Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - November 4, 2015 Public CommentsC-16 Adopt Resolution Approving Impact Mitigation Fee Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014/15 (PW] Adopted Resolution No. 2015-195 approving the Impact Mitigation Fee Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014/15. C-17 Adopt Resolution Approving City of Lodi Post -Construction Stormwater Development Standards Manual {PWS Adopted Resolution No. 2015-196 approving the City of Lodi Post -Construction Stormwater Development Standards Manual. C-18 Set Public Hearing for December 16, 2015, to Consider Adopting Resolution Setting Pre - Approved Engineering News Record Adjustment index for Usage -Based and Flat Water Rates for Residential. Commercial, and Industrial Customers {PW] Set a public hearing for December 16, 2015, to consider adopting a resolution setting pre - approved Engineering News Record adjustment index for usage -based and flat water rates for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. D. Comments by the Public on Non -Agenda items THE TIME ALLOWED PER NON -AGENDA ITEM FOR COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. Public cornment may only be made on matters within the Lad[ City Council's jurisdiction (Government _Code Section _54954.3,_Lodi _City Council Protocol Manual Section 6.31), The Council cannot take action or deliberate on items that are not on this agenda unless there is an emergency and the need to take action on that emergency arose after this agenda was posted [Government Code Section 54954.2[b][2]]. All other items may only be referred for review to staff or placement on a future Council agenda. Mamie Starr and volunteers with the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association gave a presentation on the 2015 Sandhill Crane Festival at Hutchins Street Square from November 6 to 8. Ms. Starr highlighted the many events, such as the awards dinner, art show and reception, 50 scheduled tours, and presentations, including one from keynote speaker Gary Ivey from the International Crane Foundation. Ms. Starr reported the Festival has turned into the busiest overnight stay weekend of the year and is of great economic benefit for Lodi. Kathy Grant stated many articles have been published on the Festival, bloggers have been discussing the event, and Fox 40 News will be at Dancing Fox to feature its Sandhill Crane bread loaf and at Woodbridge Winery to feature its wines. Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler commended the group for organizing this high-quality festival, adding that it is not solely the wine industry that makes Lodi special, it is also its nature, the Crane Festival, and the community's authenticity. Kristin Williams with The Reuse People of America, Inc., introduced the non-profit company, which encourages the deconstruction of residential structures and donations. She stated there were two recently -demolished buildings in Lodi that were good candidates for this program, including an older home south of the Wal-Mart development and another building on Lower Sacramento Road and Woodbridge Road. Projects are more feasible because of the tax deduction, and materials are salvaged and sold second hand. Ms. Williams added recent legislation went into affect that increases the required landfill reduction from 50 percent to 75 percent by 2020, which makes deconstruction more of a necessity. She believed this was a permitting issue, as well as a waste management issue, and she encouraged the City to make it a goal to create incentives at the Community Development permitting level. Ms. Williams requested a more thorough presentation be scheduled for a future Shirtsleeve Session. Marilyn Hughes spoke in support of the City offering pickle ball as a sport, stating the US Pickle Ball Association has agreed to offer demonstrations and lessons in Lodi, as well as use of materials, if a location is provided. She encouraged Council to support the activity and approve a 4 X W Ln 0 C_ on oC C 0C 0 0 S�C 0 0 0 o o o- �_ �R o ._+ o n o o 0 00(D no==(DCD 00o nooaC)QQ 0000 -- ti O O O M 0 0 0 0 1./1 O N Ln VM M O M O O O O O O O T W t0 w ID 01 O O ^ O ^ r N N r r a M -1 W - Ln 10 lD W lA 10 10 ID tD C v C O O O Ln O O In O O In O O Ln to O O O O V1 Ln O to O to O O O O - N M O O M O m a 0 0 M O N M -Zt -zr V1 O N N M H M M M In ip 1� n n 00 00 Ol O O � N N N N N N N N N M M M M M cu 3L 0 Q = _ T L r a7 v T T 0 y C y a 3 ¢ a0 Sao .'0..° ° ¢ « E m a � 3 N O O O L c � 0 Y rho J C � o Dit L G 4J G ° y ,� ° m 01 H ^ C vLi O M H Y C N C `i h C = i C L. vLi nJ ON « W n ° U 7 ` f0 U 4 Y W m 0 7 t"" an � Y O/ 10 to ° vai o rn o• -. o o C o v+ C C C O/ v C OJ L G T G U C V U L OC C C 7 C G C C W O_ v> E �_ 3 �_ 'm a �_L 3« v> J> ZE LL LL l.L j Y m 7 i m C1 m 01 m w II1 C LL m LL LL LL Ll G G Z G Y Y 3 Y« •N N Y« 'C a°+ M 7 G« C C C C IJ = O T T � •? 