EcoNews - Vol 45, No 2 - Apr/May 2015 by EcoNews

Over 40 Years of Environmental News

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Arcata, California

Vol. 45, No. 2 Apr/May 2015

 Published by the Northcoast Environmental Center Since 1971

From Mega-Salvage to Mega-grows, Our Forests and Watersheds Hang in the Balance

News From the Center Throughout the west it is no secret that we are entering the fourth year of an unprecedented drought: snow pack is at an all time low, reservoirs are depleted and groundwater is being sucked out at alarming rates to serve fracking and ecologically egregious agriculture. In the midst of a worsening climate crisis, we are facing significant ecological threats within our bioregion. And, as it sometimes happens, several major threats are hitting us all at once. From the proposed fracked natural gas pipeline project in southern Oregon (see page 4) and the gold ore processing facility that was eyeing the old LP pulp mill on the Samoa peninsula (see page 13), to unprecedented salvage logging proposals (see page 3) and a draft marijuana ordinance that would open up North Coast forests to more industrial marijuana grows (see page 4)—we need all hands on deck to ensure that bad ideas such as these do not see the light of day. Protecting wild places, wildlife, and the resources upon which we depend is more critical now

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1385 8th Street - Suite 226, Arcata, CA 95521 PO Box 4259, Arcata, CA 95518 707- 822-6918, Fax 707-822-6980 www.yournec.org EcoNews is the official bi-monthly publication of the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC), a non-profit organization. Third class postage paid in Arcata. ISSN No. 0885-7237. EcoNews is mailed to our members and distributed free throughout the Northern California and Southern Oregon bioregion. The subscription rate is $35 per year.

The ideas and views expressed in EcoNews are not necessarily those of the NEC.

Dan Ehresman, Executive Director told in these pages and all of the amazing organizations, businesses, and individuals who are giving their all to protect our region’s communities and special places, we have a lot to be grateful for.

NEC Spring Mixer

than ever given the tremendous challenges we face as a result of our rapidly changing climate and our changing planet. Fortunately, even though the threats keep on coming and some issues seem beyond our control, we live in a region where people care immensely and are willing to take a stand. In looking through the stories

Editor/Layout: Morgan Corviday morgan@yournec.org Advertising: ads@yournec.org Proofreaders: Karen Schatz and Midge Brown Authors: Sid Dominitz, Dan Ehresman, Sarah Marnick, Dan Sealy, Jennifer Kalt, Scott Greacen, Jennifer Savage, Felice Pace, Tom Stokely, Amber Shelton, Greg King, Michael Kauffman, Justin Zakoren, Jud Ellinwood, Hugh McGee, Brandon Drucker Cover Photo: Eel River. Scrubhiker (USCdyer), Flickr.com CC. Artist: Terry Torgerson

NEC Staff NEC Executive Director: Dan Ehresman, dan@yournec.org EcoNews Editor: Morgan Corviday, morgan@yournec.org Coastal Programs Director: Jennifer Savage, jsavage@yournec.org Coastal Education Staff: Justin Zakoren Programs Assistant: Madison Peters Office Assistant: Cherry Sirpan Membership Associate: Sydney Stewart

Speaking of gratitude, I want to shout out a warm thank you to all who joined us at the NEC’s Spring mixer and open house. Getting to spend time with so many great friends, colleagues, and longstanding NEC members was a vital recharge given some of the difficult issues we are facing. A big thanks to all who helped out in donating and preparing delicious food and drink, tending the various tables, and participating in the ever-lively raffle.

Birdathon

Whether or not you made it out to the mixer, we are excited to announce another way to get involved. This year, the NEC is pleased to cosponsor with the Redwood Region Audubon Society the 1st Annual Tim McKay Birdathon! Thanks to Gary Friedrichsen for leading the charge

NEC Board Of Directors President - Larry Glass, Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment, larryglass71@gmail.com Vice-President - Dan Sealy, At-Large, rangerdans@msn.com Secretary - Jennifer Kalt, Humboldt Baykeeper, jkalt@humboldtbaykeeper.org Treasurer - Chris Jenican Beresford, AtLarge, thegang7@pacbell.net Gary Falxa, Calfornia Native Plant Society, gfalxa@suddenlink.net CJ Ralph, Redwood Region Audubon Society, cjralph@humboldt1.com Richard Kreis, Sierra Club, North Group. rgkreis@gmail.com Scott Greacen, Friends of the Eel River, scott@eelriver.org Bob Morris, Trinity County Representative, At-Large, bob.morris@wildblue.net Keytra Meyer, At-Large, keytra.meyer@gmail.com

to get this engaging event up and going again! Unlike other events that are focused in one area, anyone can participate in the Birdathon. Regardless of where you live or where you are going to be from May 1st through May 9th, you can either start a team, join a team, or pledge your support! For more about the Birdathon check out the facing page or visit www.yournec.org/events/birdathon.

So Many Events.. and NEC’s 44th Birthday!

Along with the Birdathon, April and May are absolutely jampacked with events. Here are a few highlights—you can help celebrate the NEC’s 44th Birthday at any/all of them: Russian River film night at the Arcata Playhouse on April 16 (see add on the back cover), Japan Tsunami Debris Cleanups (see ad on facing page), Godwit Days (see page 6), Klamath-Trinity Fish Fair on April 24, Earth Day Cleanups and Hoedown on April 25 (see page 5), Party for the Planet at Sequoia Park Zoo on April 26, Jammie Jog II also on April 26, Birdathon May 1-9 (see facing page), and a Humboldt Trails Tribute on May 16.

NEC Member Groups Humboldt Baykeeper

www.humboldtbaykeeper.org 707-268-0664

Sierra Club,North Group, Redwood Chapter www.redwood.sierraclub.org/north/

California Native Plant Society North Coast Chapter www.northcoastcnps.org

Redwood Region Audubon Society www.rras.org, rras@rras.org

Friends of the Eel River www.eelriver.org, foer@eelriver.org 707-822-3342

Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment (SAFE) www.safealt.org

NEC Affiliate Members

Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC)

www.wildcalifornia.org, epic@wildcalifornia.org 707-822-7711

Friends of Del Norte

Humboldt Baykeeper

Fiscally sponsored by the NEC Director: Jennifer Kalt, jkalt@humboldtbaykeeper.org Bay Explorations Staff: Jasmin Segura, jasmin@humboldtbaykeeper.org

www.fodn.org

Mattole Restoration Council www.mattole.org, mrc@mattole.org (707) 629-3514

Zero Waste Humboldt

www.zerowastehumboldt.org contact@zerowastehumboldt.org

Catch the NEC’s EcoNews Report

Every Thursday, 1:30pm on KHSU - 90.5FM Each show features interviews with experts on a variety of important environmental topics! Past shows are also archived on our website for listening online anytime!

www.yournec.org/econews-report

Donate

it feels good

Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Humboldt County: SAMOA BEACH

Del Norte County: POINT ST. GEORGE BEACH

SATURDAYS @ 10:00 AM SUNDAYS @ 11:00 AM Call or email the NEC to register in April 18, 2015 April 19, 2015 advance, or for more information: June 13, 2015 June 14, 2015 marinedebris@yournec.org or 707-822-6918. www.yournec.org/tsunamidebris

Monitoring

and

Beach Cleanups

3 4 4 5 6 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22

Westside Salvage Logging Supes Pass Buck on Problem Pot LNG Pipeline Opposition Grows Earth Day Hoedown & Cleanups Godwit Days Bigfoot Trail Eye on Washington Downsides to Raising Shasta Dam Lily Pesticides Contaminates Smith Kin to the Earth: Eel River Cleanup Crew Zero Waste Humboldt Humboldt Baykeeper Friends of the Eel River EPIC Mattole Restoration Council Sierra Club, North Group California Native Plant Society Eco-Mania Creature Feature: Nudibranchs Kids’ Page: Limpets

Bouquets A Wild Trinity bouquet to Bob Morris in appreciation of the many years of service as NEC vice president and for continuing your pragmatic leadership as a member of the Board.

First Annual Tim McKay Birdathon! May 1 - 9, 2015 • Register as a team or as an individual • Collect pledges (donations) for the number of bird species seen in 24 hours • Participate from anywhere in the world! • Prizes awarded for the top three persons or teams with most donations collected! For more information or to register, visit

www.yournec.org/events/birdathon or call the NEC at 707-822-6918

Sponsored by the Northcoast Environmental Center and the Redwood Region Audubon Society

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

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www.yournec.org

A bouquet of frosty flora to Dan Sealy for stepping up as our new VP and for being such a generous and supportive guide for many passing through the NEC. A bouquet of redwood boughs to Assemblymember Jim Wood, Senator Mike McGuire & Congressman Jared Huffman for your continued perseverance to address the harms of irresponsible marijuana operations throughout our North Coast. A bouquet of free-flowing, fish-loving streams to staff at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for stepping up with science to help head off illegal water diversions. A springtime bouquet to Janelle Egger for continuing to take a stand to protect the freedoms of our community members – human and wild!

Advocating for Real Recovery in “Westside” Post-Fire Logging Proposal

Amber Shelton, EPIC The largest timber sale ever proposed in the Klamath National Forest calls for 43,883 acres of post-fire logging in steep, unstable high value watersheds. The proposal is deceitfully named the Westside Fire Recovery Project, but instead of acting as a prescription for recovery, the proposal would devastate watersheds, salmon, sensitive animal and plant species, fragment wildlife corridors, impact roadless areas and degrade watersheds. It also proposes to plant 20,000 acres of plantation forests that would increase the potential for high intensity fires in the future. Almost half of the project is within areas known as Late Successional Reserves, which are supposed to be set aside to protect and enhance old growth forest ecosystems. A third of the project area is within the Wild and Scenic Klamath and Salmon River corridors. This is a region where endangered coho salmon and other struggling fish populations are already heavily impacted by many other factors including fire suppression activities, dams, diversions and drought. Millions of dollars have been spent on fisheries restoration projects. In the past few years, Klamath National Forest timber planners have carried out several postfire timber sales throughout the forest without adequately considering the cumulative effects from combined projects, past fires and extreme fire suppression activities on these sensitive watersheds. Recent post-fire projects have violated environmental standards. They have not followed best management practices and have failed to implement project design features created to protect wildlife and fisheries. George Sexton, Conservation Director at Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center says, “The Klamath National Forest is in the dark ages when it comes to post-fire management. While the science is clear that natural recovery is best for wildlife, watersheds and wildlands, Forest Service timber planners seem committed to exploiting wildfire in order to log anywhere and everywhere.” The forests of Northern California are dependent on fire for... Continued on page 10

Salmon Salvage Logging Deck operating during rainy season, October 2014. Photo: Kimberly Baker.

S.A.F.E. Joins Lawsuit Challenging Pesticide Spraying Plan

The city of Berkeley and eleven groups, including Trinity County-based Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment (S.A.F.E.), sued the California Department of Food and Agriculture in January over the agency’s approval of a statewide “pest management” plan that allows pesticide spraying on schools, organic farms and residential yards, including aerial spraying over homes in rural areas. California approved the program despite tens of thousands of public comment letters calling for a less toxic approach that would protect the vitality and resilience of the state’s food system and the economic interests of organic farmers. The approved program allows the state to use, without any additional environmental review, 79 pesticides that cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm and are also highly toxic to bees, butterflies, fish and birds. Pesticides used in the program include chlorpyrifos, which is banned in Europe and a recent U.S. EPA study found poses hazards to workers and drinking water; the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, which is highly toxic to bees; the deadly, ozone-depleting fumigant methyl bromide, which is being phased out because of an international treaty; and chloropicrin, which causes genetic damage. www.yournec.org

“This program puts people and some of California’s most imperiled species, like salmon and tiger salamanders, directly in harm’s way from dangerous pesticides,” said Jonathan Evans, toxics and endangered species campaign director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s frightening that the state would spray these toxic chemicals throughout California without fully analyzing their effects or telling the public of the consequences.” The plan, approved December 24 as part of the Statewide Plant Pest Prevention and Management Environmental Impact Report, allows these dangerous chemicals to be used anywhere in the state, any time into the indefinite future, without an option for affected communities to stop the spray. The state can also approve new pesticide treatments and treatment sites behind closed doors without public scrutiny or notice. The lawsuit, filed in Alameda Superior Court, outlines numerous ways the spray plan violates state environmental laws, including failure to notify the public of future pesticide spraying and failure to analyze the impacts of the pesticides on human and environmental health, including harm to infants and contamination of drinking water.

Find S.A.F.E. online at www.safealt.org. Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Supervisors Pass the Buck on Problem Pot

Dan Ehresman, NEC Executive Director On March 12, a suspect in a violent Southern Humboldt home invasion robbery was apprehended near my house after a police pursuit through Eureka. The day before, the jury on which I nearly served found a man guilty of murdering an Alderpoint resident. And the week before, I was randomly assaulted outside my home. The previous encounter may not be directly related to our region’s #1 cash crop, but together these events are a personal reminder that Humboldt County’s violent crime rate has been rising—even as the state’s has been falling. Tied to this violence is an endless string of abuses committed against our planet for profit. When some people look at our region’s remote places—our forests, secluded property and flowing streams— they see not wildness but mountains of money. When California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (CCVH), the marijuana industry group that has been anointed by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to draft their own marijuana ordinance gave a presentation to the Board in late February, they glossed over the harms to our region at the hands of an unregulated industry, ignored what their draft ordinance actually says, and instead focused on how the marijuana market produces pallets of cash. Hearing the presentation, two questions came to mind. First, what good is all the money in the world when our streams are sucked dry and violent crime escalates by the day enabled by a black market industry out of control? Second, why are our elected representatives so eager to hand over work of drafting a marijuana ordinance to the very industry that needs to be

regulated? We need only to look at what happens when timber barons and fossil fuel executives write their own rules to know this is probably a bad idea. Reading the most recent draft ordinance, it seems CCVH’s primary goal is to legitimize existing operations and pave the way for more and bigger grows– never mind the consequences. CCVH has released six drafts of their ordinance, but have yet to include meaningful provisions to address environmental and social harms of black market marijuana production. All six iterations have ignored what many have repeatedly raised as critical components of a countywide marijuana ordinance: caps on cultivation area to preclude industrial-scale production in remote locations; a halt to dry season stream diversions and water trucking; a prohibition on pesticides; and a revenue source for real enforcement. So, what does CCVH’s ordinance actually propose? The current draft would allow marijuana grows on every private parcel larger than five acres in unincorporated areas of Humboldt County. This is over 15,000 parcels, encompassing more than 800,000 acres. The proposed ordinance would allow up to 5,000 square foot, half-million dollar a year operations without site-specific permits— effectively doubling the average size of grows we see today. What’s more, the ordinance would allow megagrows up to 10,000 square feet so long as they get approval from the County Planning Commission— and up to 20,000 square feet with Supervisor approval. And although CCVH’s ordinance talks a good game about the importance of protecting our environment, the majority of the protections it contains are essentially voluntary. Continued on page 19

No LNG Export Campaign Gains Momentum Rogue Riverkeeper

Since 2006, people have been fighting the Jordan Cove Energy Project proposed for southern Oregon. Proponents of this project want to build a 230-mile long, 36” pipeline from Malin to Coos Bay Oregon to transport fracked gas (liquid natural gas—LNG) from the Rockies to Oregon’s coast to then be liquified and shipped overseas to Asia. The pipeline route would clear a 95’ wide swath through public and private forests, cross 400 rivers and streams in the Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua, Coquille and Coos River watersheds. All told those watershed crossings would excavate more than 6 million cubic yards of wetlands, streambeds along the pipeline route and from Coos Bay itself. In addition to the obvious environmental impacts, this project would utilize eminent domain to seize private property for corporate gain, and raise our gas rates here at home by sending America’s resources overseas. Recently, the Oregonian reported that this project, if built, would quickly become the largest greenhouse gas emitter in Oregon, which goes against all efforts the Governor, and other state leaders have proposed to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Accounting for methane leakage at the fracking drill sites, Jordan Cove would result in 57 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year, a huge step backwards in the fight against climate change! The Jordan Cove project is not in the best interest of Oregon and its citizens. Continued on page 19

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EcoNews Apr/May 2015

www.yournec.org

earth day cleanups

working together for a cleaner coast nec & pacout green team • Oyster Beach • 9-10a humboldt baykeeper • Indian Island • 10a–2p friends of the dunes • Humboldt Coastal Nature Center • 9:30a-12:30p mad river alliance • Mad River/Blue Lake • 9a–noon friends of the eel river • Crab Park • 9:30a–12:30p

saturday, april 25 yournec.org E x p lo r E

H u m b o l dt b ay E x p lo r a la baHía

For info on Humboldt Baykeeper’s free natural history tours, call (707) 825-1020 or visit humboldtbaykeeper.org. Para información sobre tours de la historia natural en español y inglés llama (707) 825-1020 o visita humboldtbaykeeper.org.

