U P D A T E

“““““Shug””””” CooleyHonored

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WINTER 2005VOLUME 20 ISSUE 3

Serving parts of westernRiverside & San BernardinoCounties. Areas surrounding,and portions of:Temescal CanyonGrand TerraceReche CanyonGavilan HillsWoodcrestHighgroveRiversideCoronaColtonNorco

Stanley “Shug” G. Cooley, retired farmer andconservation advocate, was honored by thecommunity during a “Cooley Day” celebration onNovember 12, 2005 at The Terrace in GrandTerrace, California. The Terrace, an assisted-

living facility, hosted the event to recognize Stan and the Cooley family fortheir contribution to the area. (Stan’s grandparents arrived by covered wagonin 1857.) The elaborate event provided historic memorabilia, swing music bythe Phat Cats, games, barbeque lunch,and raffle. More than 200 friends,family members, and dignitaries cameto recognize Stan who is 97 years old.Council members and the mayor ofColton, Dierdre H. Bennett, presentedStan with an “Honorary Citizen” awardfrom the City of Colton. Grand Terrace’smayor protem Bea Cortez took the timeto stop by on her way in from theairport.

Stan Cooley was a founding boardmember of the Riverside-CoronaResource Conservation District(RCRCD) in 1953, and served for 52 years. He held offices with local,regional, and statewide conservation organizations.

As a farmer, Stan practiced and promoted sustainable farming and landstewardship. He managed the 1,200-acre Indian Knoll Ranch, commonlyknown as the Cooley Ranch, using sustainable farming practices, and as aresult, harvested high yields of a variety of crops. The Cooley Ranch, servedas a conservation model for other farmers.

The RCRCD works to createsustainable communities byhelping people preserve theintegrity of natural resources,so that high quality water,land, soil, wildlife, air, andplant life will be neitherdepleted nor damaged,ensuring future generationsa healthy and clean environ-ment.

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Stan Cooley Honored(continued)

Stan was personally active in conservation education for manyyears. He hosted farm field trips for schools, was a 4H leaderfor 16 years, served on the Agricultural Advisory Committeefor the Colton Unified School District, and was a host forFuture Farmers of America (FFA) projects. In 1988, theCalifornia Association of Resource Conservation Districtsselected Stan as “Director of the Year” in conservationeducation. In 2003, the Riverside-Corona ResourceConservation District honored him for his 50 years ofcommunity service and dedicated a tree in his honor.

And the Winner is ...Four local students competed in the RCRCD’s Environmental Speakoffcontest September 28. Each presented a 3-5 minute speech on the 2005

topic “The Impacts of Fire and the Role of the Re-source Conservation District”.

Anna Dewey of Corona High School placed firstand advanced to the South Coast regional eventwhere she also won, competing against represen-tatives of neighboring Conservation Districts. Annaadvanced to the state competition held by theCalifornia Association of Resource ConservationDistricts November 18th in San Diego. She placedfourth in the state.

Evan Davis from Riverside’s Arlington High tooksecond place at the local competition. All of the contestants learned aboutnatural resource management and improved their presentation skills.

“Speakoff” is a public speaking contest for ninth through twelfth graders.The annual environmental speech contest is held each fall and regionalwinners advance to state competition. Students with the best-researchedcontent and the most polished delivery are awarded savings bonds. To learnabout the 2006 Speakoff contest, please contact Erin Snyder at (951)683-7691, extension 207.

Stan Cooley and Larry Holidaywith students at Myra LinnElementary School.

David Stephens, Jessica Perez, Anna Dewey, and Evan Davis

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New Poster: Oak WoodlandLearn to identify the inland plants and animals that are native to the oakwoodlands of western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties with a uniqueposter, “Inland Southern California Oak Woodland”. Riverside artist MelissaBadalian created the beautiful color-pencil artwork, which depicts inlandSouthern California plant and animal species that utilize Oak Woodlandhabitat for food and/or living.

The plants and animals for each habitat type were selected by localbiologists and scientists. We are grateful to the experts who gave of theirtime to help select species and review drafts of the artwork.

The artwork will also be reproduced as an interpretive sign for the Oak Wood-land area in the Native Habitat section of the LandUse Learning Center,a demonstration garden.

