The News Blog is a place where updates to the guidebooks are posted. It is also a repository for news and information related to the state and national parks of the Bay Area, including upcoming events, benefits, and rallies to support our parks.
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News Blog Archive:
February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009
March 7, 2010
Sunday morning - a beautiful day for a hike in the Marin Headlands. I attended a guided walk at Muir Beach, led by National Park Service ranger Lou Sian, called the Coho Salmon and Spring Walk. The walk started at Muir Beach and we climbed up the hill above the beach on the Coastal Trail, while Lou told us about the restoration project that is going on. Over the next few years, the parking lot will be reoriented alongside the road, and the land around Redwood Creek will be lowered, to offset the years of buildup of sediment that flowed down from Mount Tamalpais. An old levee will be removed, and the wetlands and tidal lagoon will be restored with native plants. All of this is being done to improve the environment for the Coho Salmon that spawn each year in Redwood Creek.
The salmon enter the creek in the winter, after the rains cause the rushing waters to break through the sand bar at the beach, then make their way up through Muir Woods, sometimes as far as Bootjack. The females lay their eggs and the males move in to fertilize them, creating a cycle of life that has gone on for eons. When the salmon hatch, they make their way out to the Pacific Ocean, returning as adults to the same creek they were born in when it is time to spawn. An amazing story - one that is in danger of ending because of the human alteration of the environment.
This weekend saw the passing of Dr. Edgar Wayburn at 103 years of age. The former president of the Sierra Club was instrumental in saving wilderness throughout the Bay Area and beyond. His efforts led to the expansion of Mount Tamalpais State Park, as well as the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. A giant of the conservation movement has left us and will be sorely missed.
March 4, 2010
Angel Island is showing signs of recovering from the fire that swept across the southern side of the island in October, 2008. The winter rains have been pounding the island, helping to break down the charred remains of hundreds of trees that were burned. As damaging as a fire may seem, in the natural environment it has the effect of renewing and enriching the soil, restoring organic matter, and greatly increasing the fertility of the soil.
This is evident in the burn zone of Angel Island, where a rich green carpet of grasses, vines, and mosses covers the hillsides, still marred by the skeletal remains of trees. It will be decades before the land is healed completely, but the natural processes are at work now, greatly aided by the steady rains of this winter. We've been lucky that the rains have had small breaks in between storms, allowing the water to sink into the ground and preventing mudslides. Now we are able to see the healing process, with verdant hillsides and a rich profusion of wildflowers.
March 3, 2010
The signature drive is well under way now to put the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 on the November ballot. The initiative, which has broad support among environmental, conservation, labor, business, and tourism organizations, would create a stable, reliable source of funding for the 278 California State Parks. The money would come from an $18 vehicle surcharge, which could generate up to $500 million annually and provide free access to state parks for all California residents.
If passed, the initiative would help create thousands of jobs throughout California at a minimal cost to each person. The state parks currently have a backlog of $1 billion in deferred maintenance projects, many of which could be started on January 1, 2011. Visitors to state parks currently spend $4.32 BILLION annually on visits to parks, with an average expenditure of $57.63 per person going to surrounding communities. For every $1 spent by the state on parks, $2.35 is generated for the California treasury. Maintaining our state parks is a sound investment not only in our natural heritage, but also in our economy, which desperately needs the help right now.
Look for the petition gatherers, at Safeways, Costcos, farmers markets, and other locations around the state. The goal is to get 710,000 signatures by early April in order to qualify the initiative for the November ballot.
March 1, 2010
Had a nice early morning hike this morning, in spite of the cold cloudy weather. I started at sunrise and did the Grand Presidio Loop Hike, from A Visitor's Guide to the Presidio of San Francisco. I want to keep the hike description up to date and also to check on the progress of some areas that have been under construction. The Presidio seems like a giant construction site these days, with projects taking place all over, especially the Doyle Drive replacement project. From the Main Post, I wandered along Lincoln Boulevard, through the worst of the construction, having to take several detours along the way. Arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge, there were already throngs of tourists, with tour buses pulling into the parking lot one after another. I slipped past the crowds and got onto the Coastal Trail, suddenly in solitude and almost wilderness. Even the noise from the traffic and the crowds was drowned out by the waves crashing below the cliffs along Baker Beach.
I took the Batteries to Bluffs Trail along the cliffs, and then the little side trail down to Marshall's Beach, a beautiful place for a solitary walk in the early morning. Then up to Battery Crosby to take in the dramatic views in all directions. I crossed Lincoln Boulevard and up the hill to the Immigrant Point overlook, a great place to rest and dry off the sweat. It wasn't so cold anymore and I even had to take off my coat. I continued on the De Anza Trail and went up to see the Rob Hill campground. The renovation is still underway, and all I could see through the fence was a lot of construction equipment. It is due to reopen in June. I went through the forest, across the Golf Course, and then made a side trip to see the new apartment buildings that are being created out of the old hospital near the 15th Avenue Gate. Known as the Presidio Landmark, these apartments are slated to open this summer. Right now, there is still a lot of construction going on, so it was hard to get a good look. The planned overlook above Lobos Creek is also still a massive construction site.
When I returned to the Main Post, I heard the distinctive sound of the flocks of wild parrots that like to frequent the palm trees around the Parade Ground. For as much noise as they make, they are usually difficult to see, blending in with their surroundings or hiding among the palm fronds. I could see them flitting from tree to tree, disappearing quickly into the foliage, making it difficult to take a picture. Then I spotted two of them who made no attempt to hide, as they playfully squawked at me from their perch at the top of a palm frond.
