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| Calendar |
| All Day |
Ione's Walk For The Troups is April 27
Ione, CA...We're going to be doing our walk for the troops again this year. We'll be walking to Howard Park where there we will have music, raffles, horse shoe tournament, a wounded warriors obstacle coarse (which consist of a team of 4 people), food, beer and wine.
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| 09:00 AM - 09:00 AM |
Relay For Life of Calaveras County
Come join us for Relay For Life of Calaveras County at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp. This 24-hour "celebration of life" brings the Calaveras community together in a unified effort to celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. Relay is a family-oriented event open to the public where you will find games, fun activities, local entertainment, and food.
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| 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM |
Petroglyphe Gallery Hosts April 26-28 Watercolor Workshop with Dale Laitinen
Watercolor Workshop for Experienced Artists with Dale Laitinen
“Finding Your Nature Through Nature”
Friday, April 26 - Sunday, April 28, 2013
9 am – 4:00 pm each day
Indoor/Outdoor
"Finding Your Nature Through Nature" is intended for experienced artists who have knowledge in drawing and painting, and acquaintance with watercolor. In this workshop participants will go beyond the obvious to discover the hidden truths in the natural world. The demonstrations and hands-on painting will employ the five art elements: line, shape, value, color, and texture in a practical way that aids in the journey to a visual language. Join us at Petroglyphe Gallery for this exciting workshop of visual discovery.
Please visit www.gallerypetroglyphe.com/event/workshops for more info and to download the registration form or call 209-286-1387. Registration is limited to 12 participants.
Petroglyphe Gallery is located at 8317 Main Street, Mokelumne Hill, California, two blocks off of Highway 49, across the street from the historic Hotel Legér. The gallery is open Thursdays through Saturdays 11:30 am - 5:30 pm and Sundays 11:30 am - 4:00 pm.
Dale Laitinen is best known for his watercolor paintings of the mountains and deserts of the Western United States. He is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. Laitinen has conducted workshops throughout the United States and in France. He lives and works in Mountain Ranch, California.
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| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Seminar-Our Past Through Trees
Join Biology Professor Nancy E. Muleady Mecham as she introduces you to trees, how they grow in nature, and what they can tell us about the past when tree rings are studied. Doc Nancy completed a Fellowship in Dendrochronology at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research in Tucson, Arizona and is an expert on Giant Sequoia Ecology. Nancy had a 27-year career as a United States National Park Service Ranger, is a Fulbright Scholar, and has extensive travel and teaching experience.
All Seminars will be held in Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
from 10:00 am-12 noon There is a day-use fee to enter the Park. The seminars are free and open to the public. Pack a lunch, bring the family and plan on spending the day among the Giant Sequoias. For more information call Calaveras Big Trees Association at (209)795-3840 or visit our website at www.bigtrees.org
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| 10:00 AM |
Weekend Steam-Powered Excursion Train Rides
All aboard as Railtown 1897 State Historic Park resumes its popular steam-powered excursion train rides through California’s scenic Gold Country! While the Park is open daily, on weekends beginning April 6, guests will enjoy a memorable six-mile, 45-minute round trip ride along the rails of the famous “Movie Railroad.” To kick off the new season, excursion train rides will be offered behind “Movie Star Locomotive” Sierra No. 3 on opening weekend. Plus, local residents from Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties can visit the Park and ride completely free with proof of residency this first weekend only. And, Railtown 1897 visitors can also enjoy other opening weekend festivities such as live music, tours of the historic Roundhouse and demonstrations of the historic, belt-driven machine shop. Capacity is limited for steam-powered excursion train rides so guests are encouraged to arrive early. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the ticket window beginning at 10 a.m. on the days the trains are running. After opening weekend, Railtown 1897 SHP plans to offer steam-powered excursion train rides behind Sierra No. 3 on Saturdays and vintage diesel locomotives on Sundays through the 2013 operating season. Additionally, diesel train rides will be offered on Wednesdays throughout the summer season (July 10 through August 28). Because the schedule is subject to change with expanded service on holiday weekends, etc., visitors are encouraged to call 209-984-3953 or visit www.railtown1897.org for updated information.
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| 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM |
Anniversary FUN FESTIVAL
Celebdrating our 7 years of ownership of Angels Camp RV Resort, we are opening the Resort to the community in a "thank you" for all he support in these 7 years: craft faire, wood carving and food prep demos, free hot dogs/chips/soda, live music, a dog show in our new dog park, wine tasting, kids games (hula hoop contest, water balloon toss, etc), horseshoe contest, and much more. Free. Come celebrate with us -- evening ends in a fire, baked pies, and karaoke!
