The Constancy of Change By Alan Ehrgott

On June 13th I found myself bouncing wildly in

ARC’s pick-up truck over a tortuous road leading from

Chipmunk Ridge to Gray Horse Valley just west of the

Sierra Nevada crest. Gray Horse, at 6,200’elevation is a

magical, glacier-carved valley. The upper ramparts of

the canyon are formed by vertical cliffs of dark brown,

columnar basalt reminiscent of Devil’s Post Pile. Below

these volcanic cliffs, polished

granite bedrock gives way to

forests of red and white fir and

stringer meadows of thick al-

der. Lower still we find a

broad valley of deep soil with

thick forest, grassy meadows

and a small river bespeckled

with nervously darting rain-

bow trout. At the mouth of

the valley, the sparkling water

of Gray Horse Creek tumbles

vertically, down-slope about

1,000 feet into Hell Hole Reser-

voir, there to wait its fate as

Placer County’s domestic wa-

ter supply. To the southeast in the distance rise the

snow-capped, 9,000’ peaks, in both Granite Chief and

Desolation Wilderness. It was an impressive vista

which completely softened the aches and pains of the

harsh and boney road.

On this trip I was joined by David Burns, a tal-

ented geomorphologist, who had been hired by ARC to

help decommission and restore about 50 miles of old

logging road throughout our 10,000-acre purchase. But

this trip was focused on restoring the road into Gray

Horse Valley to allow contractors an easier passage this

summer with equipment to restore 300 acres of

extremely dense and mistreated forest.

In reaching the bottom of the valley, we found a

never-ending abundance of wildflowers, tall stocks of

white Washington Lily, bright vermillion paintbrush,

and the deep purples of Lupine and Delphinium, and

everywhere a breathtaking quantity and variety of

butterflies. There must have been millions of butterflies

in this valley; swallowtails, admirals, painted ladies,

checker spots, skippers, and blues. They swirled over

the blooming mountain whitethorn throughout the

meadows and, oddly enough, formed countless

“puddles” on the road absorbing the minerals and salts

of the rich and exposed mountain earth.

David and I reflected on the miracle of meta-

morphosis, the change in the actual state of the butter-

fly from egg to larva to pupa

chrysalis to adult. We reflect-

ed on the complete liquefac-

tion of the insect, turning the

animal into cellular soup

before it became reconstituted

into an adult butterfly form.

We agreed that this is

why we need wilderness. We

would never find this number

and density of butterflies in

an urban or even rural subur-

ban setting. It was here in the

upper Sierra Nevada where

butterfly species were

matched to a myriad subset of

native flowering plants. What better animal than a

butterfly to demonstrate a reliance on radical physio-

logical change, and with the constancy of a native food

supply, secure evolutionary success.

As I contemplate that recent road trip I reflect

on how often I com-

pare the life stages of a

single animal with the

organizations we col-

lectively create. Over

the past 30 years, the

American River Con-

servancy has changed

its physical form, its

structure and charac-

ter.

Continued on page 2...

the Current American River Conservancy

IN THIS ISSUE Feature Article 1-2

Prop 3 2

Conservation Update 3

CalFire Grants Awarded 4

The Butterfly Effect 5

Education Update /Camp Funnies 6

Wakamatsu 7-8

Program Calendar 9

Hikes, Programs, Workshops 10-11

Volunteer Opportunities 12

Change & Transformation story 13

Eddies & Winter Dinner Invite 14

Thank you supporters 15

Become a Supporter 16

Informational Newsletter for Fall 2018 (September-November)

Over 24,800 acres protected since 1989

View from Gray Horse Valley of Hell Hole Reservoir, Granite Chief and Desolation Wilderness.

...continued from page 1.

I hope it will continue to thrive as a conservation organization, not

afraid to experiment, take risks, and complete big and complicated

projects.

For myself, I too must change. This year of 2018 will likely be

the last year I will serve as ARC’s Executive Director. It is time for

me to morph…to spend less time raising money and spend more

time hiking the very trails that ARC built, exploring the spectacular

habitats, rivers, and forests our community has collectively protect-

ed.

I was hired at age 37 to incorporate and grow a fledgling

ARC. It is now 30 years later and it’s time to turn the reins over to a

younger person. The ARC Board has elected to hire its Stewardship

Director, Elena DeLacy as its new Executive Director. Elena will

begin her tenure at age 37

and I wish her at least 30

years of conservation suc-

cess. We are both biologists

by training and I know that

we share the same values

and commitment to protect-

ing the ecological, financial,

and social health of our com-

munity.

I want to thank you

all for your support along

the way. It has at times been

a tortuous road, but I cannot

think of a more supportive

community to work with

and I thank you all from the

bottom of my heart for your

advice, humor, volunteer-

ism, and financial support

along the way. I hope to see

you on the trail.

page 2 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

American River

Conservancy PO Box 562

348 Hwy 49

Coloma, CA 95613

(530) 621-1224

Fax: (530) 621-4818

Email: arc@ARConservancy.org

Website: ARConservancy.org

ARC Board of Directors Scott Vail—President

Kyle Pogue—Vice President

Cathy Ciofalo — Treasurer

Steve Clark — Secretary

Fred Bernstein Carla Soracco Kay Osborn

Clint Collins Greg Carlson

Staff Alan Ehrgott

Executive Director

Elena DeLacy

Stewardship Director

Autumn Gronborg

Forest Restoration Coordinator

Julie Andert

Public Outreach & Office Manager

Melissa Lobach

Campaign and Communications Manager

Sue Robbins

Nature Center Docent

Marie Imler

Bookkeeper

Kelly Croffoot

Chili Bar Manager

Taylor Faye Benedict

AmeriCorps Stewardship

& Outreach Coordinator

Parker Flickinger

AmeriCorps Education Coordinator

On the statewide November ballot this fall you will be faced with Proposition 3, a water bond that funds

watershed and water supply projects across the state, and we urge you to vote YES! Proposition

3 includes nearly $4 billion in conservation funding and would provide much-needed funding to

advance a plethora of both the state’s natural resource objectives and our own goals for restoring

the South fork of the American River and the Cosumnes River.

