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the current american river conservancy informational newsletter for autumn september october november 2010 partnerships budget deficits and the future of the folsom and auburn state recreation areas by alan ehrgott recently the u.s bureau of reclamation reclamation announced it could no longer retain ownership and management responsibility for the 20,000 acre folsom state recreation area including lake natoma and folsom lake and the 26,000 acre auburn state recreation area this announcement should concern everyone living within the greater sacramento metropolitan area these two state recreation areas sras attract over 2.5 million recreational visitors each year which collectively makes this area one of the most popular recreational destinations in california in addition the folsom and auburn sras provide huge benefits to foothill wildlife and help maintain the high quality of american river water delivered to 25 million domestic water consumers downstream and throughout california this recreational area also provides significant employment benefits from hotels restaurants retailers in essence the entire business community within the eastern sacramento area how did we get to this point arc recently purchased a conservation easement over the 560 acre garland ranch which spans the gap between the folsom and auburn state recreation areas what s at risk and what are the solutions to understand the problem it is helpful to understand the history and the players in 1956 folsom dam was built by the u.s army corps of engineers and the smaller nimbus dam was built by reclamation as part of the massive central valley project the purpose of these dams was to provide flood control water supply and power generation for the greater sacramento area shortly after the construction of these two dams state parks entered into a contract with reclamation to build and manage recreation facilities at folsom lake and lake natoma despite federal ownership this area became known as a ,state recreation area as early as 1962 in 1965 congress authorized the construction of the auburn dam reclamation withdrew lands managed by its sister department of interior agency the bureau of land management blm and acquired other private lands within the north and middle forks of the american river that would be inundated by the auburn dam but the auburn dam was never built because of earthquake concerns and costly impacts to native fisheries and wildlife habitat again state parks contracted with reclamation to manage the 26,000-acre auburn state recreation area first in 1977 with long-term contracts and then since 2003 with short-term contracts but federal management funding provided by reclamation to state parks has been significantly reduced from $9.5 million in 2007 to $1.6 million in 2010 clearly state parks and reclamation are both caught in a budget deficit with no immediate solution in sight according to state parks superintendent scott nakaji ,we d like to be there but if there is no money and no contract with reclamation state parks may not be there clearly there is a risk of trail and boating facility closures along with increased vandalism and crime some sources have even suggested the declaration of some recreational lands as surplus and the placement of those lands up for public sale continued on page 3

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page 2 the current autumn september october november 2010 land conservation update despite the economic downturn and loss of public grant programs the american river conservancy continues to do well in securing project funding from competitive grant programs here is a brief summary of current conservation projects south fork american river trail arc received $190,000 in environmental enhancement and mitigation program eemp grant funds to pay off the bridge loan required to purchase the 40 acre boulder glen property this parcel was the last property to be acquired to complete the south fork american river trail construction of the acorn creek bridge pictured here is expected to be completed by the end of august trail opening picnic donors to our american river trail project will be invited to a trail opening picnic and donor appreciation event on saturday october 2nd ride bike or hike-in special van transportation will be provided for those with time constraints or physical challenges look for invitations to arrive by mail in late august pine hill preserve arc expects to close escrow on the purchase of 40 acres of rare plant habitat in the cameron park area sometime in august 2010 this property contains five of the eight listed rare plants including el dorado bedstraw and pine hill ceanothus purchase funding has been provided by the el dorado irrigation district with special fees assessed with the sale of water meters to help mitigate the impact of development on rare plant habitat gold hill wakamatsu tea and silk farm colony the purchase of this 272-acre ranch will protect wetlands blue oak woodland and the extensive historical sites associated with the wakamatsu tea and silk farm colony ­ the first japanese agricultural community established in north america in july 1869 arc has secured $2 million in purchase funding and is racing the clock to raise an additional $1.3 million by our contract closing date of october 29 2010 several competitive grants are pending along with legislation in congress introduced by senator barbara boxer and congressman tom mcclintock that may provide additional purchase funding restoration work on the historic graner-veerkamp farmhouse on cold springs road began the first week of august this farmhouse was occupied by the wakamatsu colonists it is our hope and expectation that this farmhouse will become a house museum that interprets the fascinating history of the house through the ownerships of charles graner 1854-1869 the wakamatsu colonists 1869-1871 and the veerkamp family 1874-present the first stabilization restoration work on the graner-veerkamp farmhouse is being funded through a $474,000 competitive grant provided by the california cultural and historical endowment cche to arc additional grant funds are being sought to decorate the farmhouse in period furnishings and provide climate control and security systems necessary to complete interpretive and artifact exhibits.