45th Earth Day

April 22

2015

Invest in the Future Join our Monthly Giving Program For more information, call the NEC at 707-822-6918

www.yournec.org

Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

20th Annual Godwit Days

April 17-19 at the Arcata Community Center Godwit Days is a spring migration bird festival that celebrates the Marbled Godwit and all birds of Redwood Coast forests, bays, marshes, and mudflats. The Arcata Community Center serves as the departure hub for most trips and houses an art show and Bird Fair. Choose from 85 field trips, lectures, workshops, and boat excursions. Pre and post festival trips can extend your experience from April 15 to 21.

Art Displays

Arcata Artisans will have an art show and sale in the Community Center. For the 12th year, Redwood Region Audubon and Friends of Arcata Marsh have teamed to sponsor a student bird art contest. Over $500 will be awarded to Humboldt County K-12 students during an April 18 ceremony. All entries are posted in the Community Center throughout Godwit Days, with copies of winners shown at the Marsh Interpretive Center in May. And stop by the Interpretive Center anytime in April to view the display of 20 years of Godwit Days poster art.

Something for Everyone

Trips range north to Del Norte, south to Petrolia, and inland to Willow Creek. Workshops teach field sketching, choosing binoculars/ scopes, bird decoy carving, and bird ID by sound. River, bay, and lagoon boat trips are a highlight. New offerings are Warm-Up Wednesday/ Birding by Phone, Birding North to Brookings, Salt River Restoration Area, Biking & Birding, Urban Retreats, two sessions of Chasing Current Rarities, Ma-le’l Dunes/Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, and Beer & Birding in Manila. The ocean (pelagic) tour will sail out of Brookings Harbor, in an attempt to avoid past problems crossing the Humboldt bar.

Just for Kids (& Other Free Events)

The Festival offers many free activities of interest to children, including live birds of prey, display of all entries in the Student Bird Art Contest, drop-in family nature crafts, and a Bird Fair with vendors and info booths. Two field trips and two workshops are just for kids: owl pellet dissection, drawing birds, and two Marsh birding trips. Godwit Days also offers free trips for ALL ages to Ma-le’l Dunes/Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, Patrick’s Point State Park, Arcata Marsh, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Lanphere Dunes, Arcata Community Forest (native plant walk), and Stone Lagoon (preregistration required).

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

Godwit Goodies: Buy or Bid!

For more information, visit www.godwitdays.org, or call 707-826-7050.

Keynote & Opening Night Lectures

Saturday’s keynote, Andy Mack, will talk about “Uphill struggles: of cassowaries, seeds, and conservation.” As executive director of the IndoPacific Conservation Alliance, he is passionately committed to raising up future generations of indigenous biologists wherever he works, concentrating on building scientific capacity in developing countries and training national students and budding scientists in biodiversity and conservation science. On Friday, after the free opening reception, the second annual Humboldt County Bird of the Year award will be presented, followed by 30-minute lectures by Friends of the Arcata Marsh (this year’s Spotlight Organization) and Green Diamond Resource Company.

www.yournec.org

Look over Silent Auction goodies on display in the main hall. Bid on binoculars, outdoor gear, wine, jewelry, restaurant certificates, and more! To donate, call 707826-7050. Come into Registration to purchase 2015 Godwit Days T-shirts featuring a design by Gary Bloomfield, plus other clothing such as new fleece vests.

Registration & Important Information

On-site registration hours: Friday, April 17, 3-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-noon. Visit www.godwitdays.org for event descriptions and to register. Advance registration is strongly recommended—as trips fill fast!

Shore Lines: Coastal Programs Update Jennifer Savage, Coastal Programs Director First, a huge thanks to everyone who has done something to support our local coast and shared ocean in this last year. Whether reducing your own impact by buying less and riding your bike more, cleaning up a beach or sidewalk near your home, signing a petition to ban single-use plastic bags, showing up at an Ocean Night event and/or being a member of the NEC, your efforts matter.

The Anti-Trash Movement

Over the past several months, as my KHUM Coastal Currents co-host Mike Dronkers phrased it, we’ve watched “litter cleanups go mainstream.” Given the NEC’s 40 years of promoting California Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-A-Beach, we’re thrilled to see the number of people actively working to keep trash out of our rivers and ocean grow exponentially. Credit must be given to Pacific Outfitters’ “PacOut Green Team,” led by Aaron Ostrom and Tim Haywood, who tirelessly dedicate one hour every Saturday to a different location along our coast. (To join their efforts, find them on Facebook or www.pacificoutfitters.com.) Likewise, dumpsites around Alderpoint have inspired a team of determined community members to action (see Kin to the Earth, page 11).

The NEC continues beach monitoring and cleanups through our California Coastal Commission-sponsored Japan Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) program, most recently joining with regular partners Friends of Del Norte in the Crescent City area. NEC staff braved icy winds to cover the area north of Point St. George, while Friend Joe Gillepsie and crew handled Kellogg Beach. Three buckets’ worth of garbage, plus a pile of netting, large knotted tarp and more were removed from the beach. The next JTMD cleanups will be Saturday, April 18 at Samoa Beach and Sunday, April 19 at Point St. George. To get involved, email Coastal Programs Assistant Madison Peters at marinedebris@yournec.org.

Beach Cleanups

California’s Coastal Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, September 19 this year— it’s never too early to put together a team or contribute to the cause through sponsorships. If your business is interested in helping support the NEC’s coordination of this event, contact jsavage@yournec.org or call us at 707-822-6918. More opportunities abound through our Adopt-A-Beach program. Visit www.yournec.org/ marinedebris/adoptabeach-sites for a list of sites.

Marine Protected Areas

We’re continuing to educate and promote our network of marine protected areas (MPAs) through The Emerald Magazine’s “Emerald Experience” column, which is being reprinted on Humboldt County’s tourism website www.redwoods.info. If you haven’t had a chance to explore alongside one of our MPAs, spring is a great time of year! Layer up against the north winds (give thanks for the upwelling!), find info on our website or at www. californiampas.org, check out the gorgeous new interpretive signs at our harbors and go see what all the hype is about.

Keep in Touch

In addition to EcoNews, you can follow along on marine and coastal issues through Coastal Currents Wednesdays at noon on KHUM 104.7 FM, at the Lost Coast Outpost (www.lostcoastoutpost. com) with “Your Week in Ocean,” and on the ocean-themed episodes of The EcoNews Report— usually the last Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. on KHSU 90.5 FM. The EcoNews Report airs each Thursday with rotating hosts and covers a variety of subjects.

NEC staff Cherry Sirpan and Madison Peters haul away debris during a February JTMD cleanup. Photo: Jennifer Savage.

Forest Carbon Offsets Available for Purchase Offset your carbon footprint! Makes a great local gift! $10/metric ton Purchase local forest carbon offsets from the Arcata Community Forest to offset greenhouse gasses. Every metric ton purchased offsets carbon dioxide gasses equivalent to a round-trip flight between SFO and JFK airports.

Please contact the Environmental Services Department (707) 822-8184 Eservices@cityofarcata.org www.cityofarcata.org/departments/environmental-services/city-forests

REDUCE, RE-USE, & RECYCLE GREAT RE-SALE ITEMS! Stop into the Hospice Shop for some “new to you” treasures!

6th & H Streets, Arcata • 826-2545 Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm

www.yournec.org

Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Judge Orders Completion of Conservation Plan for Klamath Refuges Oregon Wild In early March, a US District Court Judge issued a preliminary finding ordering the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to complete the long overdue â&#x20AC;&#x153;Comprehensive Conservation Planâ&#x20AC;? for Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges. These plans, mandated by law, require the USFWS to ensure commercial activities on refuge lands do not harm wildlife. The preliminary finding requires the USFWS to complete the plan by August 1, 2016. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is good news for anyone who cares about wildlife like bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and white pelicans,â&#x20AC;? observed Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director for the Audubon Society of Portland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Time and time again, we have seen wetlands and wildlife areas on these refuges starved for water, while land leased to commercial agribusiness is fully irrigated. This has to stop.â&#x20AC;? The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires that the USFWS develop and implement a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Comprehensive Conservation Planâ&#x20AC;? (CCP) for each unit. The CCP describes desired future conditions and provides long-range guidance and management direction to achieve the purposes of the refuge and ensure commercial activities on refuge lands do not undermine wildlife conservation. All plans were supposed to be completed by October 9, 2012. Five Klamath Refuges still have not released a draft. Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges lease more than 22,000 acres of refuge lands to private agribusiness interests. Lands set aside by law as wetlands for eagles and geese are instead managed for commercial agriculture. Worse, in the drought-plagued Klamath Basin it has become common practice for refuge wetlands to be cut off from water even as private agribusiness on refuge lands is fully irrigated. Water for wetlands has cut off repeatedly in recent years, sparking outbreaks of avian botulism and other diseases that have killed tens of thousands of migratory birds. The judges ruling comes as the Klamath Basin prepares for yet another drought year. According to the US Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2015 is shaping up to be another severe drought year, with snowpack in the Klamath Basin just 10% of normal. A completed Comprehensive Conservation Plan would give the USFWS an important tool to ensure that in drought years commercial activities on the refuges do not harm fish and wildlife conservation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Fish and Wildlife Service has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the needs of wildlife take priority on Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Wildlife Refuges,â&#x20AC;? concluded John DeVoe, Executive Director of WaterWatch of Oregon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ruling should be a wake-up call to the agency to stop dragging its feet and do its job.â&#x20AC;?

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

Bigfoot Trail to Traverse the Klamath Mountains

Michael Kauffman The Bigfoot Trail is not a route to find the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic hominids. It is, however, an experience to commune with the mythic qualities of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancient forests. The Klamath Mountainsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forests are so ancient, in fact, that the region is one of the most diverse temperate coniferous forests on Earth. Along its 360 miles, the Bigfoot Trail crosses five national forests, six designated wilderness areas, eight watersheds, one national park, and one state park. I came up with the idea of the Bigfoot Trail in 2008 while looking at maps of the Klamath Mountains with HSU professor John O. Sawyer to discover ways to connect our regional wilderness areas with a migrational corridor for the diverse plants and animals. We realized that this could be a long-distance hike for human â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;migrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to celebrate the forests. The 360 mile route we developed passes 32 conifer species! This is a tough number to approach almost anywhere else on Earth. For perspective, in 2002 I hiked over 3,200 miles of the Continental Divide Trail and identified only 25 species of conifers. Complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors have encouraged and nurtured biodiversity in the Klamath Mountains for millions of years. The region is a botanical museum, hiding relics of epochs gone by called paleoendemics and promoting the adaptive evolution of new species

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called neoendemics. Complex climate and soils nurture microsites which, in essence, incubate biodiversity. Because of the Klamath Mountainsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; central location and continuity with other mountain ranges along the Pacific Slope, this landscape is a mosaic of habitats mix at a crossroads of five biotic regionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Cascades, Coast Range, Great Basin, Central Valley, and Sierra Nevada. Within the geologic boundaries, there are 3,540 taxa (species, subspecies, and varieties) of vascular plants and up to 38 species of conifers. In addition to plants, the region holds exceptional diversity in amphibians, mammals, and birds. The Bigfoot Trail is a route to experience it. The ultimate goal is to celebrate this exceptional region with the Bigfoot Trail serving as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;windowâ&#x20AC;? for exploration. The Bigfoot Trail Alliance (modeled after the Pacific Crest Trail Association or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) will establish a community committed to constructing, promoting, and protectingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in perpetuityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Bigfoot Trail. To do this, I am in process of creating The Bigfoot Trail Alliance (BFTA) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to oversee these functions. Soon, this organization will organize trail work, foster outreach and educational experiences, and direct scientific research along the Bigfoot Trail. Please visit the trailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website www. bigfoottrail.org or email bfta@bigfoottrail.org to share your thoughts.

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For info on Humboldt Baykeeperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free natural history tours, call (707) 825-1020 or visit humboldtbaykeeper.org. .BSDI 8JOOFST Para informaciĂłn sobreButchers tours de la historia The Happy natural en espaĂąol y inglĂŠs llama Humboldt Women is a grassroots organization that gives (707)grants 825-1020 monthly to women o in visita business. Apply onlinehumboldtbaykeeper.org. to receive a membership to Humboldt Women and to enter at a chance to win $500 towards your business. Photo by Bob Doran

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Eye on

Washington Federal Budget Scuffles

When Congress began committee hearings, there was a verbal scuffle between Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Jewell and newly appointed Chairman of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Lisa Murkowski (RAK). When Sec. Jewell came before Murkowski’s committee to discuss the 2016 DOI budget increases, Murkowski reminded Jewell of Congress’ power over the budget and made veiled threats such as cutting the budget for seasonal hiring of rangers and biologists in the DOI. Some of the DOI’s increased budget request acknowledges the Departments plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service; a celebration that has engaged large sums of private donors to match federal dollars to help repair and enhance the national park system. The Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a smaller budget for his agencies, particularly the National Conservation Service, which provides hands-on advice as well as dollars to private landowners that agree to step up conservation and fire prevention on private lands. With non-negotiable USDA programs from food stamps to US Forest Service functions to fund, the conservation services seem one of only a few programs to cut.

Keystone Anyone?

Congress was determined and able to pass a bill through both chambers to force the hand of President Obama to permit the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline through the central states but lost steam when it came to garnering the necessary votes for an override to Obama’s veto. The issue has energized a new generation of conservationists, working with those who have worked the conservation trenches for decades. Will the new enthusiasm persist to provide a meaningful voice in the future or was this just a convenient campaign which will be shortly forgotten. Keystone will not

likely be a deal breaker in 2016 elections but both sides will use the votes to seek campaign donations. The fight is generally considered to be a draw at this point.