01 ° : M N O1 p M w= 2 L N O A d G` t` T T t� Z u u u 't 'm aw 20 'm n m O u C LL m a i u LL Y U U G v7 u u V u O N M +7+ V Ln l0 t\ 00 01 O N M R l!1 l0 f\ 00 ON O � fV M V V1 l0 t\ 00 N N N N N N N N o O c rAn Eo v C a S o moo 0 5L C) N O N' O C �J �I r: Z O_ m G _ 7 O G N N 7 0 ID E E V C C O C c, r6 o 0 .0 `w lC Z r fD OJ �G VI 1 ^ � a�r'•j- a� C p Ol 7 n r0 >_ CU f drL 7 0 g v a� N O 70 O C ? = <w' Zr o O p C _°N O r a "c 2 Q m cp n G o o 0 O .0 x S r 7 Scx m N T N C O N r O S O i1 T .aw um O ra E' C E Fa TE fb ��' ���»o C o 3 rNTo .. x y m 3 z3 rID rD .� 3 S O c ate. O o i N~ C 0 iE C7� or C d I'1 _rrl V1 Lo =� E3 N O 3 H' S �. O w 2 3- ms o o o �o n O o- _ C 0 rD CZL E3 CL �Fr n, ID O o !, O H S O C Li O 3 a in O lD 71' d �a O a tr m rho to i ro 0 00(D no==(DCD 00o nooaC)QQ 0000 -- ti O O O M 0 0 0 0 1./1 O N Ln VM M O M O O O O O O O T W t0 w ID 01 O O ^ O ^ r N N r r a M -1 W - Ln 10 lD W lA 10 10 ID tD C v C O O O Ln O O In O O In O O Ln to O O O O V1 Ln O to O to O O O O - N M O O M O m a 0 0 M O N M -Zt -zr V1 O N N M H M M M In ip 1� n n 00 00 Ol O O � N N N N N N N N N M M M M M cu 3L 0 Q = _ T L r a7 v T T 0 y C y a 3 ¢ a0 Sao .'0..° ° ¢ « E m a � 3 N O O O L c � 0 Y rho J C � o Dit L G 4J G ° y ,� ° m 01 H ^ C vLi O M H Y C N C `i h C = i C L. vLi nJ ON « W n ° U 7 ` f0 U 4 Y W m 0 7 t"" an � Y O/ 10 to ° vai o rn o• -. o o C o v+ C C C O/ v C OJ L G T G U C V U L OC C C 7 C G C C W O_ v> E �_ 3 �_ 'm a �_L 3« v> J> ZE LL LL l.L j Y m 7 i m C1 m 01 m w II1 C LL m LL LL LL Ll G G Z G Y Y 3 Y« •N N Y« 'C a°+ M 7 G« C C C C IJ = O T T � •? 01 ° : M N O1 p M w= 2 L N O A d G` t` T T t� Z u u u 't 'm aw 20 'm n m O u C LL m a i u LL Y U U G v7 u u V u O N M +7+ V Ln l0 t\ 00 01 O N M R l!1 l0 f\ 00 ON O � fV M V V1 l0 t\ 00 N N N N N N N N o O c rAn Eo v C a S ...i D• v+ O N' O C C C O O O Y O r C Ql OJ O_ v C O tD r4 v d v 0 ID > E E V C C O OV O E c, r6 o 0 1 >ErD> �? c rco ,5 r0 >_ CU f ro c g v a� N vh Cxx 0�o =��� <w' M a a CL O O O O a p='2. a 3 a "c 2 Q m cp 'i j o o 0 Q t` % d-- 7 Scx fD ro ry 3 c �.' �' E= nl rco c a z3 c U L v C > O ra E' C E Fa TE fb ��' ���»o a000� i 3 z3 rID rD .� 3 S O c ate. O o i N~ C 0 iE C7� T O L o Lo =� E3 c o o O 3 7ka m O w 2 3- d O o o o O . 3 o� O o- _ C 0 CZL E3 CL �Fr n, ID O o !, LO O O O lD 71' d �a O 00(D no==(DCD 00o nooaC)QQ 0000 -- ti O O O M 0 0 0 0 1./1 O N Ln VM M O M O O O O O O O T W t0 w ID 01 O O ^ O ^ r N N r r a M -1 W - Ln 10 lD W lA 10 10 ID tD C v C O O O Ln O O In O O In O O Ln to O O O O V1 Ln O to O to O O O O - N M O O M O m a 0 0 M O N M -Zt -zr V1 O N N M H M M M In ip 1� n n 00 00 Ol O O � N N N N N N N N N M M M M M cu 3L 0 Q = _ T L r a7 v T T 0 y C y a 3 ¢ a0 Sao .'0..° ° ¢ « E m a � 3 N O O O L c � 0 Y rho J C � o Dit L G 4J G ° y ,� ° m 01 H ^ C vLi O M H Y C N C `i h C = i C L. vLi nJ ON « W n ° U 7 ` f0 U 4 Y W m 0 7 t"" an � Y O/ 10 to ° vai o rn o• -. o o C o v+ C C C O/ v C OJ L G T G U C V U L OC C C 7 C G C C W O_ v> E �_ 3 �_ 'm a �_L 3« v> J> ZE LL LL l.L j Y m 7 i m C1 m 01 m w II1 C LL m LL LL LL Ll G G Z G Y Y 3 Y« •N N Y« 'C a°+ M 7 G« C C C C IJ = O T T � •? 01 ° : M N O1 p M w= 2 L N O A d G` t` T T t� Z u u u 't 'm aw 20 'm n m O u C LL m a i u LL Y U U G v7 u u V u O N M +7+ V Ln l0 t\ 00 01 O N M R l!1 l0 f\ 00 ON O � fV M V V1 l0 t\ 00 N N N N N N N N o O c Eo v C O c j H C Ql C C O O O Y O r C Ql OJ O_ v C O tD r4 v d v > E E V C C O OV O E c, r6 o 0 1 c rco ,5 r0 >_ CU ro c g v a� < c vh Cxx -1U)H U Ql � � � � CO � 'i j — Y v � tC0 d ~ ✓� v � LE Y c U L v C > O ra E' C E TE W C 4J S O irk i N~ C 0 iE C7� T O L o c o o Q r�ca 00 O O O ra z > E �� O . 3 o� 8)a_- u�Opo0uipQ Q O� OOOo QtooQ O O N O O O M .- a O Cl O O M M O O O O O Ol Ol ^ 0 0 0 ^ - N O M M R ID %D UD to tD tD V1 O O O O L!1 Ln O Ln O O O O Vl O O O V O L O O M O M V M V M to to O O N M V R L O W N 6i l!1 n n f\ r\ 00 66 00 Dl cl ^ N N N N N N N M M M N O Y v N L T N C 7 -a � r L C Y 0 Y > > G > > > f 0 :_ « Q ° 3 0! O J C= H C N = C m J V Y M ra U _ a m o a R O V1 O G Dl -071 .Y d v 2 j 2 0 W ° m f0 pl i o Q 01 m A Ol o O 7Zu to y a C L U C y C C V Y C U 0C C C H C C V G01 m r0 12 01 m G m p� N m C LL m LL 1L p c« 3 Y _ ,c v««a« E v« v m v !0 C C o Z '� Ol T Gm i YR N Ui U NOl mui V O! T uO V W 7 V V. Nm 7 N M M !N1 M M M M M M M a V V V C-tr a q V lA li 1 O c j > Q .