Conservation Actions

Bob Schneider (September 2009)

I hope that everyone had a great summer. The Sierra Club works to Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the wild places of the earth. But, too often we forget the “Explore and Enjoy” parts of that mission.

One of my special trips this summer was an overnight with John Olmstead to his property on the south side of Goat Mountain that is an inholding in the Mendocino National Forest. The property is held in title by the California Institute of Man in Nature, a non-profit that he formed.

John has a vision for an ecological east-west transect across California and the nation along the 39th parallel. He describes it as a series of special places or “Beads on a String.” On the coast he was instrumental in the establishment of Jug Handle State Park, he worked on providing access to the Sutter Buttes (or Middle Mountain) and on the South Yuba River he worked to develop the Independence Trail which is handicapped-accessible. While reachable by dirt road, the Goat Mountain property is a wilder, less accessible bead on that string.

Goat Mountain is a triple divide peak. It is the headwaters of the Cache Creek, Stony Creek and Eel River drainages. A series of ancient landslides created a “lumpy” landscape with several springs. At 4000 foot elevation, July temperatures were cooler and lilies and milkweed bloomed. I was particularly enthralled by the Monarch butterflies. Views to Mt Konocti and St Helena were inspiring.

The Northern Inner Coast Range in the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area continues to offer diversity and new surprises.

Coastal Clean-Up Day and National Public Lands Day

Coastal Clean-Up Day is September 19th and National Public Lands Day is September 26. Berryessa Trails and Conservation, working with Lake Berryessa Park Rangers will be cleaning up trash and tires on the lakeshore and islands on the 19th; and battling invasive species, doing trail work, and removing fencing on the 26th. Work in the mornings will be followed by BBQ lunches and play in the afternoons. You can find more information and register at www.berryessatrails.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

Many local conservation organizations offer volunteer and intern opportunities. While we need to remember to “Explore and Enjoy”, the Sierra Club also works hard to “Protect.” For information on volunteering with the Yolano Group, call Pam Nieberg at 530-756-6856. You might also contact Tuleyome at 530-350-2599 to work on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area campaign.