Page 45 - Sonoma County Gazette December 2017

Rain! Precious rain! A blessing that fills our creeks & rivers and recharges the over-spent aquafers. The showers we have recently experienced are an indicator that our winter storm cycles are upon us, and that we can finally breathe a sigh of relief as our fire-fears are extinguished.
Blessings to you all as we enter into the darker colder days of December, which is exactly why ‘gift giving’ at this time of year can bring much cheer. Gifts come in many ways, shapes, and sizes for the many occasions celebrated this time of year. Little things, little gifts often have the
The coastal hills are showing a hint of green! A welcome and reassuring change after months of dry, brown grasses. Whew! The worst fire danger
has passed, but we still have the potential for more, with the abundance of drought-stressed, beetle-infested pines and firs covering the coast. Add to that the Tan Bark Oaks turning brown seemingly overnight, as the Sudden Death Oak Syndrome rears its ugly head, and we realize that we have our work cut out for ourselves preparing for next fire season.
greatest moments of love and sharing. Homemade gifts are special and from the heart as well as “things” I have held on to for many years that now need to get passed on to those I love at gifts.
These fall showers were a God-send as they provided enough instream
flow to allow Coho Salmon fingerlings to be released as part of the ongoing re-stocking programs. Mike Keller, whose family owns the property at the confluence of Sheephouse Creek and the Russian River Estuary, reports that approximately 3,000 juvenile Coho (advance fingerlings) were released into Sheephouse Creek on November 9, as part of the US Army Corp of Engineers Broodstock Program, as reported to him by Benjamin White of the USACE.
I love the craft fairs thar support local artisans. And what about those intangibles – the moments shared on a walk or a cup of tea. Precious gifts of time and love. Our families and friends come in many shapes and sizes too and all equally unique. Our community is small yet vast.
The Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program is working to supplement the wild Russian River Coho population in the hope of restoring it to a sustainable size. Since 2001, a collaborative partnership including
the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sonoma County Water Agency, and the University of California Cooperative Extension/California Sea Grant Extension Program, have been breeding Coho Salmon from local genetic stock at the Don Clausen Fish Hatchery at Lake Sonoma and releasing them as juveniles into historic Coho streams in the Russian River watershed. (caseagrant.ucsd.edu/project/coho- salmon-monitoring)
Many of our neighbors have had trauma these past months so now is a real good time to give a little love to a neighbor or someone you don’t know but see each day. I am so excited this year as I will be an official ‘Salvation Army Bell Ringer’ this year. The Salvation Army came to my rescue a few times when raising three sons and providing was a bit of a struggle. Salvation Army also often provided the only Christmas my Dad and his young childhood knew. I feel very blessed to give this time and love to my community.
The Sheephouse Creek watershed, which begins in the Jenner Headlands Preserve and flows down to the Russian River Estuary through lands privately held, has been the recipient of various improvements over the past few years in efforts to re-create a habitat inviting enough to once again support a ‘native’ fish population.
So much to do this holiday season. Gualala Arts Center has things happening for everyone. The Festival of Trees is the Friday and Saturday
after Thanksgiving, November 24th and 25th which hosts a local crafts fair. December 1 is ‘Let them Eat Cake’ and if you like to eat cake this tasting and showcase is for you. Martini Madness might be your thing which is December 2 and supports the Senior Center. This is a very fun and popular event. One of my favorite is the Holiday Concert with the local choir and the bell ringers.
Sonoma RCD (Sonoma Resource Conservation District, SonomaRCD.org) is following up in the near future on work they have funded in the Sheephouse Creek watershed. The RCD works in partnership with landowners, resource agencies and local contractors to develop and implement riparian and instream enhancement projects on rural and agricultural lands. These projects have multi-benefits both for landowners and for salmonids and other aquatic species that utilize the stream habitat. Riparian enhancement projects are often focused on expanding the riparian corridor, removing invasive species and improving species diversity. These projects are done with the goal of increasing bank stability, protecting against flooding and climate change, improving stormwater management, preventing erosion, improving water quality and water temperature.
And the Chamber Christmas Concert on Dec 17th and the Nine Lessons and Carols is Dec 24th. The Dolphin Center will have local arts showcased for holiday gift all month. All this and more of the details is noted on the web site gualalaarts.org/category/events/. The Point Arena Lighthouse has their monthly ‘Full Moon Tours’ which offers a panoramic view of the moon and ocean from the top of the Lantern Room, the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. All proceeds go toward the support and maintenance of Lighthouse Tower, Museum and grounds. Reservations must be made ahead of time. pointarenalighthouse.com/visit/calendar-2/night-tour/.
Miles of old logging roads have been retired and ancient road culverts repaired and replaced in efforts to reduce sediment from reaching this vital Coho-rearing stream. Banks have been stabilized and logs & boulders placed in critical in-stream locations to create shade and pools that are so critical in the survival of the young fish and the migrating adults.
Did you know you can lodge at the lighthouse in the renovated historic quarters? Check this out for your next stay at pointarenalighthouse.com/ lighthouse-lodging-2/ Also in Point Arena Dec 2 – 29 the Hometown Holidays and Holiday Gifts Exhibit and Show Opening on Dec 2. The Holiday Art Show at Coast Highway Artists Collective featuring the Collective. The spot light guest Renegade Botanical’s Amy McFarland as well as musical guests The Highway Men (Norm Fast and Eric Dohlhoff) INFO: pointarena.net
All of this work in the endangered species’ habitat is being done with the hope that it is not too late to save some remnant of what was once a thriving native species population. Even with all of man’s best intentions and attempts to ‘play God’, it is increasingly evident that we are not. Hatcheries are finding that they cannot produce fish with the needed resiliency and diversity to thrive in the wild. They are busy cross-breeding with Coho from other Northern CA coastal streams trying to find one that has the best chance of surviving.
The Point Arena Theater, which has the best popcorn as they have brewer ’s yeast to sprinkle on top, has many events in December. The theater shows new releases as well as hosts the ‘Live Opera at the Met’ series and the Bolshoi Ballet series. The Film Club will host two great shows including ‘Babette’s Feast’. INFO: arenatheater.org/
With native stream habitat destroyed and erased by man’s ignorance during the logging and development years, theses attempts to recreate it are well intended but still fall short of what is truly needed. We need to STOP taking for granted what little healthy habitat we have left. We absolutely need to stop the insane proposals to keep logging our flood plains and hills around the streams and rivers.
The Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce holds the local calendar with events for tots at the Coast Community Library, Senior Lunches and Pay N Take at the Gualala Community Center, Workshops on local sewing crafts at ‘The Loft’ at Sundstrom Mall, and Open Mic at ‘215 Main’ in Point Arena. For many of the local events check out their web at redwoodcoastchamber.com
And we should absolutely NOT use the recent fires and need to rebuild as an excuse to over-cut and plunder what little is left.
I hope to see you around this Holiday Season. Many blessings to you from my heart! ‘Merry Christmas’.
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I know there are many ways to say the greetings for the holidays. All of
them are respected by each of us. Everyone has a different belief and thoughts about the ‘gift giving’ season. I like ‘Merry Christmas’ as I grew up with these words of cheer being in a very Christ centered home. I like to be cheerful and spontaneous when I say Merry Christmas. I have never had anyone say ‘oh, that’s not my religion’, but instead most people I know receive the greeting with grace. If someone said to me their own religious greeting during the holidays
I would welcome their personal cheer as it offers an understanding about the community around us. Please be easy on each other as it often comes from the heart and with good intention.