Home » About Friends of Gualala River » Gualala River – Public Meetings

Gualala River – Public Meetings

PRESERVATION RANCH: a first look at the unseen interior of the Gualala River

Sunday, June 7, 2020, 4-5:15 p.m. via Zoom*

Please join Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) online for a program by Annapolis naturalist and artist, Liam Ericson, as he presents photographic slides and woodblock prints of his explorations of the eastern portion of the Gualala River watershed.

Read more →


Friends of Gualala River
invites you to a Public Forum

FoGR Public Forum - March 5, 2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
5 to 7 p.m.

Gualala Community Center
47950 Center St., Gualala, CA 95445

You are invited to join members of Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) at a Public Forum at the Gualala Community Center on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Read more →


Greg Kamman: “Water is Life!
A Hydrologist’s Eye on the Gualala River”

Community members who are interested in the future of the Gualala River will want to hear hydrologist, Greg Kamman, speak on the current state of water flows in the river at his presentation:

Thursday, May 3, 2018
5:30 to 7:00 pm
Gualala Arts Center

Greg Kamman
Greg Kamman

Read more →


Presentation by Chris Kelly
of The Conservation Fund

Thursday, September 14, 2017
6:30 to 8:00 p.m

Gualala Arts Center
46501 Old State Highway

Join us for a FREE community presentation by Chris Kelly on The Conservation Fund’s 14,000 acre Gualala River Forest and 21,000 acre Buckeye Forest (formerly “Preservation Ranch”).

Read more →


Shaping the Future of the
Gualala River Watershed

Tuesday, February 28, 2017
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Free of charge

Gualala Arts Center
46501 Old State Highway
Gualala, CA 95445

Dr. Kimberly Rodrigues
Dr. Kimberly Rodrigues

Read more →


Dogwood THP lawsuit update &
Gualala River riparian forest
conservation workshop

Thursday, October 27, 2016
5 to 7 p.m.

Gualala Community Center
47950 Center St., Gualala, CA 95445

Read more →

Gualala River riparian forest


Rally for the River

Saturday, July 16, 2016
11am
Gualala Point Regional Park

Rally for the River: Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 11am

Read more →


The Ghost Forest — Radicals and Real Estate in the California Redwoods

A Personal History of the Ancient Redwood Ecosystem and the Struggles to Protect It

Historical Presentation by Humboldt Author-Activist Greg King

Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Greg King at Gualala Arts Center, Thursday, June 12, 2014
Greg King at Gualala Arts Center, Thursday, June 12, 2014

Greg King is an award-winning and nationally published Humboldt County writer and photographer who is credited with discovering and naming Headwaters Forest, in 1987, when he was a leader of Humboldt Earth First!.  Read more →


Gualala River Alchemy!

Saturday, August 24, 2013
1:00 p.m.
Annapolis Winery

Eric Wilder and Kashaya

Be there at the first, fun kick-off event in a public campaign to convince the third largest corporate winery in the world to spare 154 acres of Gualala River’s redwood forest from the chainsaw.   Read more →


Stop Clearcutting California

Thursday, March 21, 2013
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center

Clearcuts behind The Sea Ranch
Clearcuts behind The Sea Ranch

Friends of the Gualala River hosts Karen Maki of the Sierra Club, with a presentation, Stop Clearcutting California, on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center.
Read more →


Gualala River Sightings

Thursday, March 7, 2013
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center

The full Gualala River, by Jeanne Jackson
The full Gualala River, by Jeanne Jackson

Mendonoma Sightings and Friends of the Gualala River will co-host Gualala River Sightings, a gathering of photographic “Mendonoma Sightings” along the Gualala River on Thursday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. in the Coleman Auditorium at the Gualala Arts Center.   Read more →


Defending Biodiversity:

The Role of Public Interest
Advocacy and Litigation

Thursday, November 15, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center

Industrial clearcuts in northern California
Industrial clearcuts in northern California

Friends of the Gualala River will host two staff members of the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) who will discuss the role of public interest advocacy and litigation in defending biodiversity at Gualala Arts Center on Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Read more . . .


Artesa & Preservation Ranch
Vineyard Conversion Update

Sea Ranch Forum

Saturday, November 3, 2012
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Del Mar Center
The Sea Ranch

Chris Poehlmann, right, with fellow environmentalist Peter Baye (Louis Sahagun / Los Angeles Times)Chris Poehlmann, president of Friends of the Gualala River, Justin Augustine, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, and others will provide an update and answer questions on the status of the lawsuit challenging the controversial proposal by Artesa to clearcut 154 acres of redwood forest in Annapolis. Read more . . .