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page 3 the current autumn september october november 2010 partnerships continued from page 1 in finding a solution to this funding problem it might be helpful to divide it into ,ownership and ,management considerations the 46,000 acres of the folsom and auburn state recreation areas are currently under federal ownership reclamation is in business to build and operate dams not to manage recreational facilities and wildlife landscapes this role is better served by the blm who is also a department of interior agency ownership should be returned administratively to the blm with the understanding that these recreation areas are still linked to the central valley project and continue to play a role in protecting and delivering quality drinking water from the american river to 22 million californians over time the blm and congress should investigate the re-designation of this area as a national recreation area in terms of management blm should continue to contract with state parks to operate certain high-use facilities in and around lake natoma and folsom lake in my opinion the blm does a better job managing and patrolling larger recreational and wildlife landscapes and state parks does a better job in managing high use recreational facilities redwood national and state parks along northern california s coast is an appropriate model for this style of joint state and federal management management funding could come from at least four sources recreational day use fees a new and small surcharge placed on the sale of ,federal water from folsom lake an increase in annual funding to state parks and an increase in federal funding from the federal department of interior the basis for this funding is clear and supportable first recreational day use fees are currently charged and should continue second managed open space in and around lake natoma folsom lake and the north and middle forks of the american river protect the quality of water delivered to 25 million californians and it is in their best interest to subsidize the maintenance of this water quality third the folsom and auburn state recreation areas are among the most popular state recreational areas and have significant regional and statewide economic benefits consequently state parks should continue to invest in this resource all trail and boating enthusiasts should consider supporting the california parks 18/car registration ballot measure this november which would provide state parks with a dependable annual income that would help state parks to support management of their selected ,state park facilities fourth the folsom and auburn state recreation areas are federal lands and an integral part of the central valley project consequently federal department of interior funds should continue to support the maintenance of these watershed and wildlife corridors lastly reclamation blm and state parks should expand their partnerships with regional non-profit conservation organizations these non-governmental organizations ngos make excellent partners in providing volunteers to monitor and help maintain trails campgrounds rivers and other boating facilities ngos are also adept at securing grant funds and private donations which may assist in the development of a management endowment of course political support is always helpful all folsom and auburn state recreation area users and sacramento-area residents have a vested interest and should write letters to senators boxer and feinstein and congressman mcclintock urging continued federal support for the management of these important american river landscapes please take a minute or two and address a letter of support senator barbara boxer 501 i street suite 7-600 sacramento ca 95814 senator diane feinstein one post street #2450 san francisco ca 94104 congressman tom mcclintock 4230 douglas blvd #200 granite bay ca 95746

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page 4 the current autumn september october november 2010 education update our first ever epic sierra adventures trip wrapped up on july 24th eleven teens ages 15-18 traveled through the sierra range hiking and paddling along the way highlights included rafting the south fork and doing an all-day ropes course with mother lode river center teens also visited lake tahoe where they kayaked with tahoe adventure company and worked on a portion of the tahoe rim trail with the tahoe rim trail association the latter part of the trip featured stops in mammoth and june lakes where participants helped forge a new hiking trail around gull lake after a 3 day backpack in tuolumne meadows the youths visited yosemite valley and worked with park rangers on weed removal in the meadows along the merced river we are looking forward to teaching the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts the importance of preserving open spaces and the value of volunteering each participant gave 15 hours of volunteer service for habitat and trail restoration projects through partnerships with the blm tahoe rim trail association friends of the inyo national park service and the yosemite conservancy we were able to give these teens an experience worth remembering for a long time to come with one more epic sierra trip starting august first we are slowly wrapping up another successful summer camp season over 80 youths ages 4-11 and nearly 30 teen counselors participated in 4 separate summer camps over the past 2 months check out our photo collage insert to see just what we accomplished at this year s tracks n trails camp school is back in session mid-august so if you re a teacher be sure to think about the american river conservancy and nature center for field trips and nature education programs we ll start taking registrations at the end of august spots can fill up fast especially in the spring homeschool tuesdays fall is around the corner with fall comes a new year of homeschool tuesdays a change from last year s thursday events we plan to meet the third tuesday of each month beginning in october we hope to sign up with more homeschool groups as vendors to reduce the financial effect on families and to increase participation if you are a member of a homeschool other than south sutter where we are already a vendor and are interested in using us for some of your science education let us know we can work together to put us on your school s vendor reimbursement list so plan to join other homeschoolers in engaging hour-and -a-half science programs here at the arc nature center in coloma do fun activities play related games interact with other homeschoolers and have fun learning something new we d love to have you join our dedicated group of regulars what s in the corner don t miss our current corner exhibit on sustainability on display through early october you may be inspired by what some of your county neighbors are doing and amazed at just how many earths your own lifestyle would take to maintain we may think we are living ,green until we see what our impacts really are fortunately there are many things we can do to continue reducing our footprint including some you may not have thought about or didn t realize were important try your hand at outfitting our sustainable model house beautifully made by volunteer hersch leffler and add a leaf to our tree to let us know what you personally are doing our next corner exhibit will feature public lands revel in their beauty understand their value and be inspired by what your neighbors are doing to protect them this exhibit will be particularly timely considering the upcoming november vote concerning state parks watch for this new exhibit in mid-october or if you d like to help create it contact alice@arconservancy.org carla soracco hosted a valuable retreat for arc environmental educators at her cabin in june plans for a possible family camp next year in the sierra were also discussed thank you carla!

