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AUDUBON
CALIFORNIA NOTES
September, 2006 e-newsletter
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In this
issue:
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 Election Season - Vote Conservation
Yes on Prop 84, No on Prop 90,
Audubon Chapters lead local conservation measures.
Yes on Prop 84 - $5.4 billion conservation and water quality bond.
Prop 84, the Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, is critical to renew funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, the Coastal Conservancy, numerous regional conservancies, and other important restoration and acquisition programs. Without Prop 84, many of the State’s conservation dollars will dry up within the next one to two years, a risk we cannot afford to take. Audubon California is working hard to make sure that Prop 84 passes, Chapters can make a big difference by endorsing Prop 84, running supportive articles in their newsletters and getting the word out to local print and radio media.
No on Prop 90 - A Tax Payer Trap
Prop 90 is an assault on environmental protection in California. Hidden behind language to stop abuses of eminent domain, Prop 90 includes several very dangerous provisions that would drastically cut back on the State’s, local governments’ and even voters’ ability to protect the environment, local communities, and farmland. Prop 90 aims to choke off governments' ability to pass land-use regulations by requiring the government to make huge payments to landowners unless the regulation are to protect narrowly-defined public health or safety. In addition to making many regulations difficult or impossible to enforce, Prop 90 would make it prohibitively expensive for public agencies to acquire property for wildlife, public works projects, new schools, fire protection measures, and utilities. For full information on the initiative go to http://www.noprop90.com. Audubon California joins a diverse coalition of cities, labor, and public safety organizations in opposing Prop 90.
Take a minute to write a letter to your newspaper to express support for Prop 84 and opposition to Prop 90. More information can be found at: http://www.ca.audubon.org/action.htm#prop90
At least two Audubon Chapters have jumped into the election game this fall. Ohlone Audubon on the east side of the SF Bay is actively endorsing and supporting a citywide measure in Fremont to create a agricultural buffer zone around the special Coyote Hills Regional Park. Measure K, the Protect Coyote Hills Initiative, will prevent irresponsible development on the sensitive bay uplands and promote the agricultural character of California in an increasing urban area. With energy and financial support from hundreds of campaign volunteers and conservationists plus the political savvy of Audubonners like Evelyn Cormier, Ohlone president, Fremont stands to preserve quality of life, habitat for over 170 bird species and the health of surrounding communities. To learn more or get involved: www.fchf.org
Napa-Solano Audubon President Cheryl Harris is leading the charge to create an open space district in Napa County. Napa is the only Bay Area County without an open space district or equivalent.
 Online Discussion Forum for Audubon California Members
In response to many of your requests for intrachapter communication, I am pleased to announce the new Audubon California Discussion Forum! The forum is on-line message and discussion center where questions can be asked, answers shared, and strategies discussed. As information and discussion accumulates on the forum, it can be searched for topics and keywords. The forum can also function like a listserve. Under “Forum Subscriptions”, users can sign-up to individual forum topics to receive the posted messages as emails.
Let the information sharing begin! Join the discussion forum today at www.ca.audubon.org/forum/
Rare, In-Person Chance to Stand Up for Endangered Species
The Bush Administration is holding a series of “listening sessions” across the country to get people’s input on cooperative conservation projects. California has two “listening sessions” in Redding on September 13th and Colton on September 28th .
The Cooperative Conservation listening tour is an opportunity to speak out in support of the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and other environmental laws. If you can attend this rare opportunity to talk directly to senior Bush Administration officials, please join Chapter Coordinator Claudia Eyzaguirre.
Lets get out the real message about how environmental protections drives cooperation in our communities to conserve natural resources.
The Bush Administration’s hidden agenda behind these events is to build momentum to weaken our nation’s critical environmental laws. This is another attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act with a proposed package of “Cooperative Conservation Legislation”. For more information on ESA, see www.audubon.org/campaign/esa . For more information about the sessions themselves, see the Department of Interior's cooperative conservation web page http://cooperativeconservation.gov/sessions/index.html .