The North Coast Wine Industry:
Draining Our Rivers Dry

Thursday, March 3, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center

Will ParrishInvestigative reporter Will Parrish will discuss his controversial recent series for the Anderson Valley Advertiser on the ecological toll of California’s wine industry, with a special emphasis on rapacious vineyard development in the Gualala River watershed.

More info . . .


Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival
hosted by
Friends of The Gualala River

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 19-20, 2010
7:00 p.m. at the Arena Theater
Point Arena, CA

Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival logo Arena Theater logo

Friends of the Gualala River hosts the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour at the Arena Theater on October 19th and 20th, at 7:00 p.m. both nights. This two-night event features the screening of nine award winning films and a brief presentation from Friends of the Gualala River who bring their activism and a human face to the festival and environmental movement.

More info . . .


Natural History Walk
at Gualala Point

Gualala Point Park
Saturday, April 10, 2010

8:30 a.m. Coastal National Monument walk
10:30 a.m. Gualala River beach, lagoon, estuary

Dr. Peter BayeLearn more about the habitats and vegetation formed by the interplay of the barrier beach and river with Dr. Peter Baye, who specializes in the flora and ecology of coastal plant communities, particularly sand dunes, beaches, and tidal marshes.

Co-sponsored by Sonoma County Regional Parks, Friends of the Gualala River and the California Native Plant Society. Refreshments will be served, and admission is free.


Basins of Relations:
Thinking like a Watershed

Tuesday, April 6, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center

Brock DolmanOccidental Arts and Ecology Center biologist and educator, Brock Dolman will offer a series of slide images and interpretation about water, watersheds, human development patterns and restoration ideas that support regenerative ecological integrity and instream flows for salmonids.


Eliza Gilkyson
with Nina Gerber

Friday, September 18, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Arena Theater, Point Arena, CA

Arena Theater logo
a benefit for Friends of the Gualala River


ElizaGilkyson-tn
Eliza Gilkyson with Nina Gerber will perform at the Arena Theater on Friday, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20. The event will benefit Friends of the Gualala River. “Gilkyson’s signature as an artist is her courage. She lays it all bare, in song and on stage.”


Community Benefit for
Friends of the Gualala River

Saturday, August 22, 2009
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Annapolis Winery logo
Annapolis Winery, Annapolis, CA

Annapolis WineryCelebrate summer, savor the beauty of Annapolis Winery’s handcrafted wines and contribute to the efforts of Friends of the Gualala River – “protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it.”


Protecting steelhead & coho:
new Gualala gravel mining permit

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center St., Gualala

John McKeonJohn McKeon, staff fish biologist with National Marine Fisheries Service, will discuss how steelhead and coho conservation occurs through the federal permit process – including its limitations and assumptions – using the Gualala River instream gravel mining permit as a recent example.

John will provide background on Gualala River fisheries and resource management issues, theories underlying them and the monitoring used to track and test them.

John’s work applies his extensive first-hand local knowledge of North Coast rivers and streams and his biological expertise to protection, regulation and monitoring of steelhead and coho (and other marine and anadromous species) protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Sponsored by Friends of the Gualala River


Gualala River:
On its Deathbed or Verge of a Miracle?

Saturday, October 18, 2008
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center St., Gualala

Gualala River Steelhead StudiesLearn the answer to this burning question as revealed by biologist Richard W. DeHaven, during a seminar from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Gualala Community Center. Read more . . .


Geologists Jane Nielson and Howard Wilshire
discuss the issues presented in their new book:

The American West at Risk
Science, Myths, and Politics of Land Abuse and Recovery

Saturday, July 19, 2008
4:00 p.m. at Four-Eyed Frog Books

Dr. Jane E. NielsonDr. Howard G. WilshireWhen discovered by European explorers and later settlers, the west boasted rich soils, bountiful fisheries, immense, dense forests, sparkling streams, untapped ore deposits, and oil bonanzas. It now faces depletion of many of these resources, and potentially serious threats to its few “renewable” resources. The American West at Risk establishes scientific bases for promoting local, national and world policies that maintain earth’s crucial life-support systems.   Read more . . .


An informal gathering of
Friends of the Gualala River

Friday, June 13, 2008, 5:00 p.m.
Annapolis Winery
26055 Soda Springs Rd, Annapolis

See: June 13, 2008, Annapolis Winery – photos by PT Nunn.

