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Hello, Summer?

As everyone knows, this has been quite the everlasting spring. We just had another rain shower this morning and unsettled conditions are projected through next week. In terms of water supply and aquifer replenishment, things are good. Unfortunately, the iffy weather did have an impact on our outing schedule, with a number of activities canceled. This comes with the territory, so no complaints. We will try again in the fall.

Due to both financial constraints and the nature of our business, the Trust will once again be closing its doors in July. In addition to this welcome break, we are also instituting a rolling layoff in June for both Liz and myself. The Trust Board is meeting on June 21 to discuss the new fiscal year (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011), with particular emphasis on a fundraising strategy. You will be hearing more about this, but the Board has already identified the Annie's B's campaign in August & September as our initial focus. We'll keep you posted.

Knowing that the joys of summer will be with us before long, you might want to mark your calendar now for Saturday, August 28. The Trust Annual Picnic is returning and we look forward to your participation. Details will follow by both snail mail and email in early August.

On that note, think sunscreen.

The Thick of It

The last day of March has arrived. The month started out lamb-like and is going out somewhat like a lion (if a cold wind and sporadic showers can be so characterized). Liz has got a sweater on and I continue to proudly wear my Snow Goose Festival vest, both of us doing our best to keep the Trust office PG&E bill under control.

Today Liz is warming up the computer keys updating the events page, which is becoming quite full of Spring hikes, floats, and various special activities. Concerning the latter (such as the annual Endangered Species Faire), the Trust will be staffing a booth. We are always in need of volunteers in these situations and would LOVE to hear from you. These outreach opportunities are a great way to meet other members as well as our adoring public. It's also a pretty good way to get a tan (based, of course, on the assumption that the sun will be visiting on a more regular basis soon :) So get ready for another amazing River-related outdoor season as the special wonders of the North State make their presence known once again.

Ready for your swimsuit yet? (I'm not :(

Spring Has (Almost) Sprung

We have already sent via email our March events and will be following up soon with updates through June. It is our intention to continue adding new hikes, floats and other activities as they come to our attention and strongly suggest that you frequently check the website, especially the Events page. We are also sending out a US Post mailing this week for everyone's convenience which focuses on our March 20 Member Picnic in Red Bluff and our rescheduled 25th Anniversary Party on April 22 (Earth Day!) at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. So the Spring Calendar is obviously up and running. This makes us happy.

What also makes us happy are the pair of Osprey that recently returned to their nest situated next to the Big Chico Creek Bridge on River Road outside Chico. They were preceeded by the flowering of California Pipevine and the leafing out of Elderberries everywhere. The Sandhill Cranes have been headed North for weeks and the Bank Swallows are due any day. Though the official start of Spring is still a week plus away, the calendar of the wild is signifying that the season of renewal has already begun. So, yes, we did get snow in the foothills all around the valley yesterday and more may still be coming. No problem there. We can use more wet stuff as we continue to recover from the last three years of drought. But time is moving in the direction of T-shirts and shorts and, for many, not a moment too soon.

Spring Break anyone?

One Down, More To Come

It has been quite the whirlwind, but we are finally wrapping up the remnants of the 11th Annual Snow Goose Festival. Numbers are still being compiled, both monetarily and participation-wise, but all indications point to the most sucessful festival yet. We say this every year, of course :) The good thing is that is true every year.

So now we are taking a deep breath, counting to ten, and beginning to assemble the Trust's Spring calendar of events. Our float program is coming along nicely (thank you, Adventure Outings!), the Sutter Buttes will be visited again, and our collaboration with the Altacal Audubon Society will continue to be represented through a variety of river-oriented hikes. A number of other activities on public lands bordering the Sacramento River (BLM's Bend Area, the Sacramento River NWR, and various State Parks unit, among others) are also in the planning stages. In short, a busy season ahead.

Excited yet?

