Tag Archives: Gualala Point Regional Park

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Despite all the valid reasons to deny the Dogwood timber harvest plan, the logging in the floodplain of the Gualala River, CAL-FIRE has just approved it. The logging plan starts at the boundary of Gualala Point Regional Park Campground and then goes up river for more than five miles. The solid red in the photo below shows Dogwood. The red with yellow is "Apple," a recently approved THP.

Apple and Dogwood THP Boundaries - Handout (Large)There will be a Community Protest Rally at Gualala Point Regional Park on Saturday July 16, from 11 am to noon. Sonoma County Parks has waived the entrance fee for this event. Enter the park on the west side of Highway One. Just after the pay station, is a parking area called the Salal parking area. We will congregate there, beginning at 10:30 am.

COMMUNITY RALLY TO PROTEST THE TIMBER HARVEST PLAN CALLED DOGWOOD - yellow!At 11 we will walk down the path in the meadow, which passes by the Serge, totems, and then to the parking area which overlooks the Gualala River Lagoon.

Mike Shoys recently photographed some of Dogwood. You will see mature Redwood trees marked in blue for logging.

Dogwood3 by Mike Shoy Dogwood2 by Mike Shoy Dogwood4 by Mike ShoyThe new owners of this land, some 29,000 acres, should not be allowed to log in the floodplain of the river. These 400+ acres are a part of the Gualala River's ecosystem.This area was logged nearly a hundred years ago. It shouldn't have been logged then and it shouldn't be logged now.

We urge the Burch family to sell these 400+ acres to Sonoma County Regional Parks where the land would be added to the existing park, giving our community, and those who visit our area, a river park to cherish.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To learn much more about Dogwood, here is the link to the Friends of the Gualala River's website: http://gualalariver.org/

You will read on FoGR's website that a "Notice of Intent to Sue" has been filed by FoGR and Forest Unlimited. They will need donations for this necessary legal action. Here is Forest Unlimited's website: http://forestunlimited.org/about-us/mission/

Hope to see some of you at the protest rally on Saturday!

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Gualala Point Regional Park has so many wonderful aspects to it. It's one of my favorite parks to walk with Rick and our golden retriever, Sunny, which is what we did today. With the King Tides, the ocean was roiled up and big breakers crashed against bluffs and the sandy beach.

Wendy Bailey walked there recently and she was taken by the autumn grasses, which she entitled amber waves of grain.

Amber waves of grain - Gualala Point Regional Park by Wendy Bailey

The Gualala River lagoon has filled up in recent days. At high tide the ocean is spilling over the sandbar that has the river closed. And we've had several small rain events. It's quite kayak-able right now and this weekend could be the perfect time to get in a trip on the river.

Thanks to Wendy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Paul Brewer has a knack for taking beautiful photos. Here are two photos of a recent sunset. The first shows the Serge, a ceremonial hitching post, with the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Sunset and the Serge 8-10-2015 by Paul Brewer Sunset and the Gualala River 8-10-2015 by Paul Brewer

The second photo shows the Gualala River, which is currently blocked off from the Pacific Ocean by a big sandbar. It won't open until enough rain has fallen, usually sometime in the fall.

To learn more about this wonderful park, and about the Serge, here is the link: http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Get_Outdoors/Parks/Gualala_Point_Regional_Park.aspx

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

 

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Mary Sue Ittner was enjoying summer wildflowers at Gualala Point Regional Park. On the beach she found Yellow Sand Verbena, Abronia latifolia.

Yellow Sand Verbena by Mary Sue Ittner

This native wildflower is a member of the Four-O'Clock family and, like some of you, enjoys sand and sun!

Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Gualala Point Regional Park is a great place to see wildlife. Harm Wilkinson recently photographed a handsome four-point Buck at the park.

A handsome four-point Buck by Harm Wilkinson

I will be speaking at the park on Saturday, July 18th, noon at the visitors' center. I'll be talking about all the different sightings you can see there. The event is free though there is a day use/parking fee of $7.00 if you haven't purchased an annual pass. Where to purchase a pass? The Four-eyed Frog Bookstore, of course...and from park rangers.

Thanks to Harm for allowing me to share his photo with you here.