Where: Meet at Shellmaker Island.  Directions can be found here: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/UNBweb/map.html#shell.  Due to construction on Shellmaker Island, please park on Back Bay Drive before the intersection with Shellmaker Road.  From the corner of Back Bay Drive and Shellmaker Road, please walk down Back Bay Drive and follow the signs to the Newport Valley restoration site.  Back Bay Drive becomes a one way street after the intersection with Shellmaker Road, so do not drive past Shellmaker Road or you’ll have to drive a large loop to get back.

What we’ll do: With the recent rains, the invasive plants have sprouted and are starting to flower.  These invasive plants include black mustard, artichoke thistle, pampas grass, and spanish sunflower.  We will focus on removing these plants before they set seed.  We will also irrigate the native plants we’ve installed in the past.  Please join us to see the success of these native plants, including the arroyo willow experiment that was planted last October. 

Details:  All tools, gloves, and refreshments will be provided.  Please be prepared to work outside with long pants, close-toed shoes (no sandals), and sun protection.  If you have not yet filled out a liability waiver for the 2007 calendar year, please print out the waiver attached to this email and fill out the necessary information, including your signature, and bring to the ROOTS event.  For volunteers under 18, please note that the bottom portion of the waiver must be filled out by a parent or guardian.  Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and service learning hours are available.  Please note: there are no restrooms available at this event.
 

Please RSVP to the event by responding to this email so we have enough supplies for all participants.  

I look forward to working with you at this ROOTS event.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 949-640-0286 or myurko@coastal.ca.gov.  On the day of the event, you can call my cell phone at 714-624-9102.

If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply with “REMOVE” in the subject line.

Thanks for volunteering!

Matthew J. Yurko
Project Coordinator
Community-Based Restoration and Education Program
www.coast4u.org and click on Upper Newport Bay Restoration

California Coastal Commission
600 Shellmaker Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-640-0286 (phone)
949-640-1742 (fax)
myurko@coastal.ca.gov

* FYI- Please join us for Earth Day at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center on Sunday, April 22nd from 11am-4pm.

For additional information, e-mail Jean at joe.naturalist@rdmd.ocgov.com. We hope to see you there!

Greetings Upper Newport Bay Volunteers,

You are invited to join us this coming Sunday, April 15^th, from 9am-12pm for our regular 2^nd Sunday volunteer opportunity.

Where: We will meet at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center (directions and a link to Map Quest can be found here: http://www.ocparks.com/unbic/default.asp?Show=LocationHours). Parking is available in the parking lot at Irvine Avenue and University Drive or along University Drive. All parking is free and no parking pass is necessary at this time. We will meet in front of the Interpretive Center at 9am to sign in and distribute gloves, tools, etc.

Project Description: We will be working in the Butterfly Garden, next to the Interpretive Center. Our dry winter has been tough on the garden and it is in need of our TLC. We will water, remove dead plants, prune and prepare for the installation of a dry creek bed feature.

Project Details: Tools, gloves, and refreshments provided. Please come prepared to work outdoors with long pants, close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip-flops) and sun protection. If you have not previously filled out our Adopt-A-Park liability waiver, please print out the attached forms for yourself and each participant in your group and bring signed copies to the event on Sunday morning. Note that volunteers under 18 need a parent/guardian signature in order to participate. Community service learning hours are available.

Please contact Jennifer at jennifer.naegele@rdmd.ocgov.com, (949) 923-2297 (Sunday – Wednesday) or Sue at sue.stoffel@rdmd.ocgov.com, (949) 923-2293 (Thursday – Saturday) with any questions before the event.

Thank you for your commitment to improving Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve for future generations of wildlife and humans . . .

We hope you can join us—feel free to bring a friend or family member!!

Thank you,

Jennifer Naegele