� r fG as ,o CU c g v q o 3 vh Cxx -1U)H L O TE Tourties c ri t t ons " loafing" and eating. There will be special entertainment and youth -oriented activities at the field at the Turner Road Vintners wetlands. There is a required presentation for this tour Prices in brackets [ ] are for: various stops. Wear walking shoes and bring lunch or snacks to enjoy on the bus. Water will on Saturday from 10 to 11:30 AM, and only those registered for this tour will be admitted Adult (over 17), Youth (12-17), and Child (under 12 years). be provided. to the presentation. BACCHUS AND BIRDS Tour #: 40 Car [$25,15,10] Tour time: 2 hours 15 minutes Drive time: 20 min. one way NEW! At the family -friendly Durst Winery, join local birding experts in the quest to expand the bird list crafted especially for this tour in a mature rural landscape while enjoying a glass of Cassandra's vintage. Bring your lunch! BIRDING HOT SPOTS Tour #s: 5, 31 Mini -Bus [$30, 20,10] Tour time: 4 hours Drive time: varies Join fellow experienced birders as you visit several local hot spots of the area's many resident and wintering birds. The differing habitats provide a great variety of birds, from shore birds to wintering warblers. There will be short walks at every stop. BIRDWALK THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Tour #s: 8, 33 Car [$15,10, 51 Tour time: 2 hours 30 minutes Drive time: 5 min. one way This tour is for all skill levels! Take a leisurely walk on flat ground through the Lodi Lake Wilderness Area with Dale Smith. Learn the basics or hone your skills in identifying numerous resident and visiting bird species. Scout for deer, beaver, fox, possums, turtles, and more! COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE Tour #s: 21, 45 Bus [$30,15, 101 Tour time: 3 hours 20 minutes Jointly managed by 9 private and government agencies, Cosumnes River Preserve is the finest valley oak riparian forest and wetland in California. Explore this key link on the Pacific Flyway and learn why its management is considered a model in conservation partnerships. Experienced tour guides will share the'back story' and guide you through the beauty of the Preserve. CRANE RY4N 3, 26, 27, 28, 50 Bus [$30,15,10] Tour time: approximately 21/2 to 3 hours This tour takes center stage as the Festival highlight! At dusk, Sandhill Cranes converge in large groups that can number from several hundred to several thousand. Experienced Department of Fish and Wildlife docents share the natural history of the cranes at key roosting sites. CRANE RY4N (STATEN ISLAND) Tour #s: 1, 22, 46 Bus [$30, 15, 10] Tour time: 3 hours 15 minutes More fly -in opportunities! Combine Crane Fly -In with birding Staten Island to learn what thousands of birds already know - this is one of the best places in the Delta to spend the winter. Experienced docents will highlight the history of this special operation and its partnership with Cosumnes River Preserve. CRANE FDM M OODBNDGE Eco RE5W NWR Tour #s: 2, 25, 49 Bus [$30,15,10] Tour time: approximately 21/2 to 3 hours Join the DFW docents for the fly -in at Department of Fish and Wildlife's Woodbridge Ecological Reserve North Unit, which is only accessible to the public on a tour. In smaller groups, you will view the fly -in of cranes and other birds from the comfort of a viewing shelter, which has maps, displays, and pictorials on the cranes and their habitats. CRANE ROVW Tour #: 37 Bus [$30,15, 10] Tour time: 2 hours 30 minutes During the day Sandhill Cranes may be vocalizing, feeding, dancing, flying, or resting. Bright sunshine makes it easier to view their mud -stained wings and bright red forehead, as well as compare adults with juveniles and Greater with Lesser Sandhill cranes. Department of Fish and Wildlife docents will take you to them! CRANES FOR KIDS, Tour # 42 Bus [$15,1,1] Tour time: 3 hours Children are the focus of this special tour, but everyone is welcome. Sit bade and relax as the "wheels on the bus go round and round" taking you to the areas where cranes are 'P1''eseVCwoVls c Ur s U s SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7 2015 10:30-11:20 -WILD THINGS! - Patio off Kirst Hall. Gabe and Barb Kerschner return with some of their special animals for this fun and educational program. In past years they have shared a mountain lion, brown bear, raccoon, Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, and other rescued animals that could not be returned to the wild. This presentation repeats on Saturday at 1:40 PM. 11:40 -1:30 -THE MIGHTY SALMON - Kirst Hall. Follow the journey of salmon in the Mokelumne River using a watershed model, fish printing, and other hands- on activities. Suitable for children from age 6 and up. Presented by Lodi Lake Docents Kathy Grant and Virginia Moore. Repeats on Sunday at 11:40 AM:11 12:00-12:20 - TAIKO DRUMMING - Crete Hall. Welcome back Denis and James Kurata, who will perform this ancient form of Japanese music that is always a Festival highlight. Ta!ko drumming originated in Japan hundreds of years ago and is now performed all around the world. Presentation 12:30-120 - SANDHILL CRANE NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION NEEDS IN THE PACIFIC FLYWAY - Crete Hall- Gary Ivey with the International Crane Foundation will talk about the 3 Sandhill Crane subspecies that winter in California, including their life history and ecology, migration routes, and wintering and breeding areas. In addition, he will discuss their conservation needs on the wintering grounds, focusing on the California Delta and including some of his recent findings. Dr. Gary Ivey leads Sandhill Crane conservation and research in western North America for the International Crane Foundation (www.savingcranes.org). 