No Easy Energy Answers

“All of the Above” is an easy platitude for politicians to say when talking about America’s energy policy, but it means very little in practice. Each project has its own set of short-term and long-term environmental and public health issues. Solar energy is popular with homeowners who cover roofs and small areas for personal consumption, but we are moving into corporate solar production. According to a Federal Register Notice on March 6th of this year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is beginning the evaluation of a proposed project “…on 4,845 acres of public land with the solar field occupying approximately 2,453 acres on lands within the Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), southwest of Blythe, California.” This project would begin what could become the largest solar producing plant in the world but would rob thousands of acres of desert ecosystems of the sun that defines it and may pose a threat to passing birds. Nuclear energy is a constant undercurrent topic on Capitol Hill but seems to be under the radar for most Americans in spite of lack of a safe storage plan for radioactive waste generated and the real possibility that nuclear energy is not economically sustainable without large sums of taxpayer subsidies. Decades of research has not solved the problem of radioactive waste. Check out the local nuclear power plant employees book, “My Humboldt Diary” and our article about his very personal story on our website at www.yournec.org/econews/myhumboldtdiary

Huffing and Puffing Over Wolves

Alaska’s multi-decade US Representative Don Young made headlines at a hearing about delisting the endangered gray wolf when he said the following about fellow representatives opposing the delisting: “They haven’t got a damn wolf in their whole district. I’d like to introduce them to your district, and you wouldn’t have a homeless problem anymore.” Unfortunately, shenanigans like these may be the most productivity to come from this deeply divided Congress.

Another Downside to Raising Shasta Dam Tom Stokely, California Water Information Network (C-WIN) A report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, guardians of the Endangered Species Act, is raising blood pressures throughout another federal agency that’s been working for years on a controversial plan to raise Shasta Dam 18 ½ feet, increasing water storage by 14 percent. As the $1.1 billion plan has progressed it’s been bolstered by claims that the taller dam of the future will mean regular releases of more cold water into the Sacramento River, which will improve habitat and help increase the numbers of endangered Chinook salmon on the Sacramento River. That point has been important in the Bureau of Reclamation’s campaign to convince the public — especially in the North State — that raising the dam is more than just a water grab pushed by thirsty and politically powerful farmers in the Westlands Water District south of the Delta. That’s a fish tale, say Fish and Wildlife biologists, whose draft report was completed two months ago and had been circulating quietly through the federal bureaucracy until environmentalists popped it into public view with a Freedom of Information Act request. In fact, the report says, increased flows would destroy salmon habitat in one of the world’s most renowned fly fishing rivers. There would be no net benefits to the fish and the negative impacts cannot be mitigated. This page has not taken a position on whether or not the state’s largest dam should be raised. Those southern farms, large and small, are certainly important to the state and national economy. Any local jobs generated by dam expansion construction would be welcome, but purely temporary. There are plenty of negatives. The Wintu lost almost 5,000 acres of their traditional territory, some of it considered sacred ground, when the dam was completed and the reservoir filled in 1945. They stand to lose more sacred sites along the McCloud River if the dam is raised. Raising Shasta’s high water mark would obliterate... Continued on page 21

Ask St. Joe’s to Divest from Fossil Fuels—Don’t Invest in Industries that Make Us Sick! Communities across California are calling on St. Joseph Health System to stop investing in fossil fuels because air pollution and climate change are damaging their health. Air pollution, primarily from fossil fuel, kills 20,000 Californians each year. Financing activities which cause asthma, autism, heart disease, cancer, and the spread of infectious disease is incompatible

with the 14 hospital health system’s mission to “improve the health and quality of life of people in the communities we serve”.

cure is too diabolical a business plan for a healing institution, especially one that doesn’t pay taxes because it operates for the community’s benefit.

The fossil fuel industry spends billions to lobby against and undermine clean air and clean energy legislation like California’s Global Warming Solutions Act. Investing in stuff which makes us sick, charging us for treatment, and using the proceeds to thwart a

It is likely that the good Sisters would divest if the request is made by many voices from all the communities they serve.

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Sign the divestment petition at www.facebook.com/sjhdivest Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Lily Pesticides Contaminate Smith River

Greg King, Smith River Alliance Ninety-five percent of all Easter lily bulbs (lilium longiflorum) produced in North America are grown along a tiny sliver of coastline in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. The bulk of these bulbs come from the rich bottomlands of the Smith River Plain, in Del Norte County, which surrounds the estuary of the biologically critical Smith River. In order to sustain this sprawling monoculture, lily farmers have resorted to applying large amounts of pesticides. These pesticides, as we now know from four significant discoveries, since the 1980s, of toxic waters in and around the estuary, could prove to be the greatest challenge to the Smith River’s aquatic species, particularly its iconic salmon and steelhead populations. It turns out that finding pesticide contamination at the estuary of one of the cleanest, wildest rivers in North America is not a difficult task. The first discovery occurred during the 1980s, when the California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board found, at minimum, fortyseven wells contaminated with the pesticides 1,2-dichloropropane and aldicarb, both carcinogens and both deadly to aquatic organisms. One of the wells contained 160 parts per billion of 1,2-D, one of the highest readings in the nation. After finding the contamination and issuing a report, the Water Board took no action and simply left residents of the town of Smith River, and the fragile aquatic species of the estuary, without a state advocate for clean-up and enforcement. The second finding of contamination occurred in 2002, when the Smith River Project (which has since merged with... Continued on page 19 Missaiya’s

New World Water “Community not Corporations”

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EcoNews Apr/May 2015

707-822-7066

Westside Salvage

Continued from page 3 ...their health and productivity. After a forest fire burns, the largest trees usually remain alive, the small overcrowded trees are cleared out, and the snags that are left become wildlife habitat. The downed trees hold the slopes together, enhance soil complexity and eventually become fish habitat when they fall into the waterways. Historically, cultural burning was used as a means to thin out the understory, open up the forests for fruit and nut producing trees and shrubs, enhance meadows and cultivate basket weaving materials and medicines. Much of the project area is located within the ancestral territory of the Karuk Tribe. Craig Tucker, Karuk Tribe Natural Resource Policy Advocate, made the following statement regarding the project: “The Karuk Tribe questions whether the aggressive timeline for developing this project allows for a thorough analysis of the environmental and cultural impacts. This is probably the largest timber sale in the history of the Klamath Basin and thus deserves to be analyzed at length and in great detail before implementation. We support responsible logging and fuels reduction around our communities but we also demand that cultural resources, fisheries and water quality not be sacrificed in the process.” The project focuses on short-term economic gains—without considering ecological and social costs—and fails to include alternatives that would truly protect communities. The Forest Service says they have to speed up the planning process because they are afraid that the timber they want to extract is going to decay. However, Will Harling, Fire and Fuels Program Co-Director for the Mid Klamath Watershed Council says, “The real emergency here is not rotting timber, but the fact that nearly 50% of the Western Klamath Mountains hasn’t seen fire in over a century.

Fire exclusion has set the stage for more intense wildfires and severe impacts to communities. It has caused the wholesale conversion of critical habitat for threatened fish and wildlife. What we need are strategic linear treatments that allow us to bring good fire (controlled burns) back to the Wildland Urban Interface safely so our mountain communities can embrace letting wildfires burn in the backcountry. If implemented as planned, adjacent communities will still be at risk from future wildfires. Extensive logging on unstable soils will further impact threatened coho salmon, and we will be no closer to a lasting solution to our fire problems.” The Forest Service is requesting a streamlined planning process, which could shorten public comment opportunities and speed up the environmental review process, leaving very little time to review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The DEIS was released on March 5th and the comment deadline is April 13th. The project is on the fast track with an expedited environmental review process that will be 135 days shorter than usual. The US Forest Service was granted alternative arrangements to shorten the public comment period from 45 days to 30 days. Logging is expected to begin in July—an unprecedented streamlined process for one of the largest post-fire timber sales ever proposed in the history of the United States.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Comments can be submitted online at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/ Public/CommentInput?Project=45579 Visit www.wildcalifornia.org for more opportunities to comment.

Carol Ann Connors 707-725-3400 654 Main Street, Fortuna carol@pattersonconnors.com CA License #0E79262

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381 Bayside Road, Arcata, CA 95521

Kin to the Earth:

Eel River Cleanup Crews

Justin Zakoren In the first few months of 2015, community members from throughout southern Humboldt County have been rallying to roadsides, ridgetops, creek beds, and campsites, to confront the growing presence of trash in and surrounding their communities. So far, cleanup efforts in the Alderpoint and Garberville-Redway areas have resulted in more than 15,000 pounds of trash being removed from roadsides, campsites, and Eel River tributaries. The individuals leading this ongoing effort are a diverse crew who share the same common vision: a cleaner, healthier Humboldt. Mike Miller is the veteran of this cast of cleanup leaders. He has been doing cleanups in the area for the last three years, visiting a homeless camp cleanup site, dropping off unused garbage bags to the residents, and picking up the bags they have filled since his last visit. Initially, Miller worried that the cleaned sites would just get trashed again. But so far his “checkups on cleaned sites reveal cooperation from the homeless.” Miller looks forward to “passing the baton” to the next generation of cleanup leaders like Brian St. Clair, Chris “Toph” Anderson, Amy Machado, and Leeana Schultz. Brian St. Clair, originally from Michigan, arrived in the SoHum area a little over three years ago with a pack on his back and no place to stay. But soon, St. Clair started getting involved with the Mateel Community Center (he is now an active board member) and started working for the Garberville Redway Area Chamber of Commerce as the “cleanup guy”. The next step in the cleanup effort, according to St. Clair, is to see “more people stepping up and getting involved. Liking something on Facebook is great, but when you have hundreds of likes for a posted cleanup and then five to ten folks showing up at the next one, it makes you wonder.” He would really like to see different people showing up each week, so volunteers don’t get burned out and the movement doesn’t lose momentum. Chris “Toph” Anderson became involved in the ongoing Southern Humboldt cleanup effort when he saw a video of photos taken of cleanup sites posted in January by Mike Dronkers on the Lost Coast Outpost website. After seeing the video,

Anderson had to take action, “You gotta be the positive change!” For Anderson, a critical part of this movement is to educate and raise community awareness about the harms of illegal dumping, the lack of social services for the homeless, and the cannabis industry’s role in the proliferation of abandoned “trimmigrant” camps. It is key that the community addresses these problems and that more folks develop a strong “pack it in, pack it out” philosophy. Amy Machado, a school teacher and PacOut Green Team member in the north county, also saw the Dronkers video, and responded by creating the “Eel River cleanup party: power in numbers and the music” Facebook group page as a way to connect with other community members interested in tackling this issue. As she learned about the regular cleanups already underway in Southern Humboldt she realized that her group could give support to existing efforts. The Facebook group had 600 members by the end of its first week. By the second, the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue group had gotten involved, aiding a steep hillside cleanup near Alderpoint. By the third week, Amy had begun a fundraising campaign, raising roughly $3500 in a little over a month. Machado hopes that by documenting how much trash is being collected and the costs of removal, their group can get a positive response

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from county government. Currently, the county only sets aside $2400 to cover community cleanup dump fees, an amount this year’s clean up efforts have already exceeded! Like St. Clair, a major goal for Machado is “getting the county on board,” and admits that thus far there hasn’t been much of a response from officials. In the Alderpoint area, where Leeana Schultz grew up (her family owns the Alderpoint Store, the only general store in the area) illegal dumping has become a major problem. Schultz suggests that much of this has to do with how expensive the town dump can be. According to Schultz, the dump charges “$9 per contractor bag,” too much for community members who can’t find work and get stuck without other options. But, Schultz sees that the recent cleanup effort is changing the community. When the cleanup effort started, others caught the bug and started cleaning up their properties and around town. For Schultz, these cleanups present good opportunities for the local youth where they learn there’s no shame in being the “good guy” and “kids can look back and have a sense of pride” in caring for their community. Together, Mike, Brian, Chris, Amy, and Leeana show us all what positive, motivated individuals can do for a community and for the environment. You too can get involved and make a difference!

Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

The

andpiper APRIL / MAY 2015

Redwood Region Audubon Society www.rras.org Every Saturday: Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. These are our famous rain-or-shine, docent-led ﬁeld trips at the Marsh. Bring your binocular(s) and have a great morning birding! Meet in the parking lot at the end of South I Street (Klopp Lake) in Arcata at 8:30 a.m. Trips end around 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11: Alderpoint. Enjoy the birds, plant life, and reptiles of the Eel River canyon on this fullday trip along Alderpoint Rd and south of the town of Alderpoint. We will bird select locations along Alderpoint road ﬁrst and then walk the Alderpoint railroad tracks to Cain Rock Trestle to have lunch and look for Rufouscrowned Sparrows. In 2012 a washout along the railroad tracks took a bit of work to cross, and the same will go for this year. Other species like Oak Titmouse, Bluegray Gnatcatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and similar birds of dry habitats in southeast Humboldt County can be expected, along with just-arrived summer residents. Diogenes’ lantern, interior live-oak, and birch-leaf mountain-mahogany will be seen as well. Take sun protection, layered clothing, and a small pack for carrying lunch and water. Meet in the Ray’s Food Place parking lot in Garberville at 8:30 a.m. We should return to the Humboldt Bay area late afternoon (~5 p.m.). Contact Tony Kurz (559-333-0893; tonyk_71220@hotmail.com) for more information. Sunday, April 12: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is a wonderful 2- to 3-hour trip for people wanting to learn the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes a leisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginners are more than welcome. Meet at the Refuge

FIELD TRIPS

Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. Call Jude Power or David Fix (707-822-3613) for more information. Saturday, April 18: Southern Humboldt Community Park. Jay Sooter (707-444-8001) and/or John Gafﬁn lead this monthly walk. All ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate and revel in the beauty of the park and its avian inhabitants on this easy 2- to 3-hour walk. Binoculars are not provided, and dogs are not allowed; ﬁeld guides are usually available, but please provide your own if possible. Steady rain cancels. Meet at 9:00 a.m., parking by the kiosk near the farmhouse in the main entrance. Please note the day change.

Sunday, April 19: Eureka Waterfront. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the foot of Del Norte St where we will scope for birds off the public dock until everyone assembles. We will then drive to the base of the Hikshari’ Trail at Truesdale St and bird along the trail to the Elk River Wildlife Area. Leader: Ralph Bucher (707-499-1247; thebook@reninet.com). Saturday, May 2: Dyerville Loop. Let’s get loopy! The seldom-birded Dyerville Loop Rd winds 29 miles through forest and prairie in southern Humboldt. We’ll explore its length, north to south, looking and listening for whatever we may ﬁnd. This will be primarily a road-birding trip, but be prepared for some walking, to be out all day with no access to stores or restrooms, and to carpool. Meet leader Ken Burton (707-499-1146) at the Herrick Avenue Park & Ride, Eureka, at 7:30 a.m.; if you want to join the group farther south, call Ken in advance.

A p r i l P r o g r a m : F r i d ay , A p r i l 1 0

California Condor in the Pacific Northwest:

A Return to the Heart of the Range

This talk was postponed from January. Chris West, senior wildlife biologist for the Yurok Tribe, will briefly discuss the biology of condors and their history in the region. Condors have been culturally significant to regional native peoples, and it was only natural for the Yurok Tribe to get involved in recovery efforts. Chris will update us on what 6 years of habitat assessment by the tribe has revealed about conditions in our area and how work toward condor recovery here in the Pacific Northwest is progressing. He’ll also discuss next steps that it is hoped will lead to the shadows of these giant birds gracing our northern forests once again.

