The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) and Friends of the Napa River are pleased to announce the publication of the Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas and a community event celebrating the history, ecology, and future of the Napa Valley.

Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas:

Exploring a Hidden Landscape of Transformation and Resilience

Join us for a celebration and presentation by author Robin Grossinger, with Shari Gardner and Ruth Askevold

Hosted by Napa Valley Arts & Lectures and Friends of the Napa River

Welcome by Supervisor Diane Dillon

Thursday, May 24 at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30)
The Theatre (formerly Copia), located at 500 First Street in Napa
Free admission, no tickets or RSVP necessary

Wine reception and book signing to follow presentation

Join us along the Napa River at The Theatre (formerly Copia) to celebrate the release of the Napa Atlas (recently featured in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Napa Valley Register). Published by the University of California Press, the Atlas presents the work of SFEI’s pioneering Historical Ecology Program, weaving together rarely-seen historical documents to understand how the California landscape has changed through time. We are also celebrating the release of the companion report Napa River Watershed Profile, exploring future management strategies for the Napa River. The evening will include a lively and engaging presentation of findings, including a visual tour of the valley’s natural landscape as it hasn’t been seen for generations, and links to the Napa we know today. The program will conclude with a wine reception and book signing.

Robin Grossinger is Director of the Historical Ecology Program at the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Ruth Askevold is a cartographer and designer at the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Shari Gardner is an ecologist who has conducted historical ecology research for Friends of the Napa River.

See our website for more information. Questions? contact Bronwen Stanford, bronwen@sfei.org, (510) 746-7335

To our volunteers,
Thanks again to all for taking the initiative to have FONR be prominently presented at Napa’s Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

The Register’s front page photo shows our booth with the “Kiss and Release” so aptly and tirelessly moderated by Laurie Puzo along with a new volunteer this year, Nancy Ortiz from Vintage High School. 

As always, thanks to our wonderful volunteers: Arvis & Ralph Northrop, Laurie Puzo, Jim Hench, Kent Ruppert, Tony Norris,  Shari Gardner and Nancy Ortiz.

Bernhard Krevet, President

PS: I enjoyed a dozen oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Bar’s Dine & Donate! Did you?

Please check out the video on the Register’s home page. Click the link:

Earth Day Festival, Napa

Grist Mill Napa Valley

Dear Friends:

The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District needs our help.

When the State of California last year announced it was closing 70 State Parks, including the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, the local reaction was one of great dismay. Many people, ranging from Napa Valley’s founding families to visitors who have used these parks for generations, asked the District what could be done.

In response, the District has partnered with the non-profit Napa Valley State Parks Association to jointly restore and operate these two parks. They have now signed an agreement with State Parks to take over management on April 1st of this year.

Under this plan, the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District will manage both Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, in partnership with the Association which will continue its role maintaining and operating visitor services at the Mill. For further details, see www.napaoutdoors.org

The fundamental challenge is that these parks must be transformed from financial drains to break-even operations, while preserving the rustic charm and incredible natural and historic resources of the parks. The key for doing this is to repair some of the historic cabins and houses on the property that are currently being allowed to deteriorate and are a financial drain on the park, and turn them into economically productive assets.

The District’s financial plan is solid, but it does require an initial infusion of grant funding to turn the corner on the cycle of deferred maintenance and declining financial health that has consumed these two state parks.

As Friends of the Napa River, we wholeheartedly support this effort with a matching grant up to $2500. Please consider a donation to help achieve this goal and we will match your donation dollar for dollar from our own reserves. Donations should be made by sending a check in any amount to Friends of the Napa River, 68-B Coombs St, Napa CA 94559. Please indicate “Bothe/Grist” or “State Parks” on the check (it’s tax deductible.)

You may also use our donation link to make the payment!

Thank you for considering our request to help save Napa’s two state parks.

Sincerely,

Bernhard Krevet,
President, Friends of the Napa River