Sonoma Trails » Trails & Parks http://www.sonomatrails.org Share Advocate Steward -- Sonoma County Trails Council Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:12:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Bohemia Ecological Preserve http://www.sonomatrails.org/2012/02/02/news/bohemia-ecological-preserve/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2012/02/02/news/bohemia-ecological-preserve/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:18:12 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=993 The word has already gone out from Landpaths and the Press Democrat, but bears repeating.

LandPaths and Sonoma Land Trust have teamed up to create a new 554-acre nature preserve on the Bohemia Ranch located between Occidental and Monte Rio near Camp Meeker.  The forested land contains a waterfall, camping potential and fields of rare [...]]]> The word has already gone out from Landpaths and the Press Democrat, but bears repeating.

Hikers on Bohemia's old ranch roads

LandPaths and Sonoma Land Trust have teamed up to create a new 554-acre nature preserve on the Bohemia Ranch located between Occidental and Monte Rio near Camp Meeker.  The forested land contains a waterfall, camping potential and fields of rare plants.

The new preserve, named the Bohemia Ecological Preserve, was created through the purchase of a conservation easement by Sonoma Land Trust and a donation of the restricted land by Ted and Phyllis Swindells to LandPaths, which will manage the property for resource protection and public use.

Beginning this month, LandPaths will provide you with an opportunity to (re)discover Bohemia via guided hikes and volunteer stewardship projects.

This is great news — hopes for a park or preserve on this land were dashed several times for LandPaths, Sonoma Land Trust and others were finally able to put together this deal. Congratulations to everyone who made it happen! Check out the full story at the Landpaths site and sign up for an upcoming hike on the preserve.

 

]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2012/02/02/news/bohemia-ecological-preserve/feed/ 0 SCTC Board of Directors Meeting — Monday, Dec. 5th http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/sctc-board-of-directors-meeting-%e2%80%94-monday-dec-5th/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/sctc-board-of-directors-meeting-%e2%80%94-monday-dec-5th/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:50:27 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=922 You are invited to join the upcoming Sonoma County Trails Council Board

Meeting on Monday, Dec. 5th at 6 pm at the Bike Monkey office in downtown Santa Rosa (640 3rd Street, Suite #C). Please note that we have moved the date to avoid the holidays. Meetings for 2012 will be moved to the 4th [...]]]> You are invited to join the upcoming Sonoma County Trails Council Board

Sunset at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Image by ingridtaylar via Flickr

Meeting on Monday, Dec. 5th at 6 pm at the Bike Monkey office in downtown Santa Rosa (640 3rd Street, Suite #C). Please note that we have moved the date to avoid the holidays. Meetings for 2012 will be moved to the 4th Monday of each month unless otherwise noted.

 

 

These meetings, held once a month, are an excellent opportunity to learn about trail projects, park news and events. At this month’s meeting we will be discussing trail work opportunities, introducing new Board of Directors members, and updates from the new Sonoma County Parks Alliance, a group working to address the threatened State Park closures (which includes our local Annadel, Sugarloaf, Jack London and Austin Creek Parks).We recently modified the meeting agenda (attached) to encourage more community attendance. The first part of the meeting will cover projects, advocacy and news. You are also welcome to stay for the second part of the meeting, which will focus on SCTC organizational business.
Please let us know if you’d like more information about SCTC and the upcoming meetings. I hope you’ll join us!For current trail work opportunities check out th
e attached agenda.
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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/sctc-board-of-directors-meeting-%e2%80%94-monday-dec-5th/feed/ 0 Taylor Mountain Community Meeting # 4 — Dec. 6, 2011 http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/taylor-mountain-community-meeting-4-dec-6-2011/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/taylor-mountain-community-meeting-4-dec-6-2011/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:23:06 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=919 We hope you’ll attend the next Taylor Mountain park community meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

]]> We hope you’ll attend the next Taylor Mountain park community meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Flyer #4 - Lo Res.jpg

]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/12/01/news/taylor-mountain-community-meeting-4-dec-6-2011/feed/ 0 SCTC 3rd Saturday Trail Stewardship Day — Nov. 19 http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/sctc-3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-day-nov-19/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/sctc-3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-day-nov-19/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:56:22 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=914 The next Sonoma County Trails Council trail work day to help repair the trails at Annadel State Park is Saturday, November 19, from 9am to about 1pm.

Meet us at 9am at the bottom of North Burma Trail at Channel Drive. Look for the white SCTC tool trailer. We will have parking passes for those [...]]]> The next Sonoma County Trails Council trail work day to help repair the trails at Annadel State Park is Saturday, November 19, from 9am to about 1pm.

North Burma Trail Stewardship Day, April 30, 2011

Meet us at 9am at the bottom of North Burma Trail at Channel Drive. Look for the white SCTC tool trailer. We will have parking passes for those that drive and there should be adequate parking in that general area.  Wear boots or sturdy shoes, bring water that you can take with you while working, and gloves.

In order to make sure we have enough tools and snacks please contact us if you plan to attend.