Saturday, May 9: Freshwater Farms Reserve. Meet at 9 a.m. at North Coast Regional Land Trust’s Freshwater Farm on Myrtle Avenue near Freshwater Corner. Michael Cipra will give a brief introduction to their current RRASsupported salt marsh and future freshwater/brackish marsh restoration efforts before we explore the area and adjacent streamside riparian forest areas. Access to this area is currently by permission only, so this is a special trip to visit this site. For more information, contact trip leader Chet Ogan (707-442-9353) and leave a message. Saturday, May 9: Nocturnal Storm-Petrels. Join Elias Elias (707-633-8833; call7076338833@gmail.com ) for an evening of land-based seabird watching. We will walk the dirt path to the tip of Tepona Point. We expect to get glimpses of Leach’s Storm-Petrel as they ﬂy through our spotlight beams and around an offshore rock. We sometimes see them land and slip into the grass covering the top of the rock. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, scope, and a ﬂashlight to walk out to the point. The more spotlights, the better. For this trip we will be granted a permit to park in the lot after hours. Meet at the Luffenholtz Beach County Park parking lot at 9 p.m. (https://goo.gl/maps/HIWx9) and plan to end around 11 p.m. Sunday, May 10: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. See April 12. Saturday, May 16: Southern Humboldt Community Park. See April 18. Sunday, May 17: Eureka Waterfront. See April 19.

M ay P r o g r a m : F r i d ay , M ay 8

Environmental Challenges of Marijuana Cultivation in Northern California Forests Dr. Greta Wengert, assistant director and senior ecologist for Integral Ecology Research Center, a nonproﬁt research organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, will talk about the direct ecological effects of marijuana cultivation on forest wildlife and their ecosystems in California's national forests. She will discuss the recent discoveries of more indirect and covert environmental effects of these activities, ranging from directly poisoned wildlife to contaminants in soil. She will highlight the opportunities for estimating effects across the landscape and the extent of this egregious problem and present some short-term solutions.

Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Programs start at 7:30 p.m. at Eureka High School Lecture Hall at the corner of Humboldt and K Streets. Bring a mug to enjoy shade-grown coffee, and please come fragrance-free.

CHAPTER LEADERS

President’s Column

OFFICERS President— Hal Genger …………............ 707-499-0887 Vice President ........................................................ Vacant Secretary—Adam Brown............................. 707-826-0319 Treasurer—Syn-dee Noel............................. 707-442-8862 DIRECTORS AT LARGE Ralph Bucher …........................................ 707-443-6944 Joe Ceriani …............................................ 707-476-9127 Jill Demers ……………………………… 707-667-6163 Harriet Hill………………………………. 707-267-4055 Cindy Moyer.....................................…..… 707-822-1806 Chet Ogan …............................................… 707-442-9353 Susan Penn..................................…......…. 707-443-9660 C.J. Ralph ............................................….. 707-822-2015 OTHER CHAPTER LEADERS Conservation — Jim Clark ...............…... 707-445-8311 Eductn/Scholarships — Denise Seeger ....707-444-2399 eBird Liaison — Rob Fowler …………... 707-839-3493 Field Notes — Daryl Coldren...........…..... 916-384-8089 Field Trips— Rob Fowler ……….......….. 707-839-3493 Finance— Syn-dee Noel .............................707-442-8862 Historian — John Hewston ...................... 707-822-5288 Membership — Susan Penn.…..................707-443-9660 NEC Representative — C.J. Ralph.......... 707-822-2015 Nominating – Jim Clark …....................... 707-445-8311 Programs — Jared Wolfe...........................262-443-6866 Publications — C.J. Ralph..................….. 707-822-2015 Publicity — Harriet Hill............................ 707-267-4055 Sandpiper (Editor)—Jan Andersen ….… 707-616-3888 Sandpiper (Layout)— Gary Bloomfield ...707-362-1226 Volunteer Coordinator — Susan Penn.…707-443-9660 Website Gatekeeper — Ralph Bucher......707-443-6944 Lake Earl Branch — Sue Calla................ 707-465-6191 RRAS Web Page...........................……..... www.rras.org Arcata Bird Alert .........707-822-LOON (707-822-5666) The Sandpiper is published six times each year by Redwood Region Audubon Society P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502.

Thinking of Joining the National Audubon Society?

If so, please use the coupon below. By sending in your membership on this form, rather than replying to solicitations from National Audubon, $20 is sent directly to RRAS. This is how NAS rewards local chapters for recruiting national members. (Otherwise, the RRAS dues share per new member is only a couple of dollars.) Thank you.

Chapter Membership Application

Yes, I’d like to join.

Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON magazine and my membership card to the address below. My check for $20 is enclosed. (Introductory offer)

NAME_______________________________ ADDRESS___________________________ CITY ______________________________ STATE____________ZIP______________ email ______________________________ Local Chapter Code: C24 C1ZC240Z Please make checks to the National Audubon Society. Send this application and your check to:

National Audubon Society P.O. Box 422250 Palm Coast, FL 32142-2250

--------------LOCAL CHAPTER-------------

REDWOOD REGION AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 1054,EUREKA, CA 95502

By Hal Genger

RRAS Continues to Support Godwit Days

The 20th annual Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival will be held April 17-19 at the Arcata Community Center. During the festival, RRAS will be operating the Godwit Café (open Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and selling RRAS merchandise. For the 12th year, RRAS is cosponsoring a Student Bird Art Contest. Last year a record 765 entries were received from K-12 students and posted in the Community Center lobby. Godwit Days offers 85 field trips, workshops, lectures, and boat excursions. Free community events include an art show, vendor booths, opening reception and lectures, live raptors on display, several field trips and workshops, and family nature activities. For easy online registration and a complete list of events, visit www. godwitdays.org or call 707-826-7050.

It’s spring again! The days are getting longer, flowers are blooming, and the birds are migrating and singing their breeding songs. This year around 120 people attended our annual banquet. I especially want to thank the following folks who planned and participated in our annual banquet: Jill Demers for planning and coordinating the banquet, Uniquely Yours for providing excellent food, violinist Cindy Moyer and Karen Davy for serenading us, Jared Wolf for securing Dr. Christopher Clark to visit, Dr. Clark for giving a phenomenal presentation about hummingbird flight, and all of you for soliciting donations and helping set up the event. Thank you! As noted in Gary Friedrichsen’s article, RRAS is cosponsoring a Birdathon with the NEC this May, and I encourage all to join in. We will be advertising this again at Godwit Days, or you can check it out online at http://yournec.org/events/birdathon. Here are the possible prizes for participating: 1st prize: from Out of This World in Mendocino, a pair of 8X30 Opticron Savanna Binoculars; 2nd prize: from Paul Fitzgerald at Larrupin Café, a $50 gift certificate; 3rd prize: from Gary Friedrichsen, a Custom Pelagic Trip out of Eureka. These are among the great reasons to go birding and at the same time help RRAS and NEC raise funds. Good Luck!

Volunteering at Godwit Days

Help hang student bird art contest entries on Friday, April 17, starting at 1 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center. Bring a light hammer and something to hold pushpins (e.g., carpenter’s belt, fanny pack). Contact Sue Leskiw at sueleskiw@suddenlink.net or 707-442-5444.

Conservation Notes:

By Jim Clark

Probability is the likelihood that an event will occur over a given span of time, and consequence is the likely effect of the event. These factors are combined to come up with risk. When we deal with nature, probability and consequence have broad and often difficult-to-calculate values. Although imperfect, science is the best way we have to evaluate probability and consequence. Law is what we use to apply scientific findings, and education is used to inform the public, including elected representatives, of this thing we call risk. The conservation committee strives to evaluate ways to minimize the probability and consequences of adverse effects and maximize potential positive effects. This is the case when considering a proposed project of any kind. While we have always used science in our decision making, we tend to emphasize the biological and earth-based sciences over sociology, economics, and political science. We also recognize that factors involving the social sciences must be considered in our positions on projects. As our interdisciplinary group discusses the often messy but interesting complexities of an array of projects and proposals, we learn more about

Godwit Café Fundraiser: Get to hear about Godwit Days participants’ adventures while serving them drinks, breakfast snacks, and lunch. Shifts are at least 1 hour between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 18-19 at the Arcata Community Center. Contact volunteer coordinator Susan Penn at susanpenn60@gmail.com or 707-443-9660.

Probability and Consequence our community and environment. We invite all who care about our environment and want to participate in our brain-stretching sessions to participate. You need not be a biologist to contribute. Projects currently being considered are the expansion of mariculture in Humboldt (Arcata) Bay, rerouting of Hwy 101 around Last Chance Grade, and a nesting-bird protection program. These items were discussed at our March 11 meeting and will likely continue, along with new topics, at our April and May Meetings. Our goal is to provide the RRAS board recommendations for positions on the committeeevaluated projects. Our most recent position was on correction of environmental damage of marijuanagrowing operations if marijuana becomes regulated by the state for recreational use. We are also working closely with Audubon California on Coast Oyster Company’s and the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District’s proposals to expand mariculture in Humboldt Bay. The RRAS Conservation Committee meets every second Wednesday at noon at the Golden Harvest Restaurant in Arcata.

1st Annual Tim McKay Birdathon, May 1 to 9

By Gary Friedrichsen

I’m proud to announce this year’s Birdathon to benefit the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) and RRAS. For those of you who did not have the opportunity to know, or commune, cavort, or play poker with Tim McKay, a short introduction is in order. Susie Van Kirk, who was one of Tim’s many cohorts, put together an outstanding biography that is worth looking up and reading in its entirety. For now I quote the beginning of her essay: A life-long Californian, Tim McKay—naturalist, writer, scholar, historian, environmental advocate—was executive director of the [NEC] in Arcata, California, from 1976 until his death in 2006. Under his leadership, the NEC became an influential organization in regional campaigns for Wilderness, ancient forests, and salmon, and locally as the umbrella for every grassroots, “friends of” group that took up the gauntlet as advocates for their home watersheds. He was a man of persistence and unswerving dedication to the ecological complexities and beauties of the natural world. McKay was gifted and had an insatiable drive for knowledge and a mind to match, allowing him to absorb, retain, and use information to successfully advocate for wild places, functioning ecosystems, and their associated fauna and flora. His ability with words, his scholarship, his passion, and an uncanny political savvy transformed a fledgling group of the early environmental movement into a force to be reckoned with, and one that has left its mark across the regional landscape. Often under personal attack, including threatening phone calls, McKay responded as a man confident in his position on the issues, always following his favorite rule-to-live-by: “Endless pressure, endlessly applied.” Born in 1947, Tim gravitated to Humboldt State College and became deeply aware and heavily involved with the growing campaign to save the earth from overdevelopment and overexploitation of its resources. Joining the fledgling NEC was the springboard for his talents to manifest themselves. Being a birder, Tim knew of Point Reyes Bird Observatory and was impressed by their Birdathon in 1977.

He was taken with the idea of helping not only the NEC but also the local Audubon chapter raise much-needed and hard-to-find funding. To that end, he began organizing our first Birdathon in 1980, which was held in May 1981. The term “Birdathon” was first used in 1976 by Bird Studies Canada to describe a fundraising event in which participants solicit pledges from individuals, families, and businesses for the bird species seen during a prescribed time period and in a predetermined area. An example solicitation might be “Hey Bob! I’m going birding with some friends this next Saturday, and I’m trying to raise money for my favorite nonprofit. Can I count on you to support me for, say, 30 cents a bird? We plan on staying in Humboldt County, and we can only tick off species in one 24-hour period. We might see about 125 species, so you would be donating about $37.50? What do you say?” I had the good fortune to bird with Tim on at least 2 of these fundraising events during the 1980s. With 1 or 2 other birders, we would head up into the high country to camp the night before and maybe get in some owling during the evening. When the daylight and dawn chorus woke us up, we would be listening and looking to tally every new species we encountered. Then we would head down to the valley below, working feeding flocks as we encountered them. Eventually it was back to the coast and a decision as to go north or south first. We would select a direction depending on the tides. We would hit Trinidad for rocky shore and seabirds, then College Cove for more riparian viewing. At some point, we would get to Humboldt Bay for shorebirds, a kingfisher hanging from a power line, and maybe catch sight of an early Osprey hovering before the dive. Then on to King Salmon to get sea ducks, loons we might have missed earlier and other divers. No matter what route you take or how many birds you see, a Birdathon should be fun. It’s a great opportunity to spend an entire day with nature and in the process collect donations for a worthy cause. It does not require a team as described above or even that much travel. One Birdathon participant used a

bicycle and stayed right around the bay to do his count. If memory serves, he tallied about 100 species was able to donate around $300 for his efforts. You could also find a shady spot in your garden and dedicate an hour or 2 ticking off birds at your feeder. It’s mainly to get your family, friends, or local businesses to donate, have fun throughout the process, and appreciate the work that is being done for the community by these 2 outstanding organizations. The following quote by fellow birder Rose Ann Rowlett captures a sentiment Tim embraced his whole life: “Only with love do folks in the human realm care deeply enough to act to protect the natural world. And love develops through increased awareness and education—one bird, one plant, one salamander, one worm, one behavioral ‘gee whiz’ at a time.” Please go to http://yournec.org/events/birdathon for sign-up sheets and a list of prizes for the 3 individuals or teams that raise the most funds this coming May. Good birding to all!

International Migratory Bird Day, Orleans, May 8-9

International Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated in Orleans on May 8 and 9. The local event, “Tony Hacking Memorial Bigfoot Birding Day,” will kick off Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. with a community potluck and presentation entitled “Restore Habitat, Restore Birds.” On Saturday starting at 7:30 a.m., Tom Leskiw, Jude Power, and Gene Lodes will lead a bird walk to 2 locations in Orleans. Both events will be held at the Panamnik Building, 38150 Hwy 96, Orleans. Local entries in the Student Bird Art Contest cosponsored by RRAS will be posted. For more information, contact LeRoy Cyr at lcyr@ fs.fed.us .

A Glut of Northern Cardinals; A Dearth of Neotrops

Enough is enough. Recently I sent the following letter. Honorable Terry McAuliffe Governor of Virginia State Capitol, 3rd Floor Richmond, VA 23219 Dear Sir,

April 1, 2015

I recently came across a collection of 20-cent stamps (circa 1982) that depict the state flower and bird for all 50 states. An avid birder, I was immediately struck by the popularity of the Northern Cardinal. Seven states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) have selected the cardinal as their state bird. I like cardinals as well as the next person. However, I do not make the following request lightly, and I hope that you will give it some serious consideration.

•

Might I suggest that your great state change its state bird to Ruby-throated Hummingbird? I believe the following points can be made in its behalf: •

Although the selection of the Northern Cardinal might be attributed to the bird’s popularity, others might well characterize its selection by 7 states in your region as a “creative black hole.” Regardless, I

•

fail to see how your current selection enables citizens to appreciate the uniqueness of your great state. Only 5 states have selected migrant birds that exhibit a classic north-south annual migration to be their state bird. Currently, only 2 states—Oklahoma (Scissortailed Flycatcher) and Maryland (Baltimore Oriole)— have designated neotropical migrant birds as their state bird. Selecting the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is bound to encourage a host of insightful questions from curious schoolchildren. Namely, “Why don’t we see the Ruby-throated in the winter? Where does it go?” The passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the tragedy of 9/11 have shown us that we need to pay more attention to global events. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird winters from Mexico south to Panama. President Eisenhower started the “People to People (Sister City) Program” in 1956. Once the residents of your state better appreciate that they “share” the Ruby-throated with a number of other countries, it will result in a splendid opportunity for Virginia’s K-12 students—and other citizens— to engage in dialog with the residents from, say, the Costa Rican city of San Jose. City and rural dweller alike can undertake hummingbird watching. More than a few cities host

•

birding festivals that focus on “Neotrops.” Finally, hummingbird aficionados make a significant financial contribution to your state’s economy through their purchase of nectar, feeders, and landscape plants preferred by hummingbirds.