12:30-1:15 - MISS DOROTHY PRESENTS - Thomas Theatre. A medley of puppets and stories featuring cranes by local favorite Dorothy Maas. After the program the children are invited to play with the puppets and use the puppet stage and make origami cranes. Repeats on Sunday at 12:30 PM. 1:40-2:30 - WILD THINGS! - Patio off Kirst Hall. See 10:30 AM Saturday. 2:00-5:00 - NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE CIRCLE - Thomas Theatre. Dan Ricketts from the Northern California Flute Circle will lead a gathering for all who enjoy playing the Native Flute. The Flute Circle is open to all players, from beginning to advanced. Sitting in a circle (sacred to native peoples), all musicians take turns playing, with tips and instruction along the way. Observers are welcome. 2:40-3:30 - BIRDS OF THE DELTA AND PACIFIC FLYWAY - Crete Hall. Local birding expert David Yee will highlight some of the birds that use the California Delta and other areas of the Pacitic. Flyway. The Delta has had a long-standing reputation as one of the premier wintering locations in the west for enormous numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, and`raptors. There is much more than Sandhill Cranes out there! 2:40-3:30 - OWL PELLET EXPLORATION! - Upstairs Classroom. Come learn about the Barn Owl and dissect an owl pellet to discover what it has eaten in this hands-on activity for children. Be a nature detective by matching up the bones in the pellet to small mammal bone challt Parents are recommended to attend and assist each child under 11 years old. mit 14, sign-up for this free activity at the Oak Grove Nature Center table in t€te Exhibit Hall starting at 10 AM on Saturday. This activity repeats on Sunday at 2: • P . CRUISING WITH CAPTAIN MORGAN'S DELTA ADVENTURES Tour #s: 12, 18, 36, 41 Car and Boat [$55, 45, 351 Tour time: 4 hours Drive time: 20 min. one way NEW! Set sail with Captain Frank Morgan and an experienced local naturalist to explore the abundant birdlife along the Mokelumne and San Joaquin rivers from the open or fully enclosed luxury of the 55 -foot double -decked Rosemarie. Bring a lunch or snack and relax with your favorite adult or soft beverage from the onboard no -host bar. DELTA BIRDING CRUISE Tour #s: 6, 11, 16, 23, 32, 39, 43, 47 Car and Boat [$45,25,15] Tour time: 3 hours 10 minutes Drive time: 20 min. one way Cruise along the Delta waterways through Sandhill Crane habitat with an experienced pilot and naturalist guide. The sky fills with cranes, swans, geese, and ducks, but don't forget to keep an eye on the banks for other birds and mammals. Docking at the Tower Park Marina provides the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant and other amenities. FOR THE BIRDS! ECO -FRIENDLY WINERY TOUR Tour #: 14 Car [$25, WA, NIA] Tour Time: 2 hours 15 minutes Drive time: 10 min. one way Turner Road Vintners continues to be a destination highlight among Festival goers. Its innovative eco -friendly water reclamation ponds have created a natural habitat for a variety of birds. Get a free taste of their wine as you get a taste of the birding benefits found here. ALL TOURS START AND END AT HUTCHINS STREET SQUARE Please check in 20 minutes before the start of each tour. KAYAK THE MOKELUMNE RIVER AND LODI LAKE WITH HEADWATERS KAYAK Tour #s: 20, 34 Car and Kayak [$40, 35, NIA] Tour time: 3 hours Drive time: 5 minutes one way Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River provide the rare opportunity for Crane Festival participants to enjoy an autumn twilight or morning kayaking trip with experienced naturalist Bill Beckett from Headwaters Kayak in Lodi. Equipment is provided. Just in case, dress to get wet, including electronic devices. MOKELUMNE RIVER RENDEZVOUS Tour # 7 Car [$20,10, 51 Tour time: 3 hours 55 minutes Drive time: 30 minutes one way Join Mokelumne River bird experts Liz West and Joanne Katanic on a short hike along the River as it spills from Camanche Dam. Look for Western Bluebirds, Black -crowned Night Herons, several woodpecker species, mergansers, Osprey, and other raptors flying above migrating salmon. PADDLE THE COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE WITH CURRENT ADVENTURES KAYAK Tour #s: 17, 44 Car and Kayak [$45,40, NIA] Tour time: 4 hours Drive time: 25 minutes one way Join kayaking expert and owner of Current Adventures Kayak, Dan Crandall, as you paddle the calm waters of the Middle Slough at Cosumnes River Preserve. Be on the lookout for Wood Ducks, Green and Black -crowned Night Herons, a variety of warblers, Mallards, and Scrub Jays. All kayaking equipment will be provided. lust in case, dress to get wet, including electronic devices. PHOTOGRAPHING WILD BUM WITH JIM DUNN Tour # 19 Car [$50, NIA, NIA]] Tour Time: 2 hours 30 minutes Drive time: 10 min. one way Jim Dunn is this year's featured Art Show photographer and one of the Festival's most popular tour guides. Join him for this small group opportunity to discuss equipment options for wild bird photography and learn some of the key skills and techniques to get good photographs in 3:40-4:30 -WHY SHOULD 1 CARE ABOUT BATS? - Crete Hall. Three live local bat ambassadors will be shared at this presentation that covers the incredible diversity of bats worldwide and locally. You will learn about some of the many special features of bats and their essential role in the environment. Presented by JoEllen Arnold of NorCal Bats, an organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of bats in Northern California. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 10:30 -11:20 -THE SECRET LIVES OF RAPTORS - Patio off Kirst Hall, Join Native Bird Connections for an intimate look at the behaviors, life experiences, and personal stories of several birds of prey. Witness hawks and owls up close and learn their unique stories. Native Bird Connections will bring several live, non -releasable birds - possibly a Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Eagle Owl, and others. This presentation repeats on Sunday at 1:40 PM. 1`14 1' 0 -THE MIGHTY SALMON - Kirst Hall. Follow the journey of salmon in the ok I ne River using a watershed model, fish printing, and other hands on activities. Suita r children from age 6 and up. Presented by Lodi Lake Docents Kathy Grant and Virginia Moore. 12:20-12:30 - 2015 CONSERVATION AWARD - Crete Hall. We will present the 2015 Sandhill Crane Festival Conservation Award to Pete Ottesen for his extensive work in support of habitat conservation and conservation education. 'Featured Presentation 12:30-1:20 - DELTA GRANDEUR -Crete Hall. Join us for a photographic tour of the great California Delta by Stockton photographer Rich Turner. Now one of the world's largest and most complex water management systems, the Delta has been transformed from sloughs and marshes by levees, land reclamation, dredging, dams, water diversions, agriculture, and urbanization. "With my photographs of the California Delta I have decided not to focus on the dark side, the political tug of wars that are going on over the land, the water, the ecology, and the economy, Rather, I focus on its beauty. When we see beauty we want to protect it," Rich Turner's book "Delta Grandeur The Rural Charms of Northern California's Inland Estuary", with 119 photographs and 14 essays, will be available to purchase and the author will be signing after his presentation, More of his photos can be viewed at www.tumerphoto.com. 12:30-1:15 - MISS DOROTHY PRESENTS -Thomas Theatre, A medley of puppets and stories featuring cranes by local favorite Dorothy Maas. After the program the children are invited to play with the puppets and use the puppet stage and make origami cranes. 1:40-2:30 -THE SECRET LIVES OF RAPTORS - Patio off Kirst Hall, See 10:30 AM Sunday. 1:40-5:30 - BIRD CARVING WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS ®Thomas Thgatre, Join master carvers from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association to learn how to carve a bird from wood. All of the necessary materials, including a study guide and carving knives, will be provided. Short lectures with lots of hands-on carving time will enable you to complete a life-size Greater Yellowlegs. Suitable for ages 14 and older, class size is limited to 8. For more information and to register during the Festival, stop by the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association table in the Exhibit Hall. Advanced registration is available online. PRIVATE LIVES OF SANDHILL CRANES WITH PAUL TEBBEL Tour #s: 4, 29 Mini -bus [$60, NIA, NIA] Tour time: 4 hours Back by popular demand! In the pre -dawn with Paul Tebbel, one of the world's foremost crane experts, you will be introduced to the sounds of the cranes when they first awaken, conjuring up visions of a prehistoric California Delta. In this comprehensive workshop you will learn many of the common vocalizations, body language, and other behaviors of Sandhill Cranes. Is it dancing or agression? You'll learn to recognize juveniles, tell subspecies apart, and will better understand and appreciate Sandhill Cranes. Breakfast will be provided and the book Private Lives of Cranes is included. RAPTORS BY BOAT Tour #s: 10, 15, 35 Car and Boat [$40, 30, 20] Tour Time: 4 hours 45 minutes Drive time: 45 min. one way This is the Festival's most popular tour! Enjoy a drive through the Sierra Nevada foothills to Pardee Res mar, where East Bay Municipal Utility District biologists will guide your search for early amving Golden and Bald eagles and other raptors. This boat tour also offers uncommon bird species not seen on other Crane Festival tours, including loons, grebes, mergansers, and Buffleheads. RIVER BIRD WALK, WINE TASTING AND PICNIC WITH DAVID YEE Tour # 13 Car [$35, NIA, NIA] Tour time: 3 hours 15 minutes Drive time: 15 minutes one way Tom and Carmela Hoffman are proud to host this tour at their Heritage Oak Winery. Stroll through