The Latest from FoGR

Winter is beautiful on the Gualala River

 12/2/2005   Jim “Hiking in Gualala Point County Park gives a fine view of the Estuary. It is especially fine as the sun is setting and the shadows lengthen, heightening the peaceful colors of a clear early December afternoon.”

Read More »

FoGR sponsors Environmental Art award

Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) sponsored an award at the Environmental Art exhibit at the Gualala Arts Center in September 2005. Vivian Green presents award to Joost RomeuCongratulations to local artist Joost Romeu for his award-winning work “The Five Natures,” which can still be seen on the Forest Trail at Gualala Arts.

Read More »

Ursula Jones, a true Friend of the Gualala River

In January 2002, the Independent Coast Observer broke the story about the proposed waterbag scheme. Ursula Jones was one of the first to begin organizing to respond to this threat to the Gualala & Albion rivers and communities. She organized the initial meetings of Save Our Rivers & Estuaries (SORE), attended by over fifty people. Seeing the need to raise …

Read More »

Sonoma Supes wrestle forest conversions

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on October 7, 2005. By Julie Verran Courtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA SANTA ROSA – Sonoma County Supervisors on Tuesday continued their struggle to regulate loss of forests to vineyards. The regulatory path the Supervisors must tread is narrow and winding, with court cases on every side. …

Read More »

North Coast Watershed Assessment Program: Vineyards

Section 1.1. (p. 1-9), Introduction and Overview, Continuing Challenges to RecoverySome areas of the North Coast have seen rapidly increasing agricultural activity, particularly conversion of grasslands or woodlands to vineyards. Such agricultural activities have typically been subject to little agency review or regulation and can pose significant risk of chronic sediment inputs to streams. Associated with development and increased agriculture, …

Read More »

Gualala planning council members take a tour of working forests

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on September 2, 2005. By Julie Verran Courtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA Working timberlands producing redwood and Douglas fir are part of the coastal community here. On Tuesday, members of the Gualala River Watershed Council took members of the Gualala Municipal Advisory Council on a forest tour …

Read More »

FoGR sponsors Art in the Redwoods Festival award

Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) sponsored an award at the Art in the Redwoods festival in 2005, for the fourth year in a row.A cash prize of $100 contributed by the Friends of the Gualala River was given to the artist who best captured the ecology of the Sonoma-Mendocino coast, as determined by the festival judges. Congratulations to local …

Read More »

Campbell Vineyard Conversion – letter from Dennis Jackson

March 9, 2005 Attn: ForestPractice California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 135 RidgewayAvenue Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Re: THP 1-00-147 SON Dear Ms. Markham: The Friends of the Gualala River have asked me to commenton THP 1-00-147 SON Campbell. I was the Hydrologist for the Mendocino CountyWater Agency (MCWA) from May 1989 to November 1994. The Mendocino County Boardof …

Read More »

FoGR sponsors Art in the Redwoods Festival award

Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) sponsored an award at the Art in the Redwoods festival for the first time this year.The 41st annual Art in the Redwoods festival took place on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18. The event featured more than 400 fine art entries and experienced record crowds. The artwork will remain on display at the …

Read More »

Hansen/Whistler Vineyard Conversion – letter from Patrick Higgins

Patrick Higgins Consulting Fisheries Biologist 791 Eighth Street, Suite N Arcata, CA 95521 (707) 822-9428 phiggins@humboldt1.com                                                                                                 December19, 2004 Ms. Leslie Markham, ForestPractice Division Chief California Department ofForestry and Fire Protection 135 Ridgeway Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Re: Response to Comments on Timber Harvest Permit THP 1-04-030 SON, Hansen/Whistler THP and Timberland Conversion Permit (TCP) #530 Dear Ms. Markham, …

Read More »

Stop Forestland Destruction

As reported by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter: Peter Ashcroft Redwood Chapter Conservation Chair Private and corporate interests are targeting coastal redwood forestlands in Northern California for clear cutting to make way for extensive new vineyard projects. Once these redwood forests are destroyed, they will be lost forever. Conservation groups including the Redwood Chapter’s Vineyard Conversion Committee and Friends of …

Read More »

The pulp web

Eureka Times-Standard The pulp web By John Driscoll The Times-Standard Monday, November 29, 2004 – The Samoa pulp mill’s key investors and management have been recycled and replaced since it was bought from Louisiana-Pacific Corp. in 2001. Reorganized several times, each time unshouldering massive debt, the companies that have owned the mill have changed names, but many of the faces …

Read More »