With a changing climate, more intense droughts, and increased demand on the state’s

water resources, Proposition 3 ensures that we not only care for our water as a supply issue, but

invest in the health of the watersheds and ecosystems.

Help us advance the American River Conservancy’s goals by spreading the word to vote

YES ON 3 in November. For more information or to contact the campaign please visit their

website, www.waterbond.org and follow them on twitter @CAWaterBond.— Matteo Crow

Photo of Alan (right) with his brother John (left) as they hike the length of Baja California in 1975. Note the cele-

brated and mythical boojum trees (Fouquiera columnaris),

a member of the Ocotillo Family, in the bacround. Picture taken in the Sierra San Borja. Alan is looking forward to

rekindling his backpacking exploits upon retirement.

Land Conservation Update

page 3 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

This update will focus on ARC’s efforts to protect the Cosumnes River, one of the last undammed rivers on

the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.

There are no significant dams on the North, Middle, South, or Main Forks of the Cosumnes River and it serves

as a rare model of a free-flowing river. One of the goals of ARC is to protect this 80-mile reach of free-flowing

river from its headwaters in the Eldorado National Forest downstream to its confluence with the Mokelumne River.

Along this reach is an assemblage of native fish that include steelhead, winter run Chinook salmon, and rainbow

trout. There is also an extensive wildlife corridor along the river that extends from the Sacramento Valley to alpine

meadows at 7,200’ elevation.

Over the past ten years, ARC has completed the purchase of thirteen properties fronting the Cosumnes River,

protecting 7,000 acres of riparian habitat supporting native fish, bald eagles, song birds, bear and mountain lion. We

can now report substantial progress in the creation of a new Wildlife Area (WA), the first in El Dorado County, made

up of two large ranches fronting the Main Fork of the Cosumnes River:

El Dorado Ranch

ARC hopes to complete the Phase #3 acquisition of 1,018 acres

of blue oak woodland and riparian habitat in September, 2018. This

acquisition would create a 3,157-acre protected landscape just west of

Highway 49 and fronting the Main Fork of the Cosumnes River. ARC

has secured a contract to purchase this property at the state-

approved, appraised value of $4,680,000. In the last few months ARC

has negotiated a $500,000 reduction in the purchase price by the Sell-

er, purchase grants of $500,000 from the California Wildlife Founda-

tion, and $850,000 from the State Resources Agency. ARC expects

approvals of a $63,500 grant from El Dorado County to be awarded

August 28th and another $2.5 million grant from the Wildlife Conser-

vation Board to be awarded August 30th. ARC has raised $28,281 in

private donations. Altogether this totals $4,441,781 or 95% of all

purchase funding needed. ARC still needs $238,219 or 5% of the

purchase funding to be raised before escrow can close. In August

ARC will initiate a challenge campaign to raise this last 5% of the

purchase funding required. Please consider a donation to help ARC

complete the purchase and protection of this magnificent river-front

landscape. Continued on page 4...

The River Coyote Design team understands the

demands and challenges of small businesses

because each of their team members comes

directly from the small business community

within their specialty! We at ARC are thrilled to

have worked with them to design and develop our

website. Sign up for a free consultation today.

https://www.rivercoyotedesign.com/free-consult

page 4 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

ARC Wish List

Videographer and Animator intern

Sturdy vintage dishes

Photos of properties

Laptop computer

Photo button-making machine

Golf cart

12-passenger van

Fancy guest book

Snack bars

Grocery gift cards

Potting soil

Generator

Garden tools – shovels, rakes, hoes,

small spades, pitchforks

Michael’s gift card

Walkie-Talkies

Air Blower

50-gallon aquarium

Large white metallic board Speakers for computer Large baskets (for gift baskets) Blender or food processor

Continued from page 3… Ervin Ranch

ARC has secured a contract to purchase the 1,737 acre Ervin Ranch

fronting the main stem of the Cosumnes River just east of the Sacramento/El

Dorado County line. This ranch provides a ¾-mile of river frontage and

reproductive habitat for steelhead and winter-run Chinook salmon. ARC

has submitted a $1 million grant to the Environmental Enhancement and

Mitigation Fund administered by the State Natural Resources Agency and

expects to secure additional grants for the balance of the purchase price from

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State Wildlife Conservation Board.

Together, the El Dorado Ranch and the Ervin Ranch acquisitions

would make up an initial 4,894-acre wildlife area to be managed by the

California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the protection of special

status species including: the state and federally threatened Chinook salmon,

the California-threatened central valley steelhead, the state-endangered bald

eagle, the state threatened red-legged frog, and other rare species

including the foothill yellow legged frog and northwestern pond turtle.

The American River Conservancy is currently celebrating its 30th

anniversary. It has completed 83 conservation projects protecting 25,000

acres of native fisheries, endangered species habitat, and recreational lands

within the upper American and Cosumnes River watersheds. ARC

provides interpretive hikes, educational programs to schools, and volunteer

opportunities to the greater Sacramento metropolitan region. For program

information visit www.ARConservancy.org

This just in… CAL FIRE Awards $27.5 million for

Tahoe-Central Sierra Forest Health Projects

Grants will reduce wildfire risk and combat climate change

CAL FIRE announced this month that it awarded four

grants totaling $27.5 million to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy,

California Tahoe Conservancy, National Forest Foundation, and

American River Conservancy for high-priority forest health

projects in Placer, Nevada, Sierra, and El Dorado counties. These

grants provide significant investment in the 2.4-million-acre

Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative area. This partnership includes

state, federal, and environmental industry and research repre-

sentatives working together to protect the area’s quality of life by

restoring the resilience of its forests and watersheds. The Tahoe,

Eldorado, and Lake Tahoe Basin national forests serve as the

critical federal counterparts in this work.

“By protecting and restoring the health of our headwa-

ters, we are also protecting the many benefits that flow from

them,” says Alan Ehrgott, Executive Director for the American

River Conservancy. “This work is important both to those of us

that live and work in the headwaters, and to the state as a

whole.” (Excerpt taken from SNC press release.)

The American River Conservancy is located in the

American River Nature Center

inside the Marshall Gold Discovery

State Historic Park

at 348 Hwy. 49, Coloma, CA The Nature Center & Bookstore are open to the public

Friday Thru Sunday from 10 am- mm.

Our offices are open to volunteers and supporters

Monday thru Friday from 9 am- pm and

weekends from 10 am- pm.

We can be reached by phone at ( 30) 621- 122 or online at arconservancy.or .

page 5 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

The Butterfly Effect By Scott Vail, Board President

The American River Conservancy Board of Directors, after a lengthy

search, has selected ARC’s own Stewardship Director, Elena Delacy, as our

new Executive Director. Elena will serve as Associate Director until Alan

Ehrgott retires at the end of December. Elena is a UC Davis Graduate in En-

vironmental Biology and Management (Conservation Biology focus) and has

worked for ARC , starting as an intern, for 15 years.

Elena is a very experienced grant writer and project manager, suc-

cessfully implementing many grant-funded trail and habitat enhancement

projects. She has experience working with local, state, and federal govern-

ment as well as private land owners and volunteer citizens. Highlights of her

volunteer involvement is implementation of the local UC California Natu-

ralist Certification Course and the Land Steward Program.

She has developed, planned, and managed multiple habitat restoration, enhancement, and trail construction

projects. The recent Acorn Creek Trailhead project is an example of Elena’s ability to develop grant proposals and

then work with other agencies, staff, and volunteers to implement new opportunities for recreation, riparian, and

woodland habitat enhancement.

Elena has recently written a successful grant for the construction of an outdoor classroom to be located at

Wakamatsu Farm. This is a significant accomplishment in achieving the ARC commitment to environmental

education in El Dorado and surrounding counties.

Complementing her work with ARC, Elena serves in a leadership capacity on CABY RWMG (Regional Water

Management Group), representing ARC’s interests in the Cosumnes River and American River Watersheds. She is a

founding member of the Cosumnes Coalition, working collaboratively with several agencies, non-profits, tribal

members, and academic institutions to create and implement a watershed-wide conservation and stewardship plan.

Elena is an exceptional communicator with an excellent knowledge of ecological principles and practical field

applications, with first-hand knowledge of budgeting and fiscal processes of a non-profit organization and experience

in creating strategic conservation plans as well as individual land management plans.

We are very fortunate to have a transition period through the end of this year where Alan Ehrgott will

continue in his current position while Elena acts as the Associate Director. This will help ensure a comfortable

transition period during such a busy time at ARC. Elena will formally take the helm January 1, 2019. Please join me in

celebrating this moment by congratulating Elena and assisting her in continuing the leadership of the ARC in our

mission of conservation, stewardship and environmental education.

Alan and Elena along the South Fork of the American River we strive to protect

Education Update

page 6 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

“Who’s underpants are these?” A

common “slogan” spoken by counse-

lors this year.

9-11 year-old camp:

Camper: Are you a kid or a Mom?

Counselor: Neither or both. Does a dog

count as having a kid?

6-8 year-old camp:

Camper: Can you help me find a walk-

ing stick?

Volunteer: We’re not playing with

sticks right now because it’s time for

morning circle.

(Camper meant “Walking Stick,” as in

a bug, not a hiking pole.)

4-5 year-old camp:

Brittany: Alright kiddos, dear ears!

Camper: I hear Moose.

While at the beach with the campers

one day, we spotted two interesting

water birds swimming in an eddy. Af-

ter looking carefully, we realized these

“birds” were a camper’s pair of Nike

sneakers gone adrift! Fortunately, they

were able to be rescued and no camp-

ers, counselors, animals, or shoes were

harmed.

Camp Funnies

Nature Camp was an ambitious undertaking for me. I had

previously led field trips and been a counselor at other camps, but I

never had been in charge with this much responsibility. I was not

unlike one of our 9-year-old Nature Campers, who was on her first

overnight without her family with her. However, I worked hard,

took camp seriously, and I am happy with how everything turned

out. Each day was something new and fun with lessons for us all. I

was truly impressed by the positive attitudes each week that

campers brought to the table. They all wanted to have fun and help

each other. I hope they all continue to succeed in their lives as they

did at camp. —Parker Flickinger, serving with AmeriCorps.

page 7 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

WakamatsuFest150 Promoted at California State Fair 2018

This year during the California State Fair at Cal Expo, the El Dorado County display featured ARC’s

Wakamatsu Farm. The display particularly promoted the big 2019 festival next year, WakamatsuFest150. Poster-

sized images of the Farm dominated the county display where Paul Cockrell’s recent drone footage of the property

was a prominent feature. Author and Wakamatsu docent Herb Tanimoto also participated in the nearby author's

book signing booth where he sold over 30 copies of Keiko’s Kimono,

his story inspired by the actual 1869 Wakamatsu colonists. Our part-

ners at the California Rice Commission also had a strong presence in

the county building with their own beautiful display. Thanks to the El

Dorado Chamber of Commerce, Paul, Herb, and the California Rice

Commission for supporting our landmark Farm.

ARC’s Campaign & Communication Manager, Melissa Lobach, recently wrote a haiku for a

competitive $2000 grant hosted by Mission Box to “describe the heart of your mission.”

Here is her haiku about the heart of ARC:

Mighty river flows water shedding tears of gold save her fragile life.

ARC recognizes Holiday Market (Pleasant Valley Road location) for

their friendly, patient, and generous staff who have allowed our Cosumnes

River Water Quality Monitoring Program to use the store as a drop-off and

pick-up location for monitoring equipment. From June through September,

our monitors can rely on store staff to safely store the gear in the Manager’s

office for the next group of monitors. Because of this gesture of goodwill,

our water quality monitoring program doesn’t have to purchase a multitude

of monitoring kits, which keeps our monitoring program cost-

effective. Thank you, Holiday Market!

page 8 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

What’s up at Wakamatsu? Established in 1869

Birthplace of 1st Japanese-American

A New Building at Wakamatsu Farm by Melissa Lobach

American River Conservancy is pleased to announce plans

and funds to build an outdoor classroom at Wakamatsu

Farm. Standing near the parking lot, the building will be the hub

of educational programs and visitor services. A true metamor-

phosis, this new building will change the future of public

programs at the Farm.

You may be wondering, what exactly is an outdoor

classroom? Picture an open building with a roof overhead,

seating, and moveable barn door walls that also serve as

interpretive panels. Angled toward the “Giving Garden” and

native plant nursery, the classroom will have a beautiful and

wide-open look and feel. With indoor seating, it will provide

much needed shelter from the weather. It will include electricity provided by solar panels on the rooftop and a rain-

catching system to capture water for the surrounding native plants. As “off the grid” as possible, the building itself

will be instructional about sustainable construction. And finally, it will include restrooms, a real improvement at the

main parking lot for arriving visitors.

ARC is most honored to work with talented architects Charlie Downs and Peter McBride, of Arch Nexus of

Sacramento. They have provided striking preliminary plans for the outdoor classroom which they shared during the

Donor Wall of Honor unveiling at Wakamatsu Farm on June 2nd. Construction is expected to start after the big ses-

quicentennial celebration, WakamatsuFest150, to be held in June 2019.

So far, funding for the outdoor classroom comes via two sources. The first is a $6,000 grant from the

Schwemm Family Foundation. Thankfully, this grant will cover at least a portion of permitting costs. The second

funding source is a $271,000 grant from the California De-

partment of Parks and Recreation Outdoor Environmental

Education Facilities Grant Program. Unfortunately, neither

grant will cover restroom construction, so further fundrais-

ing is required.

A dream come true at the Farm, the outdoor class-

room will vastly improve the learning experience for visi-

tors of all ages. We hope you share the joy and excitement

of this transformational change in the future of Wakamatsu

Farm.

Site of 1st Japanese Colony in USA

Gravesite of Okei-san

In July, ARC staff and volunteers were pleased to meet the newly appointed Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, Mr.

Tomokhika Uyama, accompanied by Consul Ryosuke Kamono. The

night before their Wakamatsu Farm tour, they all enjoyed a wonder-ful meal together. What a treat! Left to right is

Mr. Kamono, Melissa Lobach, Wendy Guglieri, Herb Tanimoto,

Alan Ehrgott, and Mr. Uyama.

Elena DeLacy, Peter McBride, and Charlie Downs introduce the draft

concept design of the Wakamatsu Farm outdoor classroom during the

Donor Wall of Honor unveiling ceremony on 6/2/18

Draft design of the Wakamatsu Farm outdoor classroom.

page 9 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Program Calendar

September Saturday the 1st 10am-2pm Wakamatsu Open Farm Day

Saturday the 8th 8-10:30am Wakamatsu Fall Bird Walk

Saturday the 8th 9:30-10:30am Tai Chi-Qigong

Friday the 14th 5:30-sunset Intro. to Yoga for Hikers

Saturday the 15th 10am-12pm Wakamatsu Public Tour

Saturday the 15th 10am-12pm Herbal Medicine Cabinet

Saturday the 29th 8:15-9:45pm Outdoor Movie Night @ Waka

Fri-Sun the 28-30 1pm Fri-5pm Sat Granite Chief Backpacking Trip

October Thursday the 4th 5:30-sunset Intro. to Yoga for Hikers

Saturday the 6th 10am-2pm Wakamatsu Open Farm Day

Saturday the 6th 7pm-? Stargazing at Wakamatsu

Saturday the 13th 9:30-10:30am Tai Chi-Qigong

Saturday the 20th 10am-12pm Wakamatsu Public Tour

Thursday the 25th 5:30-sunset Intro. to Yoga for Hikers

November Saturday the 3rd 10am-2pm Wakamatsu Open Farm Day

Sunday the 4th 10am-12pm Poetry Workshop

Saturday the 17th 10am-12pm Wakamatsu Public Tour

Sunday the 18th 8am-12pm Fall Bird Walk-Knickerbocker

Interested in

Volunteering?

Go to ARConservancy.org/get-involved.

Use the “volunteer form” button to sign

up for your specific volunteer interests.

Stargazing at Wakamatsu (photo by Melissa Lobach)

Programs Plus

Wakamatsu Fall Bird Walk

Saturday, September 8th

8-10:30am

Come join us for a morning birding walk at

the Wakamatsu Farm. Our program host and bird

enthusiast, Parker Flickinger, returns to lead his final

bird walk before his term ends. Our program host

Parker joins us through the AmeriCorps program.

He loves the outdoors, and has a B.S. in Environ-

mental Science. This is an easy hike for all quiet bird

enthusiasts over the age of 8. Steady rain cancels.

Please call for meeting location (Placerville/Gold Hill

area) and to sign up. Suggested donation: $5/person

or $10/family.

Fall Bird Walk at Knickerbocker Creek

Sunday, November 18th, 8am-12pm

(rain date Nov. 25)

Tim and Angela Jackson typically lead a bird

walk here in the spring. We'll return to the same lo-

cation in the fall to see which songbirds, raptors, and

water birds are there then. Tim maintains a website

(eldoradobirds.com) on birdwatching in El Dorado

County. Angela is a local writer and photogra-

pher. This is a moderate 2-3 mile walk. Quiet,

mature children 8+ welcome. Contact ARC to sign

up and for meeting location (Cool area). Suggested

donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.

Wakamatsu Open Farm Day

1st Saturdays Sept.-Nov.

10am-2pm

Site of the first Japanese colony in America,

your self-guided walking tour of Wakamatsu Farm

may include a stroll to Okei-san’s 1871 gravesite and

Charles Graner's original 1850’s farmhouse. Take a

trip around the lake on the 1.5-mile wheelchair-

accessible trail. Steady rain or temperatures over 100

degrees will cancel. Check ARC’s event calendar for

updates. Cost: $10 per vehicle. Buses and large vans

are $5 per person. All proceeds directly benefit

Wakamatsu Farm. For private tours, please call 530-

621-1224. Find out more at: ARConservancy.org/

wakamatsu

Open Space Easy Tai Chi –

Qigong at Wakamatsu Farm

Saturdays, September 8th&

October 13th, 9:30-10:30am

Let the open space of

Wakamatsu enhance our overall

wellness via movement exercis-

es. Instructor Gigi Tze-yue Hu is

a semi-retired Asian Studies educator and author.

She offers Tai Chi – Qigong classes to select commu-

nity groups. Ages 8+ welcome with adult. No prior

experience is required. Contact ARC to sign up, and

for meeting location (Placerville/Gold Hill area).

Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/non-

members.

page 10 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Many thanks to the volunteers who led a hike, taught a workshop, or gave a

presentation this Summer.

If you would like to become a volunteer complete the volunteer interest form at ARConservancy.org/get-involved

If you have an idea for a program contact julie@ARConservancy.org or 530-621-1224

Salmon Falls Ranch Hike—Spring 2018

Mindful Movement: Intro to Yoga for Hikers

Sept. 14, Oct. 4, and Oct. 25, 5:30pm-sunset

Explore the connection to ourselves and the

natural world through simple breathing exercises and

gentle yoga movements. Instead of "checking out," as

hikers we'll practice checking in to the benefits and

healing experience of moving mindfully. Julie

McKechnie is a CA Naturalist and lifelong hiker who

has been studying, practicing, and teaching yoga for

15 years. All fitness levels welcome. Ages 10+ w/adult

welcome. Contact ARC to sign up, and for meeting

location (Coloma area). Suggested Donation: $5/

members, $10/non-members.

Wakamatsu historical Public Tour

Third Saturdays Sept.-Nov. 10am-12pm

The site of the first Japanese col-

ony in America in 1869, the Wakamatsu

Tea and Silk Farm Colony is on the Na-

tional Register of Historic Places and

California Registered Historical Landmark #815. This

272-acre property features Okei-san’s historic

gravesite, an 1850’s farmhouse, and a turn-of-the-

century barn. 10-17 years old+ welcome. Contact ARC

to sign up and for meeting location (Gold Hill area).

Cost: $10/Adults, $5/Children

ARC Granite Chief Fall Pack trip to Hell Hole

and Five Lakes Trail -- -Day Overnight Backpack

Sept 28-30, Friday 1:00pn – Sunday 5:00pm

ARC volunteer Tom Dodson will lead this ex-

ploration of the Granite Chief Wilderness Area from

the Hell Hole Reservoir trailhead. Contact ARC to

sign up and for carpool info. Cost: $40/members, $55/

non-members.

Outdoor Movie Night-The Last Samurai

Saturday, September 29th, 8:15-9:45pm

Join us for an enjoyable evening under the

stars at Wakamatsu. Our feature presentation, star-

ring Tom Cruise, portrays a United States Captain of

the 7th Cavalry Regiment, whose personal and emo-

tional conflicts bring him into contact with samurai

warriors in the wake of the Meiji Restoration in 19th

Century Japan. This film is rated R. Under 17 must be

accompanied by an adult. Contact ARC to sign up

and for meeting location (Gold Hill area). Rain can-

cels. FREE-Donations to Wakamatsu welcome.

Fall Stargazing at Wakamatsu

Saturday, October 6th 7pm until…

Join American River Conservancy amateur

astronomers Tim Jackson and Herb Tanimoto to view

the fall skies above the spacious Wakamatsu fields.

Viewable telescopic objects include planets Neptune,

Uranus, Saturn, and Mars, as well as several other

distant delights. Contact ARC to sign up, and for

meeting location (Placerville area). Suggested

Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.

Using Your Spice Rack as a Medicine Chest

Saturday September 15th, 10am-12pm

In this class Candis will help you to under-

stand the common spices as potent herbal remedies.

You will learn how to make teas, honey blends, oils,

tinctures and poultices. Also, the benefits of herbal

baths will be covered, as well as how various herbs

can be used for their aromas for calming and sleep.

Candis Cantin has over 30 years practical experience

as an herbalist, herbal and nutritional counselor, and

teacher of holistic lifestyle principles. She has owned

and directed the EverGreen Herb Garden and School

of Integrative Herbology located in the Sierra foothills

where there are extensive organic botanical

gardens to view. Ages 12+ welcome. Contact ARC to

sign up, and for meeting location (Coloma). Suggest-

ed Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.

Capturing Wakamatsu: Poetry Walk/Workshop

Sunday, November 4th, 10am-12pm

Taylor Graham, El Dorado County’s first Poet

Laureate, and award-winning Sacramento-area poet

Katy Brown will lead an exploration of farmhouse,

barn, and surroundings, then ask participants to write

a poem inspired by what they’ve experienced.

Contact ARC to sign up, and for meeting location

(Placerville). Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/

non-members.

See our website calendar for full

descriptions and to sign up

ARConservancy.org/events

page 11 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Page 12 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Volunteer Opportunities

Trail Maintenance and Oak Woodland Watering at Acorn Creek Trailhead

Friday, September 7th 9am—12pm

Help us take care of our newly-opened multi-use public trailhead,

Acorn Creek!

Spivey Pond Workday

Wednesday, September 5th, 9am—1 pm

Spivey Pond is a protected habitat site for California red-legged

frog. ARC acquired this site in 1997 and donated it to the BLM for

management in 1998. We will be working on doing some

blackberry removal in areas where we’ve already worked earlier

this year (touch-up, mostly).

Great Sierra River Cleanup!

Saturday, September 15th 9am— 12pm

(with volunteer appreciation party to follow)

Did you know that it takes 450 years for a plastic beverage bottle to

decompose? Don’t miss this year’s annual Great Sierra River Cleanup

Day, Saturday, September 15th from 9am-12pm. Sign up at

www.ARConservancy.org/event/the-great-sierra-river-cleanup/

National Public Lands Day 2018

Saturday, September 22, 2018 8am – 12pm

The Bureau of Land Management and

American River Conservancy are teaming up for National Public Lands Day

(NPLD), the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. NPLD

brings together hundreds of thousands of individual and organizational

volunteers to help restore America’s public lands. This year we will be doing

trail maintenance, debris removal, fence repair, and invasive species removal at

Greenwood Creek – a property along the South Fork American River that ARC

was involved in acquiring in 1997. Join us for this family-friendly volunteer

event and give back to the public lands that give us so much. Please RSVP!

Wakamatsu Giving Garden Work Days on the Farm

Saturday, September 8th and Tuesday, September 11,

9am—1pm

Aside from weeding pathways, watering our riparian planting

area, and general maintenance throughout the garden, we have

entered into tomato harvest

season! Please bring your helping

hands and help us feed the

hungry with produce from our

Giving Garden! Gardeners and

landscapers of all ages and

abilities welcome.

Thank you Freshmint for donating

Graphic design work for Nature Camp

See our website calendar for full

descriptions and to sign up

ARConservancy.org/events or contact us at 530-621-1224

stewardship@ARConservancy.org

Volunteers at the Wakamatsu Giving Garden

Page 13 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

“What I Like Most About Rivers is You Can’t Step in the Same River Twice”

Change and Transformation By Taylor Faye Benedict

This summer the American River Conservancy and El Dora-

do County River Patrol have teamed up to put on three South Fork

American River Cleanups. We started on June 19th at Chili Bar, raft-

ing down to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and then

continued on July 19th from Mother Lode River Center all the way

down the Gorge to Salmon Falls collecting trash and debris from the

river and along the banks. People have a tendency to want to change

the world around them.

We made it our mission to

go along the South Fork

to restore the river from

all of the human recrea-

tion impact that occurs in the summertime. Once we’re finished remov-

ing trash and large debris from each section this summer, they will be

more pristine and natural than the way we found them.

We had a great turnout for both events, with local businesses

sponsoring a volunteer appreciation lunch following the event. We were

treated to pasta salad from Dennis at the River Shack, potato salad from

Lindsay at Take-a-Bite, burgers from Val at the Coloma Club, and

delicious assorted pastries from Teal at Sierra Rizing. One of my favorite

finds was half of an aluminum canoe. Our most popular items were

sunglasses and socks! Our sponsors for the second river cleanup included

a generous donation from the Placerville Food Co-op and our partner for

this event, Ythsta at Dirt Bag Paddlers.

While our first two river cleanups were high adventure

whitewater rafting, focusing on the upper and lower stretches of the

South Fork American River with Class II and III rapids, our last river

cleanup of the season is going to be on a low water day later in the afternoon. We are hoping that having the event

after school from 3:00 to 5:30 will encourage some of our younger river enthusiasts that weren’t quite old enough to

participate in the earlier cleanups will be able to make it out for this one. This is a family-friendly event where vol-

unteers can choose to hike along the shoreline and beach to

collect trash from Coloma to Greenwood Creek. Bring a

wetsuit to look for debris along the bottom of the low-

flowing river, or come along with us in inflatable kayaks! It

should be a beautiful day in the sun by the river and I hope

that you’ll join us for a big BBQ volunteer appreciation

event at Henningsen Lotus Park! Please contact me, Taylor

Faye, at 530-621-1224 or stewardship@ARConservancy.org

for more info. or to sign up!

Coming up on September 15th is the 10th annual

Great Sierra River Cleanup with more than eight cleanup

sites between Folsom and Fair Play including Beal’s Point,

Salmon Falls, Henningsen Lotus Park, the Happy Valley

Bridge, and several more. Sign up and reserve your spot

today!

page 14 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Eddies… Volunteering April-June

As the full heat of summer unfolds, ARC stewardship staff and dedicated volunteers have pushed through

to make the most of these long summer days. Thank you to everyone who participated in our June and July South

Fork American River Cleanups! We had over 75 volunteers come out between the two cleanups to help us remove

trash and debris from our local river. An extra big thank you to our local food sponsors that helped fuel our

volunteers with lunch for the cleanups: Dennis from the River Shack, Teal from Sierra Rizing, Lindsay from Take-a

-Bite, Val at the Coloma Club, and the staff of Placerville Food Co-op. And finally, thank you to all those

individuals and organizations for their support of Nature Camp 2018: Ashley Robertson, Barry Smith and

Marshall Gold Discovery Park, Briegan Aguilar, Brittany Lochtie, The Bureau of Land Management Folsom, Cara

Hogue and Flying Ace T-Shirts, Carol Dyer, El Dorado County Parks and Recreation District, Fresh Mint Designs,

Laurel Gromer, Michaela Neal and the Solar System Ambassadors, Mother Lode River Center, Pam & Loyd Evans,

Placerville Pizza Guys, Scott Wilkerson, Sierra Wildlife Rescue, and Sue Robbins.

Allen, Joanne

Allyn, Carl

Allyn, Cathy

Amanna, Kristie

Anderson, Byron

Angus, Tony

Ashcraft, Matthew

Bean, Michael

Benedict, Taylor Faye

Bernstein, Fred

Bertram, Susan

Boersig, Michael

Brinkley, Amy

Brown, Katy

Campbell, Susan

Carlson, Greg

Carstensen, Brian

Celio, Tracy

Center, Robin

Champion, Kathy

Chimalapati, Prasanth

Ciofalo, Cathy

Clark, Steve

Clement, Alison

Cloutier, Vicki

Collins, Clint

Cornell, John Robert

Dale, Karen

Dale, John

Dean, Deb

Dean, Jessica

Deng, Amy

Dodson, Tom

Dowty, Valerie

Edelhofer, Satomi

Edmondson, Nina

Ervin, Amber

Evans, Pam

Exley, Donna & Alan

Ferrero, Rita

Ferrero, Victoria

Ferrero, Adam

Flickinger, Parker

Fogg, Alissa

Frost-Hurzel, Melinda & Rick

Fukuda, Winnie

Fusano, Isabella

Gearlds, Tracey

Gershon, Keith

Giles, John

Gilson, Mary

Glennan, Bill

Graham, Taylor

Griffiths, Ray

Gross, Shana

Guglieri, Wendy

Gustafson, Walter

Hanebutt, Dave

Hanebutt, Marcia

Hanses, Myrna

Hart, Pete

Hayes, Janet

Hebenstreit, James

Holmes, Patrick

Hurd, Linda

Irvine, Branden

Ixquiac, Daisy

Jandhyala, Neehar

Jazdzewski, Karla

Jensen, Bill

Johnson, Heather

Johnston, Jana

King, Tom

Klammt, Fred

Koeckritz, Jeff

Koorn, Jeanne

Kruse, Deborah & Scott

Le, Toan

Le Marquand, Harrison

Le Marquand, Shelby

Leffler, Trish

Leuten, Tyler

Lobach, Melissa

Lowis, Janeene

Ma, Hunt

Madams, Margaret

Mahar, Ken

Malone, Kevin

Mantilla, Kevin

Martin, Beverly

Martinez, Jaime

Mengelkoch, Joan

Monzo, Pat

Mulcahey, Monica

Murti, Dee Dee

Myneni, Sreekanth

Newport, Chuck

Nisbet-Wilcox, Brandy

Olson, Maryel

Orth, Donna

Osborn, Kay

Pagendarm, Larry

Parker, Steve

Parker, Lucinda

Paschal-Virlouvet, Asha

Pender, Sarah

Perry, Mike

Perry, Edward

Petersen, Tom

Pierce, Shannon

Pogue, Kyle

Rack, Amber

Raymond, Lynn

Riehl, Avery

Riley, Julia

Robert, Lawrence

Roberts, Michael

Gromer, Laurel

Roque, Rachelle

Rosa, Vicki

Rosen, David

Rossi, Janet

Salomon, Christina

Sampayo, Erik

Schumaker, Alyssa

Shoemake, Linda

Sikora, John

Smith, Bruce

Soracco, Carla

Stack, Scott

Sundquist, Midori

Swain, Matt

Tanimoto, Herb

Thrams, Andie

Torchiana, Tracy

Vail, Scott

Vail, Vicky

Vernor, Bill

Walker, Annie

Welsh , Mel

Whiffin, Judith

Whiffin, Trevor

Wilber, Monique

Wood, Rayne

You’re invited

Winter Dinner

2018

An evening of celebrating

& recognizing volunteers

Thursday, December 6th

5:30 - 8:30 pm

Shakespeare Club

2940 Bedford Avenue

Placerville

RSVP to (530) 621-1224 or

julie@ARConservancy.org

Space is limited;

reserve early!

Volunteers

needed to

decorate

tables!

page 15 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Thank you, American River Conservancy April-June Supporters!

Big Day of

Giving/Spring

Appeal, In-kind,

General and Monthly

Donors Abbs, Alan

Alderson, Erin

Allyn, Carl & Cathy

Angulo, Sabina

Anonymous

Applebaum, David

& Elaine

Archer, Mahala

Arikawa, Ben

A-Total Fire

Protection Co.

Atwater, Keith

Baker, Bruce

Barela, Sue

Barthelow, Marilyn

Bean, Michael & Dawn

Beauchamp, David

& Betty

Beichley, Duane

& Kathleen

Bernstein, Fred

Biehler, Lois

Bodlak, Jo Ann

Boyes, Lynnee & Robert

Bradshaw, Robert

& Betsy

Brewer, Linda

Brinkley, Amy

Brown, Ginny

Bruhn, John

Brunet, Carol

Burt, Sandi

Buss, Margaret

Butler, Alice

Byrne, Tiara

Campbell-Craven, Fred

& Kathleen

Canfield, Sarah

Carrasco-Minton, Julie

Carlson, Greg

Caspers Ross, Patricia

Chaitow, Steven

Ciofalo, Catherine

Clark, Steven & Lora

Collins, Clint

Conklin, Linda

Conway, Heather

Cooney, Teri

Cooper, Marcia

D'Albora, Vito

Daugherty, Jessica

DeLacy, Elena P.

