Hike, Whale-watch & Volunteer with CWC!

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/2/b/0/event_167617552.jpegPlease come help protect and restore a stunning slice of California's spectacular North Coast--the Stornetta Public Lands!

On 11/3/12 from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM folks from far and wide and staff of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the California Wilderness Coalition (CWC) and other organizations will enjoy a day of hiking, whale watching and volunteering on the coastal bluffs just north of Point Arena, California in Mendocino County. Please join us!

BACKGROUND

The coastal bluffs between the town of Point Arena in the south and Manchester State Beach in the north have been the focus of an intense land-conservation effort over the last few years with the result that now over 1,200 acres of former private lands are accessible to the public in the area.

These lands contain many special natural and cultural values such as outstanding views of the ocean, waterfalls, sheer cliffs, natural arches, sinkholes with waves crashing at the bottom, tide pools, blowholes where seawater sprays up like a geyser, open prairies, cypress groves, evidence of eons of human use, rocks and small islands offshore and the Garcia River, an important salmon and steelhead stream. The area’s diverse habitat is matched by its great diversity of wildlife, including many rare species such as the endangered Point Arena mountain beaver, one of California’s rarest mammals. The area is increasingly popular for hiking, wildlife viewing, photography and variety of other activities.

In order to permanently protect its world-class ecological and social features, on April 27, 2012 Representative Mike Thompson (D-Napa) introduced H.R. 4969, the California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act, which would incorporate the Stornetta Public Lands and other public lands in the Point Arena area into the existing California Coastal National Monument (CCNM). The CCNM is a collection of more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles that extend for 1,100 miles between Mexico and Oregon. On September 21, 2012 Senator Barbara Boxer (C-CA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced a companion piece of legislation in the Senate, and they sent a letter to President Obama asking him to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand the CCNM to include the lands covered in the two bills.

The BLM needs our help to protect and restore this very special area. Please take a few hours out of your weekend to do just that!

THE EVENT

On 11/3/12 at 10:30 AM everyone will gather at:

Point Arena City Hall
451 School Street
Point Arena, CA 95468

It is at the intersection of Lake Street and Highway 1 on the north end of Point Arena, about 43 miles south of Fort Bragg, 49 miles west of Ukiah and 144 miles north of San Francisco.

The day will begin with a short educational talk about the area from the BLM, local residents and the CWC. We will then take a moderate 4 mile hike along the beautiful coastal bluffs from City Hall north to Lighthouse Road. At Lighthouse Road we will engage in a variety of volunteer projects, ranging from the construction of kiosks to the removal of fences until around 3:30 PM. At the end of the day BLM staff will drive participants back to City Hall unless they choose to hike the 4 miles back again.

Participants should bring work gloves, a hat, comfortable shoes or boots for walking and working, lunch, water and be prepared for the possibility of wind and/or rain. Binoculars are recommended for the abundant birds and migrating whales.

For more information, please contact Ryan Henson at 530-365-2737 or at rhenson@calwild.org

For more information on the Stornetta Public Lands, visit http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/stornetta.html

For more information on the CCNM, visit http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/nm/ccnm.html