I can understand your position if, after having given the above matter due consideration, you elect to stay the course. If so, I wonder if you could use your considerable influence to discuss this matter with the governor of South Dakota? Although I personally would never sink so low, the “Mount Rushmore” state is sometimes the butt of jokes, poking fun at its (supposedly) monotonous landscapes. Given South Dakota’s diverse avifauna, I know its residents can do better than to designate the Ring-necked Pheasant—a Chinese import, a mere carpetbagger—as their winged totem. Sincerely, Tom Leskiw Eureka, CA Happy April Fool’s Day!

Field Notes

By Daryl Coldren

S U M M A RY O F N O R T H W E S T E R N C A L I F O R N I A B I R D R E P O R T S

January 1 to February 28, 2015 Field Notes is a compilation of bird-sighting reports for Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity counties. Sources include the RRAS Bird Box (707-822LOON), the online northwestern California birding and information exchange (nwcalbird@ yahoogroups.com), eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ klamathsiskiyou), and reports submitted directly to the compiler. Reports may be submitted to any of the sources mentioned above or to Daryl Coldren: (916) 384-8089; QuiAvisPetit@aol.com. HO = Hold Over from previous period; MOb = many observers; NC = Not Conﬁrmed by another party/not photographed; NWR = National Wildlife Refuge; Wildlife Area

Common Scoter Crescent City, DN, © Rob Fowler

Harlequin Duck: 1, Humboldt Bay-King Salmon/ Field’s Landing, 1 Jan-14 Feb (SM, CO, ML, EF, MOb); 3-12, Point St. George, 20 Jan-8 Feb (CD, DC, MOb); 1, North Jetty, 13-18 Jan (JD, DT, MOb); 1, Patrick’s Point, 15 Feb (BH) • Long-tailed Duck: 1, Humboldt Bay-King Salmon, 4 Jan-4 Feb (MC, MW, BE, KB); 1, South Spit, 4 Jan (RF) • Tufted Duck: 1 adult male, Lake Earl-Lakeview Dr, 14 Jan (AB, JD, EH) • Barrow’s Goldeneye: 1, Humboldt Bay-King Salmon/Field’s Landing, HO-10 Feb (BE, CO, EF, GC, RF, MOb) • Common Scoter! 1 (mega! 1st N. American record outside of Greenland), Crescent City Harbor, 25 Jan-13 Feb (BB, MOb) • Black-vented Shearwater: 1, Table Bluff, 4 Jan (JS); 1, South Jetty, 4 Jan (RF); 3, North Jetty, 8 Jan (JB); 1, Klamath River Mouth, 10 Jan (LB); 1, Point St George, 14 Jan (AB) • Fork-tailed StormPetrel: 1 (NC), North Jetty, 27 Feb (CD) • American White-pelican: 1, Crab Park/Ocean Ranch/Humboldt Bay NWR, HO-16 Feb (AL, KS, RF, GC, OH, MOb) • Cattle Egret: 2, Alexandre Dairy, HO-14 Jan-23 (AB, JD, EH); 1, Ferndale Bottoms-Grizzly Bluff Rd, 18 Feb (EF) • Green Heron: 1-2, Mad River Fish Hatchery, 8 Jan-25 Feb (RB, EF, MOb) • Golden Eagle: 1, Alexandre Dairy, HO-14 Jan (AB, JD, EH); 1, Dyerville Loop Rd, 6-26 Jan (JG); 2-3, Bear River Ridge, 14-15 Jan (EF, AL); 1, Arcata Bottoms, 17 Jan (DM, ST); 1, Humboldt Bay NWR-Hookton Slough Unit, 16 Feb (CW, TW); 1, Kneeland Airport, 21 Feb (AD) • Ferruginous Hawk: many reports of 1-2, Arcata Bottoms, Bear River Ridge, Ferndale Bottoms, Bald Hills Rd (MOb) • Rough-legged

Hawk: many reports of 1-2, Arcata Bottoms, Bear River Ridge, Ferndale Bottoms, Bald Hills Rd (MOb) • Whitefaced Ibis: 1, Salt River/Williams Creek, 4 Jan (GL) • Sandhill Crane: 1, Alexandre Dairy, HO-1 Feb (AB, JD, EH); 2, Eel River Estuary Preserve, 27 Jan (AL, SB) • Paciﬁc Golden-plover: 9, Ferndale Bottoms, 4 Jan (OH); 1, South Spit, 13 Jan (CO); 1, Crab Park, 17 Jan (RF, MOb) • Mountain Plover: 1, South Spit, 20-27 Jan (SM, BE, MOb) • Rock Sandpiper: 1-6, North and South Jetties, HO-28 Feb (MOb); 1-3, Point St. George, HO-8 Feb (AB, CD, DC, MOb) • Franklin’s Gull: 1, Arcata Marsh, 1 Jan (MC); 1, Ferndale Bottoms-Coffee Creek Rd, 4-5 Jan (CO, MMa, KB) • Glaucous Gull: 1-3, Crab Park, 8-25 Jan (SR, DR, AL, MOb); 1, Mad River Mouth, 18 Jan (TM); 1, Centerville, 14 Feb (DO); 1, Smith River, 17 Feb (ToK); 1, Arcata Marsh, 21 Feb (CO); 1, Eureka Waterfront-Elk River, 28 Feb (TrK) • Common Tern: 1, Arcata Marsh, HO-4 Feb (MOb) • Elegant Tern: 1, South Spit, 18 Jan (TM, MW) • White-winged Dove: 1, Arcata Bottoms-Moxon Rd, HO-5 Jan (AM, EF, CB, AL, MOb) • Burrowing Owl: 2, Crab Park, 4 Jan (AD); 1, South Spit, HO-10 Feb (MOb); 1, McKinleyville Vista Point, HO-27 Feb (MOb); 1, North Spit, 10 Feb (CD); 1, Bear River Ridge, HO-15 Feb (MOb) • Long-eared Owl: 1-2, V St Loop-Mad River Slough WA, 19 Jan-18 Feb (MC, RF, MOb) • Short-eared Owl: 12+ (HC), Mad River Slough WA, 1 Jan (BE) • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1, Willow Creek-Veterans Park, 9-12 Jan (KO, EF); 1, Smith River, 14 Jan (AB, JD, EH) • Red-naped Sapsucker: 1-2, Sunny Brae, 3-24 Jan (KB, RF, MOb); 1, College of the Redwoods, 4 Jan-28 Feb (AL, MOb) • Prairie Falcon: 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 2 Jan-21 Feb (ML, EF, MC); 1, Dyerville Loop Rd, 26 Jan (JG) • Say’s Phoebe: 1, Arcata Bottoms, 4 Jan-14 Feb (TQ); 2, Ferndale Bottoms, 4 Jan (CO, MMa); 1, Bear River Ridge, 14 Feb (CR); 1, Fleener Creek Overlook, 15 Feb (BJS) • Ash-throated Flycatcher: 1, Arcata, 31 Jan (DD) • Tropical Kingbird: 1, Pt Kenyon Rd, 4 Jan (SM, AT); 1, Humboldt Bay NWR, 9 Jan-28 Feb (AL, MOb) • Least Flycatcher: 1, Salt River/Williams Creek, 4 Jan (GL) • Loggerhead Shrike: 1, Loleta-Quinn Rd, HO-15 Feb (GC, MOb) • Cassin’s Vireo: 1, Shay Park, 23-24 Feb (CD, MOb) • Blue Jay: 1, Willow Creek, HO-7 Jan (CO, MOb) • Horned Lark: 2, Mad River Slough WA, 17 Jan (CB); 1-6, Bear River Ridge, 2 Jan-24 Feb (MOb) • Oak Titmouse: 1, Smith River, 14 Jan-1 Feb (AB, JD, EH) • Rock Wren: 1-2, Alderpoint Rd-“Rock Wren Rocks,” 4 Jan-14 Feb (EF, AL, MOb) • Townsend’s Solitaire: 1, Bald Hills Rd, 14 Feb (AM, ML, MOb) • Northern Mockingbird: 1, Ferndale Bottoms-Grizzly Bluff Rd, 4 Jan (MMa, CO); 1, Eureka-Summer St, 8 Jan (AL); 1, Arcata-D St, 10 Jan11 Feb (ML, MC, EF, MOb); 1, Arcata Bottoms, 17 Jan

Long-eared Owl Mad River Wildlife Area, HUM, © Elizabeth Feucht

(DM, ST); 1, McKinleyville, 8 Feb (ML); 1, Mad River Rd, 24 Feb (RF, RH) • Lapland Longspur: 1, Bear River Ridge, 14 Feb (JH); 2, Ferndale Bottoms-Goble Lane, 28 Feb (AL, MOb) • Chestnut-collared Longspur: 5-6, Bear River Ridge, 31 Jan-24 Feb (JH, BH, RH, MOb) • Northern Waterthrush: 1, Arcata Marsh, HO-18 Feb (MOb) • Black-and-white Warbler: 1, Crab Park, 4 Jan (DF, JP); 1, Humboldt Bay NWR-Salmon Creek Unit, 18 Jan (GCo) • Palm Warbler: many reports of 1-3, Arcata Marsh, Arcata Bottoms, Ferndale Bottoms, Humboldt Bay NWR, Eureka, McKinleyville, 1 Jan-28 Feb (MOb) • Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 adult male, Smith River-Ritmar Creek, 10 Jan-15 Feb (TA, AB, MOb) • Wilson’s Warbler: 1, Salt River/Williams Creek, 4 Jan (GL); 1, Ferndale Bottoms-Salt River, 4 Jan (OH); 1, Arcata Marsh, 21 Feb (CO) • Clay-colored Sparrow: 2, Jolly Giant Creek, 9 Feb (RF) • Swamp Sparrow: 1-3, Arcata Marsh, HO-17 Feb (MOb); 1-2, Humboldt Bay NWR, HO-19 Feb (MOb) • Harris’s Sparrow: 1, Willow Creek-Veterans Park, 8-9 Jan (KO); 1, Arcata-Zehndner Ave, 9 Jan-14 Feb (GB, MOb) • Orchard Oriole: 1-3, Smith River, HO-4 Feb (RF, CD, AB, MP, DC, MOb) • Tricolored Blackbird: 1-4, Arcata Bottoms, HO-25 Feb (DC, ToK, KB, MOb) • (Eastern) Purple Finch: 1, Arcata Marsh, HO-28 Feb (AL, MOb) • Brambling: 1, Sunny Brae, HO-19 Jan (GJ, MOb).

Harris’s Sparrow Arcata, HUM, © Gary Bloomﬁeld

Thanks to everyone who submitted sightings! Special thanks as always to Rob Fowler for help navigating reports and quality control. Terry Allaway, Samantha Bacon, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomﬁeld, Justin Bosler, Bill Bouton, Lucas Brug, Camden Bruner, Ralph Bucher, Ken Burton, Daryl Coldren, Graeme Colmer (GCo), Mark Colwell, Greg Chapman, Dominic DiMauro, Amy Duerfeldt, Cédric Duhalde, Jon Dunn, Elias Elias, Brad Elvert, Elizabeth Feucht, David Fix, Rob Fowler, John Gafﬁn, Ed Harper, Owen Head, Rob Hewitt, Brendan Higgins, Jared Hughey, Glen Jones, Deven KammerichsBerke, Tony Kurz (ToK), Trevor Kumec (TrK), Steve Ladwig (SLa), Alexandra Lamb, Matt Lau, Stephanie Leja, Gary Lester, Sky Lloyd (SLo), Paul Lohse, Mark Magneson (MMa), Dan Maxwell, Sean McAllister, Tristan McKee, Annie Meyer, Michael Morris (MMo), Natalie McNear, Robin Montgomery, Chet Ogan, Kris Ohlenhamp, David Orluck, Michael Park, Jude Power, Tom Quetchenbach, Carrick Rice, Diane Rose, Steve Rose, Keith Slauson, BJ Stacey, John Sterling, Dan Tankersley, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Matt Wachs, Chris Wells, Teri Wells, George Ziminsky.

Single-use Carry-out Plastic Bags: Board of Supervisors Saga Continues Contact Zero Waste Humboldt contact@zerowastehumboldt.org

Board just prior to the November 2016 election. If our analysis shows voluntary reduction of plastic bag use has been inadequate, we will urge the public to let the Board know we expect them to direct staff to complete the work started on a County ordinance and have it ready for presentation to the Board for a first reading no later than May 2016.

Jud Ellinwood the success or failure of local voluntary efforts and Ever been stuck in rush hour traffic and at least these two supervisors seemed comfortable had the sensation you are never going to reach with relying on anecdotal information. your destination? Start. Stop. Start. Stop. And Holding the Board Accountable on and on. That’s the feeling you get if you’ve Zero Waste Humboldt will ensure that if the been watching the County Board of Supervisors ZWH Efforts Have Positive Impact on referendum is approved, the Board will have to (BOS) effort to eliminate generation of singleSelection of Recycling Processor make an evidence-based decision on a County use carry out plastic bag waste in Humboldt’s We are happy to report that many of the ordinance. In the interim, we will be monitoring unincorporated areas. recommendations ZWH made to Humboldt use of plastic bags by the businesses that would Unlike Arcata, Ukiah, Fort Bragg and Waste Management Authority staff and Board be covered by SB 270—large supermarkets, Mendocino County—all of which have passed members since early December regarding the pharmacies and retail stores, and a statistically local bag bans—the BOS’s passive approach since choice of their next recycling processor were valid sampling of convenience stores and eating 2010 has been to wait and see if one of the four incorporated into either the preliminary Draft establishments. Bag use data will be collected and state bag ban bills introduced in the past five years released at the February 12 HWMA Board analyzed, and our findings will be reported to the —all unanimously supported by the BOS—would meeting or Board member revisions. We want be enacted. This approach has allowed to express our thanks to the 60+ Board members to avoid voting for a citizens who responded to our articles, County measure while still appearing Starts and Stops: The Past Five Years Recapped website information and action to take an environmentally correct alerts with letters to the Board that position. Unfortunately, the fiscal 2010—START: Board begins discussion of a bag ban that would cover supported ZWH’s recommendations consequence for the County (which the County’s unincorporated areas, supports first proposed statewide and Processor Expectations. Your key continues to run a budget deficit) has legislation – AB 1998 (Brownley). STOP: Bill defeated Aug 30. START: In support let HWMA know that ZWH’s response to public requests for a local ordinance, Board directs HWMA to been the loss of hundreds of thousands input was popularly endorsed. The prepare a model ordinance for all local governments. of tax dollars spent on associated waste Draft remains a work in progress. In management costs—money that could the next two months we will work 2011—STOP: HWMA waits a year to see how suits brought against local be spent on higher priority public with HWMA member governments ordinances are resolved. service needs. with the goal of correcting the Request 2012—START: HWMA works on ordinance and draft environmental for Proposal’s remaining flaws. The Latest Actions of Board of documentation; Board anticipates introduction of state bill in February, minimum term of the next recycling Supervisors supports AB 298 (Brownley); bill fails on last day of legislative session. In contract is 10 years. Getting best At the January 6, 2015 BOS October, HWMA model ordinance sent to County. STOP: No action, Board management practices locked in is meeting, the Board unanimously: waits for a third state bill to be introduced in February. essential if we want to optimize the • restated its support of SB 270, processor’s role in waste reduction and 2013—SB 405 (Padilla) introduced end of February. START: Board supports • decided to not develop an reuse. bill in early May, bill defeated end of May. STOP: No action from Board for interim ban measure that—should the remainder of the year. the referendum fail—would only be Reducing Plastic Water effective for about a year, and Bottle Waste 2014—ZWH informs the Board on January 1 of County’s estimated annual • directed staﬀ to prepare a Creating models that demonstrate cost of managing bag waste—$71,800 to $214,600. Board is asked to begin resolution (passed unanimously at the work on a County ban ordinance. START: On January 14, the BOS directs how public institutions and businesses January 20 meeting) affirming support staff to prepare a proposal; preliminary work presented. STOP: Work halted can reduce plastic water bottle waste for SB 270, which encourages businesses when the latest state bill proposal, SB 270, was introduced in May. The by switching to a tap water and covered by SB 270 to voluntarily cease largest stores covered by SB 270 are required to eliminate plastic bag use refillable container approach is a key using plastic bags. It also states that by July 2015, the deadline for smaller stores is July 2016. START: The bill was component of our regional campaign. if the referendum succeeds the Board signed into law in September 30, becoming the nation’s first plastic bag We are excited to announce that we are intends to pass a local ordinance if ban law. STOP: The next day, out of state plastic bag manufacturers begin looking into working collaboratively local voluntary bag waste reduction collecting enough signatures to place a referendum on the November 2016 with the City of Eureka, the Humboldt efforts are unsuccessful. ballot that if passed, would repeal the law. The corporations contribute Municipal Water District and possibly At the January 20 meeting, at 97.5% of the $3.3 million into the signature gathering campaign. The a bottle filler manufacturer on a least two Supervisors (Sundberg and Board waits to see the outcome. project that would markedly reduce Bohn) gave the impression that if 2015—Enough signatures gathered to put the referendum on the ballot, consumption of water in plastic bottles the referendum succeeded and most delaying implementation of the law until the November 4, 2016 election in the City Hall building by installing businesses had stopped using plastic is held. If the referendum ballot measure fails, the law becomes effective bottle filler/cooler units like the Elkay bags, they would revisit their position immediately. This means the biggest stores will have had 18 more months models shown at www.elkay.com/ on passing a local ordinance. ZWH is to generate plastic bag waste. drinking-solutions Look for updates concerned there was no discussion of in the coming months! what would be the basis for determining

