THESIGNPOST

March - Apri 11988

vol. 12, no.2

PRE-CONFERENCE ISSUE

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

As you are aware, severalpositions on the PRAC Board ofDirectors are up for election.You should all have your ballotsfrom the last Signpost. Pleasetake a few moments to completeand return your ballot (Anotherballot has been included in thismonth's issue). Election winnerswill be installed at thePRAC/CSPRA/LEAGUE conferencethis month. There are somehighly qualified rangers vyingfor these positions, so your inputis vital to the success of ourassociation.

Speaking of the Conference, the1988 edition promises to be amongthe best, with numerous sessions,trips, and social activitiesplanned. I hope to see as manyof you there as possible.

The time has never been better toget involved in PRAC. Manytraining opportunities are in theworks, including aninterpretation clinic withnationally renown naturalistElizabeth Terwilliger (seeinsert), and an animal controlseminar slated for thii Fall.

.".- .

At the last PRAC Board ofDirectors meeting, held in WalnutCreek, it was decided that wepurchase coffee mugs and qualitystickers embossed with theassociation logo. These will beused to raise funds for theassociation for futureactivities.

As you read through this issue ofThe Signpost you will discoversome interesting stories andevents. I encourage you to joinwith us by contributing newsletteritems, or by participating in futureactivities.

1

MIGHTY OAKSEffort Under Way To Restore

Majestic Grove At Mooney

Contributed byJohn Ramirez, PRAC President

After years of contributing (to)the downfall of the majestic oakgroves that once (covered) TulareCounty, man is now working torestore one of the few standsthat remain.

An ambitious oak planting programis in full swing at Mooney GrovePark with hundreds of young oaksaplings already placed in mulchbeds dotting the 144-acre parksince 1984, when the Countyrealized existing trees were indecline and alloted money for aprogram to preserve and ..~eplantoaks.

The goal, said county parks~rvices superintendent JohnRamirez, is to rejuvenate adecaying- grove -so future-generations could enjoy thestately trees symbolic to countylife.

"We're trying to create anoptimum natural environment for

the oaks with the mulch beds anddiscouraging people from walkingnear them," said Ramirez near asite where dozens of young oaksare taking root.

Salvaging the imperiled grove isbeing done two ways. One is torevive the existing treessuffering from disease, the otherinvolves a vigorous replantingprogram.

Improvements to the park sinceit was purchased by the county in1910 and enviornmental factorshave contributed to the demise ofthe grove.

A study done on the state of thegrove in 1984 revealed that lawngrasses planted in the 1950'swere choking off oxygen to aeratearound the oak's base, Ramire2explained.

Once oxygen was cut-off, theroots of the trees slowly decayedand left them susceptable todisease or unable to support~heir own weight.

drip line

Root System of the California Oak

20 feet

lllustratirm hy Amy Pertschuk

2

Also, the park's bermuda grassprevented water from absorbingdeep into the gound- forcing thetrees to spread shallow rootsystems- and did'nt allow leavesand other organic matter to decayand provide fertilizer.

Visitors who walked around theoaks unknowingly compounded theproblem, compacting the soilaround them to further seal offlife-giving oxygen.

The 1984 study estimated that 85percent of the older trees inMooney Grove were in danger ofdying off. "After 75 years ofcounty ownership, the Valley Oaksof Mooney Grove are in jeopardyof disappearing," the study'sauthors warned.

Since those warnings, parkworkers have trimmed back thegrass that used to surround theoaks, allowing for water andoxygen to permeate. _SQ~e oakstoo sick to save have been cutdown, and other diseased onespruned back, Ramirez said.

But Ramirez and othersresponsible for the projectare staking their future hopesfor the oak's survival on thesaplings now planted in the eightmulch beds around the park.

The beds, composed of decayingcompost piles, were prepared byTulare Civil Conservation Corpsworkers. They also laidirrigation systems to deep waterthe young trees.

That aspect is important, saidRamirez, because the watering canbe controlled to simulate anenvironment of flooding and dryperiods that used to exist inthe park prior to dams and canalsbeing built in the area.

So far, keeping the sa~ling~ aliveduring their most fraglle tlmehas been more successful than

anticipated.losses to 50planted lasttrees died.

Ramirez expectedpercent of the 237winter, but only 50 I~

.'

"That's just excellent, we got a79 percent survival rate," hesaid.

PARK RANGERS ON DRUG PATROL INLOS ANGELES

From the Associated PressNewswire, February 27, 1988

Rangers are the lastest recruitsin the city's battle to curb drugdealing, gang-related violenceand other illegal activities incity parks.

Eleven uniformed city parkrangers, carrying night sticksand police radios but not guns,are patrolling six south andsouth-central Los Angeles parksin an effort to rid them of drugdealing and violence.

The program, officially initiatedby Mayor Tom BradleY"h~s be~nunderway on a trial basls forthree weeks. Chief Ranger HectorHernandez said he has alreadyseen a decline in drug dealing.

Gang members traditionally useparks to conduct drugtransactions, Hernandez said.

Bradley said, "These localplaygounds get more use andharder use than anywhere else,and we have to put more intothem ...to make them hospitablefor the people who use them."

3

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITIONTO BE HELD IN THE

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Are you a resident Bay Areaphotography buff, or a photoafficionado whose planning tovisit this beautiful regionwithin the next few months? Ifso, the San Francisco BayWildlife Society has an activityright up your alley. TheSociety, in cooperation with theu.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, issponsoring "Picture Localwildlife", a competition forprofessional/amateurphotographers of all ages.

_The grand prize winner willreceive a 10-day Alaska safari.First prize winners will receiveOceanic Society whale-watchingtrips to the Farallon Islands;and second prize will be lifttickets/equipment rental at theYosemite Park And Curry Co •.Deadline for entries is August26, 1988. Prizes will be awardedon September 8, 1988 at the SanFrancisco Bay National wildlifeRefuge Visitor Center.

