SONOMA COUNTY TRAILS COUNCIL –
Newsletter February 2005
PO Box 14483 * Santa Rosa, CA 95402 * www.sonomatrails.org/sctc/index.html * sctc@pobox.com
Next meeting:
February 24 at 6:30 PM * (see below)
Santa Rosa * Members Welcome
Minutes and Agenda available upon request – email: sctc@pobox.com
===========================================================================
OUR MISSION: To promote on a local level the establishment and
improvement of public trails open to all non-motorized visitors * to organize
events and work days to help maintain local trails * to advocate safe and
proper use of trails * to inform membership of important park and trails
developments.
===========================================================================
MEMBERSHIP NEWS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
REMEMBER – MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Annual Members’ Meeting & 2005 Board Elections
Thursday, February 24th,
6:30 pm
New College of CA
Theater, in Santa Rosa
99 6th Street,
corner of Wilson, just N. of RR Square
We’re looking for seven board
members, and positions will be determined at the following meeting.
We especially need
folks willing to fill the recording secretary and treasurer positions.
Memberships will be available at the door; you’ll need to be a member to
vote in the elections and participate in our interactive goal-setting for the
2005 calendar year.
LIGHT
FARE AND BEVERAGES PROVIDED!
FEATURE ARTICLE++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SCTC ASKED TO
PARTNER ON WILLOW CREEK
In 2003, Sonoma County’s Open Space District approved $10 million towards
the purchase of the 3,888-acre Willow Creek property. The Willow Creek property
sits west of Duncans Mills with forested ridges that
offer ocean, Coleman Valley and Russian River views. The area provides a key link from Occidental
to the 19 miles of trails at the Sonoma Coast State Beaches.
LandPaths has
worked with the current owners, Mendocino Redwoods Company, to provide access
while all real estate transactions, watershed analysis and park planning are
underway as the property is transferred to California State Parks.
Permit-holders ("Friends of Willow Creek") can enjoy Willow Creek NOW
in exchange for being stewards of the property.
Craig Anderson, Executive Director of LandPaths, has asked the Trails
Council to be a partner in their stewardship of Willow Creek.
This is an amazing
place, with great trails, streams, forest and sweeping ocean vistas. Anyone
interested in seeing Willow Creek should contact SCTC to arrange a visit,
because several of the board members are Friends
of Willow Creek already. LandPaths has
asked that anyone willing to do bike, hike or horse patrol, once a month or
even once a year, should be in touch so that we can provide a real service to
this gem in our county. Not only can you
explore a place you may have never been, but you can truly be a partner in the
work of opening new parks and trails.
Related to this, there is a Willow Creek Watershed Plan Public Meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2005, from 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Jenner Community Center, 10398 Highway 1, where the public can offer input on the draft Willow Creek Watershed Management Plan.
See the draft Watershed Management Plan at: www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org
SCTC VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SCTC Sponsors the
Subaru/IMBA Trailbuilding School
Saturday, February 19, 8:30am to 5pm
Sunday, February 20, 9:00am
to 12:30pm
The
National Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in Santa Rosa for a Saturday
morning training at Spring Lake Regional Park and Hands-on trail work in Annadel State Park.
The
award-winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program includes two full-time,
professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading IMBA Trailbuilding Schools and meeting with government officials
and land managers. IMBA’s Crews have led more than
1,000 trail projects. This weekend will
be one of 70 visits made across the country during the year.
Lunch
and snacks will be provided on Saturday; snacks on Sunday.
BE A
PART OF THE SOLUTION!
Space is
limited and pre-registration is necessary.
Contact
the SCTC at sctc@pobox.com or Eleanor
Guerin at 538-9385
Also,
meet Nat and Rachael, the Trail Care Team, at REI, Friday Feb. 18, 6-8pm
For a
slide show presentation about IMBA’s work around the
world
In
partnership with CA State Parks, Sonoma County Regional Parks, REI, and The
Bike Peddler.
PARKS
&TRAILS NEWS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TOLY LAKE APPEAL: From Randy Crutcher,
Coordinating Committee, Friends of Tolay Lake Park
Friends of Tolay
Lake Park
are working hard to claim public access to this family-owned private ranch
just over the
ridge from Lakeville. Sonoma
County has a contract to purchase
the property, but it's up for grabs to developers in April and the county is
still short on funds to close the deal. There is still much public
outreach and fundraising to do to make this incredible place available to
hikers, birders, mountain bikers and equestrians along with the environmental
education that is already taking place there. With Smithsonian-quality
artifacts at arguably one of the most sacred ancient Native American healing
sites, situated in the middle of the Pacific Flyway for birds, home of one of
the few freshwater lakes in the North Bay (the "lake" in Lakeville),
rolling hills, grasslands, oak woodlands and some of the most spectacular views
of San Pablo Bay, three major bridges, Mt. St. Helena, Mt. Tamalpais
and Mt. Diablo, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Go to www.FriendsofTolay.org for more
information. The group is organizing
some benefit hikes and rides on the property before April. If you, as a Trails
Council member, would be interested in being part of such a benefit tour, please
contact Eleanor Guerin at 538-9385.
BACKCOUNTRY HORESMEN OF CALIFORNIA: North Bay
Unit Spring Ride May 13 thru 15, 2005
An
application flyer will be sent out by March 1, 2005. The event is
limited to 150 riders, and BCHC membership is not required. Families are welcome; under 18’s must be
supervised.