picturesque vineyards and an old-growth riparian forest with renowned butler David Yee to the private beach along the Mokelumne River where you will enjoy a wine and food pairing, followed by lunch. Round trip walking is approximately 2.5 miles, so wear your walking shoes. SANDHILL CRANE CONSERVATION IN THE DELTA WITH GARY IVEY Tour #9 Mini -bus [$30,20 101 Tour time: 3 hours NEW! Habitat is the key to wildlife survival! Join keynote speaker Gary Ivey of the Interna- tional Crane Foundation on an inlwmative tour of the California Delta habitats that support Sandhill Cranes and other vsterfewl and wildlife during the winter. Bring your binoculars and a notebook, as you will hear facts here that you will not get anywhere else! SUNSET LEISURE CRUISE ON LODI LAKE Tour #s: 24, 48 Car and Boat [$30, 20, NIA] Tour time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Drive time: 5 minutes one way Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River provide the rare opportunity for Crane Festival partid- pants to enjoy a leisurely sunset patio boat ride. Join a local naturaiisi as you glide along, viewing the lake's resident birds, other wildlife (maybe even one of the resident deer), and tranquil scenery. SUSTAINABLE VINES, WINE, AND WILDLIFE Tour #38 Car [$25,15,10] Tour time: 2 hours 15 minutes Drive time: 20 min. one way NEW! The LangeTwins Winery, is all about sustainability. Join fourth-generation viticulturist Aaron Lange on a first-ever walking tour of their wildlife habitat areas along the Makelumne River. Experience the vineyards and enjoy their wine. Dress in layers and bring your "dirt" shoes and binoculars! ZENOPTIC WETLANDS -A NATURE MEDIA PHOTO TOUR WITH LON YARBROUGH Tour # 30 Car [$50, WA, NIA] Tour time: 3 hours 30 minutes Drive time: varies Experience the vibrant life of the wetlands at dawn with local "craniac" photographer Lon Yarbrough. As the sun rises, you will experiment with high ISOs, long shutter speeds, and wide-open apertures to capture images rat obtainable at any other time. Dress warmly and bring your camera and tripod for this unique photo opportunity. 2:40-3:30 - THE PRIVATE LIVES OF SANDHILL CRANES - Crete Hall. Sandhill Cranes communicate with each other in a variety of ways, including dancing, body language, and vocalizations. You will learn about crane behavior, including how to distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate cranes in the wild. The presenter, Paul Tebbel, has worked Wthcmatles since 1976, including 11 years as the director ofAudubon's Rowe Sanctuary ort the Platte River in Nebraska.home. 2:40 -3:30 -OWL PELLET EXPLORATION! -Upstairs Classroom. Come learn about the Barn Owl and dissect an owl pellet to discover what it has eaten in this hands-on activity for children. Be a nature detective by matchlog up the bones in the pellet to small mammal bone charts. Parents are recommended to attend and assist each child under 11 years old. Limit 14, sign-up for this free activity at the Oak Grove Nature Center table in the Exhibit Hall starting at 10 AM on Saturday. Art Show THE 2015 SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL ART SHOW will include watercolors, oils, etchings, sculptures, photographs, and other fine art depicting Sandhill Cranes, other Callfomia wildllfe, and their habitats Photographs by this year's featured photographer Jim Dunn, will also be displayed.The Art Show wil beat Hutchins Street Square in the Cottage -Pisano rooms and entry is free. Art can be viewed on Friday evening, from 6 to 8:30 PM, Saturday from IOAM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. ORIGAMI All ages are invited to fold origami cranes in the Cottage -Pisano foyer during the Festival - just follow the trail of folded cranes to the tables! This activity is organized by the Central Valley Student Chapter of People to People International, a group that promotes international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. Today the origami crane is also a symbol of peace. L'Xd1ibit HAH 10 AM - 5 PM SAT & 10 AM - 4 PM SUN, - FREE ADMISSION VISITVENDORS, EXHIBITS &THE CRANE -IUM IN KIRST HALL -You will find 30+ vendors and exhibitors in Kirst Hall, along with food from Bon Appetit, and the always popular Crane-ium. The Crane-ium includes educational displays and hands-on activities centered on cranes, as well as other local wildlife, and is suitable for all ages. Open from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, free admission. Wind'fIu18irdk,?" 1. Mindful of Wildlife a. Put birds first b. Let migrant birds rest and feed c. Back away from alarmed birds d. Make slow and steady movements, avoiding nests, roosts and display areas 1. Mindful of People and Safety a. Respect public and private property, and follow laws b. Park only in approved sites, leaving room for others c. Be a positive ambassador for the birding community d. Practice courtesy by curtailing conversation and noise 3. Mindful of Personal girding Experience a. Enjoy the serenity of quiet walks while birding b. Observation takes patience c. Pause often when listening for bird calls d. Seek to learn, but take time to enjoy yourself! 