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�I only went out for a walk andfinally concluded to stay out untilsundown, for going out, I found,was really going in.�

Give John Muir credit forpoetically capturing the feelingof being embraced by wildnature. The famed Californianaturalist, father of the SierraClub and spirit behind thedesignation of Yosemite NationalPark, championed the outdoorsexperience. Here on Catalina, the�great outdoors� means headingout: on foot, on wheels, or byboat to come into contact withsuperb wilderness. If Yosemite isthe Jewel of the Sierra Nevada,surely, Santa Catalina Island is ajewel in the Pacific Ocean.Protected by the charter of theCatalina Island Conservancy, theisland beckons exploration byhiking, biking, or eco-touring.

Jeep® Eco-ToursNature loving island visitors getthe inside scoop while onstimulating, open-air Jeep® Eco-Tours. With a single Jeep® in thelate 1980s Doug Propst (who wasthen the Conservancy President)began informal tours of theinterior for guests and visitors. Asthe program evolved, additionalvehicles were added. In 1994 theprogram was formalized. Now, 15years after the idea was born, weoffer daily tours year around.

Last year, a record number ofguests ventured into the interior

with our trained drivers. What didthese visitors see? They saw the naturalside of Santa Catalina Island: colorfullandscapes, mountains and valleys,native plants and animals, seascapes asfar as the eye can see, from horizon tohorizon, blue sky dotted with

clouds. Visitors learn aboutour natural history and theisland ecosystem.

From the beginning, the Eco-Tourprogram has been all aboutsharing knowledge of this special

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C ATA L I N A IS L A N D CO N S E R V A N C Y

Dear Friends,

Since the forming of the Conservancy, one ofthe mandates for the organization has beento allow for appropriate recreational use ofthe island. Over the past thirty years, manythousands of people have enjoyed hiking,camping, bicycling, and touring the interior.Catalina is an amazing destination for naturelovers and wilderness adventurers!

This summer, we begin implementation of ourTrail Plan. Trails offer a low impact way forrecreational users to access remote wildernessareas of the island. Well designed trails at popular locations channelfootsteps appropriately, allowing for ecological protection and restorationof sensitive areas.

Besides safety and conservation, the educational and recreationalpossibilities of well-designed trails include discovery of interestinghistorical sites, beautiful vistas, experiencing the diverse terrain andnatural habitats on the island, and exercising mind, body and spirit. It isexciting to look forward to all aspects of such an important endeavor!You will be hearing more about this project throughout the year.

Another significant project about to be launched is the improvement ofaccess to Ben Weston Beach. Since 1995, when the old road to the beachwashed out, we have been deliberating the best and most feasible way toattend to the situation. In April, the Conservancy�s Board of Directorsvoted to go forward with building a new road, providing that theappropriate permits and adequate funding are procured. A map andmore details about the Ben Weston Road project are available by callingBruce Guay at 310-510-2595, ext. 106.

The scope of the Conservancy continues to expand was we endeavor toremain true to the original intent of the organization. I am honored tohave been a part of this important work for the past 29 years. It is with amixture of melancholy, confidence, and excitement that I am changingroles. Dr. Ann Muscat assumes the title and responsibilities of Presidentand CEO effective July 1, 2003. I will continue on as a consultant to theorganization for the next few months. My husband, David, and I willcontinue to live in Avalon and, of course, will always be among theCatalina Island Conservancy�s most fervent supporters.

Sincerely,

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From the Editor: You may notice that several articles in this issue use scientificnames as well as common names for island plants and animals. Common namescan be confusing because often a plant or animal has various common names,and sometimes different-but-similar organisms are called by the same commonname. We want to be very clear about the species mentioned for those readerswho are interested. So, the common names are listed first, in regular font, andthe scientific or Latin names follow, in parentheses, with text in italic.

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New President and CEOThe Board of Directors of the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy has selected Dr. Ann M. Muscat, former SantaCatalina Island resident, as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2003. Dr. Muscat lived onSanta Catalina Island for eight years, conducting marine research and serving as Director of the University ofSouthern California�s Wrigley Marine Science Center at Big Fisherman Cove. She is an avid sailor and diver, and hasbeen coming to the island and enjoying its natural beauty for more than 24 years.

�Ann brings a wealth of talent, skills and knowledge to the Conservancy. Her time living on Catalina and her love ofthe Island, combined with her experience in leadership positions in nonprofit organizations make her the idealchoice for this position,� said Board Chair, Dr. Maria Pellegrini.