Reprints are now available for purchase for $6.75 plus tax (and postage,if mailed) from the RCRCD office: 4500 Glenwood Dr., Building A, Riversidebetween 8 AM to 4PM, Monday through Thursday. Posters are free forRCRCD teachers. A “Riparian Habitat” poster is also available for $6.75 plustax, or free to local teachers. Proceeds from poster sales will fund thedevelopment of two additional plant community posters: coastal sage scruband chaparral.

Teachers who live or work in the Riverside-Corona Resource ConservationDistrict: To request free conservation education materials, please leave youraddress at (951) 683-7691 ext. 207, and we’ll send you an order form.

Our deepestappreciation goes to:Greg BallmerDave HawksOscar ClarkeAndy SandersSheila KeeKen OsborneEdie AllenJack EastonJames BryantMary PriceStephanie RemingtonNanette PratiniArlee MontalvoUCR’s Friendsof the EntomologyResearch Museum

Sue Hoffmanand the Santa AnaWatershed Associa-tion biologists.

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The Envirothon is anoutdoor contest forhigh school students.Teams compete intheir knowledge of fiveresource subjects:aquatics, forestry,soils, wildlife, and acurrent environmentalissue.

Arlington High School students won the California Envirothon Champion-ship this past spring. It was Arlington’s third state win in a row. No other teamin California has ever accomplished such a record! In fact, the two Arlingtonteams took first and third places in overall points. The Mountain Lions Teamwent on to place 14th in the International competition, competing against 51teams at the Canon Envirothon in Springfield, Missouri, July 24.

At the event, teams competed at five stations,completing written and field tests in soils, aquatics,forestry, wildlife, and a current issue. The MountainLions placed first in the current issue. The final testwas an oral presentation on the theme ManagingCultural Landscapes.

To help prepare the nine teams from the InlandEmpire, the Riverside-Corona and East ValleyResource Conservation Districts combined resources.The RCD’s coordinated workshops presented by localexperts in each of the five fields of study.

The Riverside Metropolitan Museum staff conducted several workshops,which included trips to some of Riverside’s own cultural landscapesincluding Fairmount Park, Heritage House, and the Mission Inn. We wouldlike to thank and commend the museum staff for a tremendous effort,especially James Bryant, Lila Higgins, Wendy Sparks, Margaret Wetherbee,Emily Fischer, Teresa Woodard, and Blossom Sisquoc.

John Melvin, UrbanForester from theCalifornia Departmentof Forestry and FireProtection, coached theteams In forestry. PeterFahnestock, Soil Scien-tist with the USDANatural ResourceConservation Serviceconducted a hands-onsoils workshop. Wildlifetraining was held at theSan Bernardino CountyMuseum where wildlifebiologist Talula Wiater, of the Santa Ana Watershed Association, referred tospecimens. Canyon Academy director, and former hydrologist Sandra Klingtrained the teams in aquatics and coached a first-time Envirothon team.

Arlington High Wins the CaliforniaEnvirothon-Third Year in a Row!

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We would like to thank all the presenters for sharing their expertise andgiving their time. Through their efforts, local teams went on to out-performthe competition.

The Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) supportedfour local teams, providing $4,500 to cover their state entry fees. RCRCDalso contributed $2,000 toward the Arlington Mountain Lions’ trip to thenational finals in Springfield, Missouri during July. Erin Snyder, RCRCD’sResource Educator, coordinated training for our local teams.

The Mountain and American Lions team members included Matthew Jensen,Kasaundra Meza, Andrew Lopez, Janice Jenson, Jessica Perez, TristanWillman, Laura Lackie, Renne Sanchez, Michelle Crawford, David Stephens,David Gomez, Nicole House, and Glennis Siegfried. Pati Weir and MikeGibson assisted with coaching the award winning teams. Arlington’s headcoach, Sheri Harris, is largely responsible for their success. She ispassionate about preparing students to become environmental scientists ofthe future.

If you would like to form an Envirothon team or learn more, please contactyour local Resource Conservation District or Erin Snyder at (951) 683-7691,ext 207. The upcoming theme for the 2006 Envirothon is Water Stewardshipin a Changing Climate. Finals will be held in Manitoba, Canada.

To view all the California teams’ 2005 results, or for more information, pleasevisit: www.caenvirothon.com

Adopt a WaterwayWe are looking for individuals and groups who are interested in “adopting” astream, creek, or river for future cleanup and habitat improvement projects.If you, or your organization, such as a church, neighborhood association, orscout, youth, or community group would like to steward natural resources ina local waterway, please call Erin Snyder at (951) 683-7691 ext. 207.