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page 5 the current autumn september october november 2010 homeschool tuesdays registration required for all programs all classes 10 11:30 am at the arc nature center in coloma $12/student for members $15/student for non-members quantity discount buy 7 get the 8th one free if purchased before november 1st please send payment one week before program please contact alice or molly at 530-621-1224 to sign up thank you to all nature camp counselors and counselors in training allison armstrong kacie atkinson sarah bennett rebecca boyes helena cosentini kyle covington michael curtis sarah erickson camille holland michaela hughes giguette knochenhauer gita kushwaha elana linker ben london rachel mcvicar moira mcvicar daniel michelson michaela neal jacqueline nisson alexandra nisson spencer nisson haley owens nathan poer noelle ritzman paige ritzman addison scott forrest sundquist rachel symons maya vrechek paper capers october 19 recommended age 6-10 kick off our new year of homeschool programs by making a beautiful nature journal out of pressed leaves flowers and your own handmade paper we will use these journals all year as we record our findings as we recycle paper to make new paper we will also learn about the history of paper and how exactly it is recycled in our own community suggestions as to field trips where you can see part of the process will be offered participants are encouraged to press their own leaves or flowers and bring them to our class although we will also have plenty available for those who don t have time need info on how exactly to press items call us a week ahead and we will be happy to give you pointers geology what goes up must come down november 16 recommended age 6-10 our second program of the year will focus on the amazing rocks and geologic processes in our own county each participant will leave with a ,treasure map to use to locate types of rock throughout the county we will also look at rocks under a microscope experience erosion and try some fun erosion experiments we may even create a volcano be prepared for a short walk in the park to look at rock processes in action special thanks to our adult volunteers martha and manny deaquino sara canfield lester lubetkin kathryn hayes fid and john sherman kathie matto and dana lashley martha provided great support and leadership for the 4 5-year-old camp mannie gave a first aid overview for our teen counselors kathie also returned this year to help at 4 different camps sara was a great help with the 911 year old camp lester and kathryn provided invaluable support for the campout as did fid and john who boated our food and water in last but not least many thanks to our summer intern dana for helping prep and lead camp activities camp funnies 6 year old camper ,i feel like i m going to melt 7 year old camper i feel like i m going to steam how campers describe the summer heat camper ,look i think it s a baby eagle counselor ,oo maybe sarah counselor camper ,see look at its talons dissecting an owl pellet at the 6-8 year old tracks `n trails camp ,i appreciate myself for dunking 11 times a camper expressing his self-appreciation during an appreciation circle ,is this an advertisement for anti-bacterial gel one camper s comment after watching a skit about scat and how you can observe it just remember to wash your hands afterwards

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page 6 the current autumn september october november 2010 many hands make light work by elena delacy whether we recognize it or not the very nature of the work we do at the american river conservancy is built upon the interconnected web of life we work to protect although it s true that many species don t always work together towards a mutual beneficial outcome there are many examples of cooperation in nature that come to mind mutualistic interactions are vital for terrestrial ecosystem function as more than 70 of land plants rely on mychorrizal relationships with fungi to provide them with minerals and trace elements mutualism is thought to have driven the evolution of much of the earth s biological diversity think flowers and pollinators and coevolution between groups of species when i think of everything the american river conservancy has accomplished in the last 21 years it strikes me that nothing would have happened absent any one of the partners involved true all projects start out as a dream vision or idea but making a dream a reality is an entirely different undertaking bringing people organizations and agencies together to realize the vision of healthy land rivers and communities is an effort that takes time and patience luckily we have help from many who have the same vision when asked why the udvardy family donated a conservation easement to the american river conservancy monica udvardy answered ,we want to see as much as possible of this part of the county remain as it was when we came here the el dorado county and georgetown divide resource conservation districts rcds is a semi-governmental agency that collaborates with stakeholders in the region watershed coordinator melissa marquez states ,it is important to incorporate the goals and insights of different organizations in project development to meet a holistic goal for natural resource management arc is currently collaborating on projects with the rcds to meet the common goal of improving watershed health the south fork american river trail is a project that brings together many people agencies groups and foundations to focus on a common goal the american river conservancy certainly has what could be called a mutualistic relationship with the local mother lode field office of the bureau of land management this 21-year partnership with the blm has helped protect over 11,000 acres and build over 25 miles of recreational trail that s not to mention the thousands of hours put in by volunteers and millions of dollars that public and private funders have contributed scott vail and wife vicky arc members and volunteers regularly use land along the river to hike run and swim scott knows that ,neither the arc nor blm have sufficient budgets to maintain the land so that falls to the users to help out and they do in 2009 alone american river conservancy volunteers donated over 4,600 hours this is only a glimpse of the multitude of partnerships that have been forged over the years as we move forward towards completing more projects new partnerships will emerge and old ones will be strengthened the vision of a sustainable future in our region and beyond is obviously shared by many the american river conservancy community has definitely found its niche where thousands of mutualistic interactions have arisen.

