit. We appreciate parkgoers’ understanding and patience.
native wildflowers and native grassland, reduce poison oak and invasive
Putnam visitors have likely observed trail work underway. Volunteer work days have happened, and more will be scheduled. As trail work progresses, users may notice some short detours or alternative routes.
weeds, and manage fuels in an ecologically beneficial way.
Interpretive Signage along a designated “nature trail” or at other points of
Other key renovations funded by this grant:
of interest.
Grazing: Parkgoers may notice sheep or goats in various areas of the park throughout 2017 and 2018.
To contact the Parks Foundation directly, call Melissa Kelley, executive director, at (707) 565-1830 or email melissa.kelley@sonoma-county.org.
Pond work is likely to start in 2018 due to needed regulatory approvals
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Those who frequent Putnam Park will understand the need for priority attention to these projects:
Trail Renovation includes:
Re-routing minor trail segments, improving drainage, and reducing erosion.
Restoring and decommissioning unauthorized trails.
Creating and installing trail wayfinding signage.
Acquiring required permits and approvals (if any) for trail renovation.
Other activities to improve the visitor experience and ecological performance of the existing trail system.
Goats graze at Tolay
and seating.
Planting native riparian plants for habitat and aesthetics.
Instituting measures to improve water quality.
Oak Woodland and oak savannah habitat enhancement and management,
Pond Enhancement to improve habitat, visitor safety, and visitor experience:
Installing stable pond access trails and stabilizing pond bank.
Building a boardwalk or other structure for pond access for fishing, viewing
interest to interpret the park’s natural and cultural history and other topics