For more information and an entryform write to: San Francisco BayWildlife Society, P.O. Box 524,Newark, CA., 94560-0524, or call(415) 792-0222.

TREE OF HEAVENEncounter with An Odorous Exotic

.A Park Discovery ByChris Crockett,Park Ranger, County of Santa Clara

For many rangers working in urbanparks throughout California, the

sight of a delicate, healthy-green, deciduous tree is joyous tobehold.

This was my reaction onemorning in the Spring of 1982. Iwas a new seasonal ranger in aregional park in south San Jose,California. I was on foot patrol,becoming acquainted with myworkplace when I spotted thisexquisitely beautiful tree plantednext to a lawn. I approached fora closer examination noticing thesmall, ovular (pinnate) leaves;and the small greenish-yellow,polygamous flowers. I alsonoticed small greenish-brown fruit,many of which were scattered atthe tree's base. Unsuspecting,I picked one of these soft morselsup and gently squeezed it betweentwo fing-ers. What ensued was themost horrid, putrid smell I hadever had the displeasure toencounter.

I hurridly returned to the rangerstation to rid myself of thisodor. While there, I enquiredwith the Supervising Park Rangeras to what had attacked my nasalmembrane. After a hearty laugh hesaid I had tangled with a Tree ofHeaven (Ailanthus altissima). Thesmell of the fruit was a mechanismdesigned to protect the seeds frommarauding birds and rodents.

A native of Asia and northernAustralia, he said the Tree ofHeaven can grow to a height of60 feet. It was first introducedto California in 1751. In the19th century laborers from Chinabrought trees with them as a tokenof-good luck and prosperity.Today, the Tree of Heaven iswidely used for shade in many-cityparks.

After learning about this uniqueplant I both marvelled at itsvisual splendor, and was puzzledas to how such a stinky tree couldbe so numerous and desirable. Oneof those mysteries of nature, Iguess.

4

••• •

THE GAMES OFPROJECT LEARNING TREE

Project Learning Tree, a workshopon environmental education, will beconducting its next event on March23, 1988 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00p.m., at, the Coyote Point Museumin San Mateo County. Otherworkshops a·re held at varioustimesirocations throughout theyear.

......The following is one of thegames uj, ~~.Learn· ~•....~e:............a. --... .,.'" t~·

iJ.':"T~~~Feely "',::

Hesita' ,...a_-~look0 ., h"llf1iconcen~~~~~ fin;l a_)figsmile of understanding spreadingacross a child's face. Theresponses are just part of thisactive, intriguing game/display.It is a great way to heighten achild's sensory perceptions. Byfeeling objects inside a box, thentrying to find them in nature,children learn to "see" with theirhands and "feel" with their eyes.Objects placed in the box shouldbe endemic to your park. For moreof a challenge use objects whichare difficult to find in theirnatural setting. Using largergroups of children heightens theexcitment, as each participant hashis or her own idea of what theirfeeling. The satifaction andsense of accomplishment at findinga match makes this game rewarding.

Create a Touchy-Feely Box bycutting a 3-4 inch diameter holein a small cardboard box (ie., ashoebox). Put one to four objectsin the box, and let allparticipants feel for them. Idealobjects might include leaves,acorns, small rocks, and snakeskins. After everyone has feltthe box's contents show them theboundary of their search/playarea, give them the okay, andwatch them diligently search forthe right objects (Caution: havethem watch for hazards such aspoison oak,etc). After a 5-10minute period call the childrenback to a gathering area for asharing of discoveries.Afterwards, make sure all thechildren return their items towhere they found them. Touchy-Feely is a great way to explore anew environment.

****For information on other games inin Project Learning Tree, and howto register for a workshop, phone(408) 262-5513.

SLIDES NEEDED FOR PRACPRESENTATION

Horizontal format slides areneeded to revise the PRAC SlidePresenation. Slidesshould reflect routine andspecial duties performed byrangers in your agency.

If you have any slides availablecontact Bill Hendricks, PRACCoastal Representative at (415)459-5267.

5

PARK RANGERS ASSO ON OF CALIFORNIA1987-88 Executive Board Officers

PRESIDENTJohn Ramirez

Tulare County Parks(209) 733-6612

VICE PRESIDENTCliff Lindquist

Walnut Creek Open Space(415) 944-5766

TREASURERBruce Baker

Los Gatos Parks & Forestry(408) 354-6809

COASTALAnnette ColemanPalo Alto Parks& Open Space

(415) 329-2638VALLEY REPRESENTATIVE

Tom HofsommerSacramento County Parks

(916) 366-2072 SECRETARYMichelle Alex• •Sacramento C6 fY Parks

(9 16 ) 3 66 '07 2SIGNPOST EDITORCAL RANGER EDITORChris Crockett ·Ed Stuckrath

Santa Clara County Big Basin RedwoodsParks & Recreation ::: 'St.at e Park :":..'

(408) 249-4312 (408) 338-6132EXECUTIVE MJ\NAGER ." ~,..>,,-,'.

Doug Bryce ''''7;-:".'' . '.,;':.. .;..w,v-(.(;':"

(916) 383-2530

REPRESENTATIVESBill HendricksMarin MunicipalWater District(415) 459:-5267

SOUTH REPRESENTATIVECharles Tello

Ventura County Parks(805) 654-3977

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:: : ~ ~:~-"-:~.----~--.-~~,~~....:::.,.-:=.....:: ••...::::: ••=-:~~-==''~.. ••-••- ••••••••••- ••.••.•.~~Ill:ii .•--

P.O. BOX 28366SACRAMENTO, CA 95828