Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
December, 2011
Dear Friends,
FoGR (Friends of the Gualala River) hit the media jackpot in 2011 by landing coverage of our local environmental issues in The LA Times, The New York Times, 250 outlets of The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Press Democrat, and the list goes on! Go to our website, www.GualalaRiver.org, to read how each one of these major news outlets covered opposition to California’s largest proposed deforestation projects to date.
Vineyard conversion near Annapolis
We also attracted incredulous and sympathetic ears with our opposition against redwood forest-to-vineyard conversions when 90 THOUSAND people signed a petition to stop these developer’s plans to destroy redwood forests.
[Since this letter was written, over 40,000 people have signed a petition on Spanish website Actuable to “Ask Codorníu [based in Spain] not to destroy forests to produce their wines.”].
Following the summer news media headlines and petition, the major investor in Preservation Ranch, CalPERS (the state employees retirement system) actually fired the manager / developer who conceived and promoted Preservation Ranch!
The project is not dead, but this major shake-up provides us a brief opportunity to convince CalPERS to withdraw the vineyard conversion project. This is a threshold year for our campaign to stop this precedent-setting project, and we need your support now more than ever before.
Friends of the Gualala River is the watershed’s only strong advocate. FoGR is not only resisting these conversion threats (i.e., “Preservation Ranch” and the “Spanish Codorniu / Artesa” projects), but is also spearheading efforts to save some of the watershed’s last remaining ancient old growth redwood stands just above Gualala. These big trees are habitat for the endangered seabird, the Marbled Murrelet. Go to www.GualalaRiver.org to find out more.
Our success in the coming months countering these mega-projects depends on our ability to hire the qualified scientific experts to make our case during the extensive permit process of these proposals.
Please see yourself as a member of our team, all of us united in resolve to hold on to the promise of recovery for these abused but recovering forests and waters. Take a big breath, a moment to reflect, and then a couple of minutes to make a donation to support your fellow all-volunteer team members at the highest level you can – consider what is at stake. We have a chance right now to be active and successful in securing a healthy future for the beautiful watershed we all enjoy and call home.
Gualala River & redwood forest
With a fundraising goal of $35,000, the amount necessary to successfully mount a campaign against these wealthy developers, we need donations both small and angelically large.
We are keeping this fundraising appeal short and sweet. FoGR is hoping that if you need any other information to convince you that this local, hardworking organization is worthy of your financial support, the case will be made by a quick visit to our very complete website: www.GualalaRiver.org. You can also donate securely at our website.
Many thanks in advance for your consideration and generosity.
Sincerely,
Chris Poehlmann
Friends of the Gualala River
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As an affiliate of the Redwood Coast Watersheds Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS, donations to Friends of the Gualala River are tax-deductible.
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Friends of the Gualala River
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2011 Letter
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