Mother Lode Chapter of the Sierra Club

               Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet

THE SIERRA CONSERVATIONIST Newsletter Spring 2013

Salmon runs returning to Auburn Ravine The goal of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS) is to bring salmon and steelhead back to the Auburn Ravine. Come hear more about this important local environmental accomplishment at the next General Meeting of the Sierra Club Placer Group on April 30. Join Jack Sanchez and Steve Hubbard of SARSAS for an inspiring presentation with visuals of migrating salmon and learn what has been accomplished and what remains to be accomplished. In their presentation you can watch these goals come to fruition with fish runs returning to their historical reaches of Auburn Ravine where dams once blocked upstream migration. It is heartwarming to hear and see the remarkable progress of salmon swimming upstream to spawn again, against all odds.  The presentation is free and open to the public on Tuesday, April 30, 7 pm, Auburn Library, 350 Nevada St. For more information, contact Marilyn Jasper: 916.652.7005.   Earth Day comes our way! In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, a number of festivals and events across the region are being held in the month of April. The Sierra Club Placer Group needs volunteers for several of the activities so please consider giving us some of your time. On April 13, there was an expanded clean-up of Auburn as part of the SCPG’s monthly community service project on the second Saturday of the month. On April 20, the SCPG will be hosting a booth at the “Celebrate the Earth” festival in Roseville. This is a large event with thousands of participants, and a terrific opportunity to connect with the environmental community. . If you’d like to volunteer in the booth, or want more information, contact Christiane Raymond at 40licksart@att.net. Festival information is available at www.roseville.ca.us/earthday. “Celebrate the Earth” runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mahaney Regional Park, 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville. The festival is free and features entertainment, food, information booths and a display of electric vehicles. The SCPG also is participating in Earth Day events at the Kaiser Permanente Roseville Hospital-Medical Offices on April 18, and at Hewlett-Packard on April 25. Earth Day is every day so please consider helping with the Sierra Club Placer Group's monthly cleanup of the School Park Preserve behind Auburn City Hall on the second Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. We have now expanded our efforts to include the train station in Auburn. Register with organizer Heidi Van Zant at heidi.sierraclub@gmail.com. Upcoming dates are May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10 (subject to cancellation) and Sept. 14. Trash sticks and trash bags will be provided but bring your own gloves if you'd like. The clean-up project is part of an effort by the Sierra Club Placer Group to expand member opportunities for community service.   Placer County nature in photos

"Pool of Cold Fire" by Mary Vega/Best of Show 2011 For other award winners: Cape Horn, Spring Lamb, Endangered Valley Oaks, Sierra Snow, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olmstead Summer Flowers, Air, Morningstar   Congratulations to the nature photographers of 'Our Placer, Our Planet' The Sierra Club Placer Group celebrated its 20th anniversary with the "Our Placer, Our Planet" photo exhibit hosted by PlacerArts on Oct. 23, 2011 at the Arts Gallery in Auburn. Esteemed nature photographers Larry Brenden and Truman Holtzclaw juried the exhibit. The exhibit featured 32 photographs of Placer County nature, landscape, adventure and living auctioned in tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Sierra Club Placer Group. "There are places in Placer County to see that have grand views that rival Yosemite. It has been my goal to document some of these extraordinary places so others can enjoy our beauty and wilderness," said Mary Vega, who won "Best of Show" honors with her landscape photograph in Blue Canyon. Vega, a lifelong resident of Placer County, credited the late Russell Towle and his blog North Fork American River for her photo inspiration. The exhibit included a food and wine reception, piano entertainment, recognition of founding members of the Sierra Club Placer Group, and announcement of an upcoming outreach meeting. "These photographs capture the spirit of the Sierra Club and the great beauty of Placer County that we work so hard to preserve, protect and enjoy," said Heidi Van Zant, organizer and member of the Sierra Club Placer Group Executive Committee. Winning entries: Best of Show  "Pool of Cold Fire," Mary Vega Adventure/Placer Living "Cape Horn," Mark Younggren, first place "Spring Lamb," Ardath Winterowd, second place Landscape "Endangered Valley Oaks," Barry Walton, first place "Sierra Snow," Judy Hooper, second place Nature "Black-backed Woodpecker," Walt Carnahan, first place "Olmstead Summer Flowers," Gary Hughes, second place Manipulated Image "Air," Sadie Medley "Morningstar," Cathy Cooper Congratulations to all of the juried artists: Steve Aldridge, Lindy Atoms, Sue Barthelow, Jerry Berry, Walt Carnahan, Lynn Carr, Joe Chann, Cathy Cooper, Cathie Cordova, Rick Harrison, Judy Hooper, Gary Hughes, Patrick Jewell, Sadie Medley, Rick Todd, Mary Vega, Barry Walton, Karen Wyatt, Ardath Winterowd and Mark Younggren. Contact: Heidi Van Zant, 530.886.0788