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Spring has sprung! It is a glorious time of the year to be alive in West County. It seems like everywhere I look, things are blossoming and blooming. The grass is still green, the creeks are still running, and the redwoods seem especially content — and stately as ever — after a long, wet winter.
Ideas and community engagement are blossoming, too. In this newsletter, you’ll get a taste of some of the wonderful projects and ideas that West County residents are bringing forth. We are excited about public open space and parks proposals throughout West County, and below you’ll find some information about a nascent parks project Guerneville. But we are also working with Forestvillians on a skate spot, Gratonians on a public plaza, Occidentalites on a new downtown space and improvements to the Community Center, Bodega Bay-ers on improvements to docks, and West County soccer fans on improvements to Ragle Park. (With the exception of “Forestvillian,” which I first heard from Vesta Copestakes, I made those up. Feel free to make up your own version for your town!)
In this newsletter you’ll also hear from one of my favorite West County residents and someone I’m proud to call a friend: Dick Ogg. Dick is a fisherman who is deeply dedicated to sustainable North Coast fisheries. He serves on approximately 3,254 committees. (Okay, I exaggerate, but the real number is more than a dozen.) He is working to help our fishing community adapt to a changing climate, a changing ocean, and changing regulatory environment — with the goal of harvesting sustainably from the sea for generations to come.
After you read this newsletter, go outside! Visit a local park! Go to the seashore, breathe deeply, and enjoy Spring, the season that always feels too short. (Oh, and don’t forget the allergy meds, if you’re anything like me.)
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A Message from our Fishing Community | | |
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On this beautiful morning, I thought I’d bring some context around the closure of the crab season in the Central Management area. Since 2016, when the more significant part of the coast was controlled by what is now known as the "blob," we as fishermen have been constrained by the timing of the Humpback Whale migration; this migration typically begins in late fall (from early December to January), when they leave to head to their breeding grounds in Mexico or Central America and return just about now, April to May.
It is essential to recognize that these populations are doing very well despite the impact of the shipping industry and the minimal interaction with the fishing community. The population has tripled in the last ten years to well over 6,000-7000 animals.
The other critical factor I would like to bring up is how important it is to understand that the fishing community has made incredible sacrifices to reduce any possible interaction with anything other than our targeted species, which is crab, at this time. These sacrifices have financially impacted every one of the fishermen in every part of the coast. We have had the season reduced from 8 months to 3, we have reduced the number of pots we use, we've reduced the areas we fish, we've changed our rope at our own expense, reduced the number of buoys, changed our trailer rope length, tighten up the scope of our lines and continued to put uncountable hours into thought and effort in trying to prevent interaction. This minimal interaction has not increased even though the population has continued to rise. Although it is not zero, our means of mitigation are working. Realistically, it will never be zero, no matter what equipment is used. Just to bring it home, we wear our seatbelts, slow down, have airbags in our cars, drive with our lights on, and widen the road, and still, there are accidents. We reduce those accidents, but they will never be zero.
As we all look out and see the beauty of our ocean, please know that every one of us wants the whales to thrive. The ocean is their home, and we are just visitors. But we are the conduit to a resource that belongs to you. We provide an amazing, sustainable food source that is likely unattainable by most unless we (your commercial fishermen) are able to work.
Our season here in the Central Management area has closed as of the 8th of April, and it may be January next year before a good portion of the local fishermen have income. The commercial industry is putting together a group effort of all the fishermen up and down the coast to attempt to find every lost crab pot we can. We are doing this because we care. Not one of us will receive anything more than the satisfaction of knowing that we have tried to reduce to the best of our ability the chance that an animal could become entangled in a lost piece of gear.
As I mentioned, and it can't be overstated, we care about our ocean and are true conservationists trying our very best to do the right thing for everyone involved. One more thing I would like to mention is that Waves of Compassion has continually been at the forefront of supporting all of the fishermen/women. Supporting them will support us too.
Thank you so much from all your fishermen and women,
Richard Ogg
F/V Karen Jeanne
Bodega Bay, Ca
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Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival | |
On May 4-5, the annual Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival returns to Westside Regional Park. Supervisor Hopkins proudly supports the Fisherman’s Festival and contributed TOT funds to offset some of the costs of putting on the event. Please join the Festival for great art, local food, wine and beer tasting, live music and entertainment, plus the traditional Blessing of the Fleet and wooden boat challenge. Proceeds benefit Bodega Bay community services. Leashed pets are welcome. Tickets $16-30 at www.bbfishfest.org. | |
Chipping Resources & Defensible Space Rebates | |
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In the event of a wildfire, having 100 feet or more of defensible space has been clearly demonstrated to help save homes. Likewise, thinning vegetation on access roads can make it safer for residents and firefighters. We hope that free chipper services help residents dispose of woody debris and assist them in creating beautiful, healthy, and “firewise” landscapes around homes and on roadsides.
Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division provides free chipper services to residents who are engaged in making their property more wildfire safe. The purpose of the program is to create defensible space, specifically around the home, structures, and access routes to the structures, for properties located in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. For unimproved properties, woody debris generated from areas within 30 feet of a structure or 20 feet from a roadway also qualifies for the program. Services such as fuel breaks, fuel management, and defensible space greater than 100 feet from structures and 20 feet from edges of access roads to those structures fall outside the scope of the program.
Additionally, Safer West County works to identify and secure funds for our area from state, county, and federal governments and other organizations to reduce our risks (fire and other) and improve our emergency preparedness for disasters. Learn more about rebates here.
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Increased Day Use Parking Fees to
Encourage Local Access to the River
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From Memorial Day to Labor Day, day use parking fees will increase from $7 to $10 in a handful of locations that have high tourist traffic during peak season: Sunset Beach River Park, Guerneville River Park, Riverfront Regional Park, Del Rio Woods, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, and Cloverdale River Park. For the rest of the year, the general parking fee of $7 will remain the same. Peak season fees will be used to offset the additional staffing for river patrols and lifeguards and facilities maintenance at these locations during these busy months.
Peak season fee increases are also intended to open up parking for residents and annual pass holders. Regional Parks did not increase fees to the annual parks passes, only the daily parking fee. Don’t have an annual pass? Renew or buy a pass online.
The low-cost Russian River shuttle service is also a great option. The shuttle costs $5 per person and travels a loop, departing every 30 minutes between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from El Molino High School, 7050 Covey Road, in Forestville to Steelhead Beach Regional Park and Sunset Beach River Park. Learn more here or watch the video below to learn more about what it’s like to use the shuttle.
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Guerneville Community Park
Community Meeting #2: Saturday, April 27
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Russian River Area Resources and Advocates (RRARA) and District 5 are looking for your input on design concepts for a potential new park to be located behind the park and ride lot on River Road. Join to learn about the project and share your ideas! The meeting will be held on April 27th from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the West County Health Centers Resiliency Center at 16385 First St in Guerneville. This is a great opportunity to hear more about the development process and give your input on what to include in our potential new recreation space. Kids are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Unable to attend the meeting? Another way to give direct input is to complete this short survey.
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Lower Russian River Governance Solutions Update | |
The Lower Russian River Governance Solutions Report offers a “menu” of governance options for our communities to explore to improve local services and elevate local voices in decision making for the region. Community working groups are beginning to form to learn more about the options available, such as strengthening existing institutions, forming a new Community Services District, consolidating existing special districts, forming a Business Improvement District, or even forming a new city. If you would like to connect with a working group in your community to learn more and further explore the options outlined in the Blue Sky report, please complete this brief survey. | |
YES - River Youth Exploring the Russian River | |
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Sonoma County Youth Commission on Human Rights
Application period now open
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The Youth Commission on Human Rights was created to provide a means to engage high school youth ages 14 to 18 in education and activism around human rights issues within Sonoma County, as well as provide an opportunity to foster leadership skills by educating their peers, develop a voice for advocacy, and bring awareness to human rights issues affecting members of our community. The students are encouraged to be active participants in their community, engaging with elected officials and human rights organizations. The program also provides a vehicle by which County Supervisors are able to learn about current concerns and issues important to youth and important to advancing human rights in Sonoma County. If you, or someone you know, is interested in this opportunity, the application can be found here and is due on or before May 10, 2024. | |
IOLERO: Understanding the TRUTH Act & ACE Webinar | |
Join IOLERO on May 1st at 6:00 PM for a crucial informational webinar exploring the TRUTH Act and the ongoing collaboration between the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This session is designed to deepen our understanding of how local law enforcement cooperates with ICE, specifically regarding the reporting of individuals eligible for deportation. Click here to join online and be part of this important conversation. Your participation is vital as we navigate these complex issues together. Review the full Town Hall Agenda by clicking here. | |
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Sonoma County Airport
to undergo training exercise on Thursday
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On April 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport will be conducting its Triennial Emergency Response Exercise, a practical exercise and safety training that takes place every three years at commercial service airports across the United States. Mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, the training exercise is a comprehensive mass-casualty event simulation that tests the planning, operational readiness, speed, and effectiveness of emergency personnel in real-time. Airport personnel will be conducting simulations and training for multiple days surrounding the exercise. The triennial exercise and training simulations are not an emergency and will not disrupt any travel plans at the airport. | |
Upcoming Meetings & Events | |
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Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins | County of Sonoma | 707-565-2241
Lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county.org
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