4. Mindful of Nature Protection a. Support protection of important bird habitat b. Stay on roads, trails and paths where they exist c. Carpool whenever possible d. Dispose of waste properly � I �`urn, to Bo BAYNATURE.QRC,-YO()R PORTAL TO NATURE NEARBY w A v. ,Joe 0 om Al - . ;dW Ap 44L. A Tule Elk Conundrum 'i'n Point Reyes Untangling :':s,. -Spider Evolution . A�w The Ancient Oaks it of Russian Rid ge BY J O E E ATO N signs of the season A Festival of Cranes From high overhead comes the rattling cry that conservationist Aldo Leopold called "the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution." Riding the autumn winds, the sandhill cranes are returning to the California Delta. Every year they converge here, part of a living wave that also includes swans, geese, and ducks arriving from the north to spend the winter. Among the vineyards, orchards, housing tracts, and dairy farms, the cranes in their thousands gravitate to a handful of roosting areas: Cosumnes River Preserve, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, Staten Island, and other sites on private land. Their arrival is one of California's supreme wildlife spectacles, a major draw for Delta visitors—and, like the migration of the monarch butterflies, a phenomenon we risk losing. Sandhill cranes of three subspecies—the lesser (Gros canadensis canadensis, greater (G. c, tabida), and Canadian (G, c, rowani)— spend the winter in the Delta and the Central Valley. Lesser sandhills are to greater sandhills as grizzly bears are to Alaskan brown bears. They have followed separate evolutionary paths since Pleistocene glaciers divided their ancestral populations 1.5 million years ago, with some interbreeding since: Greater -lesser mating pairs continue to be, on occasion, observed in the field. As for Canadians, they weren't recognized as a separate entity until 1965, and some ornithologists don't accept them as a separate group given their similarity to the greater. Even experts have trouble distinguishing them in the field. The cranes differ in size (as the names suggest, migratory behavior, food and habitat preferences, and protected status: In California, greaters them lesser, now winter statewide. The Delta, offering isolated shallow wetlands for night roosts and grain fields for foraging, may have compensated for lost habitat elsewhere. In a 2007-o8 survey, Delta counts ranged from 6,9.21 in November to 27,213 in February. Distinguishing a greater from a lesser sandhill lies in the details. In a mixed group, the size difference is obvious, greaters standing almost a foot taller. In flight, lessers appear relatively long - winged, equipped for an epic trek from the far north: They migrate 2,9.00 miles from the Alaskan tundra. Greaters breed In the early morning, greater sandhi II cranes at the Cos umnes River Preserve prance, bow, call out, and touch beaks in an elaborate dance that often develops overyears between mated pairs, are listed as endangered; lessers, a species of special concern; Canadians have no legal protection beyond the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Greaters are more abundant north of the Delta, lessers to the south, while Canadian sandhills are far outnumbered by both subspecies in the Delta. Although they didn't differentiate among subspecies, observers in the i85os mentioned abundant wintering cranes in California's grasslands. Market hunting thinned their ranks, but they slowly recovered during the 20th century, with their winter presence in the Delta increasing over the past 50 years. An estimated 50,000 cranes, four-fifths of 10 1 BAY NATURE _% OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2015 closer by, from British Columbia to Northern California as far south as Sierra Valley, with their highest concentration in Oregon. Lessers and greaters behave differently in the Delta. Greaters arrive earlier in the fall and leave later in the winter, some lingering into March. Lessers forage in alfalfa; greaters avoid it. "Lessers move around the landscape more, focusing on maintaining their flight muscles by eating protein," says Gary Ivey of the International Crane Foundation, who has studied cranes in California for years. They consume the larvae of orange sulphur butterflies in those alfalfa fields, earthworms, beetle grubs, crayfish, voles. The diet of greaters has a higher vegetable content, mainly waste grain, and they don't travel as far from the roost to feed. On the other hand, many behaviors are common to all sandhills. Their body language is eloquent. Waves of dancing propagate through winter flocks, and some birds may practice their crowd - drawing courtship moves (although the majority of courtship takes place in spring farther north). The extern of a hatch of bare red skin on