Quick link: fogr.org/news
What's New?
A chronological listing of new information added to this site.
new 4/13/13
Preservation Ranch Acquisition
Coastal Conservancy staff recommend that the Conservancy authorize the disbursement of up to $10,000,000 to The Conservation Fund to acquire the property known as "Preservation Ranch."
new 4/13/13
Gualala River Lagoon Breach
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Annotated photos by Peter Baye,
5 MB pdf.
new 3/29/13
Support the purchase of
Preservation Ranch
Please send a letter of support TODAY for the California Coastal Conservancy grant to purchase Preservation Ranch.
Read more →
new 3/29/13
Letter from FoGR supporting the purchase of Preservation Ranch
Friends of the Gualala River enthusiastically supports the Coastal Conservancy staff recommendation to assist The Conservation Fund in the purchase of Preservation Ranch in western Sonoma County.
new 3/29/13
Preservation Ranch purchase
facing May 31 deadline
by Frank Robertson, March, 2013
"The effort to buy Preservation Ranch still needs money and a state board's okay before the controversial timber-to-grapes conversion proposed near the town of Annapolis is officially halted.
. . ."
Read more →
new 3/24/13
"A Sonoma forest is saved"
by Denny Rosatti, March, 2013
"The modern-day Northern California land rush to convert forests to vineyards lost some steam last month. The Preservation Ranch project, located in the northwestern hills of Sonoma County near the small hamlet of Annapolis, was a 20,000 acre proposal that would have permanently converted nearly 1,800 acres of timber forest to vineyards. In February, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported the deal between government agencies and private non-profit land trusts to purchase conservation easements . . ."
new 3/20/13
View the "Best of" the photographs presented at the 2013 Gualala River Sightings
on March 7 at the Gualala Arts Center
by Jeanne Jackson / Mendonoma Sightings and Friends of the Gualala River.
new 3/19/13
"Clearcutting in California"
In California, 65,000 acres a year are logged by clearcut-type methods...
a video production by Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC).
new 2/28/13
The Conservation Fund reaches agreement
to purchase Preservation Ranch by May 31
The Conservation Fund plans to buy 20,000 acres of forest land in northwestern Sonoma County, ending the "Preservation" Ranch forest-to-vineyards conversion project funded by the state employee pension fund, CalPERS. California Coastal Conservancy, Sonoma County's Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, and Sonoma Land Trust plan to contribute to the purchase.
"It takes a village to kill a monster like Preservation Ranch. We appreciate the power of many groups and individual supporters coming together to change the politics of destructive land use choices and to provide real citizen leadership. This broad coalition stepped forward to inspire CalPERS to switch from a position of developer to willing seller. And the community inspired its political leaders to take bold steps to protect our forested watershed instead of pursuing speculative, short-term profits."
Read more →
new 2/23/13
End Clearcutting
in California
Thursday, March 21
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center
Clearcuts behind The Sea Ranch
Friends of the Gualala River hosts
Karen Maki of the Sierra Club,
with a presentation,
"End Clearcutting in California,"
on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center.
Read more →
new 2/17/13
Gualala River Sightings
Thursday, March 7
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts Center
The full Gualala River, by Jeanne Jackson
Mendonoma Sightings and Friends of the Gualala River will co-host
Gualala River Sightings,
a gathering of photographic "Mendonoma Sightings" along the Gualala River on Thursday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. in the Coleman Auditorium at the Gualala Arts Center.
Read more →
new 2/09/13
Marine Sanctuary Expansion
Tue, February 12, 6pm, Point Arena HS Library
Wed, February 13, 6pm, Gualala Community Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will hold public hearings on the proposed expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. Speak out in favor of permanent protection for the Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts!
Read more . . .
new 2/09/13
"The Vine and Its Discontents"
by Matt Gleeson
Sonoma residents fight an onslaught of forest-to-vineyard conversions.
December, 2012, California Northern Magazine
It's as if two iconic California landscapes - the coastal forests and the trim, pastoral wine country - have been chopped up into a coarse mix in a blender . . .
One may regard the grapes that follow with love or indifference, but either way the transformation of the land is total.
Read more →
new 2/09/13
Cumulative Effects of Logging
Linked to Coho Decline
by Rob DiPerna
January, 2013, Environmental Protection Information Center
Throughout the north and central California coast, Coho salmon are teetering on the brink of oblivion.
The primary deficiency of the Forest Practice Rules is the failure to effectively address cumulative watershed effects.
Read more →
new 2/09/13
Streamflow Depletion by Wells
Understanding and Managing the Effects
of Groundwater Pumping on Streamflow
by Paul M. Barlow and Stanley A. Leake
November, 2012, U.S. Geological Survey
Groundwater is an important source of water for many human needs, including public supply, agriculture, and industry. With the development of any natural resource, however, adverse consequences may be associated with its use. One of the primary concerns related to the development of groundwater resources is the effect of groundwater pumping on streamflow.
Read more →
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