Casa Grande educator and Founding Board member John Shribbs needs help planting native grasses at Shollenberger Park this weekend. Dr. Shribbs writes:
I am planning on working at Shollenberger this Sunday 1:30-4:30 and again on Monday 9:30-12. We will be planting native ryegrass to replace nonnative Harding grass. Continuous rain cancels, mist does not. You can contact John at jshribbs@comcast.net or call 707 769-8961

“Time and tide wait for no-one” as the saying goes. This is especially true on the “Petaloo”. There is a lot happening in our bailiwick; here’s the latest:

Spartina research tour 2/2/07:

On Feb. 2nd six scientists and researchers from The Spartina Project, PRBO, and UC Davis joined us for a daylong overview of the Petaluma River and its tributaries. We had great weather and all of the attendees were impressed with the beauty and scope of our watershed.

Unfortunately suspected hybrid plants were found and samples were taken from several new locations. Plans for a more comprehensive survey and plans for an eradication program are now being developed.

For more background see previous issues of The Tidings & visit www.Spartina.org.

Picnic on 2/4/06 spawns a Coalition to monitor Pomo land issues:

A wonderful outing under clear skies produced some positive results on Super Bowl Sunday. A group of Petaluma Paddlers, Friends supporters, and neighboring land owners met for a picnic on the river to discuss stewardship and address some possible threats presented by the Dry Creek Band of Pomo’s local holdings.

As land owned by the tribe’s borders the Petaluma River, and has had recent permit issues concerning improper levee repairs, the assembled group of river supporters was concerned about the current situation and possible future developments.

Friends has been asked to research current status and future government actions on the lands. We have also contacted the Pomo tribe and received a cordial reply from their tribal Chairman Harvey Hopkins.

He was receptive to an invitation join us for a boat trip in the near future, and we look forward to learning more about the Pomos and their plans while discussing ways to improve the stewardship of their property.

We would also like to again thank our hosts Ryan Phelan and Stewart Brand for their wonderful hospitality.

Petaluma River happenings on U-Tube and elsewhere:

1. “The Story of 2 Dumps” on u-tube highlights the threats posed by Redwood Landfill.

We thank Friends supporter Bruce Baum for creating and sending this video. Friends contributed many of the photos used in the film and continues to work with NWLE to inform the public about the threat the Landfill poses to our watershed.

2. “The launching of a barge” comes from new member and self described “river rat” Wess Nelson. It shows the launching of a recently completed steel barge into McNear Channel. Many of us who missed this dramatic event and are grateful to Wess for sending this clip…

3. Jack London on “Small Boat Sailing” is an article first published in 1912, and was brought to our attention by member Kathleen wood of Berkeley. In this colorful essay Jack writes about his early sailing experiences on Suisun Bay and the “San Antonio Estuary”. If anybody has more information on this topic please let us know.

If you are aware of any other videos or articles pertaining to the Petaluma River we would love to see them. We are collecting information for our planned River Heritage center. Please send submissions to us.

Educational outreach:

On Jan.26th I visited the Mary Collins School combined 7th & 8th grade classes at the invitation of teacher Carrie Caudle, to speak and answer questions about the Petaluma River. The enthusiasm of the students and the quality of their questions impressed me deeply. A primary goal of Friends is to help rectify misunderstandings and lack of first hand knowledge about the Petaluma River, especially among young people. These students were very enthusiastic and appreciative. I received some great thank you letters with comments like:

“I was really interested and shocked by the decrease in marshes bordering the river. I couldn’t believe nobody did anything about it. I am also interested in the new water treatment plant. I’m glad that we have chosen an eco-friendly way of cleaning water. I can’t wait to taste the difference.” — Cecilia

“I liked how you taught us about not just what animals are there, but about what animals are endangered. You didn’t just talk about the animals, you told us about what was wrong with the ecosystem. I learned a whole bunch from what you were telling us.” — Bradley

“I know a lot more about the river than I did before. Every fact that you shared with us about the Petaluma River I know will come to be something that I will never forget.” — Tyler

The importance of engaging young people in outdoor interests can not be overemphasized. A recent article from The Economist Magazine reprinted in the SF Chronicle on Feb 8th & the Press Democrat’s Forum section on Feb 12th stated:
“Organizations like the Sierra Club have depended on what one expert calls ‘a transcendent experience in nature, usually at an early age’ to gain new members”.