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page 7 the current autumn september october november 2010 program calendar september 2010 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday october 2010 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday november 2010 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 27 28 29 30 31 28 29 30 thursday the 2nd friday the 3rd saturday the 11th friday the 17th saturday the 18th saturday the 25th saturday the 25th sunday the 26th 6-7:30 pm 6:30-7:30 pm 7am-noon 6-7:30pm 9-11am 9am-noon 10-11:30am 9am-1pm september 2010 donner summit presentation vernal pools-magnificent mud puddles new trail hike-so fork american river sexual selection lecture lichen walk great sierra river clean-up kdd-animal tracking sacred nature trail walk saturday the 2nd sunday the 3rd thursday the 7th saturday the 9th saturday the 9th saturday the 9th saturday the 16th saturday the 16th tuesday the 19th sunday the 17th sunday the 17th saturday the 23rd sunday the 24th saturday the 30th october 2010 8-9:30pm fall stargazing 10am-noon kdd-poetry workshop 6:30-7:30pm hike leader training 9am-2pm new trail hike-so fork american river 9am-3:30pm pine needle basket class 7-9pm cowboy poetry music by the campfire 9am-1:30pm pine needle basket class 8am-4:30pm iowa hill/stevens trail hike 10-11:30 am home school tuesday-paper capers 10:30am-1:30pm lunch with a llama 11am-3pm blood drive 9am-2pm new trail hike-so fork american river 10am-1pm edible acorns 10am-3:45pm poles for hiking walking and exercising november 2010 new trail hike-so fork american river innovative home tour #6 japanese peace garden tour browns ravine hike kdd-falconry presentation home school tuesday-geology saturday the 6th sunday the 7th thursday the 11th saturday the 13th sunday the 14th tuesday the 16th 9am-2pm 2-3:30pm 10am-1pm 8am-2pm 1-3pm 10-11:30am thursday the 2nd 5:30-8:30pm december 2010 winter dinner-save the date our mission the american river conservancy serves our community by protecting and enhancing natural habitats where wildlife can flourish through education and recreation we promote a broad ethic of stewardship ensuring healthy ecosystems now and for the future.

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page 8 the current autumn september october november 2010 programs plus kids discovery days kdd-animal tracking saturday september 25th 10 ­ 11:30 am whose tracks are those join sierra wildlife rescue to examine and identify field signs left behind by the critters around your home and on local trails it s amazing what you can discover when you know how to read the signs each child will take home a plaster cast of an animal print fee $5 per cast/child children 7 welcome we encourage parent help with this project coloma area kdd-poetry workshop people as observers and partners with the natural world lichen walk saturday september 18th 9 ­ 11 am as early as the mid 1800 s botanists became aware that lichens were becoming uncommon in areas within and surrounding large towns and cities they began to recognize that air pollution emitted from these urban areas was affecting the colonization and growth of these organisms come meet some of the lichens nature s own air pollution monitors cheryl beyer forest botanist on the lake tahoe basin will lead this walk looking at some of the lichens in the sierra foothills children 12 w/adult supervision welcome rain or shine suggested donation $5 members 10 non-members location tbd sacred nature trail walk sunday september 26th 9 am ­ 1 pm many of us spend trail time studying interesting plants enjoying companionship or solitude sharing earth-healing work or appreciating the beauty of columbine and cloud then there are those special moments when the beauty or sense of renewal is so heightened that we stand speechless touched by grace or mystery we slip out of our normal state of separateness into an awareness of something larger more majestic more connected more real muir momaday wordsworth oliver et al sing to us of these moments on this guided trail walk we will look for these moments with the focusing force of intention and with several simple disciplines the practices are not intrinsically difficult and not at all competitive but do require some concentration and selective focus therefore meditators and nature lovers are welcome but this is not a walk for children under 16 unless very mature we will start with some explanation and setting of intention the rest of the morning we will alternate among periods of focus-breath -walking reflection discussion and silent communion with nature beings that attract you your guide on this walk is john robert cornell he has been a meditator and backpacker/hiker for many years this will be an moderate walk of 3-4 miles location tbd suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members rain cancels from the 21st century to the 1860 s ­ iowa hill/stevens trail hike