September 22, 2020 Dear Friends,  Do you want to know how the Woodward Fire will affect the Point Reyes National Seashore? How bad was the fire damage? What does it look like now? How long will things take to grow back? How will the fire damage affect the Seashore and public access? How will it affect youth education and science research?

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN In just a few short days in mid-August, the Woodward Fire began, grew, spread and soon closed Bear Valley. This was horrible for the flora, fauna, and the public.   For us at the not-for-profit Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA), the closures caused by the Woodward Fire posed an additional challenge: Bear Valley is where PRNSA holds Dinner on the Pacific Plate (DOPP) – this is our biggest community event and fundraiser of the year!    CHANGE OF PLANS Suddenly overnight every detail of every plan we had made for the 2020 DOPP was up in smoke. It was a sad time for all of us. Smoke was everywhere. As if all the hardships caused by COVID-19 weren't bad enough….    “What will we do?” asked members of the Board and Staff. “Should we cancel DOPP? How will we manage? If we cancel, how will we survive without the generosity of our community of supporters?”

And then, almost like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie, the answer appeared, swirling amidst the lingering smoke of the Woodward Fire.  “If you can’t fix it, feature it.”   (Perhaps the most famous example of this adage is the (Leaning) Tower of Pisa – and if it works for Pisa, it can work for PRNSA!) With that, we stopped trying to “fix” the problems caused by the Woodward Fire and instead to “feature” the fire itself!   JOIN ME So, please join me, PRNSA Executive Director Donna Faure, and our PRNSA community of supporters to find out the answers to these fire-centered questions and more at the 2020 Dinner on the Pacific Plate on October 10, 2020 starting at 6:00pm.   This will be a one-hour, on-line event featuring Bay Area science experts who will discuss our very own Fire On the Mountain: the Vision Fire of 1995, the Woodward Fire of 2020, lessons from the past, and what the future holds for fire-based research, conservation and education efforts. Acting Superintendent Carey Feirabend will also update us on other topics of interest, including the new General Management Plan Amendment (see below for details).   CELEBRATING LIKE IT'S 2020 We may need to wait until October 2021 for us to get together in Bear Valley and enjoy each other’s company amidst an abundance of food and drink provided by many family-owned businesses in our community.   But that, my friend, is no reason to miss this reunion of our community of like-minded people coming together for an evening of fun and fundraising to support youth education, conservation and community at the Point Reyes National Seashore. We all need something positive to focus on – and PRNSA intends to deliver.   2020 may be a year to remember (or to forget), but the 2020 Dinner on the Pacific Plate will be an hour-long event that you will not want to miss.    We promise you a fun event that will warm your heart and inspire you – broadcast live from the Pacific Plate to your home. Join us!    Take care,

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Seth Rosen PRNSA Board member & Co-Host of 2020 Dinner on the Pacific Plate   P.S. DOPP 2020 will be amazing. And this year -- there is no charge to attend! So tell a friend. And there’s going to be a (virtual) after-party too! Details to follow….

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Maureen Kennedy Doune Trust Fund

Todd and Blanca Johnson Melissa Nelken and Ronald Lee Anonymous William and Linda Tichy

Mike Deverell & Susy Muscatell Execushield, Inc. Kirk Marckwald and Christina Desser T.M. Ravi and Francine Lejeune

Barbara Beno and Peter Crabtree Allan and Sydne Bortel Anonymous Peggy and Dick Mitchell Caren and Nick Orum Michelle and Edward Sarti Anne Scanlan-Rohrer and Scot Rohrer David and Miriam Wilson Pamela Wright

