Anne Morkill and the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation: Restore, Conserve, and Inspire
Our Guest Speaker for April 22, 202, was Anne Morkill, Executive Director of the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. Anne has a long history working in wildlife conservation, including 24 years as a wildlife biologist and refuge manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She was most recently the manager of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. She has an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Wyoming.
The Laguna de Santa Rosa is the largest tributary of the Russian River and consists of 254 square miles. The Laguna’s headwaters are in the Cotati region. The Laguna’s main channel flows into the Russian River in Forestville. Anne estimates that over 60% of the Laguna’s native habitat has been lost to development. The Laguna’s habitat includes Oak Woodlands on the Santa Rosa Plain and heavily wooded creeks, including restored creeks. The Laguna is home to over 200 species of birds, with eagles, Red Tail Hawks, Salmon and Steelhead, tiger salamander, bobcats, coyotes, and river otters (which are making a comeback!), among others.
In the 1960’s people started noticing that wetlands were disappearing. An international treaty for the preservation of wetlands was signed in 1989 in Ramsar, Iran. The Laguna is one of 41 nationally recognized wetlands. It was designated a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Treaty in 2011. Wetlands are tremendously important because they capture run-off, replenish groundwater, regulate quantity and supply of water, improve water quality, absorb floodwaters, and mitigate flooding. They also serve as important corridors for animals and bird species.
The Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation was established in 1989 to address the problems facing the Laguna. There are currently 14 staff members and 8 directors. The Foundation’s mission statement is “Restore, Conserve & Inspire: Nurturing a Healthy Laguna.” The Foundation’s budget comes from donations (30-35%) and grants and contracts with county, state, and federal agencies. Its restoration efforts include working with agencies and landowners to replant trees along creeks, replant and nurture native plants, collect seeds and acorns (especially after fires), and replace invasive plant species including Ludwigia) with native plants. The Conservation Science Program includes research of the Laguna’s watershed ecosystems and restoring grass and oak woodlands and vernal pool habitats. “Inspiring” is the process of educating the public, including youth, about the importance of the Laguna and how it can be preserved. The Foundation has developed a series of educational programs for adult and classroom learning.
In 2012, the Foundation opened its Laguna Environmental Center on the corner of Occidental and Stanford Roads in Santa Rosa. You do not want to miss Blue Heron Hall, which fits naturally into the site’s agricultural heritage.
Many thanks, Anne, for your wonderful presentation, and your hard work preserving the Laguna. The Foundation is a Sunrise Rotary all-time favorite!
You can view Anne's presentation by clicking HERE. The recording will be available for the next week or so.
