Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
Dear Friends of Gualala River,
We at FoGR have been enjoying this string of rainy days this last week of 2022. They are an absolute blessing, providing much-needed nourishment for the river and all the species that call it home.
I am excited to introduce myself as the newest president of our organization. I have been involved with FoGR for several years now and am honored to take on this role. I hope to build upon the important work of the organization’s past leaders. As a local educator, I am particularly passionate about providing opportunities for students to experience the beauty of the Gualala River as well as demonstrate how to protect the species that live in it.
I also want to take a moment to introduce Ethan Arutunian, who has recently joined the FoGR board. Ethan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, and I am confident that he will be a valuable addition to our organization. Please join me in welcoming Ethan to the FoGR family.
As you may know, the past year has been a challenging one for FoGR. We were humbled by a few setbacks in our court cases. Despite these challenges, however, we remain dedicated to advancing our mission and working towards the preservation of our local watershed. We recognize that we cannot achieve success on our own and that it is essential to collaborate with a diverse range of individuals and groups to protect and preserve the river.
A big project we’ve been working on is a lawsuit against the State and Regional Waterboards for their failure to adopt the Gualala River’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sediment into the North Coast Basin Plan. The goal is to establish an Implementation Plan for achieving the TMDL through a process led by the Regional Water Board and open to stakeholder and public input. This will take several years and is currently in negotiations with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWB).
In addition, FoGR is proposing two new projects. The first is a public information / action campaign in collaboration with other environmental organizations in northern California. The goal is to highlight unsustainable logging activities and practices in the Gualala River watershed and their negative impacts, ultimately leading to a groundswell of public support and specific actions aimed at local and state elected officials, resource agencies, and logging companies.
The second proposed project is the development of a monitoring program for the Gualala River watershed. This will involve collecting data on water quality, stream flow, and biological indicators, as well as engaging the community in data collection and interpretation. This project has already begun with a partnership with the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC) for a volunteer, community-based project called The Stream Team. This project has been a great success with numerous events for students and teachers participating in water quality testing in various watersheds.
As members of FoGR, we are all connected by our love and appreciation for our local watershed. It is a vital part of the fabric of our community, a tapestry woven from the threads of our connection to the land and all the life it sustains. Each one of us is a fiber in this tapestry, working together to protect and preserve the river and all the species that call it home.
With your help, I believe we can overcome any obstacle and achieve great things for our watershed. I encourage you to get involved in any way you can and help us build a brighter future for these vital natural resources. Thank you for your support of FoGR. I look forward to working with you to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of our local watershed.
Sincerely,
Nathan Ramser
FoGR President