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

www.yournec.org

Friends of the Eel River

Ore Processing Proposal Withdrawn Jennifer Kalt, Director

On March 7, U.S. Mine Corporation withdrew its proposal to pursue development of a gold ore processing plant at the former Evergreen Pulp Mill in Samoa. In a letter to Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District Executive Director Jack Crider, Scott Dockter, President of U.S. Mine Corp, wrote, “In our final analysis of the proposal, we determined we could not accept the risk involved with the significant effort and substantial cost it would have taken to receive agency and public approval.” On February 12, U.S. Mine Corp. had requested a 6-month agreement with options for extensions to explore the idea of building a facility to process ore from unspecified mines and use the waste to manufacture pre-formed concrete products. The public raised questions about water and air pollution, with particular concerns for Humboldt Bay’s fragile ecosystem, wildlife, and fishing industries. Few questions or concerns raised by the public or the Commissioners were answered. The company’s representatives either did not know or were not forthcoming with specifics about its proposal, saying that they did not know what type of ore it would process, what chemicals would be involved, or even which mines it would serve. Commissioners voted 4-0 (with Commissioner Greg Dale absent) for a 3-month agreement, giving the company 60 days to submit descriptions of the

proposed development, site plans, and funding sources. But after hearing public concerns about water and air pollution, the use of cyanide and other toxic chemicals, and risks to Humboldt Bay from earthquake and tsunami hazards, the company decided “we are unable to commit ourselves to this long and expensive process.” Although U.S. Mine Corp’s president A. Scott Dockter characterized cyanide as “not that toxic,” cyanide processing was banned in 1998 by voter initiative in the state of Montana, when 85,000 gallons of cyanide-laced water leaked through damaged leach pad liners, killing all life in a 17-mile stretch of Colorado’s Alamosa River. The Harbor District and U.S. EPA recently removed millions of gallons of caustic chemicals left behind by the previous operator, Evergreen Pulp, a Chinese corporation that was sold to a shell company in 2008. The cleanup has to date cost taxpayers $6 million and is expected to cost $10 million to complete. Humboldt Baykeeper is relieved that U.S. Mine Corp realized so quickly that its proposal was not a good fit for Humboldt Bay. Thanks to everyone who spoke up for a healthy bay and against industries that would put Humboldt Bay at risk. We wish the District success in its search for environmentallyappropriate industries to use the former pulp mill site. Proposals currently under discussion include aquaponic food production, dry ice manufacturing, and oyster seed production.

Major Shellfish Expansion Proposed in North Bay Two proposals for expanding shellfish production in North Humboldt Bay are currently under review by the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District. Coast Seafoods, the largest oyster grower in Humboldt Bay, is proposing to expand its footprint from 296 acres to 910 acres. The Harbor District’s Mariculture Expansion Pre-Permitting Project proposes to add 550 acres of production, primarily for oysters, but also for edible native seaweed and Manila clams. Both projects will require permits from the California Coastal Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Resources agencies will also weigh in,

including the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service. State and federal agencies have No Net Loss policies for eelgrass due to its importance to many species of fish and wildlife. Eelgrass is also thought to buffer the effects of ocean acidification, which lowers pH during upwelling events, interfering with marine organisms’ ability to form shells. Humboldt Baykeeper and the Northcoast Environmental Center are reviewing these proposals and commented on the need to avoid or mitigate impacts to eelgrass, shorebirds, migratory waterfowl such as black brant, recreation, and cumulative effects of both proposed projects. www.yournec.org

Three Billboards Legally and Permanently Removed

After many years of persistent calls for Caltrans to enforce its own regulations governing outdoor advertising, three billboards were legally and permanently removed from the Coastal View Area along Highway 101 adjacent to Humboldt Bay. Scenic views of the bay have been restored between the California Redwood Company and Eureka Slough. These billboards have persisted on property owned by the North Coast Rail Authority for many years in spite of NCRA objections, including refusing to accept payment from the sign owners. In August 2011, Caltrans revoked the Outdoor Advertising Act permits for all three billboards, citing lack of landowner permission, which is required by the Act. The signs were never removed, and in June 2014, Caltrans inexplicably renewed the permits, leaving no paper trail for how this decision was made. Last December, Caltrans was finally persuaded to revoke these permits once again. On March 1, the billboards were removed by All Points Signs without further delay.

Earth Day Cleanup and Hoedown, April 25 Love the Bay but frustrated by the deluge of garbage? Do your part to clean it up by kayaking out to Indian Island on Humboldt Bay for Earth Day. Humboldt Baykeeper has partnered with the HSU Aquatic Center to provide you with all the gear for free to get out to the island. No experience needed! Have a kayak? Meet us down at the dock to paddle out. Meet at the Aquatic Center, 921 Waterfront Dr. Eureka, Saturday April 25th at 10 am for those without kayaks for a safety talk and vest fitting—10:45 am for those with a kayak and safety vest. We will return to the dock by 2 pm. Bring layers, sunscreen/hat, gloves, and water. As an added bonus, you are invited to a hoedown at the Friends of the Dunes Nature Center at 4 pm. Free for volunteers! Space is limited. Sign up early! Call us at 707-825-1020 or email Jasmin at jasmin@humboldtbaykeeper.org

Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Friends

of the Eel River

The Sixth Mass Extinction is Happening In Humboldt Scott Greacen, Executive Director

building. But it is assuredly the marijuana industry, and particularly the paranoia and resistance to any Big Weed seems nearly as concerned about the government oversight that seem baked into its loss of coho salmon as the timber industry was. culture, that is driving coho extinct in the Eel today. In the last EcoNews, I wrote about the new There are solutions to the problems of federal Recovery Plan for coho salmon warning diversions and sediment. We know how to fix that water diversions and sediment impacts roads and culverts, how not to bulldoze steep, associated with the booming marijuana industry erosive slopes. It’s pretty straightforward to install present grave threats to coho recovery in the South water storage for modestly scaled operations, and Fork Eel River. to forbear from dry-season diversion. I noted “the plan’s sobering There are a lot of nice folks eager to assessments arguably understate the help people do all this good stuff. need for action, in part because it While the state’s drought does not reflect the impacts of recent emergency declaration continues, historic drought.” Only months later, there’s a streamlined, cheap way to it’s clear that I, too, understated the comply with water diversion reporting, risks to coho in the South Fork from and to secure the water rights that the deadly combination of drought, can vastly enhance the sustainability diversions, and dirt. and value of a parcel of land. Since it We have now learned from the was announced, barely a dozen people California Department of Fish and across the entire north coast have taken Wildlife (DFW) that the entire 2013 advantage of it. cohort of juvenile coho in Sproul Creek This crisis is a stain on the marijuana died when the stream was dewatered industry’s claim to sustainability by unreported, unmanaged water that will not soon rinse out. It’s clear diversions, and that this year’s cohort is that many growers see themselves as also unlikely to survive. conscientious stewards and bitterly Coho have a three-year life-history: resent charges of environmental harm they spend their first year in freshwater, levied against the industry in the press. and return to their natal streams after But there has been little progress two years in the ocean. Compared to in reducing the steadily increasing their cousins, chinook and steelhead, impacts of this rapidly growing, The red boundary represents the size of a 20,000 square foot grow site—the maximum size which have longer, more flexible return wholly unregulated, and enormously allowed by the latest proposal from California Cannabis Voice Humboldt. The six white circles schedules, coho are pretty much locked represent (to scale) 50,000 gallon Australian water tanks, capable of holding the 300,000 gallons profi table industry. in to their three-year cycles. The loss needed for a 20,000 sq. ft. grow site. In practice, this particular site is too steep to support the Th e excuses we keep hearing from weight of even one of these water tanks. Original photo: Google Earth. Additions: FOER. of an entire year-class is thus especially “good growers” who insist there’s not disastrous to a watershed’s coho run, The losses in Sproul Creek herald even harder really a problem of cumulative impacts, that the and when two fail, extinction becomes much more news elsewhere in the South Fork Eel watershed. wine industry is worse, that it’s the Bulgarians over likely than not. Coho are now extinct in most of Redwood Creek’s the hill or that jerk down the road who are really out This loss heralds the pending extinction of tributaries, including China Creek, where a 2012 of hand, or (my recent favorite) that “we can’t install coho not only in the South Fork—once the largest coho and steelhead kill caused by reckless damming water storage tanks because the county’s going to producer of coho in the Eel watershed, and arguably and diverting of the creek brought water regulators, tax our water” all add up to rationalizations, ways in all of California—but in the entire Eel watershed, who issued more than two dozen warning letters to justify a collective refusal to come to grips with and neighboring watersheds as well. For just as to landowners where unreported water diversions the industry’s actual impacts. Sproul Creek has been the hinge for hopes of coho were found. With these losses, we have gone from The cumulative effects of many small farmers recovery in the South Fork, the South Fork itself planning for recovery in the South Fork and the are contributing more than they would like to was the keystone of hopes for coho in the Eel as Eel, to scrambling to put together a plan to prevent believe. As I stated in the February 19 Willits a whole, including runs in Outlet Creek off the extinction. (Coho held on in streams dominated News, “There’s a story we tell ourselves around mainstem Eel, in the Van Duzen and the lower Eel. And without a healthy population in the Eel, we by parks and by timber holdings—but those here that we all mean well and we’re good stewards can’t really hope strays will recolonize the Mattole, areas alone won’t be enough to maintain a viable and that it’s just a few bad apples that are causing or even that populations in Humboldt Bay’s population.) the real problems but that’s not true, it’s the small small tributaries and Little River will long persist The marijuana industry did not drive the coho things that everybody does that are adding up to on their own. to the brink of extinction; that was timber and roadextinction.”

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

Because Sproul Creek is a relatively lowimpact watershed, with more water and a stronger population of coho than more heavily settled streams like Redwood Creek and Salmon Creek, it has been the focus of a lot of hopes and plans. After years of work, DFW has been preparing to install and operate a Life Cycle Monitoring station in lower Sproul Creek to count both juvenile and adult coho—a crucial tool for evaluating recovery.

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The Environmental Protection Information Center

ep c

In the Shadows of Pacific Lumber: Legacy Forest Management and Recovery in Three North Coast Watersheds and direct action in the forest slowed Pacific Lumber’s march in the Mattole. Pacific Lumber continued its You may know the story: in aggressive and damaging logging the mid-1980’s, the old Pacific regime under the HCP until the Lumber Company was taken company eventually filed for over by corporate raider Charles bankruptcy. In 2008, a group headed Hurwitz and the Maxxam by the owners of Mendocino Redwood Corporation utilizing junk bonds Company took control over the to leverage the sale. Maxxam’s timber property and Humboldt Pacific Lumber tripled the rate of Redwood Company (HRC) was born. harvest and aggressively targeted HRC immediately made sweeping valuable old-growth forests, and and significant changes to the preeven liquidated the pension fund existing management regime as set-aside for the hard-working administered by Pacific Lumber. HRC people of the company. Before quickly phased out the use of traditional long, concerned local residents clearcutting, voluntarily agreed to and forest activists began to notice end the logging of old growth on the profound changes in the landscape. property, and agreed to switch to a With the advent of the selection harvest management regime. unprecedented winter storms Stafford Landslide that occurred during the new years storms of 1996-1997. This slide was caused by Although the days of Maxxam’s of 1996–1997, combined with a road failure on PALCO land above the town. The slide wiped out several homes. Pacific Lumber are thankfully behind Pacific Lumber’s poor logging us, the devastating legacy left from nearly two practices, it became clear—even to state regulatory in this transaction, in addition to acquiring lands decades of intensive forest management can still agencies which had previously turned a blindformerly owned and managed by Elk River Timber be seen and felt. The lands acquired by HRC were eye to the destruction—that significant adverse Company. Also part of this deal was the agreement degraded and depleted, littered with patchwork and cumulative impacts had occurred in many between state and federal agencies and Pacific clearcuts and young, dense, overgrown evenwatersheds managed by the company and that Lumber on a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). aged forest stands. Although great strides have timber harvest practices were a contributing factor. Throughout the development and negotiations been made by HRC to address significant sources Watersheds such as Bear Creek, Stitz Creek, for the HCP, EPIC and other forest activists decried the of sediment from landslides, roads, and related Jordan Creek, Freshwater, and Elk River began to deal as a political compromise that would leave large infrastructure in Elk River and Freshwater, unravel, leading to significant changes to in-stream tracts of old growth redwood available for harvest. In nuisance watershed conditions still continue; and conditions, and to the elimination of critical spawning addition, concerns arose that the HCP did not include questions remain about the adequacy of existing and rearing habitat for endangered fish species. protections or other set-asides in the Mattole Valley management plans to address the legacy impacts. In Elk River and Freshwater, local residents also watersheds, where considerable stands of valuable EPIC has had a long-standing history of found that the streams they once relied on for their old-growth Douglas fir forest would be slated for advocating for improved forest management domestic water supplies were tainted with excessive logging. The Mattole watershed was commonly practices and watershed recovery, specifically sedimentation; the water was no longer drinkable. referred to as a Headwaters Deal sacrifice zone. in watersheds like Elk River, Freshwater, and the Soon, the state and federal governments sought EPIC closely monitored the implementation of Mattole. These are areas of biological and historic a political solution to the problem. In March of 1999, the HCP on Pacific Lumber forests, and discovered significance where recent-past forest management state and federal agencies and Maxxam’s Pacific numerous and egregious violations of the conditions has left a trail of destruction that cannot be easily Lumber agreed to the historic Headwaters Forest of the HCP. In addition, predictions that the timber repaired. EPIC is committed to working with HRC Agreement. As part of this agreement, Headwaters company would aggressively target the old-growth to improve both watershed and forest resource Grove, the largest remaining contiguous stand of old Douglas fir forests of the Mattole watershed in the conditions in these heavily impacted watersheds growth redwood forest remaining on private lands, wake of the Headwaters Deal came to pass. Forest and also to improve forest management practices to was transferred into public ownership, creating the activists and concerned citizens quickly mobilized to promote both watershed and forest resource recovery. Headwaters Forest Reserve. Hurwitz’s Corporation try and prevent or forestall Pacific Lumber’s charge made out like bandits—receiving millions of dollars to liquidate the old growth of the Mattole. Lawsuits Rob DiPerna

