California Society for Ecological Restoration April 2024 |
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In this newsletter, you will find: Join SERCAL Monthly Spotlight Mentors Make a Difference! Cerritos Restoration Call for Abstracts and Registration
Thank you, Sponsoring Members! Apply for a Stipend Your Input is Essential: Surveys for GRASS Net and Native Seed Sourcing Sea Otter Restoration Here's Some Good News! WFH Poll Results Our Partner Organizations are the Best! Check Out These Job Opportunities |
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We interviewed Alison Pollack, a member of the SERCAL conference and diversity committees.
What are you most proud of in your restoration work?
"While it's incredibly rewarding to return to planting sites and monitor growth and survival success, nothing is quite as rewarding as seeing the impact of restoration on people. Through my work at STRAW (students and teachers restoring a watershed) at Point Blue Conservation Science, I have been able to work with students and see their eyes light up while planting a plant and getting their hands dirty. I love seeing the spark of people connecting to nature."Read the full interview here!
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Mentors Make a Difference! |
Join SERCAL’s Mentorship Program — Call for Mentors!
Looking to make some new connections in the new year? If you’re a working professional who’s looking to expand your network and make sure you’re in-the-know with all the newest restoration buzz, become a mentor in SERCAL’s Mentorship Program! Mentorship families consist of 1 mid- or late-career professional and 1-3 early-career professionals or Next Generation students. Participation in the program is designed to be low-stakes and flexible — many families meet virtually once a quarter, and the benefits are undeniable. Many mentors have expressed how inspiring and stimulating the conversations have been, helping them keep a pulse on the current needs and goals of restoration. Apply now by clicking this link to be matched with a mentorship family who will help you grow in your career interests and goals!
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Cerritos Restoration Project |
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150 acres of wetlands in Long Beach are set to be restored after years of exploitation for its oil resources.
"More than 150 acres of Long Beach wetlands, near the city’s border with Orange County, is at last on the path to restoration after a massive land swap deal that’s been years in the making cleared a major hurdle this week."
"The California Coastal Conservancy OK’d a deal that would see an oil company hand over 154 acres of wetlands to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority in exchange for 5 acres on the northeast corner of North Studebaker Road and Second Street."
"The approval paves the way to restore the historic tidal connection to a greater portion of the wetlands and reinvigorate the once-thriving ecosystem there. The 154 acres set for restoration are bounded by Studebaker Road, Pacific Coast Highway, Second Street and Loynes Drive."
“Over the past year,” Duggan said in a Friday statement, “we rolled up our sleeves to come to terms on a deal that transitions 154 acres of private oil fields to beautiful coastal wetlands that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Read more here!
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The conference is filling up, but it's still not too late to register for in-person or online attendance! |
Watch for exciting updates later this week!
Fieldtrips, Keynotes, Schedule, and more!
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Thank you, 2024 Sponsoring Members!
With your support of SERCAL, you are facilitating the growth and sustainability of a collaborative, knowledge-based, forward-thinking industry that is leading the effort to create and sustain a robust California native landscape for wildlife, plants, and people. We greatly appreciate the support and camaraderie of the following organizations and invite your organization to join in this important effort!
Valley Oak Sponsors
Arroyo Willow Sponsors
Sustaining Business Members Sustaining Individual Members Scott Dreher | Lisa Paterson | Emily Zefferman Our Cadre of Torchbearers for the Next Generation And the continued and generous support of Victor Schaff |
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Sea Otter Restoration Project |
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The start of sea otter restoration efforts are being made in Northern California, but this has proven to be a controversial issue for many.Although there is proven data (coming from Alaska and British Columbia) that reintroducing sea otter populations in areas where the species is sparse has boosted biodiversity and the overall strength of the local ecosystems, many fisherman have their doubts.
"Dick Ogg, a longtime fisherman, was more specific. 'The potential for impact,” he said, “can’t be quantified. If they eat the juvenile crab, that could be a big deal. Dungeness crab is our No. 1 fishery.'"
“I still think nature will do its own work,” Ogg told the Fish and Wildlife representatives in Bodega Bay. “I wouldn’t be bothered if [otters] recolonized on their own.”
"But natural repopulation from the Golden Gate north isn’t likely. With the decline of protective coastal kelp and a now-healthy population of white sharks in the region’s waters, migrating otters stand a good chance of becoming great white snack food. But with human assistance, the reintroduction of otters could bypass the gauntlet."
