About Us
Friends of the Napa River (FONR) was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in early 1994. The organizers worked together through the years on many different concerns about the Napa River such as flood protection, boating, fishing, watershed restoration, trails, festivals, and riverfront development. FONR is a diverse community group whose mission statement is “the community’s voice for the responsible protection, restoration, development and celebration of the Napa River and its watershed.”
2011 Board Members of Friends of the Napa River
| Executive Committee | |
| President | Bernhard Krevet |
| 1st Vice President | Francie Winnen |
| 2nd Vice President | Tim Yarish |
| Treasurer | Chuck Shinnamon |
| Secretary | Myrna Abramowicz |
| Board | |
| Karen Bower-Turjanis | Barry Christian |
| Shari Gardner | David Graves |
| Jim Hench | Tony Norris |
| Laurie Puzo | Kent Ruppert |
| Advisory Board | |
| Moira Johnston-Block | David Garden |
| Stephanie Burns | Roger Hartwell |
| Harold Kelly | Rudolf Ohlemutz |
| Mike Rippey | Judith Sears |
| Ginny Simms | Barbara Stafford |
History of Friends of the Napa River
The primary goal of Friends is to heighten the community’s awareness of the river as a valuable, but impaired, resource. We advocate for the Napa River at governmental meetings when decisions are being made that affect the river. We sponsor the annual River Festival featuring the Napa Valley Symphony the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. We sponsor clean-ups and watershed hikes. We have put together educational materials to help in the schools with the “Adopt a Watershed” program. This material is also available to community organizations. We participate on local committees involving water, flooding, urban and land use planning, and recreation. Many of us have been involved over the years in the planning of the flood control project in Napa with a county-wide coalition to bring the most enlightened project possible to Napa.