At Friends of the Petaluma River we look forward to working with more young people and adults alike to help supply access to our Wetlands Empire; hopefully triggering many “transcendent experiences” in the future.

Environmental updates:

The NW Pacific RR has removed tons of woody debris that were blocking the flow of San Antonio Creek into the Petaluma and restricting fish access. Friends of the Petaluma River reported this condition to authorities in the winter of 05-06.

And thanks to an alert by paddler Ray Thompson and phone calls by Friends to proper authorities, We have helped the Ca. Dept. of Fish & Game contain a PCB spill in the Petaluma Marsh, at the old communications building (see Jan. Tidings)

Volunteer opportunity:

Casa Grande educator and Founding Board member John Shribbs needs help planting native grasses at Shollenberger Park this weekend. Dr. Shribbs writes:
I am planning on working at Shollenberger this Sunday 1:30-4:30 and again on Monday 9:30-12. We will be planting native ryegrass to replace nonnative Harding grass. Continuous rain cancels, mist does not. You can contact John at jshribbs@comcast.net or call 707 769-8961

We need a home:

Friends is in serious need of commercial space on or near the River to use as our headquarters. It needs to have space for an office and meeting room and fit our very limited budget. We will be happy to consider a temporary situation or “fixer upper”. If you or anyone you know has a space that might be available please e-mail me or call 707 763-7756.

Friends welcomes three new Board members:

In the past few months Friends of the Petaluma River Board of Directors has been blessed with the addition of 3 outstanding new members. Cari Pace-Koch a real estate broker and key supporter from Novato, Patrick Campbell a vintner and competitive kayaker from Glen Ellen, and Andy Rodgers a consulting geologist and longtime watershed activist from Penngrove were all recently elected. I am thrilled to have the wisdom and energy of these talented people guiding Friends.

If you are not a member yet please consider joining us now. We need your support.

We hope to see you on the water and in the community.

Dave Yearsley – Friends of the Petaluma River

Celebrate & Conserve

What’s new on the “Petaloo”

Has it only been a month since the last Tidings? It seems like a year. Actually the Dec. issue was last year. There is a lot of new news to share;
so let’s get going…

What people are saying:

We love to get messages from our supporters and we have had some wonderful responses to the December newsletter and Friends activities. Here are a few:

Looks like you’ve been up to great things!!! — Sue Brown – Novato

What a great newsletter! It’s great to see your growth. — Caitlin Cornwall – Sonoma

Really fine job on this recent newsletter, too. It’s a crowning achievement to the year’s efforts. —Andrew Packard

Glad to see the Friends are active and growing. It’s been fun tracking that part of the river action. —Scott Hess

Beautiful!! If I ever run into you and you have a Celebrate and Conserve sticker I would like to buy one. —Veronica Jacobi

I have found the river to be transformative in mind and body. There are days I just itch to be out there on it now. Rowing is so strengthening for my back, and it has really changed how I view living in Petaluma. I feel much more connected to the Bay Area through the river and the tides. It’s difficult to explain, but my orientation has changed. Petaluma is no longer a city with water in the middle; it’s a city with lots of points to the river and bay for play and exploration. —Tiffany Renée

Conservation concerns:

1. Trouble in the Marsh; PCB contamination at the radio shack

Old communications Bldg.		Damaged transformers

Sometime this fall vandals struck the old communications building in the middle of Petaluma Marsh. Looking for scrap copper they knocked down a cyclone fence housing old transformers and opened some up on the site.