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www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=346012300719.
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Subscribe to the RSS feed.News Blog Archive:
February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009
March 7, 2010Sunday morning - a beautiful day for a hike in the Marin Headlands. I attended a guided walk at Muir Beach, led by National Park Service ranger Lou Sian, called the Coho Salmon and Spring Walk. The walk started at Muir Beach and we climbed up the hill above the beach on the Coastal Trail, while Lou told us about the restoration project that is going on. Over the next few years, the parking lot will be reoriented alongside the road, and the land around Redwood Creek will be lowered, to offset the years of buildup of sediment that flowed down from Mount Tamalpais. An old levee will be removed, and the wetlands and tidal lagoon will be restored with native plants. All of this is being done to improve the environment for the Coho Salmon that spawn each year in Redwood Creek.
The salmon enter the creek in the winter, after the rains cause the rushing waters to break through the sand bar at the beach, then make their way up through Muir Woods, sometimes as far as Bootjack. The females lay their eggs and the males move in to fertilize them, creating a cycle of life that has gone on for eons. When the salmon hatch, they make their way out to the Pacific Ocean, returning as adults to the same creek they were born in when it is time to spawn. An amazing story - one that is in danger of ending because of the human alteration of the environment.
This weekend saw the passing of Dr. Edgar Wayburn at 103 years of age. The former president of the Sierra Club was instrumental in saving wilderness throughout the Bay Area and beyond. His efforts led to the expansion of Mount Tamalpais State Park, as well as the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. A giant of the conservation movement has left us and will be sorely missed.
March 4, 2010Angel Island is showing signs of recovering from the fire that swept across the southern side of the island in October, 2008. The winter rains have been pounding the island, helping to break down the charred remains of hundreds of trees that were burned. As damaging as a fire may seem, in the natural environment it has the effect of renewing and enriching the soil, restoring organic matter, and greatly increasing the fertility of the soil.
This is evident in the burn zone of Angel Island, where a rich green carpet of grasses, vines, and mosses covers the hillsides, still marred by the skeletal remains of trees. It will be decades before the land is healed completely, but the natural processes are at work now, greatly aided by the steady rains of this winter. We've been lucky that the rains have had small breaks in between storms, allowing the water to sink into the ground and preventing mudslides. Now we are able to see the healing process, with verdant hillsides and a rich profusion of wildflowers.
March 3, 2010The signature drive is well under way now to put the California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 on the November ballot. The initiative, which has broad support among environmental, conservation, labor, business, and tourism organizations, would create a stable, reliable source of funding for the 278 California State Parks. The money would come from an $18 vehicle surcharge, which could generate up to $500 million annually and provide free access to state parks for all California residents.
If passed, the initiative would help create thousands of jobs throughout California at a minimal cost to each person. The state parks currently have a backlog of $1 billion in deferred maintenance projects, many of which could be started on January 1, 2011. Visitors to state parks currently spend $4.32 BILLION annually on visits to parks, with an average expenditure of $57.63 per person going to surrounding communities. For every $1 spent by the state on parks, $2.35 is generated for the California treasury. Maintaining our state parks is a sound investment not only in our natural heritage, but also in our economy, which desperately needs the help right now.
Look for the petition gatherers, at Safeways, Costcos, farmers markets, and other locations around the state. The goal is to get 710,000 signatures by early April in order to qualify the initiative for the November ballot.
March 1, 2010
Had a nice early morning hike this morning, in spite of the cold cloudy weather. I started at sunrise and did the Grand Presidio Loop Hike, from A Visitor's Guide to the Presidio of San Francisco. I want to keep the hike description up to date and also to check on the progress of some areas that have been under construction. The Presidio seems like a giant construction site these days, with projects taking place all over, especially the Doyle Drive replacement project. From the Main Post, I wandered along Lincoln Boulevard, through the worst of the construction, having to take several detours along the way. Arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge, there were already throngs of tourists, with tour buses pulling into the parking lot one after another. I slipped past the crowds and got onto the Coastal Trail, suddenly in solitude and almost wilderness. Even the noise from the traffic and the crowds was drowned out by the waves crashing below the cliffs along Baker Beach.
I took the Batteries to Bluffs Trail along the cliffs, and then the little side trail down to Marshall's Beach, a beautiful place for a solitary walk in the early morning. Then up to Battery Crosby to take in the dramatic views in all directions. I crossed Lincoln Boulevard and up the hill to the Immigrant Point overlook, a great place to rest and dry off the sweat. It wasn't so cold anymore and I even had to take off my coat. I continued on the De Anza Trail and went up to see the Rob Hill campground. The renovation is still underway, and all I could see through the fence was a lot of construction equipment. It is due to reopen in June. I went through the forest, across the Golf Course, and then made a side trip to see the new apartment buildings that are being created out of the old hospital near the 15th Avenue Gate. Known as the Presidio Landmark, these apartments are slated to open this summer. Right now, there is still a lot of construction going on, so it was hard to get a good look. The planned overlook above Lobos Creek is also still a massive construction site.
When I returned to the Main Post, I heard the distinctive sound of the flocks of wild parrots that like to frequent the palm trees around the Parade Ground. For as much noise as they make, they are usually difficult to see, blending in with their surroundings or hiding among the palm fronds. I could see them flitting from tree to tree, disappearing quickly into the foliage, making it difficult to take a picture. Then I spotted two of them who made no attempt to hide, as they playfully squawked at me from their perch at the top of a palm frond.