Greetings!
Season's Greetings and Happy New Year from the Redwood Empire Chapter: There has not been much rain so far this year so maybe our Christmas wish should be for a very rainy 2014. RETU is looking forward to next year and our projects including Steelhead in the Classroom teacher training and incubator building, the Colgan Creek Watershed Education Project, the restoration work on Soda Creek in the upper Eel River watershed, restoration planning for the Hanson Gravel Pits in the Middle Reach of the Russian River and the recent installation of salmon id signs on the Garcia River. Below find articles on what RETU accomplished in 2013, and of course, if you would like to support our unique watershed work, please consider making a tax deductable year end donation to RETU by clicking on this handy link:  We could accomplish a lot more in 2014 with your involvement. Please contact your Board of Directors if you like to help us with our fun and important work! Season's Greetings and all the best in the New Year from your Board of Directors: Rick Jorgensen, Carlo Bongio and Brian Hines. May your days be sunny and bright and your line tight. |
 
Steelhead in the Classroom Teacher Training scheduled for Saturday, January 11 at the Warm Springs Visitor Center
For over 25 years now, RETU has started out the New Year with our training seminar for new teachers in RETU's Steelhead in the Classroom program in early January. The program has about 55 participating classrooms from Point Reyes to Covelo. The training is held at the Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma. Teachers learn about the curriculum that teaches the life-cycle and habitat needs of Steelhead and salmon. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife covers the procedures for receiving and transporting the 30 Steelhead eggs that are raised in the classroom.  In February, a workshop is held to build new aquarium / incubators for the teachers that need them. It is probably the most fun anyone ever has with styrofoam. Thank you to the Healdsburg School for hosting our workshop.
If you would like to RSVP for the January 11 training please email Brian Hines brian@ncsr.com. | |
For more information and to get involved in Steelhead in the Classroom, visit the RETU website!
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Garcia River Salmon
Signs of the Times
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On Saturday December 14, 2013 a salmon id sign installation work party took place along the banks of the Garcia River near Point Arena, CA. The Garcia River is a model of what we can do to restore a Northern California watershed and it's Coho Salmon and Steelhead fishery. The results of years of restoration effort and a model pollution reduction TMDL process have been very encouraging with Coho Salmon now returning and the wild Steelhead population growing. Ironically, this success has made the Garcia a target for poachers which has alarmed all the groups that worked so hard on the restoration work.  Educational signs about how to identify the River's salmonid species and the fishing regulations are designed to address the problem. How many restorationists does it take to install a salmon sign?
Many fine people and organizations made this project possible as you can see from the logos on the sign.
The Nature Conservancy paid for the signs and Congressman Jared Huffman's office helped organize the event. Gaining permission to install the signs from the various landowners was no small task and yeoman's work. Special thanks goes out to Friends of the Garcia (FROG) and the RETU volunteers that helped install the signs.
Great work everyone!
The Garcia River Estuary and Point Arena Lighthouse |
Board of Directors Election for 2014
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It is that time of year again and nominations are open for the RETU Board of Directors and officers. Step up! We could use your help and you know our cold water fisheries need it.
Our current Board of Directors are:
Vice President: Rick Jorgensen. Secretary/Treasurer: Carlo Bongio
Boardmember: Brian Hines.
Please contact Rick Jorgensen ricjorgnsn@hotmail.com with your nominations for our 2014 Board and let him know if YOU would like to join our efforts or even our Board of Directors!
"There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home." -Roderick Haig-Brown |
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Colgan Creek Watershed Education Project is launched!
The Colgan Creek Watershed Education project is underway after a very long process and a lot of hard work by the Redwood Empire Chapter of TU, the City of Santa Rosa and the California Department of Water Resources. The original grant application was submitted in November 2008! Good things take time.
Some of the good things our education project will bring to the Colgan Creek watershed will include a watershed education curriculum developed to go along with restoration work to be done on Colgan Creek in front of Elsie Allen High School on Bellevue Avenue in Santa Rosa. The restoration project, being contracted by the City of Santa Rosa in 2014 will improve the stream's natural habitat and flood capacity.
A unique interactive watershed map is being developed where students can upload pictures and water quality test data.
Water quality testing equipment will be purchased for the 6 schools in the watershed including Elsie Allen High School, Sonoma Academy, Amarosa Academy High Schools and Kawana, Meadow View and Bellevue elementary schools. Field trips to visit the creeks headwaters on Mt. Taylor and it's confluence with the Laguna are being planned.
If you like to get involved with the project as a volunteer let us know!
Email us at info@redwoodempiretu.org
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Visit our RETU website and check us out on Facebook
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http://redwoodempiretu.org
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Soda Creek Restoration Project, Upper Eel Watershed
|  Pat Higgins (BE) Cameron Hill (BE) Leif Kuno (MNF) Bob Faust
Restoration work was completed on 1200 feet of Soda Creek in the upper Eel River watershed thanks to the generous donation of the Faust Family. Soda Creek is the last tributary to the main stem of the Eel River just below Scott Dam that forms Lake Pillsbury.
Large Woody Debris (LWD) structures were installed to improve the channel habitat by increasing pool depth, cover, habitat complexity and increase spawning gravel beds.
Large Woody Debris (LWD) structures installed by BE
Soda Creek is a significant tributary for Steelhead spawning and rearing in the Eel River. The Mendocino National Forest (MNF), Bioengineering Associates (BE) and retired USFS hydrologist, Bob Faust played key roles in this hopeful project.
If it ever rains this winter we will see the channel forming effects of the work next Spring when migrating adult and juvenile Steelhead will be making use of the improved habitat. | |
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Help us sign up new RETU members! Check out this GREAT introductory rate of only $17.50!
NEW members save 50%. New members can sign up at our next meeting or bring a friend who might be interested in a TU membership.
Click the link below to check out this introductory offer while it lasts at the
New Membership Website
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Select Chapter 922.
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Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival merchandise still available!
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If you are looking for some cool Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival gear like the popular hoodie sweatshirt, long sleeve t-shirt and black fleece vest it is still available! Check it out at the Festival website and let us know what you would like: Festival Merchandise
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