News.bytes Extra, issue 437

North Coast residents celebrate Fish Festival, Coastal Monument, NLCS

North coast residents and visitors joined the BLM to celebrate the 10th birthday of the National Landscape Conservation System and the California Coastal National Monument during the annual Fish Festival held last weekend in the north coast town of  Trinidad.

On Saturday, June 19, the BLM and Trinidad Museum Society hosted a birthday party to celebrate the milestones.  About 70 party goers enjoyed birthday cake and refreshments at the Trinidad Town Hall which was decorated with NLCS exhibits and photographs.  Rick Hanks, the BLM California Coastal National Monument  (CCNM) Manager, presented "Rock Star" awards to partners instrumental in forming the Trinidad Gateway to the national monument which protects offshore rocks and islands.  Representatives from the City of Trinidad, Humboldt North Coast Land Trust, Trinidad Rancheria and Trinidad Museum Society were on hand to receive their plaques.  Also honored as Rock Stars were the California Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks, the Yurok Tribe, Tsurai Ancestral Society, Humboldt State University Marine Laboratory, Coastwalk California, and  Redwood Region Audubon.

A highlight of the evening was a slide presentation by noted wildlife biologist and photographer Ron LeValley.  The presentation, crafted from Levalley's 70,000-image library, stressed the critical importance of the  California Coastal National Monument's rocks and islands for the survival and seabirds and marine mammals.

 

Trinidad City Council member Julie Fulkerson and CCNM Manager  Hanks share a light moment during the awards presentation.  Later, Hanks has the honor of blowing out the candles on the birthday cake.

On Sunday, the BLM was on hand as about 2,000 visitors celebrated Trinidad's fishing and arts heritage.   Staff from the Arcata Field Office and the CCNM hosted a booth giving children a chance to create their own pelican hats, pictures and fish prints.  Their parents could chat with BLM staff  to learn more about the NLCS, the coastal monument and other BLM programs.

Hannah Stulzman, a seasonal staffer at BLM Arcata, helps festival visitor Tanayah with her art project.

Budding artist Izaak applies some bright red paint as he prepares to make a fish print.

The Trinidad Gateway Committee, a group of volunteers, has been very active in helping the BLM spread the word  the California Coastal National Monument. Its promotional materials, including a brochure, restaurant placemats and informational kiosk, provide information about the importance of the monument for marine life and the important relationship of the community, its coastal environment and its heritage.

- Jeff Fontana, BLM Northern California District, 6/22/10

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 437