June 13, 2008, Annapolis Winery


Hydrologic impacts of small instream diversions in northern California wine country

Thursday, May 15, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center St., Gualala

Matthew Deitch, Ph.D.Friends of the Gualala River presents a public program featuring Matthew Deitch, Ph.D. from the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration. Dr. Deitch will discuss and take questions on his soon-to-be-published research on the hydrologic impacts of instream diversions in northern California wine country.


Exploring the changing banks, beds and bars
of the Gualala River Lagoon

with Peter Baye, Ph.D. Coastal Plant Ecologist and Botanist

Friday, April 18, 6:30 p.m.
Gualala Community Center

The Gualala River has a distinctive, intermittent type of estuary with an unstable but self-repairing natural dam – the barrier beach at Gualala Point.

Dr. Peter BayeLearn more about the habitats and vegetation formed by the interplay of the barrier beach and river with Dr. Peter Baye, who specializes in the flora and ecology of coastal plant communities, particularly sand dunes, beaches, and tidal marshes.

This program is co-sponsored by Friends of the Gualala Riverand the California Native Plant Society. Refreshments will be served, and admission is free.


Our Watershed in Motion – a Geologist’s Perspective

Geology of the Gualala River WatershedThursday, March 30, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center

47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445

Mike Lane, Ph.D., sorts out the geological jumble that underlies our unique Gualala River Watershed, explains where it came from, where it is going, and why it looks the way it does. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the San Francisco Earthquake, we will take a special close up look at the San Andreas Fault, courtesy of recent NASA laser photography.


Celebrating the Splendor of the Gualala River Watershed

  
A slide presentation by photographer Jeanne Gadol
  
© copyright 2005 Jeanne Gadol www.jeannegadol.com. All rights reserved.

Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 3:00pm
Gualala Community Center

47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445


Riparian Vegetation & Habitats of the Lower Gualala River

  
A slide presentation by Dr. Peter Baye,
Coastal Plant Ecologist
   
Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 7:00pm
Gualala Community Center

47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445


Conservation Easements:
A Way to Protect the Gualala River

Thursday, January 27, 2005, 7:00 p.m.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445

Friends of the Gualala River presents a panel of speakers to address a long-term vision for use of conservation easements to protect the Gualala River and its watershed, including:

  • Ralph Benson, Executive Director, Sonoma Land Trust
  • Mark Massara, Director of Coastal Programs, Sierra Club California

Laurie Mueller, President, Redwood Coast Land Conservancy, will moderate the panel.


Destruction of Coastal Redwoods for Grapes?

Wednesday, November 17, 2004, 7:30 p.m.
Gualala Community Center

47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445

Featuring a slide show presentation on the impacts of logging and vineyard development in the Gualala River watershed. The meeting also will include the annual election of officers.


Global Warming: 1st Steps to Meet the Challenge

Sunday, October 3, 2004, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center
46501 Gualala Rd, Gualala, CA 95445

Speakers:

  • Alan Strachan, Santa Rosa developer
  • Ann Hancock, Climate Protection Campaign Sponsored by Matrix of Change. 


    Conservation Easements: Use & Abuse

    Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 7:00pm
    Gualala Community Center
    47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA 95445Speakers:

  • Larry Camp, Internal Revenue Service
  • John Hansen, Integrity in Natural Resources
  • Jason Kibbey, Defense of Place
  • Mark Massara, Sierra Club California 


    The Garcia River Success Story

    Recovering salmon populations – could it happen on the Gualala?

    Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 7:00pm
    Gualala Community Center

    47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA

    Speakers: Craig Bell, Peter Dobbins, Alan Levine


    Protecting the Gualala River Watershed

    Presentation by attorney Paul V. Carroll

    Saturday, January 24, 2004, 1:00pm
    Gualala Arts Center

    (map & driving directions)Please join us for a reception following the presentation.

    Noted Northern California environmental attorney Paul V. Carroll will discuss the state of the Gualala River watershed and what can be done to protect it.

    Well known in Mendocino County as the lawyer who has successfully defended Jackson State Forest from irresponsible logging, Paul has also worked with many other local groups to protect the environment, including the Sierra Club, Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), and Forest Unlimited.

    Paul is a good friend of the Gualala River, and has represented FoGR in a number of important environmental protection issues in the Gualala River watershed.