The Winter Solstice Is Here

As we enjoy the shortest day of the year (or, more likely, the knowledge that daylight will now begin to get longer), we are pleased to announce that the Snow Goose Festival is online and taking registrations as we speak. Both are watershed moments and we hope this brief note finds you well as 2009 winds down. This year has been a challenge for many, yet hope is really what the holiday season is all about. Good health and time with friends and family are at the top of any Santa's list worth its salt. Liz and I and the Trust Board of Directors sincerely wish you the best and look forward to a more economically robust and ecologically satisfying New Year.

Happy Holidays!

Snow Geese

The Trust is now in the midst of helping organize the 11th Annual Snow Goose Festival, which is scheduled for Thursday, January 28 thru Sunday, January 31, 2010. On-line registration is about to begin and we will be in a dead run from that point on. This is a great event that continues to focus on a wide diversity of educational opportunities, with new offerings every year. Of particular note are the free activities that are family oriented, with a special emphasis on youngsters. Liz has been a key player in media relations and public outreach; I hang around the edges trying to keep everyone happy and looking for new sponsors (translation-financial support). The birds are here, a living testimony to the wonderment that occurs every fall and spring migration along the Pacific Flyway. Now all we need is you. Please join us in celebrating this life force and all that it represents. You won't be disappointed.

Honk! Honk!

The Holiday Season

Once again, the retail world has decided that the Christmas holiday season has arrived sans Thanksgiving. This rankles my soul, as I find our uniquely American celebration in late November much more giving in the true sense of the word. The act of sharing that comes with food on the table and quiet times with friends and family is at the heart of community. I personally feel blessed living in Northern California, especially at this time of year, and I strongly recommend a trip to the River as the leaves fall and a more somber mood marks the transition to the wintry days ahead.

Speaking of transitions, we ended our Fall outings program on a high note. A great group of folks enjoyed our inaugural Sutter Buttes hike with the Yuba Historical Society this last Saturday and we look forward to more adventures in the Spring. We are already working on our 2010 special events calendar and look forward to your participation. We'll keep you posted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Winding Down

October was crazy busy and November has been much the same. Even though we have had to postpone our 25th Anniversary Celebration until early in 2010, this coming weekend is still holding lots of promise with the film showing scheduled for Sunday at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. This is another example of the Trust's ongoing efforts to collaborate with sister organizations on activities of mutual benefit. In this case, we are working with Friends of Butte Creek, a group that the Trust has had an advocacy relationship with for years. Details of the event are featured on the homepage. Personally, I am looking forward to an evening of good food and the first Chico showing of "Rivers of a Lost Coast". I hope to see you there.

The Trust's final event in November will be another joint venture, in this case a hike in the Sutter Buttes with the Yuba Historical Society. Scheduled for Saturday, November 14, details can be found on our events page. The hike is by reservation only and filling fast, so if you would like to see a new section of the Buttes - Cat Rock Loop - sign up soon.

After the Sutter Buttes, the Trust goes into Snow Goose Festival mode. You will be hearing a lot more about the 11th Annual Festival in the days ahead. For now, keep your ears open (and the geese and related migratory waterfowl are arriving daily) while your eyes feast on the glory that is known as Autumn in the North Valley.

A Special Thanks

What could be better than an evening of great music performed by Ani DiFranco, with the Trust offering a guitar signed by Ani as a fundraiser?! Not sure if there is an answer, but we had a great time on Saturday, October 17 and raised $618 for the Trust in the process. We'd like to especially thank Steve Schuman of North Valley Productions for use of the space and the place to help spread awareness about the Sacramento River. Thanks also to Sally MacMillan of the Music Connection for donating the Epiphone guitar that was raffled off at the end of the evening. Trust member Catie Giusta was a tremendous help at the event and we could not have done this without her (it didn't hurt that she's Liz's sister :)

This was an out-of-the-blue fundraising opportunity for the Trust. If you have ideas that may be of similar benefit to the Trust, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Happy Halloween!

Welcome Autumnal Equinox!

