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By admin, February 25, 2010 1:57 pm

Hundreds of runners hit the trails at Annadel on Feb. 7 to raise money for the park.  The 13.1 mile race was organized by the staff of Santa Rosa’s Fleet Feet Sports to support Annadel State Park in the attempt to “thwart partial and/or full park closure.” The looping course through the western portion of the park brought in about $20,000 that will go to the park through the Valley of the Moon Natural Natural History Association, a nonprofit set up to raise funds for Sonoma County parks.

Hikers on a fundraising 5-mile hike from the start at Spring Lake to Lake Ilsanjo followed the runners, traveling by way of the recent Trails Council project on Spring Creek trail.

The organizers have posted many photos and other information on the race website.

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By admin, February 19, 2010 1:50 pm

A tip from Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods:

The 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day (PAD) will take place on March 8th in Sacramento from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Visit the California State Parks Foundation website to sign up for PAD 2010.

Registration required by February 19th.

Also email stewards@mcn.org to let the Stewards know that you plan to attend and they will work out carpooling for this important and empowering event. Training is provided and you will mentor with other experienced advocates. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet with legislators in person!

Park Advocacy Day 2009

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By admin, February 19, 2010 1:42 pm

Save the date for a hike and trail celebration on Little Black Mountain, a Sonoma Land Trust property near Cazadero. Be one of the first to explore the trail (recently upgraded by SCTC) to the “Lone Antler Lookout” and experience the unfolding panoramic vista of Sonoma County’s beyond. Bring a bag lunch and day pack for a picnic along the way. Additional refreshments provided.

This is the trail project SCTC worked on last year (under contract).This is our chance to get out there and see the product of all that hard work. It’ll also be a good time to catch-up with each other and meet some SLT folks. This is special event open to SCTC and SLT members — a perk since this property is generally not open to the public. For more information or to sign-up, please email Sonoma Land Trust

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:43 pm

Happy New Year to all!

2009 was a productive and eventful year — in rough order:

• Trail Stewardship Training at Shiloh Regional Park, led by Rob Helms, Tim Mayer and Geoffrey Skinner
• Trail stewardship projects at Annadel and Sugarloaf State Parks
• Partnership with Regional Parks for trail construction at Hood Mountain
• Trail design and construction at Little Black Mountain for Sonoma Land Trust
• Temporary trail construction at Glen Oaks Ranch for Sonoma Land Trust
• National Trails Day at Salt Point State Park–campground and trail stewardship projects
• Council bylaws revised and adopted by Board of Directors
• Winter and springtime dog hikes
• Hard working crews led by Tim Mayer built a terrific pair of causeways on Spring Creek Trail at Annadel (see story below)
• Successful reconsideration request for multi-use designation on Stump Beach Trail at Salt Point SP
• Rob Helms steps down as Executive Director
• A great tool party gets all tools in shape for the 2010 season

As we look to the coming year, we are still working to firm up our calendar, but look for:

• Stump Beach Trail and other projects at Salt Point for National Trails Day in June
• Trail stewardship on the Creekside Trail at Shiloh Regional Park
• Stewardship workshops
• Ongoing stewardship at Annadel

…and many more opportunities to get outside and give back to the parks. Please check back on our trails blog for current opportunities and news.

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:30 pm

Sonoma County Regional Parks is pleased to announce the kickoff of expanded public access at Tolay Lake Regional Park with the new Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Permit Program.

The new IP Day-Use Permit Program allows the public to visit the park during posted hours once they’ve completed an hour-long orientation and obtained a permit. Regional Parks is offering these mandatory one-hour orientations, free of charge, which cover permit procedures, and rules & regulations. After the orientation, participants receive Tolay IP Day-Use Permits, along with maps, park rules & regulations, and gate access cards. Permit holders may use the park for a variety of activities, including hiking, bicycling, picnicking, or horseback riding. Regular day-use parking fees apply.

Orientation sessions:

ORIENTATIONS START PROMPTLY – LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:24 pm

LandPaths, the Sonoma County Ag Preservation & Open Space District, and Sonoma County Regional Parks are offering an interim Permit Program at Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa, similar to the one in place at Willow Creek and Tolay Lake. After a one-hour orientation on the property, you will receive a free permit allowing biking, hiking and horseback riding on the 1000+ acre preserve. Contact LandPaths to make a reservation (RSVP required). Orientations will be be held on the following dates:

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:15 pm

The Stewards’ Docent and Community Education Program will continue for 2010 and they are sponsoring the first of three State Parks Volunteer Orientations on January 9th at 9:00am at Armstrong Redwoods. The new year is a great time to learn how you can volunteer in our State Parks. Stewards manages a wide variety of education and stewardship volunteer opportunities in our parks — check the Stewards website for more information on this and other volunteer opportunities. Join the fun and make a difference!

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:10 pm

The Sonoma Land Trust announced on Dec. 17 that  escrow closed on the stunning 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands — a nationally significant project and the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County. This $36 million purchase from willing sellers Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc., and Russian River Redwoods was completed due to the extraordinary efforts and collaboration of 10 public and private funding partners.  Sonoma Land Trust is now the proud steward of this incredible coastal property.

Eventually the property will include a section of the California Coastal Trail as well as other trails. While the interim public access plan is being developed, the Land Trust will begin conducting guided hikes in January 2010. From January–March, SLT will offer a hike each month along the coastal headlands. This strenuous 3.5-mile roundtrip hike will ascend more than 700 feet in elevation to a rocky hilltop within the coastal prairie portion of the Headlands. Along the way, hikers will be greeted with dazzling views of the Sonoma Coast (on clear days!). Although this route will follow old ranch roads, some sections are especially rough with uneven footing. This hike is not for inexperienced hikers — you must be in good physical condition and sturdy hiking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended.

Jenner Headlands pages for more information on hikes and the property.

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By admin, December 23, 2009 1:47 pm

The Laguna Foundation is in the midst of their first ever Tree-A-Thon fundraiser and volunteer tree planting event.  On January 9th over 100 volunteers will meet at Sebastopol’s Meadowlark Field (next to Chevron Station on Hwy. 12) to plant over 750 valley oak and other trees and plants.  This is an exciting project on so many levels.  The Foundation is stretching tight dollars to restore a riparian forest in a highly visible field adjacent to the Laguna.  A restoration of this kind has multiple benefits: increasing biodiversity and habitat connectivity, mitigating global climate change and let’s not forget restoring natural beauty!

If you would like to volunteer or pledge for this effort, please see the Foundations’ Tree-A-Thon pages.

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By admin, December 23, 2009 1:31 pm

The Sonoma Land Trust announced on Dec. 17 that  escrow closed on the stunning 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands — a nationally significant project and the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County. This $36 million purchase from willing sellers Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc., and Russian River Redwoods was completed due to the extraordinary efforts and collaboration of 10 public and private funding partners.  Sonoma Land Trust is now the proud steward of this incredible coastal property.

Eventually the property will include a section of the California Coastal Trail as well as other trails. While the interim public access plan is being developed, the Land Trust will begin conducting guided hikes in January 2010. From January–March, SLT will offer a hike each month along the coastal headlands. This strenuous 3.5-mile roundtrip hike will ascend more than 700 feet in elevation to a rocky hilltop within the coastal prairie portion of the Headlands. Along the way, hikers will be greeted with dazzling views of the Sonoma Coast (on clear days!). Although this route will follow old ranch roads, some sections are especially rough with uneven footing. This hike is not for inexperienced hikers — you must be in good physical condition and sturdy hiking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended.

See the Land Trust Jenner Headlands pages for more information on hikes and the property.