    Logging & Pesticides in the Gualala River watershed

    Saturday, October 4, 2003, 7pm
    Gualala Community Center
    47950 Center Street, Gualala, CA
    Logging
    Rick Coates from Forest Unlimited will talk about Timber Harvest Plans and their permitting agency, the California Dept. of Forestry.

    Pesticides
    Britt Bailey from the Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS) will talk about pesticide use in the Gualala River watershed.


    “KRIS Gualala & KRIS Garcia”

    Saturday, June 7, 2003, 10am – 4pm
    at the Gualala Arts Center

    (map & driving directions)KRIS is a PC-based computer program that pulls together watershed information including maps, data tables, charts, photographs and bibliographic materials relevant to fisheries and water quality.

    • See demonstration of KRIS software
    • Get tips on how to use information in KRIS
    • Learn about the Gualala & Garcia watersheds
    • Get hands-on use of KRIS projects in the afternoon
    • Take home free KRIS Gualala CDs

    Presentation sponsored by the Institute for Fisheries Resources.


    “The Klamath Fish Kill”

    Saturday, May 24, 2003, 4 – 6pm
    at the Gualala Arts Center

    (map & driving directions)Dr. Jeffrey Mount, Chair of the Geology Department, U.C. Davis, is on the National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council committee that has been reviewing threatened and endangered fish issues on the Klamath River. He will discuss the many lessons to be learned from the experience in the Klamath watershed that are applicable to North Coast watersheds.

    Presentation sponsored by Matrix of Change.


    A Forum on “Old Growth Redwood Forests”

    Thursday, April 3, 2003, 7:00pm
    at the Gualala Arts Center
    Greg Giusti, UC Extension, will present a scientific view of old growth forest habitat and its importance.

    Former US congressman Dan Hamburg and forest policy expertKent Stromsmoe will discuss the politics of old growth, and theHeritage Tree Preservation Act, which would preserve trees that were alive in 1850, when California became a state.

    Dave Hope, Water Quality Board, will talk about a proposed timber harvest (on a tributary of the Gualala River) which would cut ~60 acres of old growth redwood trees.

    There will be time for questions and discussion after the presentations.


    “Forest land conversion to vineyards”

    Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 7:00pm
    at the Gualala Arts Center
    Impacts of continuing conversions of forest land to vineyards in the Gualala River watershed, and how to deal with them. As many as 5,000 acres in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties are currently being proposed for conversion. Speakers:

    • Marc Lappé, PhD, Director of CETOS, Gualala
    • Peter Baye, PhD, Environmental Consultant, Annapolis
    • Greg Giusti, Reg. Forester, UC Extension, Ukiah
    • Adina Merenlender, PhD, Environmental Sciences, UC Berkeley

    After the presentation, Friends of the Gualala River will hold acelebration to thank all of those who helped stop the waterbags!Refreshments will be served.


    Public meetings with Water Board staff

    Mon, Oct 28, 2002 at 6:30pm in Elk
    Tues, Oct 29, 2002 at noon in Garberville
    Staff will explain the Board’s process for handling the waterbag proposals, and answer questions from the public about the process. Sponsored by Assembly Member Virginia Strom-Martin.


    August 2002
    Susan Brandt-Hawley


    July 2002
    Jane Kelly, Public Citizen


    June 2002
    Dan Wickham & Tom Cochrane


    Friday, May 31, 2002 7:00-9:00pm
    Public meeting at the Gualala Arts Center

    Our speakers will be Fred Euphrat, PhD, a forester and hydrologist with a doctorate in watershed management from UC Berkeley, and Jamie Dunn, a leader of the Blue Planet Project of the Council of Canadians.


    April 2002
    Jim Jordan, Tom Cochrane, Peter Baye


    March 2002
    Sea Ranch Forum, with Ric Davidge & Ed Anton


    The Ecology and Politics of Water Export

    at the Gualala Arts Center,
    Thursday, March 14, 2002, 7 pm – 9 pm

  • Water and Basic Water Rights in the World Trade Agreements, – Nancy Price, Alliance for Democracy
  • Expert Witnesses, Environmental Impact Reports and the Mojave Water Grab, – Frank Arundel, environmental activist
  • Estuary Ecology and the Permit Process, – Peter Baye, Ph.D., coastal plant ecologistThis meeting is a preparation for the Sea Ranch Forum with Ric Davidge, president of Alaska Water Exports (Saturday, March 16, 3 pm).for further information please contact Ursula Jones 785-3431

    February 2002
    SORE organizational meeting