To RSVP (no on-site registration) or for more info,
Contact:
Dan Horn 707-544-4543 Email: Bearstrap@msn.com or
Sandra Van Voorhis 707-576-3950 Email: Sanvan@grapevinetrading.com
PARKS & TRAILS VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
RIDGE TRAIL WORK
PARTY: Mt Hood Park addition
Sunday Feb 27th Sonoma
Group Hood Mt.
Regional Park
Work Party
Help Regional Parks get the new
$3,000,000 Johnson addition to Hood Mt.
Park in shape for the grand
opening. Sierra Club is a Regional Park
partner and we need lots of volunteers to help with the $800,000 improvement
plan for these 300 acres. Depending upon the weather, activities may include
pulling invasive French broom, pruning and brushing, fence building and fence
removal where future trails will be, trash pick-up, adding dips to existing
trails and pruning. This is the first Sierra Club work parties of a series that
will continue through the spring and summer and eventually lead to adding a new
5 mile stretch of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and miles of other trails. Meet 9:30 a.m. at Pythian
Rd, 1st parking lot at
Los Guillicos.
Bring lunch, liquids, work boots,
gloves, and layered clothing. Rain cancels.
Call if in doubt.
Reservations required by Feb 25.
Leaders: Carol Vellutini
546-6308, carolvsr@sonic.net and Bill 539-6396
Sunday March 6 Sonoma
Group Hood Mt.
Regional Park
Work Party
This is the 2nd Sierra Club work party
of the winter for the Johnson addition to Hood
Mt. Regional Park.
See Feb 27th for details. Meet 9:30 a.m.at Pythian Rd 1st parking lot
at Los Guillicos. Bring lunch, liquids, work boots,
gloves, and layered clothing. Rain cancels.
Call if in doubt.
Reservations required by March 4. Leaders Carol 546-6308 carolvsr@sonic.net
and Bill 539-6396
SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL
PARKS: Volunteer Workdays
These events are open to volunteers and the
public. A staff member from Regional Parks will be on hand to coordinate each
of these events. In addition, they will provide all the necessary tools,
gloves, water and refreshments. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes, long
pants, long sleeves and bring a hat and sunscreen. For
more information contact John Ryan, Volunteer Coordinator, at 707-565-3356.
When: February 12th, 9am – noon
Where: Foothill
Regional Park
What: Trail Maintenance
When: February 19th, 9am – noon
Where: Sonoma
Valley Regional Park
What: Trail Maintenance
When: March 5th, 9am – noon
Where: Helen
Putnam Regional Park
What: Trail Maintenance
SONOMA OVERLOOK
TRAIL: Training Program
The Sonoma Overlook Trail Task Force is
seeking docents to begin our 8-week training program on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Classes meet 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
and are a combination of in-class and on-the-trail learning provided by
volunteer subject matter experts in geology, ecology, human history, flora and
fauna. Docents lead hikes and help educate the public about the trail and its
importance in the area.
Interested folks can call me at 707-537-9340 or e-mail me at
joyhermsen@sbcglobal.net.
Deadline to sign up is 5pm, Monday,
Feb. 7.
TRAILS, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
SUPPORTERS;
Offering memberships,
newsletters and docent led hikes & rides
Audubon
Society: Madrone
Chapter
www.audubon.sonoma.net
546-7492
Bay Area Ridge
Trail Council www.ridgetrail.org 823- 3236
California
Native Plant So: Milo Baker Chapter www.cnpmb.org 829-7519
California State
Parks: Silverado Sector www.parks.ca.gov 938-1519
Coastwalk
www.coastwalk.org 829-0325
Landpaths
www.landpaths.org 524-9318
Sonoma Land
Trust
www.sonomalandtrust.org
526-6930
Sonoma Valley
Trails Committee (no
website)
996-3831
Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org 544-7651
Santa Rosa Cycling
Club
www.srcc.com 544-4803
Sonoma County
Bicycle Coalition
www.bikesonoma.org 545-0153
Sonoma County
Regional Parks www.sonoma-county.org/parks 565-2041
Valley of the Moon Natural History Asso. www.jacklondonpark.com 938-5216
=======================================================================
SCTC BOARD MEMBERS
President: Ken Wells jfish@sonic.net
538-9385
Vice
President: Andy Bunnell andycycle@hotmail.com 823-9422
Secretary: Eleanor Guerin eleanor@sonic.net
538-9385
Treasurer: Kelli
Hensley
kellihensleycpa@yahoo.com 396-3960
Newsletter: Michael Sheffield mscoach@sonic.net
833-1580
Members at Large:
Ellen Blinn
ellenb@ap.net
539-5338
Christine
Culver dhbetty@att.net
545-1141
Sean Thorniley
managreen@sbcglobal.net 538-1829
===========================================================================
UNSUBSCRIBE: click on “reply” and type “Unsubscribe” in
the title bar.
============================================================================
2004
SONOMA COUNTY TRAILS COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP FORM
Name
_______________________________________________
Address______________________________________________
City_________________________________________________
State
___________ Zip_______________
Phone__________________________ Email_______________________________ send newsletter by email
Membership
Fee:
_
$20 Individual _ $30 Family _ $50
Business/Club _ $ ____ Donation
Please
mark your area(s) of interest:
_
Hiker _
Runner _
Mt. Biker
_
Equestrian _ Trailwork _ Political Advocacy
This
is a _
New Membership _ Renewal
Please
return with payment to: SCTC, PO Box 14483,
Santa Rosa, CA 95402