saturday october 16th 8 am ­ 4:30pm approx we ll combine the two sections of the historic stevens trail by beginning our hike in colfax and then fording the north fork american river near the original bridge site and continue hiking up to iowa hill after having lunch and checking out the ,store we will return by the same route for a total of 16 miles roundtrip the hike is rated difficult and should be hiked by those who hike long distance on a regular basis and are capable of hiking the 1900 foot elevation and fording the river this trail is not for people with a fear of heights narrow trails or cliffs the trail was originally used as a toll path from colfax down to secret ravine along the american river and then traveled up the other side to iowa hill which was a major metropolis during the gold rush period eventually the use of the trail died down as did gold fever and it was all but forgotten until 1959 when a sacramento area boy scout was credited with rediscovering the trail bob griffis who just returned from leading hikes in alaska for the summer will be leading this hike suggested donation $10members $15 non-members lunch with a llama sunday october 17th 10:30 am ­ 1:30 pm bring your kids parents grandparents and your lunch on this beautiful fall stroll this is a fun experience for everyone including the llamas linda abruzzini and friends will bring their trained pack llamas for a walk to the river in the pilot hill area approximately 4 easy miles rain cancels $5 members 10 non-members pilot hill area browns ravine-hike saturday november 13th 8 am ­ 2 pm woodpeckers and songbirds are active in this area during the fall and raptors are also a good possibility the nearby lake attracts grebes and other diving birds shorebirds can sometimes be found around the marina tim jackson maintains a website on local birds at www.eldoradobirds.com angela jackson is certified as an interpretive guide and is a writer/photographer of the natural world this is a 3-mile hike with little elevation change on unpaved multi -use trails 8 welcome with adult supervision heavy rain cancels suggested donation $5 members 10 non-members el dorado hills area sunday october 3rd 10 am ­ 12 pm children are natural observers eager to share what they notice join sacramento poets alexa mergen and joann anglin in this unique opportunity to encourage children s love of language and to learn the art of poetry writing this workshop explores the role of the observer in co-existing with the natural world a combination of reading word play writing and performance will give children the tools they need to craft their own poems and enhance creative thinking children are also welcome to share poems they have written or bring their favorite poems to read aloud alexa and joann are california poets in the schools cpits and enjoy teaching people of all ages throughout the region ages 8 14 welcome coloma area $10 per child $15 child +1 adult kdd/family-falconry presentation sunday november 14th 1 ­ 3 pm join falconer steve robello for this look at the ancient sport of falconry an aggressive world of hunting on the wing there will be a short video inside then we ll go outdoors this has turned into an annual event because of its popularity get a closeup look at beautiful hawks and falcons and conditions permitting witness a lure flying demonstration bring your camera and questions for a lively discussion coloma area suggested donation $5 members 10 non-members nature walks new trail hike-south fork american river cronan ranch to salmon falls bridge saturdays september 11th 7am-noon october 9th 23rd and november 6th 9 am ­ 2 pm come join us on our newly constructed trail opening this fall this is a fundraiser to assist arc in maintaining this new trail corridor hiking distance is approximately 8 miles with easy to moderate hiking our hike will take us along the west ridge of the cronan ranch down to the south fork american river with beautiful views of the coloma-lotus valley and the south fork american river canyon we start downstream from the cronan ranch through mixed oak woodland and conifer with occasional views of the lower american river gorge just upstream of satan s cesspool we ll emerge into mixed chaparral-covered slopes and then back into beautiful blue oak woodland recently acquired by arc finally our group will emerge onto a long-running ridge with excellent views of upper folsom lake and the sacramento valley the trail then drops down to acorn creek and the site of arc s pedestrian bridge construction project all programs require and on to the skunk hollow parking lot at the salmon sign-ups falls bridge and folsom lake a shuttle bus will pick please contact up our group at the skunk hollow parking lot and return julie@arconservancy.org us to our cars at the cronan ranch trailhead by approxior mately 2 p.m fit 10-year-olds welcome rain or shine 530-621-1224 donations encouraged for these special hikes.

