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Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) is restoring the segment of Copeland Creek from Commerce Blvd to upstream of Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park. The work is being done in partnership with the Sonoma County Water Agency through grant funding from the California Natural Resources Agency,
This project will remove 10 acres of overgrown exotic vegetation such as Acacia, Himalayan Blackberry and Privet and replant the area with native riparian grasses, bushes and trees. This will enhance critical habitat, offset vehicle emissions, and provide additional wetland mitigation.
Copeland Creek parallels a multi-use trail frequented by students from over 15 education facilities including Rancho Cotate, Phoenix and El Camino High School, Technology High School, Sonoma State and local citizens.
“Walkers, runners and bicyclists feel safer now that we have opened up the line of sight down to the creek and have commented on the enhanced aesthetic value which has created a more ‘park-like’ setting,” Crew Supervisor Emily Byrnes observed. “The corpsmembers are able to hear on a daily basis the public’s appreciative comments and are able to reflect on the positive impact they are making in the community.”
Read more: Habitat Restoration and Enhancement at Copeland Creek
A University of California wildlife research team working in the Sierra Nevada is asking the public to donate clean, gently used socks for research on a rare weasel called the Pacific fisher.
The team is part of the Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP), which is examining the effects of forest thinning, as currently done by the U.S. Forest Service, on the health of local wildlife, the forest and water resources.
But what kind of research could go through hundreds of socks a month?
After years of experimentation, the research team has determined that socks are the ideal receptacle for hanging fisher bait in trees. The baited socks are hung in trees in view of motion-activated cameras. As the animal moves, climbing the tree and chewing on the sock, the camera takes photos that allow the scientists to identify the species.
A single gray wolf has been reported wandering in southern Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this animal is a 2 ½ year old male formerly from a pack in northeast Oregon. Since the animal has been collared with a GPS device that periodically transmits its location, biologists have been able to document its travels since early September.
Based on the GPS data, he is now more than 300 miles from where his journey began. As of yet, there are no direct observations confirming his presence, or that of any other wolves, in California.
“It’s too early to say with any certainty whether wolves will again become a resident species in California,” Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Charlton H. Bonham said. “But it is definitely an historic predator surrounded by legend and lore.”
Any wild gray wolf that returns to California is protected as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. DFG has been following the recovery and migration of gray wolves in western states with the expectation that at some point they will likely reach California. The last confirmed wild gray wolf in California was killed in Lassen County in 1924.
Sonoma County homeowners are now eligible for rebates of up to 100% for Energy Analysis services. In addition, rebates up to $6,000 are now available for some home energy efficiency upgrades.
These new incentives were announced Oct. 27 by the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP), and the Regional Climate Protection Authority, in partnership with Energy Upgrade California™
A Home Energy Analysis uses cutting-edge technology to determine where a home may be leaking energy and wasting money, and addresses potential indoor air quality and health concerns. The analyst assesses all the major energy efficiency features of the home, looking at the house as a whole system. Air leaks, heating and cooling systems, water heating systems, insulation, windows, attached lighting fixtures, major appliances, solar systems, and other energy uses are all inspected. The analysis includes a customized evaluation of the home’s energy use and identifies specific opportunities to minimize energy waste, and improve comfort, many of which are eligible for further rebates and financing. Any Sonoma County homeowner may choose to have an analysis performed on their home. Immediate plans for energy efficiency improvements are not required.
