Tag Archives: Gualala River

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These reddish frogs are on the endangered species list. Roberta Chan spotted one at the campground at Gualala Point Regional Park on July 30th. The campground is near the banks of the Gualala River.

CA Red-legged Frog found 73116 by Roberta ChanRoberta previously photographed one in the same area in January of this year in the gravel bank of the Gualala River.

California Red-legged frog by Roberta ChanThis rare frog is found almost entirely in California. To learn more about this frog, here is a link to an interesting article: http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/california-red-legged-frog.aspx

Thanks to Roberta for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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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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If you visit Gualala Point Regional Park, the drive in will take you to this view spot. With the Gualala River lagoon, the town of Gualala on the right, and the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, Mike Nelson captured a beautiful sight.

The Gualala River lagoon by Mike NelsonThis was taken a week ago Friday, when an unexpected storm brought significant rain to the Mendonoma Coast.

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

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What an unusual common name for a beautiful rare wildflower - Sticky Chinese Houses! Peter Baye has been on a personal treasure hunt to find this beauty and he finally did. It was found on a rocky outcrop above the Gualala River. Its scientific name is Collinsia tinctoria.

Sticky Chinese houses, Collinsia tinctoria, by Peter BayePeter said each flower looks like it was hand-painted. Just gorgeous!

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

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Last week Rick Denniston photographed the Gualala River. You can see the tree with the root ball lodged in the sandbar.

A look at the Gualala River on Saturday by Rick Denniston

The next day, after a pretty big storm, this is what Rick saw. The tree with the root ball is now hanging over the eroded sandbar.

What a difference a day makes - the Gualala River on Sunday by Rick Denniston

Bob Rutemoeller photographed the fast and furious river.

The fast and furious Gualala River by Bob Rutemoeller

The muddy water stretched far out into the Pacific Ocean.

There is a community meeting tomorrow, Thursday March 17th, at 5:30 pm at the Gualala Community Center regarding a terrible timber harvest plan in the floodplain of the Gualala River dubbed "Dogwood." Hope to see some of you there!

For more information about the “Dogwood” logging plan, here's the link to Friends of the Gualala River website: http://gualalariver.org/slider-front-page/gualala-municipal-advisory-council-hold-public-meeting-gualala-river-mouth-redwood-logging-plan/

Thanks to Rick and Bob for allowing me to share their photos with you here.