Such transformers traditionally used PCB laden oil as a coolant. Ray Thompson of Petaluma Paddlers alerted me to this situation and I contacted the Dept of Fish and Game who own the property. DFG investigated and confirmed that there is PCB contamination, but at a lower level than they had feared. They are currently seeking a toxics contractor to cleanup the site.

2. Trouble at the landfill: slumping levees cause emergency repairs

steam shovel doing berm repairs		emergency levee repairs

More trouble at the Redwood Landfill. Seems their Levee recently subsided at the area of the leachate pond, near the fill tower, due to berm repairs. According to Jessica Jones, their new District Mgr., this event happened Mon 12/18. I noticed the activity and took these pictures Fri 12/22. They are now driving in sheet piling to stabilize and repair the levee. “You know how unpredictable Bay Mud is” she said in a phone conversation this morning. Mrs. Jones and I met previously at a joint presentation for John Shribbs Environmental Science class. According to her no waste escaped into San Antonio Creek during this event.

This incident should be a warning of what could happen if the dump expands.

3. Spartina trouble on the river:
The Petaluma Argus Courier reports that Investigators with the Spartina Project have confirmed the samples they took on their initial investigation are indeed the invasive Spartina hybrid. Read the story by reporter Corey Young.

The Spartina Project has contacted “Friends” to help with further investigations. A Day long boat trip with key biologists and agency people is planned for Feb 2^nd.
Ingrid Hogle of the Spartina Project writes:

“Thanks to everyone for coordinating schedules for a day-long Petaluma boat trip hosted by Friends of the Petaluma River. I am attaching a map of the areas where we have identified non-native Spartina along the river. Our intention is to do a reconnaissance-level survey to get a good idea of the extent of:

(1) potential habitat for invasive Spartina. This survey will give us an idea of the extent of the area which needs to be surveyed later in the year, and the extent of the area which could potentially be included in a site-specific control plan.

(2) potential habitat for endangered California clapper rails. All of our monitoring and control efforts must be tailored to accommodate any breeding populations of California clapper rails, as specified in our program’s Biological Opinion.

I look forward to seeing you all on Friday, February 2. We will be meeting at either Port Sonoma or Petaluma, and making a 1-way trip to the other, and shuttling back to our starting location at the end of the day. Details on meeting time & location to follow.

OK, enough bad news. Time now for some good news…

SF Bay Flyway Festival:

The annual Flyway Festival is returning to Mare Is. in Vallejo Feb 2-4^th.

This is a wonderful indoor/outdoor affair that caters to the whole family. They have nature exhibits, outings, and children’s activities, plus its Free!

Check out the action at: http://www.sfbayflywayfestival.com/

Friends will be hosting a table there on Sat. Feb 3^rd. Stop by and say hi!

Successful year end appeal:

Friends had a wonderful response to our year end appeal, receiving some very sizable donations and many smaller ones; in all they totaled nearly $4000. We are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed!

Some folks were even inspired to begin making monthly contributions.

Tiffany Renée, and Jaimey Walking Bear, who already volunteer substantial time and services to Friends, had this to say:

“Jaimey and I love being involved in community projects, lending our hands and hearts; giving our time and talents where we can. But we have seen how start up organizations are vulnerable in the beginning as they try to meet monthly operating budgets and go beyond to do the work—the mission—to achieve their purpose.

Being on a budget can make one-time annual donating a challenge. By giving a small monthly amount we can provide a consistent stream for “Friends” so we know our efforts will take hold. We are already seeing a great return on our investment as the River is experiencing a renaissance in Petaluma. We encourage other “Friends” to try the monthly giving; and PayPal makes it so easy to do!”
— Tiffany Renée and Jaimey Walking Bear

You too can help provide a consistent flow for Friends. Become a monthly supporter

We hope to see you on the water and in the community
Dave Yearsley – Friends of the Petaluma River

Celebrate & Conserve