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| 11:30 AM |
Food and Wine Tours, Murphys
Food and Wine Tours, Murphys - 800-407-8918
Fridays and Saturdays 11:30am. Tours are 3-1/2 hours and 1.5 miles of walking along historic Main Street. Many food stops are included. Get the inside story about the area’s rough-and-tumble past. Call or visit http://www.Local-Food-Tours.com for more information and reservations.
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| 03:00 PM |
Middle San Joaquin Watershed meeting minutes and next stakeholder meeting
Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item
Our next meeting is scheduled for March 27th, 3:00-5:00 P.M. in Merced. We will not be having a meeting in February. Our guest speaker in March will be Laura Jensen with the Nature Conservancy and she will be presenting on the San Joaquin Blueway.
The intent of the San Joaquin River Blueway is to create a mosaic of well-managed parks, wildlife refuges, and other public places that provides people with an opportunity to explore and enjoy the San Joaquin River watershed. The Blueway will help connect San Joaquin Valley residents and others to our shared natural and cultural heritage and to recreational opportunities while sustaining the area’s agricultural legacy and working landscapes. The San Joaquin Valley's economic stability rests upon agriculture, an industry reliant on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to irrigate over one million acres of farmland. Implementation of the Blueway will support working farms and ranches by encouraging schools and communities to emphasize preservation and interpretation of the Valley's agricultural heritage, and by providing opportunities for growers and entrepreneurs to highlight local foods and crop production. By promoting better management of public lands along the river, the Blueway will increase the number of people tracking river activity, creating more eyes on the river that will benefit surrounding landowners concerned about trespass on their land.
The San Joaquin River Blueway has the potential to become a nationally-significant asset. In May of 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior launched the National Blueways System. The System was established to provide a new national emphasis on the value and significance of a watershed approach to river conservation and encourage stakeholders to integrate their land and water stewardship efforts by forming watershed-based, community-led partnerships. The National Blueways System will provide a blueprint for communities to plan and manage for the health, resiliency, and connectivity of their rivers and watersheds. It supports communication, cooperation and collaboration among different stakeholders, who strive for an integrated approach to managing land and water resources.
Laura Jensen is the San Joaquin Valley Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy, based out of Sacramento, CA. Laura is responsible for developing and implementing conservation strategies that enhance habitat for migratory birds in the San Joaquin Valley. She works closely with a diverse array of partners to improve riparian and wetland habitat, and to promote the habitat value of working landscapes in the Valley. Laura has been with the Conservancy for five years. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
Final Meeting Minutes
Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder Meeting,
Wednesday, January 30th, 3:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Merced County Farm Bureau Office; 646 South Highway 59 in Merced.
Contents
Present. 1
Oksana Newman, Merced County, Henderson Park Restoration Project. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, East Merced Resource Conservation District, Save Our Parks Committee. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, River Dance Farms, Merced River Fair. 2
Cindy Lashbrook, EMRCD, Merced Watershed Workgroup. 3
Bernie Wade, Overview of Studies to Date.3
Guest Speaker, Michelle Workman, Habitat Restoration Coordinator and Fisheries Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program.. 3
Review and discussion of Visions, Purpose, Goals and Objectives. 4
Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item.. 5
Present
Cathy Weber
EMRCD
Troy Bruce
CDF&G
Scott Hall
CDF&G
Jean Kiel
Santa Fe Aggregates
Scott Ross
Santa Fe Aggregates
J.D. Wikert
USF&WS AFRP
Jill Ratzlaff
Landowner
Candace Sigmond
GEECE/GWD
Cindy Lashbrook
EMRCD/Riverdance Farms
Michelle Workman
USF&WS AFRP
Michael Brennan
City of Oakdale
Meghan Hertel
Audubon
Glenn Anderson
EMRCD
Ken Jensen
Merced
Holly Warner
Upper Merced Watershed
Ed Temple
Upper Merced Watershed
Mike Barkley
Candidate for Congress
Lynn Sullivan
Landowner
Michael Martin
Merced River Conservation River Committee
Mathew Danielczyk
Audubon
Oksana Newman
Merced County
Bernie Wade
Landowner
Daron McDaniel
Denham
Ester Ratzlaff
landowner
Chris Robinson
Landowner
Oksana Newman, Merced County, Henderson Park Restoration Project
The Henderson Park Restoration Project is a collaborative effort to develop river habitat for salmon, provide car-top boat access, a walking/running trail and interpretive/educational signs, and other recreational opportunities for the local community. Park facilities will also be upgraded. For more information about the project click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, East Merced Resource Conservation District, Save Our Parks Committee
