Gorgeous Weather, Great Food, Scintillating Company
Thirty people attended the RRAS member picnic on October 13 at Freshwater Park. The Humboldt fall cooperated so fully that some attendees were seeking shade! A low-key bird sighting list reached 20 species. Luke George reported that his student “Half-Day Big Day” team found 83 species for the Birdathon. Any other participants in this fundraiser should collect their pledges and submit them to the RRAS PO box as soon as possible.
Are RRAS members interested in continuing to have an annual picnic? Please contact event organizer Sue Leskiw with your thoughts.
RRAS Testifies Before Coastal Commission on South Spit
Sue Leskiw presented testimony on behalf of RRAS at the California Coastal Commission meeting October 9 in Eureka. The agenda item was approval of the BLM’s South Spit Interim Management Plan that allowed OHV use on the waveslope.
The RRAS statement concurred with the recommendation of Snowy Plover researchers from Humboldt State University and Mad River Biologists that “management plans for the South Spit prohibit waveslope driving owing to the negative relationship between human activity and reproductive success at Clam Beach and throughout the plovers range” (Colwell et al., Final Report: 2002 Snowy Plover Breeding in Northern California, with Emphasis on Humboldt County). The statement also opined that BLM’s proposed twice-weekly patrols would be insufficient to control illegal OHV use.
After listening to statements by RRAS, the Sierra Club, and EPIC, the commissioners disagreed with its staff’s recommendation to approve the Interim Plan and asked BLM to appear at the Commission’s December meeting with revisions.
Conservation Committee Report - October 18
Seven people were present at our meeting Oct 18, 2002.
Eureka - RCAA is working on putting together ideas for interpretive signs at Elk River Wildlife Sanctuary. Jennifer Graves is seeking any ideas. It looks like the work that Mel and Christine have done on the Eureka Marsh might be paying off. The City of Eureka has actually assigned someone to it! According to Moira McEnespy of the State Coastal Conservancy, the City of Eureka is proceeding with plans to complete its Eureka Marsh enhancement plans. Lisa Shikany at the City in the Community Development Dept. is taking charge of moving the marsh restoration work forward.
South Spit - The California Coastal Commission Board met in Eureka October 8, 9, and 10 to discuss the fate of the South Spit along Humboldt Bay. BLM presented its interim management plan. Many groups presented testimony opposing ORV use including a statement by Sue Leskiw for Redwood Region Audubon. The Coastal Commissioners were not in favor of ORV use and asked BLM to return with a better plan. The next Coastal Commission meeting will be in the Bay Area during the second week of December. RRAS plans on being represented there. California Vehicle Code section 38319 prohibits operation of a motor vehicle in such a manner that destroys wildlife, habitat, or property.
Coast Seafood - Rules for the enforcement of compliance with California Department of Fish and Game's regulations regarding Coast Seafood's properties within Humboldt Bay are being written.
Arcata Bottoms Pilot Study - Michael Sweeney, PCJV Coordinator, gave us an update on the Arcata Bottoms Pilot Study which is patterned after the San Francisco Bay Management Plan. He has 1941 aerial photo coverage of the bottoms. Many local wetland enhancement projects are held up for years by requirements of California Coastal Conservancy and U S Army Corps of Engineers, both agencies of which are headquartered in the Bay Area.
Property - We are actively seeking to sell our bay front property. October 25 is a deadline to contact Audubon of California with properties they can help us purchase. Is there a location we could seek to establish a site for a National Estuarine Reserve?
On the horizon - In its management plan Samoa is proposing changes to the dune forest across Old Navy Base Road from the Samoa Cookhouse which may involve locating a trailer park there. Kneeland Prairie penny-cress, a rare plant in the crucifer family, is causing changes at Kneeland airport.
Hal Genger is representing Audubon at the Marine Life Preservation Area committee meetings.
Remember to study the candidates, the issues, and to VOTE November 5th.
Next meeting 15 Nov 2002 at noon at the Golden Harvest Restaurant in Arcata.
- Chet Ogan
December 2 Garden Nomination Deadline Reminder
RRAS is still looking for gardens to feature on its summer 2003 tour. If your yard – or a portion of it -- has been planted to welcome wildlife or showcase native plants, we want to hear from you! Nearly every garden is a “work in progress,” so please don’t be hesitant about applying.
The event – tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 26 – is co-sponsored by the North Coast Chapter of the California Native Plants Society. It is intended to increase community awareness of back-yard habitats and to raise funds for both organizations.
Please send your name, address, phone, e-mail, and 1-paragraph description of your garden by Monday, December 2, to Tom Leskiw, 5440 Cummings Road, Eureka CA 95503; phone 442-5444; e-mail tomleskiw@aol.com.
Redwood Region Audubon Society welcomes the following new members and subscribers:
Arcata – Josh
Chapman, Alexandra Goodell, Jeanne Hammond, Kristin Jesenko, Timothy Nelson,
the Schildhauers, Carol Suarez, Michael Willemsen
Crescent
City – Ita Lynn
Eureka – Kenzie
Mullen, Upton-Roelofs, Jared Serfling, Althea Stevens
Fortuna – Ruth
Dino
Garberville –
David Dickinson
McKinleyville –
Rothwell Broyles, Nora Golub
Redway – Stacey
Rohrbaugh
Trinidad – Jack
Mannix
Brookings, OR –
Fred & Miriam Yates
We look forward to seeing you on field trips and at our monthly programs.