Below are a few conservation items that will be of particular interest to Shasta Chapter CNPS members.
Shasta Chapter CNPS Comments on Proposed Sale of Land at Turtle Bay
Shasta Chapter CNPS submitted written comments on the proposed sale of land at Turtle Bay, specifically opposing it if riparian and all natural areas are not protected. Redding has seen a steady encroachment into riparian areas along the Sacramento River, and this undefined project could result in further degradation of outstanding local riparian habitat. The proposed sale of land currently is only for the area occupied by the Civic Auditorium and the Redding Rodeo grounds and parking lots; however, statements by the proponents suggest plans for future development of riparian areas. Written statements provided by the developer reference a zipline, art along the river, a dog park, a children’s park, and a trail into the center of the site. Verbal statements made by the developer at a City Council meeting suggested future development of a boardwalk and a restaurant over the water.
SEA Environmental Champions Awards
Shasta Environmental Alliance (SEA) is honoring two individuals for outstanding work in protecting our environment. Honors will be bestowed at SEA’s annual Environmental Champions Awards event, this year via a Zoom meeting, on December 10, 2021. While the honorees this year are not directly involved in native plants, their work is related and should be of interest to all.
- Bill Oliver was one of the founders of our local Wintu Audubon Society chapter in 1976. He has been president four different times, led countless bird walks, and has kept the statistics from the annual Redding Christmas Bird Count for 45 years. Bill worked at the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station in Redding starting in 1963. His early research centered on the health and vigor of young stands of ponderosa pine and true fir in field studies throughout northern California. He also produced a guide to identifying ponderosa and Jeffrey pines trees at various stages of growth without the benefit of a pine cone.
- Marily Woodhouse is the director of Battle Creek Alliance and has been been working to protect forests from industrial forestry in the Battle Creek watershed for several decades. She will give a PowerPoint presentation on the threats to our local forests, in particular the Battle Creek watershed, due to cumulative impacts from the over-logging of industrial timberlands. She also works in raptor rescue and rehabilitation.
To attend SEA’s Environmental Champions Awards, please register here. If you have any problems, please email dsledger49@gmail.com.
SEA to Lead New Years Day Westside Trail Field Trip
Shasta Chapter CNPS has led this field trip for over 10 years. This year, with the Chapter’s lull in field trip outings due to Covid restrictions, David Ledger will continue the tradition by leading it under SEA. If you would like to participate in this 4-mile, easy to moderate hike to observe the recovery of native plants following the extremely hot burn from the Carr Fire, meet at the end of Kilkee Drive near Mary Lake at 9 AM on New Years Day. Few plants will be blooming; however, toyon has flourished and its bright red berries are bringing back flocks of robins. If sprinkling or light rain, bring an umbrella; heavy rain cancels. For more information, email dledger@sbcglobal.net.
Details on the above items and more news are available in Shasta Environmental Alliance’s December 2021 newsletter, here. (Please note that SEA did not publish a November 2021 newsletter.) ~David Ledger, Shasta Chapter CNPS Conservation Chair