A shared commitment to the Gualala River | | |
Last month, more than 120 community members turned out for Restoring the River–an event that celebrated the importance of the Gualala River, and underscored our shared commitment to protect it.
Eric Wilder, former chairman of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, opened the afternoon with a Kashia Pomo song and reflections on the river’s deep cultural significance. The room at the Gualala Arts Center buzzed with activity as representatives from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Friends of the Gualala River, the Gualala River Stream Team, and the Gualala River Watershed Council shared their work to support the health of the watershed. At CDFW’s table, visitors learned about local fish species and tried Gyotaku—a traditional Japanese art form that began in the early 1800s as a way for fishermen to record their catches.
Supported by CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, this event marked the official public kickoff of a long-term effort to restore the estuary. For more than a year, environmental science and design firm Prunuske Chatham, Inc. (PCI) has gathered data to understand the current habitat conditions in the estuary and develop a plan for its restoration. During the panel discussion, PCI geomorphologist and stream restoration expert Lauren Hammack outlined proposals for the first phase of restoration. These include the installation of woody structures to increase stream channel complexity and provide shelter for juvenile salmon to feed and grow, and restoring the emergent wetland at Mill Bend, which was historically much larger. Expanding this wetland would significantly boost aquatic vegetation and provide essential habitat for young salmon under a wider range of conditions. For more information on these proposals, view the story map prepared by PCI, which illustrates current conditions in the estuary, historical factors, and opportunities for restoration. Matt Erickson, Fisheries Biologist and Grant Manager at CDFW, discussed the importance of funding this effort in the Gualala estuary. Carrie Lukacic, Principal Environmental Planner at PCI, shared what’s next for the project–from permitting to securing additional implementation funding.
Protecting and improving habitat in the estuary has long been a top priority in the community. Through strong partnerships, science-based planning, and local support, we’re working toward a healthier, more vibrant future for the Gualala River estuary.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked thoughtful questions, and shared insights. As our panelists noted, this is just the beginning—we’ll continue to update you as the Restoring the River project moves forward. We’d also love to keep hearing from you. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and any questions you’d like us to address in this 3-minute survey.
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Through your lens—the winning photos | | |
Restoring the River was also a moment to showcase the winners of the Gualala River photo contest! We asked to see the Gualala River through your lens–whether that included serene nature scenes, wildlife encounters, or favorite river activities–and you all really delivered. We received some truly stunning photos of the river and the incredible wildlife that calls it home.
Our photo contest judges, Teresa VanHatten-Granath and Scott Susalla, had the tough job of selecting the winners:
| | First: A Break in the Storm by David Bradbrook
This photo was taken at the Gualala Point Regional Park River lookout, during a break in the storm on February 1, 2024. | | Second: Virginia Rail by Rozanne Rapozo
As Rozanne shared, “This was a rare bird for me to see on the river. It didn’t seem to be bothered by my presence as it continued to take a very long drink. It raised its head for an instant, and in doing so, created a long string of water droplets.” | | |
Third: Reflections of Growth, Gail Jackson
This stunning photo is of a great Blue Heron flying over the Gualala River.
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Honorable Mention: Gualala River Sunset, Kate Bloch
A beautiful view of the river at the end of the day.
| | Thank you to the winners, and to everyone who submitted! We live in an incredibly talented community. We’re also grateful to the community organizations that donated prizes, such as the Independent Coast Observer, Vue Kitchen, Gualala Arts Center, River Bend Kayaks, NorthCoast Brine, Lisa's Luscious Kitchen, Little Green Bean Coffee, and Surf Market. | | |
The culvert replacement at China Gulch is nearing completion and RCLC is looking forward to the project’s final phase: transforming the construction site back into functioning habitat.
Because much of the project’s impacts are on Mill Bend Preserve, RCLC has been working closely with the Caltrans team on post-construction plans. These plans include hydroseeding and planting to reestablish native vegetation, as well as making improvements to the waterway between the culvert outlet and the Gualala River. This has involved frequent collaboration with Caltrans environmental and construction teams, Wylatti Construction and North Coast Resource Management, with PCI’s geomorphologist Lauren Hammack providing important hydraulic data and technical expertise.
The final result will be a repaired roadway, a functioning culvert that enables fish passage, and improved fish habitat in the channel below the culvert–which aligns with RCLC’s goal of recreating much-needed wetlands in the Gualala River estuary. After recontouring, the channel will be planted with over 800 native marsh plants, creating ideal habitat for salmon and other fish. In order to help ensure the project’s long-term success, RCLC staff and a few regular volunteers propagated these marsh plants, which were sourced from onsite plant material. Plants that are sourced onsite are adapted to the local conditions and are more likely to establish and thrive than plants sourced elsewhere.
As the culvert replacement project wraps up and native plants begin covering the disturbed ground, we are grateful for our collaboration with Caltrans and happy that this project will result in improved habitat in the China Gulch waterway.
| | RCLC's restoration technicians: year in review | | |
This year, RCLC has been fortunate to have a crew of two hard-working restoration technicians that have led the on-the-ground work at Mill Bend Preserve. Ethan Widner and Dylan Freebairn-Smith have worked tirelessly on fuel reduction, invasive plant removal, habitat improvements and property maintenance across the Preserve’s 113 acres.
This work is always changing, as different seasons require different restoration approaches. For example, Ethan and Dylan focus on tree work during the winter season, when birds are not nesting. They utilize their chainsaw skills to thin the Preserve’s dense forests, remove ladder fuels, and keep the access roads clear. Funded by a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy, this work improves forest health, reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and makes our communities safer.