Though it is another warm-bordering-on-hot day, the evenings are quickly cooling down and mornings are a pleasure. I saw my first sandhill cranes flying over on their return journey several days ago, a sign of seasonal changes that always makes me feel both nostalgic and renewed. Another sign are the various Salmon Festivals that take place this time of year. First up is the 15th Annual Oroville Salmon Festival, which is happening this Friday and Saturday, September 25 & 26. For further information please visit www.orovilleareachamber.com . You might want to check it out, as the program is pretty amazing. Good job, Oroville!

Fall is when the Trust goes into high gear in terms of outings and related activities. Please be sure to check our events page as well as regular updates displayed on the home page. Emails and snail mail will be headed your way soon as well (assuming you're a member, of course :)

Let the leaves fall where they may.

Thank You!

Though it has been going on since the 1st of August, the Annie B's Community Campaign kicked into high gear last Thursday at the Downtown Plaza in Chico. The Trust has been an active participant in this multi-county fundraising effort since it began two years ago and is involved this year as well.

There are currently over 200 non-profits utilizing Annie B's as a vehicle for fundraising, so having a gathering in one spot made the Plaza a pretty busy place. The Trust had great table placement on a very warm day and some wonderful volunteers. Our thanks to Tesh Bhattachurya, Jim Dwyer, and Margaret Rader for lending a hand and hats off to Liz for pulling it all together. As a member of the Trust Board, Jim also put up a challenge grant that was met in full by the end of the evening. With the addition of several new members, this was a noteworthy event as far as the Trust is concerned.

The Annie B's campaign continues until the end of September. All donations are welcome and can be made online at www.nvcf.org or by visiting the Trust homepage at www.sacrivertrust.org , which has a direct link to the North Valley Community Foundation's donation page through the Annie B's "button".

Thanks - again - for all your support.

25 Years and Counting

The Trust was founded on this date in 1984 by a small group of individuals who were very concerned about a proposal by the US Army Corps of Engineers to place rock revetment/riprap on every outside bend of the Sacramento River between Red Bluff and Chico. Partly as a consequence, a wide-ranging coalition of groups came together and successfully challenged this particular proposal, the Chico Landing to Red Bluff Project, in court. This project has not seen the light of day since and represents the first of many achievements by the Trust that have led to a healthier Sacramento River for all.

To celebrate the accomplishments of the Trust and her partners over the past 25 years, the Board of Directors and Staff are planning a number of activities over the next year to highlight the diverse steps that have been taken to protect the River along the way. We hope you will join us for a picnic, a float, a hike, a dinner, a presentation, at various times and various locations, and with friends and family and all the partners who have helped us get to where we are today. We have much to be proud of and want to share that information with all who are interested. We also plan on having some fun.

We'll keep you posted.

Annie B's

The Trust has always had a very diverse funding stream, primarily made up of membership dues and donations but including less lucrative (if that term can really be used in the context of the Trust's fundraising efforts :) sources. Starting in 2007, a new source of funds was introduced to the mid-valley region by the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) called Annie B's Community Drive. The idea behind this program was to generate some percentage of matching funds for monies raised by participating local non-profits during the months of August and September. The Trust has been involved since the beginning, receiving a 14% match the first year and a 10% + match last year. While it is unknown what the match may equal this year, the Trust is once again involved as a participating non-profit.

The current economic climate is clearly having a negative impact on discretionary spending, a category that the Trust falls in for many folks. That said, the first rule of fundraising is to ask. So in asking for your support, what I'd like to point out is that if one can afford to make a donation to the Trust at this time, the Annie B's Community Drive gives extra bang to every buck you send our way.

To find out more about NVCF and the mechanics of Annie B's, please go to www.nvcf.org . To donate directly to the Trust, just click on the Annie B's button found on the upper right side our homepage. Checks are also welcome, made out to the order of "NVCF/SRPT" and mailed to: North Valley Community Foundation, 3120 Cohasset Road, Suite 8, Chico, CA 95973.

Thanks!

We're Back!