We look forward to seeing you all and having fun taking care of our wonderful park.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Ken Wells, Executive Director
Sonoma County Trails Council

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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/sctc-3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-day-nov-19/feed/ 0 More Puncheon Pix http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/more-puncheon-pix/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/more-puncheon-pix/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:48:04 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=911 A few more photos from our very successful project on the Ridge Trail at Annadel (from Geoffrey Skinner, SCTC President)

Puncheon project on Ridge Trail at Annadel State Park (click photo to view album)]]> A few more photos from our very successful project on the Ridge Trail at Annadel (from Geoffrey Skinner, SCTC President)

Puncheon project on Ridge Trail at Annadel State Park (click photo to view album)
]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/15/news/more-puncheon-pix/feed/ 0 The New Puncheon on Ridge Trail Completed! http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/the-new-puncheon-on-ridge-trail-completed/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/the-new-puncheon-on-ridge-trail-completed/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:12:21 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=903 We had a great day at Annadel on Nov. 5 as over 45 volunteers pounded, bolted, wrestled and dug the new puncheon on Ridge Trail into being. With  Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and REI sponsorship; major funding from the 2011 Annadel Half Marathon; air support from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office; logistical, transportation and construction from [...]]]> We had a great day at Annadel on Nov. 5 as over 45 volunteers pounded, bolted, wrestled and dug the new puncheon on Ridge Trail into being. With  Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and REI sponsorship; major funding from the 2011 Annadel Half Marathon; air support from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office; logistical, transportation and construction from the North Bay Unit of the California Backcountry Horsemen volunteer recruitment and leadership from the SCTC; and of course, the enthusiastic cooperation of State Parks, the project was truly a combined effort — we completed the puncheon and minor reroute in an amazing 5 months from proposal to final workday. We owe our success to great planning and coordination by Ken Wells and Tim Mayer from the Trails Council and Dan Horn from the Backcountry Horsemen, hard work from a lot of dedicated volunteers — and a good deal of luck with the weather! Thank you everyone who contributed!

 

Related articles
Puncheon ramp construction on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011 (1)

Puncheon ramp construction on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011 (1)

 

Puncheon ramp construction on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011 (2)

Puncheon ramp construction on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011 (2)

First cyclist across new puncheon on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011

First cyclist across new puncheon on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011

Crew and pack horses on the new puncheon on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011

Crew and pack horses on the new puncheon on Ridge Trail at Annadel, Nov. 5, 2011

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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/the-new-puncheon-on-ridge-trail-completed/feed/ 0 3rd Saturday Trail Stewardship at Annadel, Nov. 19th http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-at-annadel-nov-19th/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-at-annadel-nov-19th/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:12:33 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=887 The next Sonoma County Trails Council trail work day to help repair the trails at Annadel State Park is Saturday, November 19, from 9am to about 1pm.

Meet us at 9am at the bottom of North Burma Trail at Channel Drive. Look for the white SCTC tool trailer. We [...]]]> IMG_0015

Image by misterlevel via Flickr

The next Sonoma County Trails Council trail work day to help repair the trails at Annadel State Park is Saturday, November 19, from 9am to about 1pm.

Meet us at 9am at the bottom of North Burma Trail at Channel Drive. Look for the white SCTC tool trailer. We will have parking passes for those that drive and there should be adequate parking in that general area.  Wear boots or sturdy shoes, bring water that you can take with you while working, and gloves.

In order to make sure we have enough tools and snacks please let us know if you plan to attend.

We look forward to seeing you all and having fun taking care of our wonderful park.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Ken Wells, Executive Director
Sonoma County Trails Council

 

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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/10/news/3rd-saturday-trail-stewardship-at-annadel-nov-19th/feed/ 0 Ridge Trail Construction…with a Helicopter http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/04/news/ridge-trail-construction-with-a-helicopter/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/04/news/ridge-trail-construction-with-a-helicopter/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:45:54 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=878 One of the challenges the Trails Council faced on the puncheon project on the Ridge Trail was transporting the lumber to the project site from the nearby staging area near Ledson Marsh. It couldn’t be done with a Gator or other vehicles because the trail to the project location is [...]]]>

Treads going up...

One of the challenges the Trails Council faced on the puncheon project on the Ridge Trail was transporting the lumber to the project site from the nearby staging area near Ledson Marsh. It couldn’t be done with a Gator or other vehicles because the trail to the project location is too narrow, so we were planning to carry the lumber about a mile with volunteers. We had over 90 pieces of lumber, with 15 pieces 12′ long and weighing up to 100 pounds each.

While Executive Director Ken Wells discussed the problem with the project team, it occurred to us that in other similar backcountry situations, helicopters often transport the big pieces.

Treads in motion

Ken contacted Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas’ office inquire about the possibility of enlisting the help of the Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Henry 1, for a few minutes to move the timbers less than a half mile. The Sheriff’s Office gave a thumbs-up to make our project a training exercise as long as we were willing to pay for the fuel. State Parks was also OK with the plan, so on Oct. 2, Henry 1 was hovering above the lumber pile transported the entire pile of lumber  in just a few trips!

