Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it

Water temperature is a critical limiting factor in the lives of many fish and amphibians. According to recent scientific research, air temperature is the most important factor influencing stream temperature. Redwood forests provide shade and cool the air, which in turn cools the stream below. Clear-cutting those forests raises stream temperature, condemning cold water fish like coho and steelhead to …

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on July 25, 2003. By Julie VerranCourtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA   SANTA ROSA – A strong local timber industry delegation opposed to county setbacks of logging from structures dominated the July 17 meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Sonoma County general plan update. The …

The Critical Habitat Project of the Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS) has completed the first-ever inventory of pesticide usage in the Gualala River watershed.Using the most current data available from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, researchers at CETOS discovered 1,250 pounds of pesticide active ingredients were used in forestry and vineyard operations within the Gualala River watershed during …

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on August 8, 2003. By Julie VerranCourtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA   SANTA ROSA – An old growth redwood grove south of Annapolis on Haupt Creek, a tributary of the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River, won a temporary reprieve on July 31. Anthony Lukacic, an official …

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Governor Gray Davis signed Assembly Bill 1168 on July 23, 2003, adding segments of the Gualala and Albion Rivers to the California Wild and Scenic River system as “recreational” rivers.Wild & Scenic Gualala River, estuary photo credit: PT Nunn, 2004  Assemblymember Patty Berg (D-Eureka) introduced the bill to protect the two rivers after Alaska Water Exports, Inc. attempted to divert …

© 2003- The Press Democrat byline: Carol Benfell“Vineyards would be banned on hundreds of thousands of acres of Sonoma County timberland in a proposed change to the county’s planning blueprint that would be a victory for trees over grapes, and preservationists over growers…” Note: The full article is available in the archives of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. To access …

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River is organized to protect the Gualala River in Northern California.

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on July 4, 2003. By Julie VerranCourtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA   SANTA ROSA – Many local people of all persuasions were present June 19, when the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on the Sonoma County General Plan revision tackled timberland conversions, which remove commercial tree species to make …

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

A version of this article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on May 2, 2003. By Julie VerranCourtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA   Public agencies decided after intense debate at a Forest Practice Review Team Meeting in Santa Rosa on April 24 that they want to revisit an old growth redwood grove on Haupt Creek, inland from Stewarts …

This article was published in the Independent Coast Observer on April 11, 2003. By Julie VerranCourtesy Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA   An 800-acre upland grove of old growth redwood said to overshadow Headwaters Forest stands only a few air miles from Gualala. Its heart could soon be cut out. The second – and likely final – review of Timber …

“It’s Elementary” is an exhibition of art works by local elementary school students, sponsored by Celebrate Art in the Schools, and by the Art in the Schools program at Gualala Arts. The artwork is on display at the Gualala Arts Center through April 6, 2003. There is no charge to see the exhibit, which is open to the public from …

As reported by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter: Linda Perkins Would it surprise and delight you to learn that there still exists in Sonoma County – just four miles northeast of Salt Point – an ancient redwood forest of over 800 acres that has never been harvested? A stand that rivals in magnificence and beauty any redwood forest found in …

Eureka Times-Standard At least for now, water bag idea bagged By John Driscoll The Times-Standard Saturday, March 15, 2003 – EUREKA — The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Board took a recommendation to put a proposal to ship water from the Mad River on the back burner. The unanimous vote followed the recommendation of the district’s manager, Carol Rische, who …