“The sea otter could very well be the salvation for … catching fish in the years ahead if we can rebuild and repair a healthy ecosystem,” suggests Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), whose congressional district includes the entire coast north of San Francisco.""In Oregon and Northern California, there is hope that the cascading imbalances human have caused — exterminated otters, sick sea stars, disappearing abalone — can begin to be set straight, and that the kelp forest habitat, rich in marine life and a buffer against torrential storms, can recover."
Read more here
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Good news for Placer County as the local board of supervisors has approved a large restoration project that will safeguard the county's water resources and mitigate the risk of wildfires.
"Today marks another step forward for the French Meadows Ecological Forest Restoration Project as the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate a contract to advance critical forest health initiatives in the Middle Fork American River watershed."
"Dowling Underground & Networking Inc. has been selected as the recipient of the contract, valued at $587,584, to spearhead non-commercial fuels reduction services across various land units surrounding the French Meadows Reservoir."
“Adding another almost 400 acres of treatment on the French Meadows project highlights our commitment to proactively address forest health challenges while fortifying the resilience of local ecosystems and communities against the escalating threat of wildfires,” said Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson."
Read more here
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The difference between where you’re working now and where you’d prefer to work seems pretty close, but... if you compare the totals of workplace and in the field work (how it used to be) and compare it to the totals from home and "wherever my laptop is" (how we had to negotiate work through Covid), there seems to be more weight on moving back to a more traditional work/field setting. What do you think?
If you haven’t taken the survey yet, it’s still up here! This link will show you how the conversation continues.
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Our Partner Organizations are the Best CNGA leads the popular Grasslands session at our conferences. Our organizations also offer a joint membership discount as well as discounted registrations to each other's events. Visit the California Native Grassland Association website for the latest updates!
Cal-IPC (the California Invasive Plant Council) is another important partner in restoring our native California landscapes. We offer discounts to each other's annual gatherings.
Cal-ERBA (the California Ecological Restoration Business Association) is a 501c6 organization that represents a growing sector of state businesses that specialize in delivery of high impact environmental outcomes.
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving as a strong advocate, technical resource, and partner to the state's 96 RCDs so that they can be Relevant, Excellent, and Visible “go-to” hubs for conservation in their communities.
The Ecological Workforce Initiative is working to meet the workforce needs of the growing ecological restoration industry by training workers for living-wage careers that support both the economic vitality of our communities and the health of our environment.The UC Davis Graduate Program on Environmental Policy and Management provides advanced training in applying environmental science to real-world environmental policy and management issues focusing on building quantitative skills for practice-oriented careers in environmental policy and management.
Members of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) are able to earn CERP credits towards certification through SERCAL's annual conference.
The University of Wisconsin Press offers SERCAL members discounted subscriptions to Ecological Restoration and Native Plants Journal.
Are we missing a potential partner? Let us know! |
Post a Job | Find a Job
It's easy and it's free! Find a great job or an amazing new member of your team. Here are some of the most recent jobs posted to our website:
- Equipment Mechanic/Operator - La Honda. Midpensinsula Regional Open Space District. Application Filing Deadline: 04/08/2024.
- Project Coordinator - Oakland, CA. East Bay Regional Park District. Application Filing Deadline: 04/10/2024.
- Ecological Monitoring Field Technician - Reno, NV. Great Basin Institute. Application Filing Deadline: 04/10/2024.
- Forestry Aide (Seasonal) - Grass Valley, CA. CA State Parks. Application Filing Deadline: 04/12/2024.
- Senior Accountant - Sacramento. California Native Plant Society. Application Filing Deadline: 04/13/2024.
- Major Gifts Officer - California. California Native Plant Society. Application Filing Deadline: 04/13/2024.
- Forestry Technician - Weaverville, California. Trinity County Resource Conservation District. Application Filing Deadline: 05/01/2024.
- Seasonal Biological Field Technician - San Francisco Bay Area. Olofson Environmental, Inc. Application Filing Deadline: 05/03/2024.
- Seasonal Biologist - San Francisco Bay Area. Olofson Environmental, Inc. Application Filing Deadline: 05/03/2024.
- And THERE'S EVEN MORE that are open until filled!
Find or post a job, a volunteer opportunity, or a Request for Proposals! |
Copyright © 2024, California Society for Ecological Restoration. All rights reserved.
Our email address is: info@sercal.org 515 N Desert Stra
Tucson, 85711
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