We expect the volunteers for Ridge Trail Council-SCTC-REI workday this Saturday will be very, very grateful when they see the load they don’t need to carry…

Lumber on site

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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/11/04/news/ridge-trail-construction-with-a-helicopter/feed/ 0 October-November SCTC Trail Stewardship Opportunities http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/10/06/news/october-november-sctc-trail-stewardship-opportunities/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/10/06/news/october-november-sctc-trail-stewardship-opportunities/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:23:18 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=839 Saturday, October 8 - Ryan Grutze is organizing a trail work day on the Rancheria Trail at Lake Sonoma. This is Ryan’s Eagle Scout project, and the Sonoma County Trails Council will be providing tools and other support. For more information contact Ryan Grutze,
ryangrutze(at)gmail.com or 707-433-3218.

Sunday, October 9 -  SCTC and the Backcountry Horsemen will be packing [...]]]>

Sonoma Lake from waterside

Lake Sonoma

Saturday, October 8 - Ryan Grutze is organizing a trail work day on the Rancheria Trail at Lake Sonoma. This is Ryan’s Eagle Scout project, and the Sonoma County Trails Council will be providing tools and other support. For more information contact Ryan Grutze,
ryangrutze(at)gmail.com or 707-433-3218.

Sunday, October 9 -  SCTC and the Backcountry Horsemen will be packing in materials for the Annadel Ridge Trail puncheon
project. Meet at 9am at Richardson Parking lot. RSVP to SCTC if you plan to attend or for more info.

Saturday, October 15 - The SCTC 3rd Saturday trail work day on the Annadel Ridge Trail puncheon project. Meet at 9am at Richardson Parking lot. RSVP to SCTC if you plan to attend or for more info..

Saturday, November 5, is the 4th annual REI – Ridge Trail Service Day. The Trails Council will be working with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and REI to build a 36′ puncheon on the Ridge Trail in Annadel to get over a winter mud bog. Lunch and other goodies will be provided. Sign up at through the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.
Tuesday November 8, 6pm – the SCTC Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner at the Sonoma County Driving and Riding Club on Aston Ave., just inside the south gate at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Dave Gould, Director of the Parks Alliance, will be the guest speaker. SCTC Members only, you can join at the door. Dinner and beverages provided. Free t-shirt for new members.

We look forward to seeing you and having fun taking care of our wonderful parks.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Related articles
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]]> http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/10/06/news/october-november-sctc-trail-stewardship-opportunities/feed/ 0 Volunteer Opportunities with Regional Parks http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/09/29/news/volunteer-opportunities-with-regional-parks/ http://www.sonomatrails.org/2011/09/29/news/volunteer-opportunities-with-regional-parks/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:47:06 +0000 Geoffrey http://www.sonomatrails.org/?p=833 From John Ryan, Volunteer/Intern Coordinator for Sonoma County Regional Parks:

The Regional Parks Department is moving to a Sustainability Model of management in which we will be more financially responsible and self-sustaining and more operationally efficient.

As part of this transition, the Department is looking at numerous opportunities to increase revenues to support our Parks. [...]]]> From John Ryan, Volunteer/Intern Coordinator for Sonoma County Regional Parks:

Doran Beach in 2008

Image via Wikipedia

The Regional Parks Department is moving to a Sustainability Model of management in which we will be more financially responsible and self-sustaining and more operationally efficient.

As part of this transition, the Department is looking at numerous opportunities to increase revenues to support our Parks. We have many wonderful properties where we can offer programs, enhance services, and provide even more memorable experiences for Park users. We want to maintain the beauty of our Parks while also raising revenue that we can use to support them and keep entrance fees low.

The Department is looking for volunteers to help park staff develop and implement plans to generate revenue. There are many possibilities; some examples include:

  • Developing and implementing a strategy to increase the use of County Parks for special events.
  • Creating a plan for increased concessions at Parks, such as Doran Beach.
  • Creating a plan to increase camping facilities at County Parks, as well as cabins and/or yurts.
  • Analyzing the relationship between tourism, the economy, and local Parks.
  • Creating a business plan for a local Park.

Volunteers could be tremendously helpful in different ways. One option is to provide regular assistance to Parks staff working on these issues – conducting Internet research, contacting other Parks departments, analyzing the market potential for new programs, etc. Another option is to take a lead role on a particular idea, such as one of those noted above.

Volunteers will receive support from the Department, but should work well independently. Strong analytic and writing skills are necessary. The ideal candidate should be able to commit 5  to 10 hours a week for the duration of the project. If you can volunteer please contact John Ryan or if you have a particular revenue generating idea send it to him in an e-mail:

John Ryan
Volunteer/Intern Coordinator
Sonoma County Regional Parks
707-565-3356
www.sonomacountyparks.org

For additional information, contact:

Don Schwartz
Business Development Manager
Sonoma County Regional Parks
707-565-3777
Don.Schwartz@Sonoma-county.org

This is a great opportunity to help your Sonoma County Regional Park during these tough budgetary times. Even if you are not available you might know someone, a student, retiree, etc. who could really help us out.

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