News

Sea Level Rise at the Arcata Marsh

“Sea Level Rise: North Unit of the Arcata Marsh,” an exhibition of photographs by Aldaron Laird, is on display through February at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, 569 South G St. in Arcata. Hours are Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Waterkeeper Alliance

The international Waterkeeper Alliance connects local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice for waterways and their communities worldwide. To champion clean water and strong communities, Waterkeeper Alliance advocates for issues common to Waterkeeper programs.

Each Waterkeeper program is an independent organization that reflects the needs of the waterbody and community it represents. The common thread for each Waterkeeper program is a person who serves as the public advocate for that body of water.

Waterkeepers are part investigator, scientist, lawyer, and advocate who represent all the users of the watershed who rely on clean water. All Waterkeepers also have a boat ranging in size from canoes to research vessels, but sometimes a pair of hip boots is more important than a boat. Sometimes a legal brief is more important than either. Each waterbody has its own unique challenges requiring a distinct and well-defined strategy.

Contact Humboldt Waterkeeper

Humboldt Waterkeeper

Mailing Address:

600 F Street, Suite 3 #810

Arcata, CA 95521

Physical Address:

145 G Street, Suite A

Arcata, CA 95521

707.499.3678

Jennifer Kalt, Executive Director

707.499.3678

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jasmin Segura, Bay Tours Coordinator

707.601.1142

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sylvia van Royen, GIS and Policy Analyst

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To receive occasional email updates and action alerts, send an email to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Don’t move the seal: Pupping season means young left while mom forages

Experts warn beachgoers not to bother seal pups because it can sever bond with parent

With harbor seal pupping season actively occurring along Humboldt and Del Norte county beaches, marine mammal experts are urging the public to give seal pups plenty of space and avoid intervening when they appear alone on the sand.

Harbor seal pupping is at its peak in Northern California right now, and beachgoers are likely to see harbor seal pups on shore or on nearshore rocks. In an email, Dawn Goley, a Cal Poly Humboldt professor of zoology, said harbor seal mothers routinely leave their pups on shore or on rocks for hours while they forage offshore.

“You may be concerned if you see pups alone on the beach, but that is totally normal! Harbor seal mothers will leave their pups on the shore and forage nearby, sometimes for hours,” said Goley. “They will come back to the exact place the pups were left so it is really important that the pup does not leave the site where it was left!”

Goley said it’s common for pups to be left alone for long stretches and that moving them, even slightly from where they were left by their mother, can sever the bond between mother and pup, leading to abandonment.

“The best way for people to care for harbor seal pups is to keep a safe distance from them (100 yards) and keep dogs away,” said Goley. “Do not remove them from the beach or move them. Again, if they are moved, they may be abandoned by their mothers.”

If you are kayaking in local waters, please maintain a safe distance from harbor seals on nearshore rocks. If the mother can see you standing near the pup, it may prevent her from returning.

If you are concerned about a sick, injured or potentially abandoned marine mammal, please reach out to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center 707-951-4722.

Read Original Article

Arcata fire debris removal gets the go-ahead to begin

The following is a press release from the city of Arcata:

Site cleanup is set to begin on the area affected by the Downtown Fire.

The demolition and removal of fire debris near the corner of 10th and H Street can now proceed following the recent release of the site to the property owners by insurance companies. This milestone allows cleanup and recovery activities to move into the next phase.

The City has been working closely with the property owners to identify a qualified contractor to complete the site cleanup and to help streamline the permitting process with the various regulatory agencies involved in the project.

The cleanup effort is particularly complex because the damaged structures and debris crossed multiple property lines during the fire event. As a result, all affected properties must be cleaned and managed together as a single coordinated project. The City appreciates the cooperation and diligence of the property owners who have worked collaboratively to move the project forward and complete the cleanup effort as one unified project. For a project such as this, it is typical to take approximately four weeks for the contractor to mobilize and approximately four weeks to complete the work depending on specific site conditions.

The selected contractor is expected to visit the site next week to review the site conditions, develop a detailed work plan and meet with permitting and regulatory agencies prior to mobilization. The City will share the project timeline with the public when it is available, so that community will know when the work will begin and when the project is expected to be completed.

Cleanup operations will involve the removal of fire-damaged materials and debris from the site and loading it on to trucks for disposal out of the area. When construction begins, community members should expect intermittent traffic disruptions in the downtown area during the work to accommodate truck loading, hauling activities and construction equipment operations. Traffic control measures will be implemented to help maintain public safety and minimize impacts whenever possible.

The City appreciates the patience and cooperation of the community, property owners and partner agencies as this work moves forward. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. For immediate questions, please contact the City Manager’s Office at (707) 822-5953.