First Place Mountain Lion Team Third Place American Lion Team

Thank You Volunteers and SponsorsMore than 200 volunteers removed trash anddebris from the Santa Ana River on SaturdayOctober 29, 2005 from 9 AM-noon. The cleanupwas staged at the Martha McLean-Anza NarrowsPark on Jurupa Avenue, a scenic Riverside Countypark with trails and beautiful views of the river. Volunteers collected all kinds of human-made wastefrom the lush streamside forest. By removing thepollutants, the volunteers improved thequality of water and habitat and restored a portionof the river to a beautiful natural state for all toenjoy. Much of the trash would have continued to

flow downstream, polluting the river on its journey to the ocean. TheSanta Ana River, which drains the Santa Ana watershed, is a riparianwoodland and home to a variety of native plant and wildlife species,including some that are threatened and endangered. The event was made possible through the support and cooperativeefforts of many:

Only Rain Down the Storm Drain program of the Cities and County ofRiverside

Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation DistrictRiverside County Regional Parks and Open Space DistrictRiverside-Corona Resource Conservation DistrictWestern Riverside Council of GovernmentsSanta Ana Watershed Project AuthorityKeep Riverside Clean and BeautifulCity of Riverside, Public UtilitiesCalifornia Coastal CommissionCR & R Waste ServicesRiverside Bicycle ClubRiverside KiwanisTrails4All

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The dedicated staff from the Santa Ana Watershed ProjectAuthority. SAWPA was also an event sponsor.

Neighbor Mark Grothe brought out histractor to remove large items, such as thistruck-bed (in foreground).

Pete Staylor, representing theRiverside Bicycle Club, helpedcoordinate communication andpatrolled between groups.

Streams and rivers providehabitat for 1/4 of California’sanimals and are an importantwater source for the others.

Clint DeGifford of KRCB, ErinSnyder, event coordinator forRCRCD, and Jenny Anderson ofKRCB directed the volunteers.

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for Helping to Heal the River

The aggressive staff from LSA (an environmentalconsulting firm) has zero tolerance for trash in the river!

Brownie Troop No. 191

Sierra Middle School students

Both the City and County of Riverside designatedOctober 2005 as Santa Ana River and WatershedAwareness Month.

The cleanup was held in conjunction with Make ADifference Day and the California CoastalCommission’s Coastweeks.

UCR’s Beta Phi Delta team workedin the tough-to-reach spots.

Jim Meyer of Trails4All and C. J. Stewart ofCaring Trail Users.

Other groups not pictured include:The Green Sanctuary of the Universalist Unitarian Church, Magnolia AvenueBaptist Church, Boy Scout Troop #2, University Heights Middle School, GirlScout Troops #176, #6, #961, Riverside Area Home Learners, the NationalCharity League, the Community Foundation, Caring Trail Users, Omega ZetaChi, UCR Honors, City of Riverside, Riverside County Code Enforcement,Juvenile Work Program.Daylon McGraw

distributed t-shirts.

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Thank YouMetropolitan Water District

We are very happy to announce that Metropolitan WaterDistrict (MWD) has selected the RCRCD as a grantrecipient for the Land Use Learning Center (LLC). Fundsfrom MWD’s City Makeover Program are currently beingused to install trails, irrigation systems, hardscape, and in-terpretive signs for the “Urban Area”.

The LLC will demonstrate methods to maintain healthyurban and agro ecosystems and ways to restore degradedecosystems in natural areas. Interpretive signs willexplain sustainable resource use and land use planningbased on available natural resources. While we need landfor places to live and produce food, it’s important that weuse that land efficiently, so that we can preservesignificant natural areas and prime farmlands.

Landscape architect Bob Perry has designed four South-ern California Heritage landscapes that feature native andCalifornia-friendly landscaping. We expect to plant in thespring of 2006. If you would like to volunteer to help, pleasesend us an email at ruiz@rcrcd.com or leave your nameand phone number at (951) 683-7691, ext. 217. We willcontact volunteers when we have our planting date.

We are also seeking additional sponsors to help fund thedevelopment of interpretive signs for the native habitat areaand “Arbor Walk” to explain such topics as habitat restora-tion, invasive species, keeping storm water clean, the valueof trees in the urban forest, etc. When our future museumis built, we will develop regional exhibits about undergroundwater, air quality, soil, and more. If you would like tobecome involved, please call Diana Ruiz at (909) 238-8338.