Mike and Bonnie Barr Anne Baxter Sandy and Connie Calhoun Betty Anne Carlin Ed and Nancy Conner Commonweal Danny Dawson and Claudine Co Kathy Dickson and John Geesman The Entrekin Foundation Donna and Steve Faure Ilona Frieden and Mark Jacobson Richard and Louisiana Gale Jane Gitschier Kelly and Alexander Harcourt Burr Heneman and Lexi Rome Mark and Shawn Klender Mary Jane Large and Marc Levinson Mike and Mary Malloy Kate and Michael Matthay Charles and Kathleen Mills Doug Moore Johanna Muth and Harris Nussbaum Palace Market David Powers and Beverly Schor Seth and Molly Rosen Pat and Glen Rudebusch Judith Shaw Small Blue Planet Events + Consulting Rich and Diane Zimmerman

Anonymous Anonymous Millicent Bogart and Scott MacDonald Josie Brownback Julia and Bruce Burke Steve Costa and Kate Levinson David and Vicki Cox Ruth Dundas and Jim MacDonald Michael and Nancy Jo Heaton Heidrun Meadery Patty McCrary and Dale Fehringer Regina Phelps Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Jeanne Reisman and Len Goldschmidt Anne and Boyard Rowe Michael Warren and Mary Pieper-Warren Zac and Amy Weinberg Margaret Wu and Ciara Cox Lena and Gabe Zentall

Mark Anderson and Kimberlee Stryker Dick and Deane Bunce Paul and Helen Chapman Barbara Goodyear Claudia and James Harrison Sally Jones Belinda Kremer Ilene Levinson Ivan and Leah Light Ralph and Mae Mihan Catherine Porter

Monica and John Salusky Phyllis Silverberg Timothy and Sherry Stanton Susan Tillett

PARK UPDATES

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN RELEASE The National Parks Service announces the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the parks general management plan (GMP) amendment. The GMP amendment evaluates the long term use of 28,000 acres of land in Marin County and sets the stage for park management, visitor experience, and stewardship for years to come. For more information, please see Frequently Asked Questions and the park's website. WOODWARD FIRE UPDATES Visit this website to get the most up to date information on the fire, including park closures.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS

Are Sea Otters the Ghosts of Estuaries Past? Friday, September 25, 4-5pm Join Sonoma State Assistant Professor Brent Hughes for a talk in celebration of Sea Otter Awareness Week. Like many top predators across the globe, sea otters suffered from overhunting during periods of rapid European colonialism in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, with legislation aimed at protecting endangered species and marine mammals, sea otters are slowly recovering. Through this recovery sea otters are revealing the breadth of habitats that can utilize, such as estuarine seagrass beds and salt marshes. These recent discoveries have fundamentally changed our understanding of sea otter biology and ecology and presents new opportunities to promote their recovery. Presented in collaboration with Sea Otter Savvy. Register here!

Community Book Read and Conversation with the Author! Thursday October 29, 4-5pm (rescheduled!)

In partnership with the Marin County Free Library, PRNSA invites you to read the book Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors  by Dr. Carolyn Finney. After an introduction and brief Q&A with Dr. Finney, we will have an open discussion moderated by Ranger John Eleby and PRNSA's Isaac Taylor. Register for this event here. Copies of the book are available at both Inverness and Point Reyes Libraries. Note: these copies will be reserved at the desks. Please call and reserve a copy or stop by during curbside hours and request the book. FYI, if someone calls and needs the book sent to Bolinas or Stinson Beach, the librarians can have the book sent to the library and placed on the hold shelf. Also - Black Faces, White Spaces is available on Hoopla through the library with no wait. Instructions for downloading to Hoopla on the library's website: https://marinlibrary.org/ebooks/

FIELD INSTITUTE CLASSES

Fall Migration at the Point Saturday, October 3, 9am – 4pm Cervids with a Smile: Getting to Know the Tule Elk Saturday, October 17, 10am – 2pm

Learn How to Use Poles for Hiking & Outdoor Exercise Saturday, October 17, 10am – 4pm Ghost Tour: Shipwrecks of Point Reyes Saturday, October 31, 10am – 5pm

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Point Reyes National Seashore | (415) 663-1200 x 310 | [email protected] | www.ptreyes.org

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