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Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Grasslands Enhancement Program Restores Native Grasses

project that is being implemented by the Mattole that provide shade and micro-climates for grassland Hugh McGee, Program Director Salmon Group and MRC, in partnership with BLM, fauna. Because native grasslands have evolved with Native Ecosystems Restoration encroaching large Douglas-fir trees were removed fi re, and hold water in the soil and plants longer, Grasslands in California are among the most from a historic grassland and relocated and placed native grasslands are fi re adapted and resistant. unique, biologically diverse, and endangered by a helicopter as in-stream salmonid habitat ecosystems in the United States and the in the Mattole Estuary. Over three acres of world. Ninety percent of all endangered Douglas-fir removal sites were seeded with and threatened species in California native grasses and mulched with native inhabit grassland ecosystems. Much of grass straw. This project demonstrates their loss has resulted from agricultural how byproducts of prairie reclamation conversion, population growth, conversion projects can be utilized in salmonid habitat to non-native and invasive plant species, restoration projects. and encroachment of native vegetation due Recently, in partnership with the BLM, to suppression of fire on the landscape. In we have started mechanical removal of coyote the Mattole and the neighboring King Range brush and Douglas-fir on approximately 120 National Conservation Area (KRNCA), acres as part of an 800 acre Prosper Ridge roughly 40-50% of grasslands have been Prairie Restoration Project. This project lost to encroachment of native and nonincludes mechanical removal of vegetation with native vegetation, especially Douglas-fir chainsaw, excavator and masticator, broadcast (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Of the grasslands burning, as well as native grass revegetation that remain, most have been converted to through seeding and plug planting. non-native annual grasses (NNAG). The High quality native plant materials conversion of native perennial grasslands to are the most important component of NNAG has a tremendous impact on grassland successful native plant restoration projects. ecosystems and the watershed. The MRC’s native plant nursery grows 13 Unlike NNAG, native perennial grasses native grass species for our riparian and are deep-rooted and long-lived. Some grasslands restoration projects and produces species of native grass in the Mattole, such 30,000 native grass plugs per year. We have as purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra), are done extensive broadcast seeding and have bunchgrasses that typically can live for 200 installed over 175,000 native grass plugs years—and maybe many hundreds more. The on our revegetation sites. The MRC also root systems of these long-lived grasses range manages a 1.75 acre native grass farm, planted in depth from 6 to 12 feet—some growing as from locally sourced Mattole seed. This farm deep as 20 feet—compared to 6 to 12 inches provides an abundant source of seed for large of shallow-rooted NNAG. The deep roots scale projects, and decreases the amount of Mattole Restoration Council crews planting purple needle grass (Stipa of native perennial bunch grasses stabilize pulchra) in the King Range National Conservation Area. Photo: Hugh McGee. seed taken from wild populations. The farm steep hill slopes and create subsurface soil also produces native grass straw for mulching on Intact native grasslands reduce the intensity and ecosystems where a diversity of soil microbes, restoration sites. risk of wildfire to human and wildlife communities. insects, and mycorrhizae flourish. Alternatively, Grasslands are part of the mosaic of ecosystems Over the past decade, the MRC’s Native NNAG encourage desert-like subsurface that make up the Mattole watershed and are an Grasslands Enhancement Program has focused conditions, decreasing soil carbon and fertility and essential piece of the puzzle that is necessary for on gaining a better understanding of Mattole increasing runoff. Large amounts of root biomass the whole system to function properly. As we move and KRNCA grasslands, and planning and found in native perennial grasslands generally forward, it is important that we take a deep look implementing high priority restoration projects. increase water infiltration which helps sustain soil at the ecological problems and develop solutions We are utilizing many techniques to restore moisture. This allows plants to stay greener longer, inclusive of all the parts that benefit the system as grasslands and understand that a successful providing long term forage for wildlife throughout a whole. When we tinker with nature, we must do grasslands restoration project is one that not only the hot dry Mattole summer. Native grasslands are our best to save all of the parts. restores structure, but also the associated ecological not just grass, but within them exists an abundant processes and functions. To increase the likelihood For more information about our native grassland diversity of native forbs and shrubs that offer of success, we utilize a variety of treatments and program or native plant materials, please feel free to similar ecological benefits. approaches, some of which are described below. contact us at 707-629-3514 or visit our website at Individual bunchgrasses also act as structures As part of the Mattole Estuary Enhancement http://www.mattole.org/programs/restoration.

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

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NORTH GROUP REDWOOD CHAPTER Another Year of Drought, Another Klamath Salmon Disaster

Felice Pace, Water Resources Chair Barring another “Miracle March”, California looks to be entering a third straight year of drought. In Northwest California’s Klamath Mountains the water content of the snowpack in late February was 17 percent of average; in the Upper Klamath Basin the snowpack was 10 percent of average. Another year of drought is bad news for Klamath Salmon. While a federal legal opinion should make 50,000 acre feet of Trinity River water available to prevent a repeat of 2002’s adult salmon die off in the Lower Klamath, no relief will be provided to mitigate an ongoing disease epidemic which infected up to 100 percent of the juvenile salmon migrating down the Klamath River last year. That’s because the 2013 Biological Opinion for Coho salmon, Lost River sucker and Shortnose sucker prioritizes filling Upper Klamath Lake over the high spring flows scientists believe are needed to lower fish disease rates below Iron Gate Dam. Justified as benefiting endangered suckers, filling Upper Klamath Lake before providing increased spring flows allows the Bureau of Reclamation to maximize water delivery to irrigators in the 210,000 acre Klamath Irrigation Project. The Klamath has the same fish diseases present in other salmon rivers and a few unique to the Klamath. In other salmon rivers, however, only a small percentage of salmon become diseased. Scientists believe the unprecedented high incidence of fish diseases in the Klamath River is related to low springtime river flows and high water temperature. Unreported in the mainstream press, juvenile fish kills occur annually in the Klamath below Iron Gate Dam. Radio tagging indicates that only 8 percent of juvenile salmon migrating down the

Klamath survive to reach the ocean. Biologists conclude that most adult salmon returning to the Klamath in some years began life in the Trinity River which has much lower disease rates. Meanwhile, the Yurok and Klamath Tribes, which hold water rights that could provide the Klamath flows scientists say are needed, continue to forgo asserting those rights in hopes the federal government will provide them with “economic development” funding and other benefits negotiated as part of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) water deal. Both tribes recently initiated KBRA “dispute resolution” meetings in hopes of securing KBRA “bargained for benefits”. It is unknown if the tribes are also demanding higher springtime river flows. In the long run, lowering water temperatures and providing naturally high spring flows are likely keys to restoring fish health in the Klamath River. Removing four PacifiCorp dams would help. But lowering the Klamath’s water temperature also requires that farmers and ranchers in the Scott, Shasta and Tule Lake watersheds allow natural vegetation to shade streams and irrigation ditches running through their properties. Restoring natural shade to Klamath River Basin streams is required by the Clean Water Act. But the agency charged with assuring that landowners allow natural shade on streams—the North Coast Water Board—has been unwilling to use regulatory authority to insist that landowners allow natural shading of waterways. EcoNews readers can encourage the agencies responsible for Klamath water temperatures and flows to do more for Klamath Salmon. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Board should insist that farmers, ranchers and other landowners allow shade on streams running through their properties. The National Marine Fisheries Service should insist that the springtime river flows needed to reduce fish disease rates are provided. Below is contact information for the agencies: John W. Corbett, Chair, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, northcoast@waterboards.ca.gov Irma Lagomarcino, Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Irma.Lagomarsino@noaa.gov

Big Meadows in the Marble Mountain Wilderness normally has 10 to 15 feet of snow on March 1. This year the meadows are mostly bare ground. Photo: Felice Pace.

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Annual Planning Retreat Retreat

Events

The North Group offers the following hikes in September. All our hikes are open to the public. Contact hike leaders for more information: Sunday, April 12: South Fork Trinity River Hike. Much to see on this perennial favorite National Forest trail. Redbud, Baby Blue Eyes, Black-headed Grosbeak. Trekking poles will be a plus. A profusion of wildflowers is expected. No dogs. Dress for the weather. Hikers must have water, lunch, sun/cold protection, good footwear, and agility to cross small streams. 6.5 miles, 1,200 ft. elevation change, moderate difficulty. Carpools: Meet 8:30 a.m. at Ray’s shopping center in Valley West. Leader Ned, nedforsyth48@gmail.com, 825-3652. Heavy rain cancels. Saturday, April 25: Smith River NRA-Jedediah Smith State Park. Little Bald Hills Trail. From the trailhead off South Fork Road, a succession of botanic communities and stunning views reward our 1,800 ft. climb. The afternoon’s descent enters old growth redwood forest as the trail nears Howland Hill Road and our shuttled cars. Bring food, water, hiking boots. No dogs. 10 miles, moderately difficult. Meet 9:30 a.m. Hiouchi Ranger Station (Hwy 199, just past and across from Jed. Smith Campground) By reservation only. Leader Melinda 707-668-4275. Sunday, May 10: Trinity Alps Wilderness Canyon Creek Day Hike. Out and back past lively creek, granite cliffs, and spring blooms to meadows above Lower Falls. Bring plentiful food, water, sun protection, hiking boots. 9 miles, 1400 ft el. change, moderate. Carpools 7:30 a.m. Blue Lake, First & G St.; 10 a.m. Canyon Creek Trailhead Parking (13.5 mi. N Junction City on County Rd.401) Leader: Melinda 707-668-4275.

Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

NORTHCOAST CHAPTER Beginners and experts, non-members and members are all welcome at our programs and on our outings. Almost all of our events are free. All of our events are made possible by volunteer effort.

Evening Programs Second Wednesday evening, September through May. Refreshments at 7 p.m.; program at 7:30 p.m. at the Six Rivers Masonic Lodge, 251 Bayside Road, near 7th and Union, Arcata. April 8, Wednesday. 7:30 p.m. “Northern California Botanical Rarities: what to look for, how to find them.” CNPS Rare Plant Botanist and veteran botanical explorer Aaron Sims discusses rare plants that live around here and points out what we need to learn. He will introduce recently described rare species and rare species that have not been seen for decades. May 13, Wed. 7:30 p.m. “The Bigfoot Trail: A Celebration of Klamath Mountain Flora.” Michael Kauffmann, originator of this trail, will lead a photographic journey along its 360 miles from the Yolla Bollys to Crescent City, passing 32 species of conifers and countless mountain floral treasures. Map and notes will be for sale. www.bigfoottrail.org

Special program for Native Plant Week:

April 15, Wednesday. 7-9 p.m. “Ocean Friendly Gardening and Native Plant Landscaping.” Experienced designers, landscapers, and gardeners Lia Webb, Erik Johnson, and Josh Koepke will start with basic landscape design principals and move through Slow-the-Flow principals, to ecological design, Low Impact Development, and the Ocean Friendly Gardening program, all with native plants in mind and will share examples. 443-8326.

Native Plant Week April 11 - 19

A week dedicated to the appreciation, education and conservation of California’s fabulous native flora. Brought to you by the California Native Plant Society, protecting California’s native flora since 1965. For details of these events go to

www.northcoastcnps.org

Field Trips & Plant Walks

Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m.-12 noon. “Letting the Bay Back in: Experience a Salt Marsh Restoration,” a walk at Freshwater Farms Reserve of the Northcoast Regional Land Trust with Michael Cipra and Carol Ralph of CNPS Meet 10 a.m. 5851 Myrtle Ave. 822-2242. Sunday, April 12, 1:00-3:00 p.m.. “Native vs Nonnative Plants at the Edge of the Bay,” a walk on Eureka’s Hikshari Trail, presented by Humboldt Baykeeper and Hikshari Trail Stewards. Susan Penn will share plants, ecology, and local history along a 3/4-mile section of this level trail. Se habla espanol. Meet at 10 a.m. at the vista point at the end of Truesdale St., Eureka. 825-1020 Sunday, April 12. Horse Mountain or Prairie Creek Day Trip. What are mountain plants doing in April when snow is lacking? If winter continues dry, we will find out! If the weather becomes wintry, we will go someplace lower elevation. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata). Bring lunch and water. 822-2015. Saturday April 18, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Native Plants in Yards and Forest. Join Carol Ralph for a walk from the

Community Center to Arcata Community Forest and back to see native plants in private landscapes and in a redwood forest. Free Godwit Days trip. Call 826-7050 to register.

Saturday April 18, 10 a.m. Salmon River Trail Wildflower Day Hike. About 3 miles round trip to Hippo Rock, along the river. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Panamnik Building, 38150 Hwy 96, Orleans. Bring lunch water. Contact Tanya Chapple at 530-627-3202 or tanya@mkwc.org. Co-sponsored by Mid-Klamath Watershed Council. Saturday April 25,. 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ferns of the Dunes. Carol Ralph will introduce eight species of our common ferns at the riparian edge of the Lanphere Dunes. Meet at Pacific Union School, 3001 Janes Road, Arcata, and carpool to the reserve. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Dunes. Please register at 444-1397. Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dune Walks at the Manila Community Center, part of the Spring Wildflower Show (see below). Thursday May 14,. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Garden Visit: Lost Coast Brewery Native Plant Garden at the Humboldt Botanical Garden, with volunteer curator Mark Moore. Bring a sack lunch. Admission charged. Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17. Shelter Cove and King Range Day Trip or Overnight. A native plant workshop by the Lost Coast Interpretive Association, a guided walk on the Shelter Cove Nature Trail, hiking the Hidden Valley Trail (2.7 miles), camping at Wailaki Campground, and hiking the Chemise Mountain Trail. RSVP to 822-2015. Saturday, May 23. Two Azalea Reserves, Two Short Walks. Visit two natural stands of this beautiful, fragrant, native shrub. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Pacific Union School; 10:15 a.m. at Azalea State Natural Reserve; 12 noon-1 p.m. at Trinidad Museum (BYO picnic lunch); or about 1:30 p.m. at Stagecoach Hill Azalea Reserve. 822-2015.

Spring Wildﬂower Show & Plant Sale

Show: May 1 (1-5 p.m.), 2 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), 3 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)

• hundreds of wildflowers from seashore to mountains, labeled and displayed by family • special feature grass display. Yes! They are flowers! • wild plant identification--bring it or a photo • guided walks in the dunes • displays of edible native plants, wild medicinal plants, invasive plants, live insects, and dune plants. • art (drawing and painting) workshop Friday evening 7 p.m. • plant books and posters for sale You can help! 707-822-2015 or theralphs@humbodlt1.com We need people to collect flowers near and far, identify them, arrange them, set up tables, work shifts at tables, bring refreshments for volunteers, lead school groups, and clean up! Most tasks require no botanical knowledge.

Sale: May 2 & 3 (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)

• hundreds of native plants for sale • trees, shrubs, perennials • bulbs, succulents, ferns, grasses • for sun or shade, wet or dry • experienced gardeners to help choose • reference books to consult • grown by our volunteers and by Samara Restoration Nursery, Lost Foods Nursery, Beresford Bulbs, and Chris Brant Nursery • cash, check, or credit card • bring a box to carry home your plants

You can help! 707-826-7247 or eabern@aol.com. We need people to transport potted plants, move plants, label plants, advise customers, tally purchases, take money, and clean up! Most tasks require no botanical knowledge.