New Forestry Education ToolVisual ForesterTM is an education tool that addresses issuesrelating to the management of private timberlands inCalifornia. It is an interactive forestry simulator that allowsusers to explore short and long-term forest management

decisions in relation to budget, stand growth, old growth, habitatdiversity, and fire safety. To obtain a free copy, please contact Lisa Perry atlp@calforests.org or at (866) 241-TREE (8733). The Forest Foundation is anon-profit organization that strives to foster public understanding of howforests affect California’s environmental and economic health.

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) at the LandUseLearning Center. The red fruit provides food forbirds and other wildlife in late fall and earlywinter. Toyon is a native evergreen, drought-tolerant plant that is good for stabilizing slopes,as a visual screen, and for replacing dyingoleanders.

The Bluebirds are Back!Did you know that bluebirds build their nests in holes in tree trunks?Unfortunately, many natural nesting sites, such as dead trees, havebeen removed from cities.

Did you know that there are fewer empty cavities for bluebirds to use,since populations of invasive birds have grown?

That’s why the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District(RCRCD) has been coordinating bluebird nestbox monitoring for thepast six years. Volunteers provide nesting sites for cavity-nesting birdsby hanging boxes high in trees over grassy locations. They checkboxes weekly from February through July. It takes about an hour aweek to monitor three to five boxes for nests, eggs, and baby birds. Ifyou are interested in volunteering, please contact Erin Snyder, at(951) 683-7691, ext 207.

Thirty volunteers monitored 65 nest boxes at several locations aroundRiverside during the 2005 breading season. As a result, 73 Western blue-birds were born and fledged.

Thank you, bluebird volunteers, for helping cavity-nesting birds return fromdecline in Southern California: The Hicks Family, The Snyder Family, TheFairchild Family, Lee Johnson and Joanne Jolly, California School for theDeaf Students, The Small Family, and Riverside County Flood ControlEmployees.

Attn: Homeowners,Gardeners,LandscapersIf you suspect that your soil may be causing poorplant growth, consider having your soil analyzed.

If you are concerned about the amount of wateryou are using in your yard, consider having yourirrigation system evaluated.

Two new brochures explain the free or low costservices provided by the Riverside-Corona ResourceConservation District. To request copies of the Soiland Irrigation Water Testing and/or the IrrigationEvaluation brochures, please call (951) 683-7691 andleave your name, address, and phone number.

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The Results are in forStorm Water EducationThe Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District’s education staffconducted 305 classroom presentations for nearly 10,000 students duringfiscal year 2004-2005. Resource educators visited 59 schools in 15 westernRiverside County school districts through a contract with the Only Rain Downthe Storm Drain program through the Cities and County of Riverside.

RCRCD staff presented programs for 22 special events, garden workshops,or community groups and distributed over 55,000 educational materials. Theprograms and materials are provided to educate residents of both the SantaAna and Whitewater River watersheds.

New in 04-05 were waterway cleanup events. Staff organized three clean-ups; two were held along the Santa Ana River in Riverside, and one washeld at Temescal Creek in Corona. The efforts were extremely successfulwith over 300 people volunteering to remove trash and debris to improvewater quality and wildlife habitat. The RCRCD brought together a uniqueassortment of community groups, private businesses, and governmentagencies to sponsor, or assist with the cleanup efforts.

Irene AlvarezJesus RamirezJoel RomeroJuanKali WilliamsKarina MartinezKatrina ChagollaGiovani AristondoLeaAnna HausenMarlene PalomaresMegan Grimsley

Recycle Items at Freecycle.orgThe Freecycle Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronicforum to “recycle” unwanted items. One person’s trash can truly be another’streasure!

When you want to find a new home for something, send an e-mail offering itto members of a local Freecycle group. If you’re looking to acquire something,simply respond to a member’s offer.

Check out Freecycle online at http://www.freecycle.org/. For the Riversidearea join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycleriverside/.

Priscilla CortezRaylene MartinezRheana AguilarRicardo RuizRickiyt FulcherRyan WestonSabrina GarzaSara BettencourtSkyla SmithUverenise RosasVanessa Adame

Santa Ana RiverPollution Patrol ClubAdrianna MoralesAlfonso NavarroAlie CaseyAllen FosterAnthony ZaragozaAshley AndroshakBernadette F.Byron SilvaCandy PinedoChazlynnDestiney PalomaresEduardo Llamas

11Erin SnyderResource educator, Erin Snyder wears many hats at theConservation District, but primarily, she conducts volunteerprograms and educational outreach. Erin trains volunteers to hangand monitor bluebird nest boxes and to test water quality inwaterways for citizen-monitoring projects. She organizes thematerials and compiles the results. During the past year, she alsocoordinated three waterway cleanup events.

