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By admin, March 16, 2010 6:45 am

March

• Saturday, April 17: Maxwell Farms Regional Parks Stewardship. Earth Day creek cleanup. Contact Mallory with questions 343-5221 or maldavenport@comcast.net
• Thursday, March 18th: Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Saturday, March 27th: Hood Mountain Regional Park

April

• Saturday, April 3rd: Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Thursday, April 8th: Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Tuesday, April 27th: Hood Mountain Regional Park

May

• Tuesday, May 4th: Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Thursday, May 13th: Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Saturday, May 22nd: Hood Mountain Regional Park

June

• Saturday, June 5th – National Trail Day: Hood Mountain Regional Park

Hood Mountain workdays notes from Dave Chalk: All workdays are from 9am to 1pm. Most of the upcoming workdays will focus on finishing off the Merganser pond backpacking sites. Once those are completed we will move up and over the mountain to the second backpacking site located at Azalea Creek. This backpacking site has been around since the 1970s but hasn’t been open to the public since the 80s. It won’t need anywhere near the work put into Merganser. It’s basically all set to go with just a couple of workdays needed to spruce it up. Contact John Ryan (565-3356) for more information.

Directions: Meet in the Pythian Road parking lot (1450 Pythian Road) for all Hood Mountain workdays.

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By admin, March 16, 2010 6:42 am

Trail stewardship season is here! We have several projects in the works for spring and into summer.

May

• Saturday, May 1 & 8: Creekside Trail maintenance, Shiloh Regional Park. In the first part of this two-day project, we’ll rebuild a steep and entrenched section, as well as several other problem areas. On our second day at Shiloh, we plan to build a causeway on the upper approach to the bridge to reduce erosion and make the trail more usable year round. Workday will be from 9am to 2pm. Meet at Shiloh parking lot, 5750 Faught Road, Windsor, CA. Contact Tim Mayer for more information or to sign up.
• Saturday, May 15: Helen Putnam Regional Park. Tread maintenance and improvements on Savannah Trail (or other trail TBD). Workday will be from 9am to 2pm. Meet at the parking lot on Chileno Valley Rd. Contact Tim Mayer for more information or to sign up.
  
• Sunday, May 16: Little Black Mountain Celebration: 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. 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

June

• Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7: Pickin’ at the Point 2010. We return to Salt Point for a weekend project. We expect to work on the Stump Beach Trail and more. Free camping available for all volunteers — additional details TBA. Contact Rob Helms to sign up or for more info.
• Sunday, June 12: Americorp Trail, Sebastopol’s Laguna de Santa Rosa Preserve. Clear blackberries, willow and debris to reopen this trail near downtown Sebastopol. Details TBA. Contact Geoffrey Skinner to sign up for more info.

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By admin, March 16, 2010 6:37 am

The fifth annual Boggs 8 Hour Solo and Team Mountain Bike Race takes off at early on the morning of April 3rd. Each year this mountain bike race has sold doubled in size until last year when it sold out to the tune of more than 400 participants. While the race is sold out, it’s not too late to join in the fun. Volunteers are needed for the following:

• Registration – 6am
• Food service – evening
• Rest stop – couple of shifts during the day
• Beer/waste monitoring (with Ken Wells)
• Clean up

A portion of the proceeds for refreshments goes to the Trails Council — if we can put together enough volunteers to help out, so your service will directly support our programs. Please contact volunteer@bikemonkey.net to sign up or for questions. See the race page for additional event details

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By admin, March 16, 2010 6:27 am

Sebastopol resident Lynn Deedler has big plans to get walkers and bikers off the highways. Though Sebastopol has a reputation for supporting green programs and businesses and is halfway along the Joe Rodota & West County trails, the two state highways that pass through town make it less friendly for folks who want to get around on their own power. Deedler, a member of the Sebastopol Design Review Board, has been putting in countless hours promoting alternatives that parallel Hwy 116 (a north-south route) and Hwy 12/Bodega Ave. (an east-west route). Regional Parks and the Sebastopol City Council have both endorsed the idea — an critical element toward being eligible for grants and other funding for feasibility studies and beyond.

The County is particularly interested because it would jump-start a long-dormant plan to convert the abandoned Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad route from Bloomfield Road in Sebastopol to Petaluma into an 11-mile long recreational trail. When the rail corridor was abandoned in the 1980s, the rights of way reverted to the original (or subsequent) owners of properties along the way. Many sections would have to be purchased or alternatives found, but one of the main barriers has been the lack of connection at the Sebastopol end. Deedler’s route runs from Bloomfield Road north to the Rodota Trail along the edge of the city; he has spoken with all the property owners along the way and found them nearly all to be receptive to considering rights-of-way for a trail. This trail would make a direct connection with the proposed Sebastopol-Petaluma trail and, with the Rodota and SMART Train corridor trail, would create a grand loop for commuting and recreational outings.

Deedler and his group, Sebastopol Trail Makers, would like to see an additional route — largely off-street — paralleling Bodega Ave. to connect the Rodota Trail to the schools on Watertrough Road, to the west of the City. The two trails could be connected by route curving around to the south of town to create a local loop approximately 7 miles long. If the Deedler’s plans come to fruition, they will significantly bolster Sebastopol’s reputation for bike-friendliness.

The next step is a feasibility study. Regional Parks wants to cover the entire length from Petaluma to Sebastopol, though most of the focus would likely be on the stretch between Bloomfield and the Rodota Trail due to the large number of private parcels involved; south of Bloomfield on the old Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR right-of-way should be less problematic. Regional Parks had an option to apply for funding for the feasibility study this year, but since a major project in Sonoma Valley was already underway, they decided to wait until the next funding cycle. Although the Sebastopol Trail Maker are eager to get underway, the delay will likely make for a stronger case next year.

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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: