A regional effort to prevent the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels into local waterways, including Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, continues to grow after the Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) and County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors agreed to join the North Coast Zebra and Quagga Mussel Consortium.  The Consortium’s goals are to increase public awareness and encourage regional prevention planning to prevent the spread of the zebra and quagga mussels into North Coast waterways.  To date, Consortium partners include the counties of Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt, the Sonoma County Water Agency, and the Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District.  Additional partners will be added as the Consortium continues to grow.

Family pictures were always a part of our home. Growing up, I never asked where they came from, they were just always there. But all that changed 5 years ago when my mother died and our family home in Sacramento became my responsibility. As I walked through the house, I realized it was now mine to deal with….every bed, chair, lamp and carpet, every pen, pencil and scrap of paper, every hammer, nail and screw…..everything that had accumulated since the house was built in 1949.  Oh, and of course, all the family pictures. 

By Joan G. Poulos

After more than eight years, more than seventy citizens of the Bodega Bay area came to the Bodega Bay Fire House to hear the group of staff personnel convened by Supervisor Efren Carrillo assure them that the Coastal Prairie Trail IS going to happen—and soon. The meeting was an interesting cross-section of citizens, ranging from old-timer Wes Mitchell to community center rescuers, Diana and Mike Bundy, several members of the fire board, Cathy Beck, Tony Anello and Maggie Briare. Fire chief, Sean Grinnell was present and contributed greatly.

As President of the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District Board of Directors, I’d like to brag a little about what our Resource Conservation District staff has put together to round up $1.6 million to help a couple of watersheds that are important to a healthy Sonoma County.

“Toilet to tap” is on its way….

What does “toilet to tap” conjure up in your mind?  Are all substances going down our toilets and sink drains totally removed before being re-circulated into our drinking water supply, our recreational waters, and our environment?  

In California, only 125 chemicals of the over 80,000 that exist are regulated.  About 870 of those chemicals, sometimes at minute exposures, have been linked to such diseases as autism, obesity, diabetes, cancer (especially of reproductive system), birth defects, Parkinson’s, heart disease, and more.