Dennis, Lyman

Derr, Michael &

Michelle

Deter, Ross

Donehower, Bruce

Dong, Dennis

Doughty, Anne

Dutkiewicz, Ellen

Dyer, Carol

Edmondson, Nina

El Dorado Community

Foundation

Emery, Donna

England, Paul

Estes, Gary &

Dorene Matney

Evans, Pam

Fentress, Michael

Fitzgerald Holland, Kelly

Flory, Jen

Ford, Zak

Foster, Dorothy

Foster, Doug

Foxworthy, Tom

Gautier, Anthony

Gill, Robert

Gilliland, Mary-Lee

Giving Assistant

Gould, Ron

Gow, OlaJane

Green, Koko

Green, Sandy

Greene, Megan

Guglieri, Wendy L

Gumm, Elise

Haines, Mark

Hakim, Allegra

Haley, Margaret

Hamlin, Rene

Handley, Bruce

Hardie, Janice

Hardy, Kathryn

Harper, Jerry

&Yvonne

Hasdovic, Nancy

Hebenstreit, James

& Domna

Heglie, Duane

Henderson, Jennifer

Hession, Jack

& Mary Kaye

Hilke, Joyce

Hill, Ashley

Holcroft, James

Hutton, Kathy

Imgrund, David & Gerda

Jackson, Angela

Jamar, Arlene

Jensen, Bill

Joaquin, Claire

Johns, Amy

Johnson, Deidre

Johnson, Linda

Johnson, Samuel

Kegel, Kylan

Kerr, Richard

Kolsoum, Jim

Koorn, Jeanne

Kranhold, Jennifer

Alexander

Kromps, Eric

Kuyper, Edith

Lawrence, Jeff

Lee, Jeffrey & Barbara

Leffler, Thomas

& Catherine

Lieb, Jeffrey

Lipshin, Irene

Liu, Grace

Lobue, James

Loo, Melanie

Luszczak, Janice

Mahar, Kenneth

Mark, Valerie

McCombs, Mary

McCutcheon, Kelly

McGoldrick, Martha

Mcleod, Wendy

Melnikow, Joy

Mengelkoch, Joan

Mertz, Karl

Metraux, Daniel

Meyer, Virginia

Minton, Jonas

Mone, Catherine

Network for Good

Noble, Ann

O'Farrell, Susan

Orth, Donna & Thom

Osborn, Kay & Monte

Osborn, Patricia

Osucha, Marya

Patterson, Jacqueline

Paige, Karen

Patagonia

Peeters, Michelle

Perry, Erin

Pierroz, Bert

Piper, Samuel

Placerville News

Pogue, Kyle & Shannon

Posey, Laurel

Proft, David

Ramstrom, Carl

Richins Jr, Paul

Rountree, Cynthia

Roy, Sudipto

Rulison, ET & Jean

Schmidt, Jennifer

Scott, Charles & Sandra

Sechrist, Pamela

Seidler, Chuck

Sher, Byron

Shigeo, Kanda

Sing, Margie

Singh, Amarik

Sloan, Loretta

Smith, Bruce

Souviginier, Douglas

Stotler, James

Stouffer, L Joan

Stow, Patricia

Stroth, Karen

Sweeney, Laurie

Tanimoto, Herb

Ting, Farrah

Tsang, Evette

United Way

Uwccr

Vail, Scott & Vicky

Ventry, Kathryn

Volk-Anderson, Virginia

Wackford, Barbara

Wells, Susan

Whiffin, Trevor & Judith

White, Laurine

Williams, Trent

Wilmot, Robert

Wolf, Jeanine

Wurzburger, Althea

Wyels, Wendy

Yamamoto, Doug and

Betty Jo

Yoshimura, Iva

Wakamatsu

Donations Amemiya, Yoshiko

Anonymous

Bradshaw, Robert

& Betsy

Hanson, Victor

Kasako, Matoshi

Kochi, Fred

Lombard, Kimberly

Mone, Lorraine

Page, Laurie

Sasaki, Helen

Strom, Shizuko

Taketa, David

Tanimoto, Herb

Vail, Scott & Vicky

Yomogida, Atsuko

Donations in Honor

or Memory of… William & Sarah Yost

gave in memory of James

Russell Yost

To become a supporter see page 16, or visit us at ARConservancy.org

Irene Lipshin gives

monthly in her mother’s

memory:

“Marcia, my Mother,

passed away at the age of

97 in 2014. She taught me

to love nature, the envi-

ronment, our planet, by

her care and reverence for

our earth. From the small-

est plant to the most awe-

some sunset, she knew

everything in our natural

world needed and re-

quired our stewardship.

I'm grateful to be able to

carry on her life lessons.”

page 16 The Current Fall 2018 (Sept.-Nov.)

Preserving Rivers and Land for Life

Nourish the Legacy Through Sustainable Giving

visit arconservancy.org & make your secure online donation

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Please make your check payable to the American River Conservancy

348 Highway 49 PO Box 562 Coloma, CA 95613 (530) 621-1224

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The American River Conservancy and Nature Center Provide Natural History Interpretive Services in the

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Coloma, CA

NON-PROFIT ORG.

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PAID

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Coloma, CA

95613

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American River Conservancy P.O. Box 562

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OUR MISSION The American River Conservancy serves our communities by ensuring healthy ecosystems within the

Upper American and Upper Cosumnes River watersheds through land conservation,

stewardship and education.

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Donations of $35 or more will be given a 1-year membership. Your gifts to ARC are tax deductible.

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