Find updates and details at www.northcoastcnps.org

LNG Pipeline

Continued from page 4 A groundswell of opposition

In November 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released the long anticipated Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Jordan Cove project opening up a 90day comment period on what they consider the environmental impacts of this project. Even a brief scan of the 5,000 page document, clearly showed that several elements have been left out of the overall impact list and that many of the inevitable impacts will not be properly avoided or handled. Public hearings were held in all four impacted counties and turnout was huge! In Jackson county over 300 people stuffed themselves into a room that only sat 100. Nearly 70 comments were given with 85 percent of them being against the project. No LNG hats and buttons were visible throughout the room and the energy was high and heated. Local media captured the event and it became clear that southern Oregon does not want this project. In January 2015, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held a public meeting to allow citizens to ask questions regarding the impacts to public waterways along the pipeline route. Nearly 350 people attended this meeting and again energy was heated and high. Turn out for this meeting was a great success and means a lot as the DEQ is the state agency that has authority over whether to issue the water quality certificate required for Jordan Cove to move forward. The DEQ is responsible for evaluating all impacts to waterways affected by this project and will be paying close attention to how the impacts may violate Oregon’s water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.

But the fight is far from over!

Over the next year there will be more opportunities to speak up, submit comments, rally in opposition and defend southern Oregon from corporate interests and fossil fuel exports. Please contact us for important dates and events and to get involved! You voice and engagement is crucial and the time is now. Email or call our campaign organizer at sarah@rogueriverkeeper.org or 541-488-9831.

Problem Pot

Pesticides

While we commend those who grow responsibly, there are far too many who suck water out of critical salmon streams, use toxic pesticides, and doze forests for roads and grow sites. Environmental and criminal law enforcement agencies cannot keep up with monitoring and enforcement of existing operations. We need true regulation to rein in an industry that has gotten out of hand. Significantly increasing the scale and scope of cultivation activities as CCVH proposes will increase damage to our waterways, forests, and communities. Our elected representatives are backing an industry-led group whose chief objective is to legitimize industrial-scale grows when salmon populations are at a tipping point and violent crime rates are rising. Our Board of Supervisors must take the lead on a public process to create a marijuana ordinance that, first and foremost, addresses ongoing environmental and social harms associated with marijuana cultivation. Certainly CCVH should be invited to participate, but they should not be running the show. An ordinance of this significance requires a truly open, public process with input from community groups, teachers, law enforcement agencies, health care providers, resource professionals, conservation advocates and the public as a whole. While we may not be able to end all the violence and environmental damage, we must do what we can to build a better, safer future for our region and all its inhabitants.

Siskiyou Land Conservancy) found that at least another dozen wells remained contaminated with 1,2-D. But the most significant findings occurred within the last five years. In 2010 the state Water Board took just four surface water samples from streams that run through lily fields before feeding the Smith River estuary—two samples from above the lilies, two from below — and in one of the lower samples found copper levels that were twentyeight times higher than allowed by state law. More compelling was that the water demonstrated “chronic reproductive toxicity,” meaning that aquatic invertebrates that make up the basis of the salmonid food chain could not reproduce in that water. Finally, in 2013, the Water Board took six more samples of estuary surface waters. Three of them demonstrated chronic reproductive toxicity, and a fourth—at the mouth of Rowdy Creek, one of the Smith’s two most important coho salmon streams— showed “acute” reproductive toxicity, meaning that if you dropped a baby invertebrate into this water it would die. Since finding the toxicity the Water Board has refused to make the results public, so Siskiyou Land Conservancy did so last year. Such toxicity at the estuary of one of the most biologically intact—and therefore one of the most important watersheds on the West Coast— is unfathomable in an age when the threat of pesticides to aquatic species is well demonstrated. Yet every year Easter lily growers apply 300,000 pounds of highly toxic pesticides to their crops. Two of these pesticides—1,3-dichloropropene (which replaced 1,2-D) and metam sodium (which in 1991, after a train derailment and spill, killed all aquatic life on a 40-mile stretch of the Sacramento River)—are applied in pounds-per-acre amounts that are higher than anywhere else in California, which is really saying something. That said, superlatives about the Smith River are almost inexhaustible. The Smith contains more miles designated “Wild and Scenic” than any other U.S. stream, and it is California’s only major undammed river. More than 80 percent of the Smith River is protected in state and federal reserves, and the Smith holds the highest percentage of original old-growth forest of any California watershed.

Continued from page 4

Volunteer it feels good

Continued from page 6

Morgan Corviday

801.201.8969 morgan@corvidesign.net

CorviDesign

freelance design for print and web www.corvidesign.net

Protesters at a No-LNG Pipeline Rally. Photo: Rogue Riverkeeper.

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Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

Eco-Mania

CHERNOBYL, CHAPTER TWO: Fallout from the world’s worst nuclear accident may once again spread over Europe because forest fires will release radiation locked up in the upper layers of soil near Chernobyl. The situation will worsen because of climate change and because of the strange effect of fallout on dead leaves The radiation itself seems to inhibit the decay of “hot” leaf litter, perhaps because it kills insects and micro-organisms.

A merry melange: salient or silly.

NO SNOWMEN: A Saudi Arabian cleric has created controversy by issuing a religious edict forbidding the building of snowmen because that creates an image of a human being considered sinful under a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam. “It is not permitted to make a statue out of snow, even by way of play and fun. God has given people space to make whatever they want which does not have a soul, including trees, ships fruits, buildings and so on,” he wrote in his ruling.

HIGH PRICE FOR LITTERING: Singapore has fined a smoker $15,000—the most ever for littering—for throwing cigarette butts out of his window. BEER IS GOOD FOR YOU: A compound found in hops called xanthohumol could protect neuronal cells and potentially slow development of brain disorders. Scientists say the compound puts the brakes on Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons and other conditions of the brain. It may also offer cardiovascular protection and anti-cancer properties. SUGAR BABIES: Girls who consume lots of sugary drinks start their periods earlier than those who don’t. What’s more, twice as many white girls in the U.S. reach puberty at age seven than those who did a decade ago—with obesity and exposure to chemicals that mimic the female hormone estrogen being the prime suspects.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: New Hampshire officials are proposing to limit the use of chocolate as bait to entice black bears out of the woods after four of the wild animals were found dead at a trapping site from overdosing on the sweet.

OW, AS IN OWL: Watch out, early morning joggers are being warned in Oregon’s state capital, because a barred owl with an affinity for hats has attacked four people is the last month. No one was seriously injured but one jogger who lost his headgear to the owl said, “It was kind of amazing how it just swooped down and grabbed my hat like that. It just pulled it off my head like it was nothing.” MAPPING GENETIC RICHES: Volunteers and scientists from five continents are helping the “Drugs From Dirt” project, a global effort to turn up bacteria that may yield new types of antibiotics. The hard work is already paying off. Participants have found an area in New Mexico and another in Brazil so rich that they have collected 185 soil samples and extracted DNA from them.

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

YUMMY: An Icelandic micro-brewery has reportedly launched a new beer flavored with the smoked testicles of whales. The testicles of fin whale—an endangered species—are cured “according to an old Icelandic tradition” before being salted and smoked. In 1913, Iceland resumed commercial fin whaling after a two-year suspension, with most of its catch exported to Japan. LUCKY LAPDOGS: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez ordered a change in policy at the state-run airline to allow passengers to carry their lapdogs with them on flights. Fernandez, who has a five-pound dog named Lolita, said the perk will be shared by travelers on Aerolinas Argentinas, adding “Careful, I said only small pets. Don’t try to board with a 120-pound mastiff.” www.yournec.org

FEWER ROYALTIES: Monarch butterflies have dropped 90 percent in the last 20 years— they make make it on the endangered species list despite the long backlog of listings. The herbicide Roundup may be the main culprit for the disappearance since it kills milkweed, the only source of food for the monarch caterpillar.

Shasta Dam

Continued from page 9 Most nudibranch species live no longer than about one year. However, the creature doubles its chances of procreation via a “simultaneous hermaphroditic” anatomy. Individual slugs bear both male and female reproductive parts, allowing them to mate with any other adult slug. Not all nudibranch species resemble speckled mucus, and, in fact, the family comes Hopkins’ rose nudibranch. The bright pink tentacles are called ‘cereta. Photo: n8agrin, Flickr.com CC. in a dazzling array Brandon Drucker of diverse and vibrantly beautiful forms. One Frequent explorers of the North Coast’s rocky particularly pink member of the nudibranch clan intertidal zone have likely encountered more has made a surprise appearance on the North conspicuous creatures like urchins, anemones, Coast in recent times, astonishing scientists with hermit crabs, and sea stars. But there’s another its newfound range and abundance. exceptional tidepool dweller often overlooked, or The Hopkins’ rose nudibranch (Okenia rosacea) sometimes mistaken for orange-flecked snot: the is common on the southern coast, but very seldom nudibranch. seen in northern California. Yet, dense populations More commonly known as the sea slug, the of this flowery species have been discovered in term nudibranch actually describes a diverse order tidepools from San Luis Obispo to Humboldt of shell-less mollusks comprised of 3,000+ unique County. The last time Hopkin’s rose was seen this species. “Nudi-branch” translates to naked gills, far north in such great numbers was in 1992 and a reference to the exposed bronchial structures 1998 during especially strong El Nino events. protruding from nudibranch backsides. These Hopkins’ rose nudibranch sightings on the critters generally grow between 0.25 - 12 inches in North Coast, in addition to other unusual marine length, and inhabit tidepools, coral reefs, and other happenings like sea star wasting disease, jellyfish coastal habitats around the world. blooms, and sea turtles off San Francisco, are Nudibranches use their sensitive “antennae,” interpreted by many scientists to be indicators of a called rhinophores, to seek out prey such as algae, strong approaching El Niño event, as well as larger sponges, corals, anemones, and sometimes other shifts in ocean climate and marine ecosystems. nudibranches. Additionally, select species possess Whether or not they’re here to stay, for local the remarkable ability to transfer photosynthetic beachgoers, the pretty sea slugs are a striking algae into their own tissues after consumption. reminder of nature’s wondrous diversity. Enjoy Thereafter, the slugs feed off sugars produced their pink presence and remember to tread lightly through photosynthesis, much like a plant. at local tidepools.

Hopkins’ Rose Nudibranch

Okenia rosacea

...magnificent scenery, treasured campgrounds vacation destinations and fishing sites. Bridges, roads, trails and railroad tracks would have to be relocated. And the Reclamation Bureau’s own environmental report says the rising waters would force it to buy out up to 209 parcels, many of them in Lakehead, much of which also would be inundated. Property values there already are in the tank after years of uncertainty about raising the dam. The Sacramento River is at the heart of our community—our trails, our bridges, our vistas, revolve around the river. Its salmon are a major component. Anything that threatens those salmon threatens us, our lifestyle and, in many cases, our livelihoods. Now the Fish and Wildlife biologists tell us that higher lake levels, new construction and relocating roads and campgrounds would do irreparable harm to rare plants and animals around the lake. Tom Stokely, a water policy analyst for the California Water Impact Network—the environmental group that won release of the report—says it “cuts the legs out of the economic justification for the project.” Taxpayers would pay about $655 million for the project, primarily for “benefits” to the salmon, benefits biologists say are all but nonexistent. The remainder of the funding would come from Valley farm water interests. He has a point. Now that the report is public, Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife spokespersons alike are stressing the report is just a draft—concerns are being addressed and the report could change. Environmentalists worry that the pressure is on behind the scenes—powerful interests are at work to alter the findings. But if any changes are made to the 349-page report, if the biologists suddenly decide to change their findings, those who wield the editors’ pens had better be prepared to justify them down to the tiniest detail. Environmentalists—and all who cherish the Lake Shasta and her rivers—have what they need to mount a tough legal battle. This piece was originally published as an editorial at www.redding.com

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Apr/May 2015

EcoNews

the Kids’ Page: Limpets

the strongest teeth in the world!

Do you know what the strongest natural material in the world is? Spider silk is a good guess. It was the strongest material found until recently. Now we know that limpet teeth are the strongest natural material in the world! What is a Limpet?

Limpets are an aquatic type of mollusk related to snails. Limpets are sometimes called sea snails. Limpets are found in freshwater, but mostly in salt water. There are many species on the North Coast. They live on rocks along the coast right in the tide zone. They have a “foot” like a snail and a shell. The shell is shaped like a witches hat with some being more pointy than others. Professor Asa Barber led the study on limpet teeth and their strength. She said their strength is like “a piece of spaghetti enduring the force of 3,000 bags of sugar.” Limpet teeth are 10 times stronger than human teeth and 5 times stronger than bamboo. What gives limpet teeth such strength is a material called goethite, which is a hard material that forms in the teeth as they grow. There are hundreds of species and they can be found all over the world in rocky coastal areas. Limpets can live up to 20 years and can range in size from the width of a pencil up to 8 inches. They scrape algae and diatoms off the rock with their radula (tiny rows of teeth that are used by mollusks for scraping food). They also use their radula to scrape off rock to make the perfect fit for their shell on their “home site.” If it’s a very hard rock, their shell will grow to fit that home site. They are very protective over their home site and will push others away to defend their perfect spot. During low tide at night is when they prefer to move around and eat. This is when it’s least likely to get eaten by birds, seals, or fish. They keep cool and moist during the day by trapping water under their shell. Limpets are able to follow their slime trail back to their home site, and their slime helps grow more algae for them to eat. They attach themselves onto the rock so hard it is very hard to remove them, and it can harm the limpet if you try. Living in the tide zone on a rock is a tough life with all those waves crashing against you and sometimes being under water and sometimes being above water. Limpets do a very good job at surviving their environment, and having the strongest teeth certainly helps. by Sarah Marnick Above right: Plate limpets attached to a rock in the tidal zone at Palmer’s Point in Patrick’s Point State Park. Photo: kara brugman, Flickr.com CC.

EcoNews Apr/May 2015

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He is Muslim and she is Hindu, and they were both disinherited by their families. They started off poor. But after the macaque came into their lives nine years ago, they did well, and have a number of businesses—all named after the monkey. The animal, too, lives in style, with his own air-conditioned room. Here at the NEC, we are hoping that similar trust funds are being set up to benefit our survival for more than 40 years. Because it’s you, the individual, that keeps us afloat. There’s no big government handout, no giant grant, nothing but you. Every one of your donations, however small it may be, is vital. So become a member, convince others to join, come in and volunteer, shout NEC from the housetops. It all will help. And if you happen to spot a fairly well-to-do macaque, let him know how vitally important his donation could be. Thank you.

boom, bust and binge - a morning after water story

A film exploring the diverse forces influencing the health of California's Russian River watershed

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They have set up a trust fund for the 10-year-old long-tailed macaque, a breed has been known to live up to 40, and so the macaque could outlive them.

THE VALUE OF AN AMERICAN WATERSHED

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An Indian childless couple say they are going to leave all their money to their pet monkey who they believe has enriched their lives.

THE RUSSIAN RIVER: ALL RIVERS

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THURSDAY, APRIL16, 2015 7pm - doors open 6pm $5 - $10 suggested donation Arcata Playhouse 1251 9th Street, Arcata CA 95521 Screening sponsored by Friends of the Eel River & Northcoast Environmental Center

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123 minutes Produced by The Russian River: All Rivers LLC