Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas Announced

fonrtest — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:07:02 +0000

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Press, the Atlas presents the work of SFEI’s pioneering Historical Ecology Program, weaving together rarely-seen historical documents to understand how the California landscape has changed through time.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

Napa’s Earth Day Celebration a Great Success

fonrtest — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:20:22 +0000

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

Earthday DINE & DONATE at Hog Island Oyster Bar at the Oxbow Public Market

fonrtest — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:40:18 +0000

Saturday, April 21^st, 11:00am to 5:00pm:

Friends of the Napa River help celebrate Earth Day in Downtown Napa.
Please come and see us and many other exhibitors!

Saturday, April 21^st, 5:00-8:00pm:

Earth Day Dine & Donate!

Join us at the Hog Island Oyster Bar at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa and we will be donating 10% of the evening’s proceeds to Friends of the Napa River.

Did you know? Farmed oysters and bivalves (clams, mussels) are voted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch, as the top ten SUPER GREEN Seafoods. Why? Farmed oysters and bivalves are both sustainable and restorative for the environment and ounce-for-ounce they provide some of the cleanest, healthiest and vitamin rich proteins for you. Learn more at www.seafoodwatch.org.

Healthy rivers = healthy oceans = healthy & delicious oysters.

Environmental Supervisor Candidates Forum

fonrtest — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:51:59 +0000

Everyone is invited to an environmental forum for
candidates running for Napa County Board of Supervisors:

District 2: Juliana Inman, Mark Luce, Mark van Gorder
District 4: Bill Dodd
District 5: Keith Caldwell

DATE: Monday, April 9th 6:30-8:30pm
LOCATION: Napa City County Library 580 Coombs Sat. Napa

This will be an informational forum for the community to become more acquainted with the candidates and their positions on environmental matters facing the county.

The moderator will be Henry Michalski, retired history teacher, author, and all around political guru. The candidates will initially answer several prepared questions then will respond to questions from the audience.

Listen, learn, and quiz the candidates.

This forum is hosted by The Friends of the Napa River, Get a Grip on Growth, the Napa Chapter of the Sierra Club and Napa Valley CanDo.

For information call FONR at 254-8520.

FONR Supports Managing State Parks in Napa County

fonrtest — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:36:33 +0000

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

FONR at the San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival

bkrevet — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:14:19 +0000

Friends of the Napa River will participate in the 16th annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival February 10-12, 2012.

The 16th Annual Flyway Festival promises more guided hikes and outings, tours and workshops on Mare Island than every before. With over 60 events on the schedule, you’ll have to watch closely to make sure you don’t miss your favorite! You will find that one of the most unique aspects of our birding festival is the chance to soak up history on Mare Island and view an amazing array of birdlife all at the same time.

In cooperation with the RCD Napa, FONR will have displays and information about our activities in the Napa River Watershed showcasing the restoration work near Rutherford and the new fish ladder at the Zinfandel Lane Bridge.

Historical Ecology of Napa County 2012 Calendar available

bkrevet — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:01:06 +0000

The beautiful 2012 calendars produced by the SFEI with help from the RCD and FONR have arrived! The 2012 theme is “Historical Ecology of Napa County” featuring photograps, maps, and text from the Napa Valley Historical Ecogy Atlas to be published soon.

We have copies in our office. Please come by any time and get your copy and some for your river friends.

Legend:
SFEI = San Francisco Estuary Institute
RCD = (Napa County) Resource Conservation District
FONR = … you know that!

Celebration of the Zinfandel Bridge

fonrtest — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:00:31 +0000

On Friday, November 18, the new Zinfandel Bridge Fish Passage Project was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting. The project is an important milestone for the health of the Napa River. FONR has supported this project throughout.

Quoted from the Rutherford Dust Society:

Welcome Home Salmon and Steelhead!
Napa County celebrated the completion of the Zinfandel Lane Fish Passage Project at the upstream end of the Rutherford Reach on November 18, 2011 to great fanfare. In the last few decades erosion downstream of the historic stone arch bridge had made a severe partial barrier to fish migration. Once again adult Salmon and steelhead trout returning to the Napa River to spawn will have unimpeded access to 65 miles of historic fish habitat in the upper watershed, and juvenile fish will be able to swim downstream through to the ocean. Thanks to funding from the Coastal Conservancy and the Napa Valley community through the Measure A watershed improvement funds, and the work of Napa County; the Napa Resource Conservation District; Winzler & Kelly; Michael Love & Associates; Blackburn Geotechnical, and W.R. Forde for their work in restoring this important gateway to the Upper Napa River watershed.

For more on this project visit: The Rutherford Dust Society

To see more photos of the celebration, visit FONR on Facebook

Make a Donation

fonrtest — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 07:21:49 +0000

Contribute or donate online through PayPal!

Coastal Cleanup, 2011

fonrtest — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:14:36 +0000

Volunteers are needed for the 2011 Coastal Cleanup. Organized by the Napa Resource Conservation District, the public can help pick up trash along the banks of the Napa River. A great family and group activity!

Saturday, September 17

Kayak NV cleans up!

Click here to contact the Napa RCD for locations and details.