The Committee has raised $64k and signed a contract for 3 years with State Parks for 50% cost share to keep McConnell and Hatfield State Parks open. The Committee will start a local stakeholder process to develop a management and development plan for the 2 parks with a local perspective. The parks are a place where local, working families can afford to get outside, camp, fish and have access to the river. The parks also harbor riparian habitat and oak woodlands. There are some problems with crime and marijuana cultivation in the parks that would likely be exacerbated by closing the gates to the parks. Cindy acknowledged all the work hours many folks have provided towards this effort including Richard Jantz and the EMRCD Board Members as well as the numerous financial contributions that came from individuals and entities in the Merced region. There was a mention of the loss of wild places for local kids to venture into and the parks are one of the last remaining for those that cannot afford to travel farther. For more information click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, River Dance Farms, Merced River Fair
The Merced River Fair at River Dance Farms, overlaps with Festival. Typically 15-20 agencies that have family/kid friendly events and booths. Show off local farming that works with the natural world and promotes local food. Events include: U-Pick Organic Blueberries, U-Pick Organic Cherries fruit sold at market wholesale price), Local, Organic and Native Food, Farm and Garden with Wildlife, Tractor Hay Rides, Live Animals; wild and farm, How-to Demos, Live Music, Storytellers, Native American Dancers, Art and Artisans, Farm and Local Craft Market, Kids’ Activities, Camping, River Kayak Trips; ~ a ‘three hour tour for $30 ($20 under 18) includes kayak, gear, guide and training. Reserve your vessel or bring your own. Cost: Saturday 10 AM till dark (and beyond for campers), $10 Adult Entry, $ 5 Kids / Students 3 to 20 and Seniors (65+). Laid Back Sunday 8 AM till 4 PM, $ 5 Adult Entry, $ 2 Kids / Students / Seniors, Saturday night Campsite $ 10. Free entry for volunteers. For more information click here.
Cindy Lashbrook, EMRCD, Merced Watershed Workgroup
Cindy suggested that the local workgroup get together soon and address the number of issues that are on the docket. She will be sending an email out to group members soon. There was discussion about river access points for the public with the concern from landownwers over liability and trash. It was suggested that the Forest Service’s ‘Leave No Trace’ program be emulated as a tool to reduce the trash problem.
Bernie Wade, Overview of Studies to Date.
There is some very relevant and important work that has been completed on the Merced River:
The Merced River Alliance Project of which the purpose “consists of joining two independent watershed management efforts to address issues collaboratively, to conduct biological assessment monitoring and to provide education and outreach to stakeholders in the upper and lower reaches of the Merced River watershed. The final report of the biological monitoring encompasses methods and results from a two-year, six season (Summer 2006 to Spring 2008) biological monitoring and assessment effort for the Merced River. The information is contained in 3 documents:
1. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume I, Project Overview, Outreach and Education.
2. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume II, Biological Monitoring and Assessment.
3. The Merced River Alliance Project, FINAL REPORT, Volume II, Biological Monitoring, and Assessment, APPENDICES.
Merced River Corridor Restoration Plan. This restoration Plan represents a multi-year collaboration among a broad spectrum of participants. The plan was developed through a joint project lead by the Merced County Planning and Community Development Department and Stillwater Sciences, working closely with the California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Water Resources, Merced Irrigation District, and the Merced River Stakeholder Group and Technical Advisory Committee.
Wildlife and Rare Plant Ecology of Eastern Merced County's Vernal Pool Grasslands ' by John E. Vollmar, Editor and Project Director, Vollmar Consulting, Berkeley.
Guest Speaker, Michelle Workman, Habitat Restoration Coordinator and Fisheries Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Anadromous Fish Restoration Program
Michelle presented on the History of Habitat Restoration on the Anadromous Portion of the Merced River. Michelle's work focuses on anadromous fish habitat restoration on the Merced River as well as implementing fisheries studies on the San Joaquin River as part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Michelle has bachelor's and master's degrees in Conservation Biology from California State University, Sacramento and has worked for the USFWS for 4 years and on salmonid management issues in regulated rivers of the Central Valley since 1993. A link to Michelle’s presentation with audio can be found here.
Review and discussion of Visions, Purpose, Goals and Objectives
Middle San Joaquin Stakeholder Visions
·Predictable/reliable water supplies for agriculture,
·Clean water for wildlife and people,
·Easier and more access to rivers,
·Habitat for spawning salmon,
·Increased and healthy riparian habitats,
·Improved flood management,
·Less trash along waterways,
·Regulations that are less laborious and burdensome for the agricultural community,
·Greater and broader understanding of and pride and support for our water supplies and river systems.