a crane's head signals its emotional state. A relaxed biiri shows only a small .thea c)f yed, but excitement or anxiery increases blood flow and activates muscles that expand the patch to cover most of the top of the head. These intensely social birds have strong family ties. Pairs may stay together for life, but some break up after nest failures. Parents tend their offspring, oddly called "colts," for nine or ten months after hatching and lead them south on their first migration. With luck, they'll make many other journeys: Wild sandhills have survived into their third decade, with 40 the longevity record. On the first full weekend of November, the Central Valley city of Lodi honors these winter visitors with a Sandhill Crane Festival. For almost 20 years its dual aim has been to attract tourists and promote awareness of the birds. Some festival -organized tours visit crane -viewing locations not normally accessible to the public, and tour leaders CRANE TALK Sandhill cranes use dozens of sounds and body postures to communicate. e.Flight Intention: A stiff, horizontally held neck portends flight. GRuffle Threat: Ruffled feathers followed by a bowed neck can suggest arousal or a mild threat. G.Crouch Threat: Briefly dropping to the ground with slightly spread wings can precede an attack. For more, see the pocket - sized "Sandhill Crane Display Dictionary" at AlaskaSandhillCrane.com. - 4 MATTIASLANAS.COM A pair of greater sandhill cranes leaves their roost at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in the morning to forage in the fields. stress viewing etiquette: Don't walk out into the fields toward the birds; keep your voice down. Cars make good blinds for crane -watching. "They hate motorcycles and bicycles," Ivey observes. Not far from Lodi, Staten Island provides a fine buffet for wintering cranes. Owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by its affiliate Conservation Farms and Ranches, Staten is a wildlife -friendly working farm, growing corn, triticale, and other crops the birds favor. Laura Shaskey, conservation program manager at Staten Island, says up to 8,000 cranes foraged on the island last fall, and a record high of 11,700 used night roosts there. Of particular conservation importance, Staten hosts one of the densest winter populations of the state -endangered greater sandhill. In its present iteration, the proposed Delta Twin Tunnels water diversion project would run directly through Staten Island. That route, announced in 2013, drew fire from environmental groups and other stakeholders; construction plans were modified last year. Ivey, who works with an advisory group, notes that the original version would have used the island for storage of dredged materials, affecting almost a quarter of the 9,2oo-acre tract. "We appreciate that overall impacts on Staten Island from the original proposed project have been substantially reduced both during construction and with regard to project operations over time," says Jay Ziegler, TNC's director of external affairs. "However, it is imperative that we protect habitat for sandhill cranes at Staten Island and create additional habitat [for them] in the Delta." Changing land -use patterns in the Delta have made places like Staten Island all the more crucial to the survival of Pacific Flyway sandhills. As far back as 2000, Ivey and veteran crane researcher Carroll Littlefield called conversion of grain fields to vineyards and orchards "the most serious factor threatening sandhill cranes wintering in California." The trend has accelerated, with vineyard acreage in San Joaquin County alone more than doubling in the last 25 years. "How much can you lose within the core area before affecting the capacity of the landscape to hold the population of cranes?" he asks. Farther north, around Galt and Elk Grove, urban sprawl is a significant threat. Literary celebrations of the sandhill crane stress the species' antiquity. "His tribe ... stems out of the remote Eocene," wrote Leopold. In The Birds of Heaven, an account of his travels in search of cranes, the late Peter Matthiessen mentions the discovery of a nine -million -year-old leg bone of "today's sandhill crane," which seems to refer to a fossil found in Nebraska. But "it's a leap of extreme faith" to assume the bone belongs to a sandhill, writes R. George Corner of the University of Nebraska State Museum, which houses the fossil. To crane -watchers, though, the truth in the ancient bones may be less important than the feeling summoned by the bugling of the great birds. Eocene, Miocene, or Pleistocene, it seems primordial enough. "I can tell that people love hearing that sound," says naturalist David Wimpfheimer, who has led many Delta crane tours. "It's evocative of wild places. It transports listeners from plowed -over corn stubble to Alaska or the Canadian Arctic." If the sandhill's trumpet is ever silenced, our loss will be immeasurable. OCTOBER -DECEMBER 2015 A BAY NATURE