 Landowner Stewardship Program -
Realizing Conservation on Ranches and Farms
Audubon California is proud of our seven year old Landowner Stewardship Program (LSP). Based out of Winters, CA the LSP works with private landowners in the Central Valley to design and implement conservation projects on farms, ranches and other rural properties. This program is a successful example of cooperation and conservation on private ranches and farms. Led by Vance Russell, the LSP has collaborated with more than 50 farmers and ranchers on habitat restoration projects compatible with their agricultural operations. The partnership between Audubon California and these landowners creates an important message: private land owners and conservationists do have common goals, and we can work together to keep California both economically and ecologically healthy.
Last year, Vance and his small crew were able to implement a number of new and innovative conservation projects on private and public lands. Highlights included the Bobcat Ranch to Blue Oak Riparian restoration that finished its second year of successfully planting 30 acres of native grasslands, 1000's of trees and creating wetlands for Tri colored blackbirds and migratory waterfowl; and planting a two mile riparian levee setback collaboratively with Citrona Farms that featured pollinator friendly plantings. This was implemented with help from students at Florin and Davis High Schools as part of a new restoration extension program in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
This year the Program also finished a $1.8 million rangeland stewardship project in Yolo County. This tremendous project included restoration and research projects in the Willow Slough watershed of Yolo County which included: 1,429 acres prescribed burns; 1,005 acres native perennial grassland; and 4.4 miles riparian restoration. This project was also a hands-on learning experience for 300 high school students and testing 36 research hypotheses related to rangeland stewardship.
Audubon California is excited to announce that the Landowner Stewardship Program has begun collaborating with farmers and ranchers in the Imperial Valley, home of the Salton Sea. The ecosystem is a Globally Important Bird Area that provides habitat for over 400 bird species, more than two-thirds of all the bird species found in the United States and Canada.
To read more about the Landowner Stewardship Project go to http://www.ca.audubon.org/LSP/Willow_Slough.htm
San Diego Audubon Gains Executive Director
San Diego Audubon is pleased to have Chris Redfern as their new Executive Director
Chris comes to conservation following a successful 14-year career in the software industry. Chris decided to follow his passion for protecting wildlife by joining the San Diego Audubon Society in the spring of 2005. Skills in marketing, communications, and client relationship management have served him well in his new role as Executive Director." For the last year Chris has acted as the office manager/volunteer coordinator for SDAS. As executive director, Chris will focus program planning and fundraising. We look forward to great new and continuing activities from our friends in San Diego.
California Chapters Take Top Awards in Newsletter Contest
Three California Chapters took top awards in the bi-annual Audubon Chapter newsletter contest. Congratulations to Conejo Valley Audubon who took first place with the "Roadrunner" in the 500-800 member category and to Santa Barbara Audubon took first place with their "El Tecolote" in the 800-1000 member category, and to Golden Gate Audubon took first place in the 1500+ members category with the "Golden Gate Gull" newsletter. Congratulations to their editors and contributors!
 Chapter Recertification
Annual Reports for Chapter Recertification are due on August 31. Thank you to all the chapters that submitted reports on time. Forms can be found at http://www.ca.audubon.org/chapter_reporting_materials.html. Dues payment will be made to chapters once the report has been received.
Funding for Chapters
Collaborative Funding Guidelines have been sent to all Chapters. Applications are due by September 30th. For guidelines and application: http://www.ca.audubon.org/collaborative_funding.html
Inquiries are encouraged. Call Claudia at 510 601 1866x3.
 Audubon at Home- Gardening for Birds and Butterflies!
Audubon at Home- Gardening for Birds and Butterflies!
Audubon California has established a small grant program for Chapters to support promising pilot projects for Audubon At Home- Gardening for Birds and Butterflies. The framework of the Audubon at Home program was created with the input from 80 chapter leaders in the Audubon regional council meetings. The framework and grant applications can be found at http://www.ca.audubon.org/chapters_at_home.html.
California Chapter Coordinator
– Chapter Coordinator
Audubon California
4225 Hollis Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 601-1866 x (extension) 3
(510) 601-1954 Fax
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