The group suggested changing the vision statement: “Habitat for spawning salmon,”
to “Providing a healthy environement for all components of the river ecosystem.”
The group discussed various ideas for the purpose of the Watershed Group and many goals and objectives were proposed in the discussions. They are outlined below. The term “Watershed Groups” is used with the aim of creating an overall vision for each of the tributaries in what is described as the Middle San Joaquin River Watershed that includes the: Lower Stanislaus, Lower Tuolumne, and Lower Merced Rivers. This is an ongoing discussion among the various stakeholders.
Proposed Purpose of Watershed Group(s): Foster community pride in and understanding of our water supplies and our river ecosystems.
Goal I: Greater and broader awareness and understanding of water supplies and river systems within the local communities;
Objectives:
1) Develop public relations program,
2) Increase outreach capacity to general public,
3) Develop outreach content;
Goal II: More green-belts and blue-ways along river systems;
Objectives:
1) Promote and advocate for green-belts and blue-ways;
Goal III: Greater public access to rivers;
Objectives:
1) Look for public access opportunities along river systems.
Goal IV: No trash along or in rivers;
Objectives: Address trash problem through:
1) Source reduction and education,
2) Promoting and hosting cleanup days and
3) Educating major sources of trash problem (i.e. male teens and 20 year olds);
Goal V: Greater integration and coordination of watershed group goals with other goals such as trail construction, flood attenuation, fish habitat, riparian habitat and predictable and reliable water supplies;
Objectives:
1) Facilitate communication among and outreach to the numerous entities working in the river systems and
2) Actively look for integration and coordination opportunities between the various goals.
Goal VI: Leverage and share commonalities and opportunities between the Lower Stanislaus, Lower Merced, and Lower Tuolumne River Watersheds as well as with other watershed groups;
Objectives:
1) Improve and maintain communication channels among the 3 watersheds
Of major concern in the Merced watershed is weed management, in large part because the historic dredging along the river, and may become a goal particular to the Merced and can be stated as Goal VII, reduce the population of weeds along the Merced River with the objective of develop a Weed Task Force to establish further objectives.
Next Meeting Date and Agenda Item
The group tentatively scheduled the next meeting for the end of February, dependent on availability of our guest speaker. The next available date turns out to be March 27th, 3:00-5:00 P.M. to be held in Merced. Our guest speaker will be Laura Jensen with the Nature Conservancy and she will be presenting on the San Joaquin Blueway.
The intent of the San Joaquin River Blueway is to create a mosaic of well-managed parks, wildlife refuges, and other public places that provides people with an opportunity to explore and enjoy the San Joaquin River watershed. The Blueway will help connect San Joaquin Valley residents and others to our shared natural and cultural heritage and to recreational opportunities while sustaining the area’s agricultural legacy and working landscapes. The San Joaquin Valley's economic stability rests upon agriculture, an industry reliant on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to irrigate over one million acres of farmland. Implementation of the Blueway will support working farms and ranches by encouraging schools and communities to emphasize preservation and interpretation of the Valley's agricultural heritage, and by providing opportunities for growers and entrepreneurs to highlight local foods and crop production. By promoting better management of public lands along the river, the Blueway will increase the number of people tracking river activity, creating more eyes on the river that will benefit surrounding landowners concerned about trespass on their land.
The San Joaquin River Blueway has the potential to become a nationally-significant asset. In May of 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior launched the National Blueways System. The System was established to provide a new national emphasis on the value and significance of a watershed approach to river conservation and encourage stakeholders to integrate their land and water stewardship efforts by forming watershed-based, community-led partnerships. The National Blueways System will provide a blueprint for communities to plan and manage for the health, resiliency, and connectivity of their rivers and watersheds. It supports communication, cooperation and collaboration among different stakeholders, who strive for an integrated approach to managing land and water resources.
Laura Jensen is the San Joaquin Valley Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy, based out of Sacramento, CA. Laura is responsible for developing and implementing conservation strategies that enhance habitat for migratory birds in the San Joaquin Valley. She works closely with a diverse array of partners to improve riparian and wetland habitat, and to promote the habitat value of working landscapes in the Valley. Laura has been with the Conservancy for five years. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
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| 05:00 PM - 06:15 PM |
Middle East Meddlers: An Address on the Middle East
First Baptist Church, Angels Camp
Sunday October 27 @ 5:00pm
1555 Depot Rd. 736-2464
www.fbcac.org
What is happening in the Middle East?
What does it mean for America and the rest of world?
America, Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Egypt are on the front lines of the Middle East stage, but find out what countries are really pulling the strings in the region.
Learn the startling insights to what the research in this message will reveal about the meddlers in the Middle East.
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