Liz and I were pretty much out the door in July. Fun while it lasted, but lots to do now that fall is not that far away (back-to-school sales already?!) Please check out the events page on a regular basis as we will be posting upcoming outings and related activities as they come to our attention.

On that note, you will find the latest River Partners canoe/kayak adventure currently featured on our home page. We have worked with these folks for years and believe you will have a great time if you are able to participate.

Our intention in posting other groups' activities is to both share the work of sister organizations as well as reinforce the message of the Trust as it pertains to river protection and appreciation. There is more than enough to be done by all concerned when it comes to preservation efforts along the Sacramento River and it is the Trust's goal to lend support to like-minded efforts whenever possible.

Paddle forward!

Annual Dinner

Usually we have our Annual Dinner in the fall. This time around, we got overwhelmed and decided to move it to the spring. Both times of year are busy for us, so we'll see what happens. Things seem to be falling into place in terms of music, silent auction, guest speaker, dinner location and the meal itself. All we need are reservations. Maybe the Memorial Day weekend is getting in the way, but we really need to hear from you NOW if you plan on attending. Needless to say, we would love to see you in the room on May 28.

Spring!

Still hoping for some additional rain, but it looks like spring is here, ready or not. The two events highlighted on our homepage currently are representative of the kinds of activities the Trust promotes this time of year. River Partners is a sister organization that we work with on a regular basis. They also know how to throw a good party. (Just a note - the Trust's Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 28, also at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Please mark your calendar now.)
The Chico Grange is an organization that the Trust is just starting to establish a relationship with and we look forward to this second year of tabling outreach on our part at their Annual Open House. It promises to be another fun event, so you may want to check it out

Liz and I are currently working on a comprehensive calendar for spring/early summer, which includes both Trust activities and related events being put on by a variety of other groups. As with our recent Sutter Buttes hike, which was cosponsored by Altacal Audubon Society, we are trying to partner with other groups as often as we can. We think there a number of advantages in this approach and look forward to you involvement.

Stay posted! There's more fun to come and we would hate for you to miss out.

Election 2008

Being a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, the Trust does not support candidates. That said, I can say that the last eight years under the Bush Administration has not been a good time for the environment. Specific to the Sacramento River, this has meant a drying up of funds for both land aquisition and operational costs, especially as it relates to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). There have also been significant conflicts with upper management in a number of Federal agencies including the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and FWS.

During the campaign, neither major candidate exhibited what I would consider strong environmental credentials. However, with luck and a lot of hard work yet to come, I believe better times are just around the corner. We've been told that change has arrived. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a moment too soon.

Board Election

By now all dues-paying members of the Trust should have received a packet of materials related to the every-other-year election of the Trust's Board of Directors. We have been receiving a steady stream of ballots, with the deadline of Saturday, November 8 coming up. If you have not sent yours in yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. Thanks.

We have a great slate of candidates, eight in number. That said, the Trust can have up to eleven (11) members serving on the Board. If any member is interested in serving, it is never too late to indicate your interest as the Board has the ability to appoint members outside of the election cycle. If you would like to know more, just contact me at the office and we'll go from there.

In the fall we usually announce the new Board at our Annual Dinner. Unfortunately, we needed to postpone the dinner this year due to an overloaded calendar. Once the new Board is seated, we will decide on a new date and get the word out to everyone.

Voting for the Trust Board is only part of what is happening election-wise right now, of course. The Trust, as a tax-exempt nonprofit, does not get involved is supporting candidates. However, I think it is important to say that every vote counts at every level of civic involvement and I hope you take the time to make your voice heard. In short, please vote.