Erin organizes the annual Speakoff competition and the Envirothontraining for local high school students. She compiles educationalmaterials for distribution to schools and youth groups. Erinpresents slide programs at special events and for adult groups including “HelpCreate a Sustainable Community”, “Home Gardening …Simple and Environ-mentally Friendly”, and “Keep Our Water Clean”.

Besides her role as a resource educator, Erin conducts soil testing andwater quality testing at RCD native fish habitats and project sites.

Erin came to the District with experience as a teacher, a municipalrecreation supervisor, and as a Girl Scout volunteer coordinator. She holds aBachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of California, Riverside.

Maria EgbertMaria Egbert recently joined theRCRCD staff to conduct the Only RainDown the Storm Drain program for chil-dren. As a resource educator, she vis-its elementary school classrooms withhands-on learning activities aboutkeeping storm water clean.

Maria comes to us with extensiveexperience working with children. Shehas been a room-parent for the

Parent-Teacher Association, a juvenile hall counselor, a youth leader for ayoung women’s group, a Spanish interpreter for probation officers, and hashome educated her four children.

Maria is multilingual, fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, American Sign Language,and is learning French. She loves to learn new languages and to read. In fact,her nickname is “Bestseller”.

Maria earned an Associate of Arts degree in criminal justice and is working ona certificate in Multiple Intelligences and a bachelor ’s degree insociology. Maria has been a public speaker and a county contact for theCalifornia Homeschool Network. Welcome, Maria!

Riverside-CoronaResource Conservation District4500 Glenwood DriveBuilding ARiverside, CA 92501(951) 683-7691(951) 683-3814 FAX

E-mail: rcrcd@rcrcd.comWebsite: http://www.rcrcd.com

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDRIVERSIDE

CALIFORNIAPERMIT NO. 944

All RCRCD programs and services areoffered on a nondiscriminatory basis,without regard to race, national origin,religion, or gender.

StaffShelli LambDistrict Manager

Kerwin RussellResource ManagementSpecialist

Arlee MontalvoPlant Restoration Ecologist

Diana RuizEducation & SustainabilityCoordinator

Erin SnyderResource Educator

Maria EgbertResource Educator

Debbie SilvermanResource Educator

Natural ResourcesConservation ServiceStaffBob HewittDistrict Conservationist

Board of DirectorsAlfred B. Bonnett PresidentRoy Takeno Vice-PresidentCarol Bartels TreasurerCharles Colladay DirectorsJohn Gless, Jr.Stanley G. Cooley Associate

Director

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E-mail our staff at rcrcd@rcrcd.com

(951) 683-7691Ext.202

(951) 683-7691Ext. 203

(951) 683-7691Ext. 218

(951) 683-7691Ext. 217

(951) 683-7691Ext. 207

(951) 683-7691Ext. 208

(760) 200-2855

(951) 654-7733

Dates to Remember 2006

Pest Identification and Control1:30-4:30 PM at Living Desert in Palm Desert

EC06 Your Environmental ConnectionAnnual conference for the International Erosion Control Asso-ciation (IECA), at the Long Beach Convention Center, California.

Tree Captain Boot CampTraining for Arbor Day tree-captains (tree-captains train andsupervise volunteers) Saturday, 9-11 AM.

Riverside CelebratesTreesIn the event of rain, thetree planting isre-scheduled to March18. Please contact KeepRiverside Clean andBeautiful to volunteer, tobecome a tree-captain,and for location at (951)683-7100 or by email atj a n d e r s o n @riversidechamber.com.

February 4

February 20-24

February 25

March 11

A tip from the Inland Empire Urban Forest Council: The best time to prune is just before spring. A tree coming out of dormancy is able toheal quickly. If you must prune during spring nesting season, check carefully and avoidtrees with bird nests and cavitites that may hold eggs and chicks. If there is activity,return after nesting season.

For pruning guidelines, try http://www.arborday.org/trees/nineThings.cfm

Dave Rogers and Bill Gardner plant a tree inhonor of Mac McQuern (center). Mac wasrecognized for his outstanding efforts as avolunteer for Riverside Celebrates Trees 2005.