Ethan and Dylan target invasive species at the optimal time in their growth cycle. During the rainy season, acres of french broom were cleared, with thousands of small seedlings painstakingly removed so that previous years’ progress is not lost. In these areas, we’re already seeing the gradual reestablishment of native understory plants, such as honeysuckle and california blackberry, which will provide wildlife habitat as they mature. This summer, Ethan and Dylan diligently removed seed heads from Jubata Grass, weed whacked fennel before it could set seed, and cut English ivy vines to prevent seed production (and to save the trees whose canopy the ivy was overtaking), all to prevent these pernicious species from spreading. While the control and management of invasive plants at Mill Bend Preserve is an ongoing project, significant progress was made in their management and removal this year.
The restoration technicians are also on the front lines of keeping Mill Bend Preserve’s habitat clean and beautiful for all to enjoy. This includes conducting a weekly trash clean-up around the parking lot north of China Gulch and removing items–big and small–that were dumped on the Preserve over the years. Some of the more memorable items were a 200+ pound engine block that was hauled from the woods and loaded into a truck for recycling, and a computer monitor, found strangely positioned atop a stump deep in the redwood forest.
In addition to this work, Dylan and Ethan provide assistance to RCLC’s invaluable volunteers at the Gualala Bluff Trail, Cooks Beach, Hearn Gulch, and Gualala Cemetery. They help with tasks such as vegetation removal and trail maintenance, conducting repairs, and strategizing solutions to ongoing issues such as erosion and water diversion.
While the restoration and maintenance work is significant, the addition of two skilled restoration technicians over the last year has brought about consistent and considerable progress in RCLC’s efforts to steward this magnificent segment of the California coast.
| | A message from board president, Mark Escajeda | | |
People and what we build change, given enough time. Redwood Coast Land Conservancy is no exception. We mark the end of an era and celebrate the beginning of a new one.
Cheryl Harris, after over six years of board directorship that saw her revolutionize RCLC’s volunteer outreach efforts, is leaving our board to seek a more inland lifestyle that better suits her and her husband, Elmer, at this time in their lives. As a board director, Cheryl helped guide RCLC through its acquisition of Mill Bend Preserve, always keen to emphasize the immediate public access opportunities on the previously privately-held wedge of land that spans the Gualala River estuary. An avid birder, Cheryl will continue to lead occasional bird walks at Mill Bend and on The Sea Ranch.
Critically for RCLC, Cheryl worked on volunteer recruitment. Her enthusiasm engaged people in activities she designed for education, service, and fellowship. She set a standard for how to bring people to place. I first met Cheryl in the time of COVID, pulling French broom in what was once a housing circle for lumber mill families. She hooked me good, as you can see. Our land trust’s gratitude will forever be for a true friend of the Mendonoma coast.
As Cheryl steps off the stage, allow me to introduce Max Hess, our newest board director. Max joined us in October and has already made an impact.
Max defies easy description, so varied have been his life’s experiences. He grew up principally in Del Norte County, developing a lifelong interest in redwood forests. After graduating from the University of Washington summa cum laude, he earned his law degree from Cornell Law School, beginning a legal career that continues to this day representing causes devoted to human rights. Conservation work also drew Max, placing him in positions of responsibility within a variety of organizations internationally.
Moving to the Mendocino coast has returned Max to his Northern Californian roots and the redwood trees that captivated him in his youth. Bringing a legal mind, as well as long-standing advocacy for the environment, Max joining the RCLC board broadens our ability to continue our land trust work into its fourth decade.
I look forward to more fully exploring the life of this interesting individual with everyone in our next newsletter.
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Do you value Mendonoma’s nature and landscapes? Do you have financial management skills?
Redwood Coast Land Conservancy’s board of directors is looking for its next treasurer. The desired background for this position includes experience with organizational or business budgets, familiarity with accrual accounting principles, and a general understanding of investment strategies. In addition to playing a critical strategic role on the board, the treasurer works closely with the executive director and finance committee.
This is an opportunity to collaborate with other committed volunteer board directors to preserve, restore, and share Mendonoma’s natural world. For more information, contact Mark Escajeda, President, Board of Directors, at mescajeda@rclc.org.
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Mark your calendars: wreaths and
winter crafts
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When: Saturday, December 6,
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: Mill Bend Preserve
RSVP: Free–stop by anytime!
Ring in the season at RCLC’s annual wreath making event! Every December, friends and neighbors gather at Mill Bend Preserve to craft holiday decor from natural materials found on site. Tables overflow with holly, fir, redwood, eucalyptus, and other fresh greens, and our team will show you how to weave branches into festive wreaths and winter centerpieces. Enjoy hot drinks, tasty treats, and a range of crafts for kids—and kids at heart. Drop by, get creative, and take home a touch of nature for the holiday season.
| | Support conservation on the coast | | From wreath making at Mill Bend Preserve to supporting salmon habitat in the Gualala River, this year continues to show how deeply our community cares for the Mendonoma coast. Thanks to your generosity, we’re restoring habitats, protecting open spaces, and nurturing connections between people and the land. As we look toward an ambitious year ahead, your donation to RCLC will help ensure these places continue to thrive for generations to come. | | Photo credits: David Bradbrook, Don Hess, Querido Galdo, Rozanne Rapozo, Gail Jackson, Kate Bloch, Sophia Pisciotta | | | | |