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page 9 the current autumn september october november miscellany fall stargazing saturday october 2nd 8-9:30pm you re welcome to come as early as 7:30 if desired mark graybill and his astronomy group starforge will set up different stations focusing on a variety of ,must see locations in the autumn sky including views of jupiter and uranus the hercules cluster the lagoon and trifid nebulas the saturn nebula andromeda galaxy and pegasus cluster prominent constellations include the harp swan eagle hercules capricorn and pisces you do not need to sign up for this event it will be held at the magnolia ranch equestrian parking lot across from venezio s on hwy 49 in pilot hill bring chairs blankets and beverages if desired this event is free although we encourage donations to starforge for their time and effort please call for directions or with any questions before 3 pm the day of the event cancelled if rain or heavy clouds cowboy poetry music around the campfire saturday october 9th 7 ­ 9 pm bring the family and join poets alexa mergen bob stanley for a night of cowboy poetry and banjo pickin around the campfire bring your favorite cowboy poems saddle blankets and tin cup and travel back in time for this unique cowboy experience camp lotus has graciously offered to host our evening under the stars at their beautiful campground by the river www.camplotus.com cowboy and poetry lovers of all age welcome consider camping for the weekend where the advantage is you can just walk ,home arc blood drive sunday october 17th 11am ­ 3 pm please help us have another successful blood drive we ve had great community support in the past and hope we can pull it off again if you have never donated blood here are a few facts to encourage you fewer than one in ten people actually donate blood three teaspoons of blood can save a baby s life one donation has the potential to save as many as three lives and approximately one out of every seven people entering the hospital needs blood blood drive held at arc nature center 348 hwy 49 coloma please call to make an appointment 530-621-1224 or contact julie@arconservancy.org we need a minimum of 25 donors to make this blood drive successful all blood drive participants will receive a free t-shirt sixteen years with consent form and older welcome www.bloodsoure.org edible acorns sunday october 24th 10 am ­ 1 pm in this workshop expect to learn about our local oaks their importance to people and wildlife and their long history of use by people around the world and locally we will prepare acorns grinding and leaching and cook and taste them yum both old and current methods will be discussed and tried along with ideas of ways you can use acorns in cooking if you choose weather permitting we ll stroll through the park identifying the different local oaks and their acorns special treat we ll also prepare and sample manzanita cider judy johnson retired arc educator and lover of oaks will lead this program $10 members $15 non-members quiet 8-year-olds w/adult supervision welcome innovative home tour #6 sunday november 7th 2-3:30 pm join us at the hansen s for a tour of their energy efficient home in lotus some of the home s features include panels on the roof that provide electricity hot water and radiant floor heating electric clear story windows open for ventilation large sky lights tall glass doors reduce the need for artificial lighting an arbor to provide shade on the southern exposure of the house in summer cement stained siding that looks like natural redwood saves trees doesn t rot or become bug infested is fireproof rock mass tile for retaining heat/cold depending on the season a pedestal sink made from a downed oak tree on our property and an electric cabinet kitchen composter bob and denise hansen have lived in lotus since 1974 and built their own home in `81 bob is a technical director for a computer company and denise is a physical therapist they also have a daughter who has started a native plant nursery on their property suggested donation $5 members $10 non-members japanese peace garden tour thursday november 11th veteran s day 10 am ­ 1 pm bring your family to marvel at this private japanese peace garden in granite bay you will feel transported as our host boonie describes the beauty and history of her precious japanese paradise bring lunch and enjoy a picnic surrounded in fall colors 5 members 10 non-members quiet 10 year olds w/adult supervision welcome workshops/lectures donner summit-california s underappreciated historical treasure thursday september 2nd 6 ­ 7:30 pm followed by q&a sheila toner former board member active hiker and history major will share her love of the donner summit with participants almost everyone will learn something about this area which most people have driven past without thinking much about how it has shaped so much of california s history this small geographic area and natural treasure has also had a huge impact on the development of california from earliest times to the present coloma area suggested donation $5 members $10 non-members vernal pools ­ magnificent mud puddles friday september 3rd 6:30 7:30 pm followed by q&a come explore the amazing world of vernal pools these seasonal wetlands found throughout the central valley are composed of a unique and diverse assemblage of plants and invertebrates that are adapted to start life in water yet survive the dry arid summers of california with over 90 of california s vernal pools already lost to farming and development it is extremely important to protect what is left jinnah benn has a b.s degree in biology from humboldt state university she grew up in the lotus valley but did not know what a vernal pool was until she returned to the sacramento area after college she has since fallen in love with vernal pools and has spent eight years working with vernal pool systems she now works for the army corps of engineers in the regulatory division and is dedicated to honoring the corps goal of no net loss of wetlands coloma area suggested donation $5 members $10 non-members why does jack love jill sexual selection friday september 17 6 7:30 pm ever wondered why we have sex sure we need to have sex to produce offspring but why not just clone ourselves for that matter why have just two genders in the first place and if you are going to have sex how many partners should you have and how do you go about choosing those partners in the first place for something that seems to be a normal part of the existence of nearly all living things it can get pretty complicated and even pretty dangerous from time-to-time the black widow spider typically eats her mate after copulation but why and is he really ok with that join keely carroll as she talks about these issues and much more find out why sex can be really interesting parental guidance is suggested for younger attendees and should only be brought at their parent s discretion keely carroll is an assistant professor of biology at sierra college where she teaches courses in general biology natural history field ecology and environmental regulations her background is in wildlife ecology and she has a special interest in the evolution of sexual selection she is also the editor of the online journal the journal of the sierra college natural history museum ages 13 recommended $5 members 10 non-members coloma area pine needle basket making 2-day program saturday october 9th 9 am ­ 3:30 pm saturday october 16th 9 am ­ 1:30 pm because of its popularity this is one of the few workshops that we bring back every year jan rose arc member/volunteer will lead this two-day workshop to teach you how to start a basket out of pine needles and create designs all materials will be provided $35 members 45 non-members poles for hiking walking exercise field seminar hike saturday october 30th 10:00 am ­ 3:45 pm feel the power of using your whole body to explore nature hiking with poles is the ultimate win/win/win connect with your buddies while enjoying nature and getting a total body workout optimal use of poles helps to save your knees on downhill provides more power and endurance on uphill improves balance posture and upper body strength facilitates weight loss helps prevent injury learning this vital skill helps you expand your horizons as well as improve your fitness explore which poles fit and suit you best by trying a variety of top quality poles on the trail our instructor jayah faye paley creator of 2 award-winning dvd s on how to use poles has designed a program for arc that makes learning to use poles easy and fun multi-level training drills makes this class suitable for hikers of all ages moderately easy local trails in coloma will be used for this training session and practice hike minimum age 9 years with adult supervision $25 members 35 non-members or $50 for new membership class combined heavy rain cancels.

