What’s up with “Friends”? Who’s making news on the River? Where’d the Tidings go in January? A lot has happened in 08 already and more will be happening soon. Here is the latest River news:

January Tidings:

With the heavy winter weather and post holiday madness perhaps many of you didn’t miss the Jan. Tidings. News of what’s happening on the river had to wait until now. Why? In January I recently took an intensive 80 hr. course to obtain a Captain’s license. This document will allow us to start offering boat outings for a fee and produce an income stream for Friends. We hope to provide educational tours of the marsh, program specific outings, and occasional water taxi services. There is still work to do in assembling a license application package for Coast Guard approval but a big step was accomplished by passing the written test.

Aye, Aye Captain

Its time to renew your membership:

We need you! If you haven’t done so yet now is the time to renew your annual membership. Friend’s has set a policy of renewing memberships at the beginning of each calendar year. While a lot of members joined or renewed at our celebration in November or in response to our year end appeal many original members have disappeared from our roles. We want you back. Without your constituency we are not able to grow and effectively carry out the plans and programs we have planned for 08. Easily renew your membership or make a contribution online by visiting our web site or clicking here.

Please pass along those DVDs:

Many of you received a copy of our wonderful “Friends” DVD last year. Now is a great time to dig it out, watch it one more time, and pass it along. Tell a friend about Friends! By spreading the word you can help our organization grow. If you haven’t seen this yet, look for it on out website or ask for a copy. with your membership; call Friends at 707-763-7756 or e-mail us.

Important River date:

March 19th, 2008 at 7:00pm
River Heritage Center presentation at City Hall

Parks and Rec. Commission: 11 English St. Petaluma

Come support a River Heritage Center

Friends will appear before the Park and Rec. Commission to present a plan for a new River Heritage Center in the City of Petaluma.

What is a “River Heritage Center”?

It is a place to:

• Provide information, displays, workshops, and public programs about the River’s role in our cultural heritage and natural resources.
• Promote river access & recreation opportunities through;
• River tours and boat rentals
• Interactive learning, and stewardship activities
• Heritage related presentations and programs
• Improve the River’s connection to the community

Join us at City Hall on March 19th . Please add your ideas and support this vital community asset or write to:

Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission
C/O Scott Brodhun – Director of Parks
320 N. McDowell, Petaluma 94954

More Exciting Dates in April:

April 4th – North Bay Watershed Association 2008 Conference

A day long gathering titled “The Power of Water: water, energy, and climate change”; will feature key presentations by government officials, scientists, and watershed leaders and will be held at the Sheraton/Petaluma this year. Click here to learn more and register online.

April 5th – Petaluma River Row for traditional small craft

This year the annual River Row will help celebrate Petaluma’s 150th Birthday! Participants are asked to dress as “Petaluma Pioneers” to reflect the early
explorers who came up the River in small boats and stayed to found a town. Anyone who has a wooden rowboat, canoe, or traditional type small craft is encouraged to participate. Click here for more information.

April 9th – Petaluma Watershed Salmon & Steelhead Forum

6:30 – 8:30 PM – Petaluma Community Center – 320 N McDowell

Dept. of Fish & Game and Friends will present the highlights of recent habitat studies. Learn about:

• The presence of Steelhead and salmon in Petaluma’s watershed
• Review current stream conditions on major tributary creeks
• Meet resource experts, conservation leaders and local dignitaries
• See conservation programs and information at several displays
• Share personal stories & discussions
• Light refreshments will be served

Join us for a fun & informative evening!

New Petaluma River Coffee Blend

Barista and roaster extraordinaire Tommy Smith

“Fresh from the tidal slough! This full bodied, smooth blend of unique coffees was inspired by the Petaluma River estuary system and its tidal salt marshes.”

Cost – $7.00 per 1/2 pound. For questions & orders contact Tommy via Email.

With every purchase of Petaluma River Coffee Blend, $1 will be donated towards education & conservation efforts in the Petaluma River’s wetlands and tributaries. Some packages are available for sale at Friend’s Hq. and events. The beautifully labeled containers can be returned and refilled for 0-waste.

New Asphalt Plant on the River?

Many of you know by now that The Dutra Corp. has applied for permission to build an asphalt production and recycling plant on the shores of the Petaluma River, at Haystack Landing (opposite Shollenberger Park).

The Draft Environmental Impact Report for this project was released in Jan. and comments can be made until Feb 27th.
The document is available for review at the Petaluma Library and online. Click here to view.

Although it is very large document, a summery of the environmental impacts is contained in the first few pages. We spoke at the Public Hearing before the County Planning Commission on Feb 7th along with other local citizens and expressed concern over significant & unavoidable impacts for Air, Noise, & Aesthetics. We also asked about cumulative phosphorous build-up in the river and inadequate emergency preparedness measures. We hope that the final EIR will address these concerns.

We also asked the Commission to extend the comment period and suggested they consider much safer site, like the one upstream at the former Pomeroy yard. This would be consistent with the County Planning Commission’s staff report which suggested the option of selecting an alternative site.

There is a feature article by in the Feb 21 Argus Courier Corey Young which you can view by clicking here.

Site of the Dutra plant’s proposed asphalt loading dock. Plans available online.

Dave Yearsley – Friends of the Petaluma River

Celebrate & Conserve

Celebrating our Second Year: Oct 2006 – Oct. 2007

It is with pride and appreciation we complete our second year of Celebrating and Conserving the Petaluma River. The pride comes from knowing that our efforts have brought increased awareness and direct improvements to the river. The appreciation is for all of the people and organizations who have made our achievements possible; through donations and volunteer efforts. With your continued help we hope to make our next year even better.

