Wildfire Information

We are aware of fires near redwood parks and reserves that we have protected, and we are communicating with park officials about the condition of redwoods in those areas. Before you visit a California State Redwood Park, check to see that it's open by calling (800) 444-7275. The National Parks Service offers the latest information on fires in its parks, including redwood and giant sequoia parks. The US Geological Survey provides the latest information on wildfire locations. Fire can help maintain the natural qualities of the redwood ecosystem. Among other benefits, lower-intensity fires reduce the amount of ground vegetation that would otherwise accumulate and fuel intense, potentially damaging fires; they prepare the ground for redwoods seeds to germinate; and in some areas they can help control non-native plants.

League Supports Plan Providing Free State Parks Access

The League is partnering with the California State Parks Foundation to support a proposal that will provide free day-use access to California State Parks. Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) proposed the California State Park Access Pass program as a solution to the parks’ funding crisis. This program would provide critical funding for regular park maintenance and operation by instituting a $10 surcharge on vehicle license fees of all noncommercial vehicles and some commercial vehicles in California. In exchange for paying the fee, Californians would get free day-use access. Learn more or express your support for this solution.

Help Still Needed to Keep Our Redwood Parks Open!

As explained in previous issues of this newsletter, some redwood parks that our members have helped to protect were slated for closure under a previous budget plan by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The proposed closures were to help address a budget shortfall. The Governor’s revised budget proposal will keep the parks open, but California State legislators still must vote on the budget. Your representatives must hear from you now. Send a message to your elected officials, encouraging them to keep the parks open. Ask your friends to do the same by forwarding this e-mail.

Grant Boosts Our Forest Restoration Project

Our groundbreaking work in accelerating restoration of a logged forest to an inspiring, majestic state will continue thanks partly to a generous commitment from The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment. Among the goals of the Mill Creek Ecological Restoration Project in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park are to prevent road-related erosion to protect salmon, protect habitat for species such as marbled murrelets that depend on big trees, and provide access for the public to enjoy the forest. Since 2002, our partners have removed more than 45 miles of logging roads, thinned more than 1,600 acres of young, dense forest, installed salmon habitat structures, and offered summer tours to the public. For tour information, call Nancy Jo at (707) 465-7398. This project still needs your financial support! Donate today.

Staff Member's Favorite Redwood Hike: Six Bridges Trail

In this recurring feature, our staff members share their favorite places to experience redwoods.

Name and Title: Sharon Waisman, Individual Gifts Assistant

Favorite Redwood Hike: Six Bridges Trail, Butano State Park

Difficulty/Distance: Easy; 1 mile

Why I like it: This relatively easy trail shows off this park’s biodiversity – you move from dense alder woodland accompanied by blackberry, elderberry, willow and dogwood, into second-growth redwood and Douglas firs full of huckleberry bushes and banana slugs. If you are lucky, you will even see a newt! If you continue up the fire road, just past the walk-in campgrounds, you will find one of the League’s Honor & Memorial Tree Groves.

Best time to visit: This trail is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit; however, both the newts and the purple calypso orchid are visible during the wet season.

Other places to visit nearby: The town of Pescadero is close to beautiful Pescadero State Beach, a great place for picnicking and tidepooling. The town also hosts its annual Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival on the third weekend of August – that’s August 16 and 17, 2008.

More information: Visit the Butano State Park Web page or make reservations to stay at the park’s drive-in or walk-in campgrounds.

Directions: Get directions to the park.

Featured Favorite Redwood Memory

My two friends were visiting from Luxembourg. They had read about the redwood trees but were unprepared when they actually saw them for the very first time. No amount of reading and seeing the trees in photos could prepare them. They were in awe, wonder, and disbelief. They could not believe their own eyes! Adjectives failed them as they gazed in wonder. Walking among the trees, they said, would be an experience never to be forgotten. I told them that even as a California native I felt the very same way!

— Delparde
Member since 1976