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page 10 the current autumn september october november 2010 realtors and environmentalists­ not-so-strange bedfellows by alice cantelow ,nestled in the pines

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page 11 the current autumn september october november 2010 don t miss the 2010 great sierra river cleanup saturday september 25 2010 9am ­ 12 noon we ll clean up various sites in the region including hangtown creek south fork american river traverse creek cosumnes river and folsom reservoir pick your site when you sign up the rivers of the sierra nevada region provide almost 65 of the state s developed water needs unfortunately our waterways have historically been a dumping ground for waste together we can help raise awareness about issues of watershed conservation fighting litter encouraging reduction of consumption and recycling and promoting community pride did you know that it takes 450 years for a plastic beverage bottle to decompose the great sierra river cleanup is a partnership with california coastal cleanup day for 26 years california coastal cleanup day has been the state s premier effort to involve the public in the stewardship of our coast ocean and rivers this is arc s 9th year participating in the largest annual cleanup day in california this year we are partnering with the local rcds eldorado national forest ca state parks city of placerville the blm and the sierra nevada conservancy join us in placerville after the cleanup for a celebration with live music and great food sponsorship opportunities are available for this event please contact elena delacy at arc if you d like to donate goods or services to help make the cleanup a success to sign up please visit www.arconservancy.org and click on the link to the online registration form for more information contact judith 530-621-1224 or elena 530-295-2190 many thanks to joanne neft for donating 10 copies of her fabulous new cookbook placer county real food we now have them for sale in our book store with 100 of the proceeds to benefit arc your arc staff in kanaka valley from back left michael dotson david morrill judith gossett maureen sorensen elena delacy alice cantelow amy hoffman molly hucklebridge from bottom left julie andert alan ehrgott

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page 12 the current autumn september october november 2010 program hike leaders thank you we have several people to thank for helping arc put on great programs and hikes this summer you are so appreciated thanks for all you do keith atwater john robert cornell howard williams kay osborn david rosen california canoe kayak cck phil and mary deriemer betty sederquist robert mackler judy johnson scott underwood and mother lode river trips brigit truex rene hamlin and marcus christian nikki duncan and kresta painter we had great hikes and walks investigated creatures of the night had bhutan and galapagos slide-shows and taught basket weaving poetry and solar cooking workshops we also had kayak and yoga fundraisers be sure to check out what s in store for the fall on pages 8 -9 thank you again to all our volunteers and supporters who make these programs possible if you have ideas for hikes or programs or would like to lead or teach please give me a call julie andert 530-621-1224 or julie@arconservancy.org public program and outreach coordinator 530-621-1224 stargazing with starforge wine tasting under the stars many thanks to starforge astronomy group who brought 6 telescopes and david girard vineyards who provided wine and the perfect location for sharing the night sky with over 100 attendees during this amazing star-gazing event.

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page 13 the current autumn september october november 2010 volunteer opportunities contact judith to sign up for these opportunities 530-621-1224 or judith@arconservancy.org river cleanups join the american river conservancy and el dorado county as we clean up the south fork american river on august 25 2010 the day will be focused on the middle stretch in coloma call noah 530-626-7225/530-6216052 or judith for more information or to sign up we ask that volunteers be physically fit and have some experience rafting the river for this activity bluebird nest monitoring-3 more weeks help blm and arc track bluebird nests at magnolia ranch we are at the end of the season we continue to monitor bluebird boxes at magnolia ranch schedules vary weekly data entry help the nature center environmental education and public programs with entry updates you may sign up for any day including weekends general office work is also needed ebay giving works we are looking for a computer savvy volunteer to help sell items on ebay to benefit the american river conservancy we need someone to photograph the items and upload the photo write a description make a listing answer seller questions and ship the items all fees and shipping will be paid by arc you could do this at home or on one of our computers in the nature center contact judith yard work weeding at the nature center we are working on a tri-fold self-guided tour brochure of the native plants around the nature center please help us get ready by sprucing up the yard we have some non-native grass and weeds that need to be pulled and mulch to be placed we need help on an ongoing basis let judith know when you will be available to help with this project winter dinner adopt-a-table call judith if you d be willing to decorate a table for winter dinner december 2nd.