Save the Bay tour leaders “talkin’ marsh” with paddler

Index of activities:

A. News and information:

13 issues of our Tidings e-newsletter were produced including:
64 separate articles with 74 color pictures.
4 alerts sent for unusual incidents or special events
6 major news articles in which Friends was featured including:

• 2 segments on KPIX TV Ch. 5
• 1 feature column in the SF Chronicle Sports by Paul McHugh
• 3 articles in local papers Petaluma Argus Courier and Petaluma Post

B. Boat tours and community presentations:

52 boat tours and river trips taken with:

• 91 elected officials, agency staff, community leaders, and “Friends”
• 12 or more presentations given to classrooms, groups, and decision makers
• 1 paddle tour given in conjunction with “Save the Bay”

C. Community Events:

4 major community events organized or co-organized including:

• The Mayors’ Boat Ride
• The Petaluma River Marathon / ∏ Marathon
• Day on the Water boating access & training event
• Nautical Mass events

7 public events were participated in or tabled at including:

• Butter & Eggs Parade
• Petaluma River Clean up
• “Step It Up” climate change awareness rally
• Taste of Petaluma water taxi
• Great Petaluma Marsh Art Show at SRJC
• Petaluma Progressive Festival
• Petaluma Business Expo

D. Grants and awards:

• Ca. Coastal Conservancy grant for Spartina eradication; up to $50,000
• No. Ca. Grassroots Fund Spring 2007; grant award of $5,000
• Wildlife Forever Marching grant award; ($1,500 matched 11/07 = $3,000)
• Whole Foods selection as 5% Day recipient (recd. over $2,700)

Mayor’s Boat Ride	Petaluma River Rangers

Environmental Actions and Community Collaborations:

2/06— Damaging and un-permitted grading and Levee work on land owned by the Dry Creek Pomo’s was investigated and stopped with the aid of Friends. This led to organizing a coalition of concerned citizens and a workshop on Tribal process by Co. Supervisor Mike Kerns.

4/06— “Step-It-Up action day led by the Sierra Club sparks a rally and march in Downtown Petaluma drawing attention to the threat of rising sea levels due to global warming. Friends helps with organization, display materials and signs.

5/06— Friends participates in the annual River Clean up; working with the River Cleanup Committee to provide volunteers, funding, and on the water leadership.

6/06— “Day on the Water”. In collaboration with Petaluma Small Craft Center Coalition (PSC3) Friends provides a selection of traditional small craft and river information to over 100 participants.

Summer/06— Working with the Dept. of Fish and Game, Friends assists Ameri Corps. members in surveying habitat on 5 Petaluma Creeks for Salmonids.

8/06— Friends organized and hosted “The Mayor’s Boat Ride” in conjunction with PSC3 to bring attention to needed water access amenities. Over 80 non-motorized watercraft and 160 people participated in this first of its kind event.

8/06— Friends aided SRJC librarian Karen Peterson in assembling “The Great Petaluma Marsh” art show; highlighted the importance of Petaluma’s River and wetlands in the eyes of many visitors who were unfamiliar with their beauty.

9/14/06— After months of planning by Friend’s Spartina Team volunteers, and intensive coordination with the Invasive Spartina Project, all identified stands of the hybrid were sprayed by a contractor with specially selected herbicides to stop their spread & reproduction.

10/06— Worked with the Petaluma Schools enrichment program “River Rangers” and assisted Darcy Aston by providing information about the River’s special resources. The program was capped by a boat ride on the river.

11/06— Invasive Spartina hybrid discovered in Petaluma Watershed. “Friends”
takes an active part in leading survey tours, and pursuing a grant to help identify infestations and eradicate them before they spread further.

12/06— Failing levees at the Redwood Landfill, near the leachate ponds, are photographed and reported as threats to the river as emergency repairs are made.

12/06— PCB contamination in the Petaluma Marsh due to vandalism is reported to Ca. Dept. of Fish Game by “Friends” sparking an emergency cleanup.

Help “Friends” sail into the future

A Vision for the Future:

Friends wants to focus attention on what we see as our most important projects & programs, things that we do well. I believe that these are providing access, information, and conservation programs; in keeping with our motto “Celebrate & Conserve”!

Our vision for the future is focused on creating a “River Heritage Center”; a place to:

• Provide written information, visual displays, data archives, and public presentations about the river’s natural resources and cultural history.

• Promote river access opportunities and produce income through;

• River tours and boat rentals

• Recreational and stewardship activities

• Heritage related seminars and programs

• Pursue conservation efforts that will protect and improve the river’s vitality

To realize this vision, we need help:

 

We need cooperation – from elected officials, public agencies, and non-profit groups that care about the Petaluma River’s well being.
We need volunteers – to handle tasks and responsibilities; providing their expertise to add capacity to our infrastructure and helping to move important projects forward.
We need monetary support (most of all!) – Contributions from people who care about the Petaluma River; its wild inhabitants, natural resources, and cultural heritage. They provide the nutrients that keep our grassroots organization alive. We are currently undernourished, lacking the funds to pay for staff and necessary equipment.

You can make a difference in the vitality of our organization.
If you and your family want to learn about the wonders of the Petaluma River.
If you value river oriented recreation, education, and conservation programs.
If you want to leave a positive river legacy for future generations.

Support Friends of the Petaluma River! Help make the vision a reality. Please make a generous year end contribution. Do it online or by mail.

Warmest wishes for the holidays from everyone at “Friends”
We hope to see you on the water and in the community in 2008

Dave Yearsley – Friends of the Petaluma River

Celebrate & Conserve