60 and Counting

Starting last year, we have been closing the Trust office the last two weeks of July. A lot of the people we work with, especially government agency folk, take vacation this time of year and we figured that made good sense, so we joined them. Of added benefit this year was the fact that my birthday fell within this time frame. This was the big 60 for yours truly and I decided to give myself a party, so having the extra time off was very helpful from both a planning and playing standpoint. By all accounts, Liz enjoyed time off with her family as well. But now we are back, refreshed and ready for a busy fall season. First up - the Trust Annual Picnic. This year it is being held on Saturday, August 23, at our usual gathering place, Tehama County River Park at Woodson Bridge. Details will be posted on the homepage soon and a written invitation to Trust members and associated friends will be in the mail by early next week. If you can't wait to find out more (we are talking boat trips, hikes, great food, pleasant company) just get in touch with Liz@sacrivertrust.org .

Battle Creek

We just received a press release announcing that funding transfer agreements were signed last week that will finally allow for the start of construction of the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Project). The Project will restore approximately 42 miles of fishery habitat in Battle Creek, a tributary to the Sacramento River that runs through Shasta and Tehama counties, as well as 6 miles of additional habitat in its tributaries. The primary beneficiaries of the Project are winter-and spring-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead, all of which are critically imperiled.

These funding agreements support the first phase (Phase 1A) of the Project, which targets the removal or retrofitting of several dams on Battle Creek. The cost is around $ 50 million for Phase 1A, with additional funding being pursued for Phase 1B and Phase 2. Additional information concerning the Project can be found at www.usbr.gov/mp/battlecreek .

The effort to restore Battle Creek has been going on for years and many felt we would never get to this point. There is still a ways to go, but this is money well spent. Hats off to Trust Board member Scott Ferris, who has attended more meetings on this issue then I am sure is healthy for any given human being. I am sure the salmon and steelhead will be thankful as well.

Independence Day

July 4th is upon us, smoky skies and all. The second year of below-average rainfall and the forests are already burning. This could be a long summer, though not without precedent. No surprises, really, but more a confirmation of possibilities forecast by many for years. The proverbial roosting chickens have taken up residence in the Sacramento Valley and aren't expected to leave anytime soon.

This isn't doom and gloom, however. I would call it more of a reality check. We are dependent biological beings who value our independence as if it stands alone. Yet it does not, for it is built upon a foundation of community understanding and environmental support systems which sustain us all.

Stay safe. Enjoy the watermelon.

So Much For Resolutions

As you can see, I haven't returned to this space since I resolved that I would. That's called going down in flames big time. But now the resolution slate is clean and we start again.

As you will see on the news section of our homepage, the Governor continues his leadership style (tongue in cheek) by once again declaring a statewide emergency. This time he's focused on "The Drought". There are droughts and then there are DROUGHTS. This is a small "d" two-year drought and counting. Nothing wrong with being cautious. And calling for water conservation has been at the top of the environmental agenda for years. Problem is, the Governor likes to appoint czars as part of his response to self-declared emergencies and this time around he's appointed two - one to oversee conservation efforts and the other to facilitate water transfers. The former sounds great, the latter gives me pause (and how much are these folks getting paid, by the way?). And then there's the issue of storage. As is often the case, there is opportunity for good as well as the potential for harm as we move forward in this "emergency" climate. I have my concerns. We'll keep you posted.

Happy New Year!

Well, I didn't do so good keeping this dialogue up to date in 2007. But now it's 2008 and resolutions are in order. Let's see how I do.

Changes are always afoot at the Trust. I'm happy to welcome Liz Gardner back from her maternity leave (details, as provided by Liz, are as follows: Augustus "Augie" Randall Jaqua, born August 17, 2007, weighing in at 8.4 lbs and 21" long!!). She's rapidly getting back into the swing of things and Tiffany is now working full time on registration duties with the Snow Goose Festival.

Speaking of the Festival, once we recovered from last weekend's windstorm (we lost all power Friday morning and it did not come back on until Sunday), it has been full speed ahead with the Festival brochures in the mail to 2200 people and posters for both the Uptown/Downtown Art Exhibit and the Festival itself going up at a location near you. Busy days but not crazy yet due to early registrations in December. We'll see what happens in the days to come.

2008-a year, like many others, starting full of promise. I look forward to your presence as we pursue the dreams before us.

Copyright 2008 © Sacramento River Preservation Trust