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page 14 the current autumn september october november 2010 eddies volunteering in summer 2010 thank you to all who have volunteered their time to the american river conservancy the last part of april thru july 2010 contributing close to 1,500 hours volunteers participated in trail workdays river clean-up days invasive weed control bluebird monitoring and oak planting maintenance some of the nature center volunteers did gardening watering office work data entry mass mailings project planning library organizing flyer distribution and docent support volunteers supported environmental education programs such as p.e.e.r caby summer camps and nature bowl volunteers also gave numerous hours to tabling at events such as georgetown nature fest and earth day trailfest volunteers contributed close to 600 hours out of the above total a special thanks to keith askew for installing our new phone system and to artist lew wilson for photos of the scenic south fork many thanks to our partners at the blm mother lode field office local greenwood california conservation corps california department of fish and game california state parks resource conservation district and tracks for facilitating projects thanks to our supporters for food donations for river clean-ups ponderosa resort river shack marco s café coloma resort café mahjaic sierra rizing and coloma club thanks to our individual volunteers kelly ahola david allan david m allen iris alvarez andre anderson calvin anderson robin anderson andre anderson martha aranda keith joan askew keith atwater annette bachmeier wacy barbour misty bastunas michael bean loretta benge brian bennett jarma bennett jeff bennett mele bennett william bennett nancy bentley big bird luke blackmore randy blackmore sue britting dawn brown neil brown patty buhlert alexandria burough markquis butler danny callaway jennifer calvin alice cantelow candis cantin robin center rosie chin marcus christian janet cicero catherine ciofalo laura clegg abby cocreham alexandria cocreham darren cocreham charlie coffman victoria coleman clint collins alex conner john robert cornell luis cortes courtney covington emily creegan robert dalton eddie davis martha manny deaquino coleman dede richard del aquila elena delacy juliana delacy phil deriemer alan ehrgott eric furtado morgan fessler drew foster luanne finn kile foltz jonathan friedman ian godfrey judith gossett bob griffis ray griffiths wendy guglieri elizabeth gutierrez shenelle gutierrez kathryn hayes amy hoffman shawn hoffman stephen hyden nick howe penny humphreys jessie hunter dawn infurna-bean dylan ivy angela jackson tim jackson judy johnson melissa jones nicholas jones richard jones brody jordan tony julian demetri katsilometes raymonique kelly ron kidd mark koontz phaedra krizo barbara lee julie leimbach carlos lazo hersch leffler chris lewis austin long betsy long ken long kaitlin lubetkin lester lubetkin robert mackler doni mae bethany massey kathie matto wolf maydak rachel mcclean ginny mccormick kathy mccoy alison mccullough claire meloy tracy meloy ryan minihan matthew morris kerry moulin heather mumy john mumy bradley needles kris needles erich nolan ilia nuevo emily olin donna orth kay osborn kylie paris-sallo matt petrich ray pingle david pope lee pope owen pope wyatt pope joe pratchard dan rathbun kyler rayden morgan reed aidan robinson declan robinson noel robinson jose rodriguez rosza romvari jody rowell justin salch andrew schurr andre schoorl betty sederquist jeff shaffer heather shakespeare joe shaller russ shaller fid and john sherman ajita sherer diana sherer julia siegle carla soracco shayne stacy janice stanley julie stanley mark taylor sheila toner diana toon brigit truex john tully joselle tully scott underwood vicky vail britt van boolen sarah vardaro aleena vela elizabeth vela hector vela john vela linda renee vela dana walsh mari wells alex werder greg widrow coralie wilhite zack wilfley howard williams lew wilson gail wilson jennifer witz roxanne witz reyna yagi the american river conservancy is a member of earth share of california providing charitable giving opportunities in the workplace for more information on how you can get involved with one or more of these programs contact the conservancy.

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page 15 the current autumn september october november 2010 thank you american river conservancy summer supporters renewing members allan david anderson m jean bailey carol basham household bennett household berger-olsen stacy bitzer household brewer household brickel household butler alice choulos saori clayton household clement household daniels household zappettini household deaquino household deriemer household durst ani deeanne england household erickson household finney-stephens household frame household galloway household gossett judith gressi household griffis bob harrigan barbara heyward household holbrook household howard alice ingle barbara knost household lee household turoff household meagher household mobus morgan household mutz bert o farrell susan powell household robinson julie roeca household nadolski household scott household shiro household steiner kurt tassinari household vail household vincent noreen wall household white household winkler household artc/trail donors auriga cellars bean household boeger winery britting household brucia household butler alice cafe mahjaic chateau davell collins clint david girard vineyards delacy household thorpe household ehrgott household gold hill vineyards hewlett-packard jackson brad lava cap winery lee household leffler household lind household o farrell susan osborn household sacramento hiking meet-up group sayo alan venezio vineyards winery vineyards madrona woods laura new members alexander mary arikawa ben armstrong tristyn arsenith sharon callahan sandra devereux household freeman chris harach jennifer kaufman household kreutz kara land household leasure household long steven martin anne meyer household robertson household smith-oxnaes jane sperber loren tratos household van pelt lee wakamatsu donors aizawa hatsuro amemiya household clement household dote grace famarato rumi fong sato household levenson household fujii household fujikawa jean fujinaga household fujito household gutierrez richard ricky hanamoto household hirayama household hirayama n hisatsune household hopkins susan igoe household iino masako ishigaki teresa ishizu household itow laurie kashima patti kishida harumi kitayama kimiko kono household lew household maeyama henry uno household mayeda sachiye mayeda household mizota household mizuhara household in honor of gene itogawa smith household mori yoko mune hisako murata household nakamura nakanishi laura nakano barbara namba shigeru nanya household nelson household nishimura household karen nishimura in honor of hiroyuki dorothy nishimura nomura kay npo corporation in honor of ms.kazuko ohno legend matsuyama kazuko obata keiko okubo anne rusk michiko sakamoto wesley sakamoto yoshinori sakamoto arleen sasaki s.k schlanze household uchida alice urata household uratsu household uyeda household yabu shigeru yamaguchi ryoko yamashita household yano marcella yonemura kenneth y yoshida household yoshiyama james in-kind other donors adventure connection inc café mahjaic carroll household coloma club coloma resort donation line llc earth share of california glad amy in memory of ned peterson harvey household humphreys household la rue scarlet marco s café mccombs household mckimmie michele ponderosa resort proctor household shoemake naomi sierra disposal services-sds sierra rizing starns jean the river shack vierra catrina whiteside nancy ee/nest/caby wyrick dan the american river conservancy is located in the american river nature center inside the marshall gold discovery state historic park at 348 hwy 49 coloma ca the nature center book store are open to the public thrusday thru sunday from 11 am-3 pm our offices are open to volunteers and supporters monday thru friday from 8 am-4 pm and weekends from 11 am-3 pm we can be reached by phone at 530 621-1224 or online at www.arconservancy.org.

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