Muscat received her doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Southern California working in thenear-shore marine environment of Santa Catalina Island. While Director of the Wrigley Marine Science Center sheestablished the Marine Life Refuge that protects the waters immediately surrounding the laboratory fromharvesting and anchoring pressures. She also initiated the popular Elderhostel Program, which has beenintroducing interested adults to the ecology of Santa Catalina Island for more than 15 years.

�I am excited and pleased to be returning to Santa Catalina Island at the helm of such an important organization,�said Muscat. �The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy and Catalina can serve as a model for balancing humanuses with nature�s needs, and inspire people to enjoy, understand and become responsible stewards of theirnatural world.�

After completing her work with the Marine Science Center, Muscat served as Deputy Director and Senior VicePresident for Exhibits and Education at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. There she played a pivotalrole in the transformation and rebuilding of that public institution. As part of the master plan for the CaliforniaScience Center, she directed the development of the conceptual program and design for a science elementaryschool now being built in partnership with the Los AngelesUnified School District.

Muscat also served as the Executive Vice President forStrategic Initiatives at the Natural History Museum of LosAngeles County. There, she led the Board of Trustees andstaff through a strategic visioning process that redefinedthe role of a natural and cultural history museum in the21st century. Muscat also directed the completion of thepreliminary architectural and exhibition studies for a majorrebuilding of the Natural History Museum�s infrastructure.She has worked throughout her career to promote science-based conservation and environmental education. She hasbeen invited to lecture in China and India on her ecologicaland museological work, and she was a Research Associatein the United States Antarctic Program.

Muscat received her master�s degree in biology from SanDiego State University and her bachelor�s in biology fromthe University of Detroit.

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place. Our unique tours of Catalina journey off theprimary roads, onto rugged four wheel drive lanes. Wehave access to over 100 miles of roads, most of which arenot open to the public. Our drivers are naturalist-qualifiedhaving completed substantial classroom and field training.Trip itineraries vary depending on passenger interest, roadconditions and time of year. Drivers are island residentsand have wide-ranging familiarity of the interior.

Our tours are true ecology trips with emphasison the island�s living beings and theirrelationship to one another and to theirphysical environment. No other tour begins topresent the experience of a Jeep® Eco-Tour onSanta Catalina Island. Often, but not always,bald eagles, reptiles, and the elusive CatalinaIsland Fox are seen. The interior has so much tooffer, including wonderful vistas and the quietserenity of nature.

Several routes enable repeat visitors to enjoydifferent areas at different times of the year.Our half and full day charters are mapped outwith the guests to accommodate theirrequests. We are proud to show off and talkabout the wonders of Santa Catalina Island.

There are two new tours for 2003. On the 3 ½hour Catalina by Land and Sea tour, we havecombined our most popular tour of the interior witha tour by boat. Our guests travel one way by boat orJeep® to Whites Landing for lunch at the beach andreturn to Avalon. There are many ways to enjoySanta Catalina Island! Catalina by Land and Sea is theperfect introduction.

Our new Sunset tour combines the interior tour with astop for a view of the sunset. Included are drinks anda selection of hors d'oeuvres, cheese, fruit and crackers.

We have a great group of driver guides for the seasonincluding: Julien Foreman, Fred Freeman, Chuck Holt,Steve Pillman, Don Van Sickle, Beth Vandervelde andJim Watson.

Jeep® Eco-Tours create revenue to support Conservancyprograms while at the same time bringing visitors tothe interior to enjoy and learn about our wonderfulisland. Don�t miss a great adventure. Support theConservancy and join us for a tour. Reservations can be made by calling the Conservancy office at (310) 510-2595 ext. 0.

On FootHiking enthusiasts discover that Catalina is complex.First off, you notice the widely varied naturalcommunities. For instance, Ben Weston beach is aswild and remote as any beach on the West Coast. InCottonwood Canyon, a forest habitat rich with wildlifethrives under the dense, leafy canopy of native oaks.There are grasslands on the island, too. Above Ripper�sCove (one of the island�s boat-in beach campgrounds),California bunch grasses add texture to hillsidesgenerously sprinkled with wildflowers from February

until June. Deep gorges echo birdsongs. On the WestEnd, landslides of slippery silvery schist and raw rederosion gullies are reminders of on-going geologicchanges. And then there are the views! Theunpredictable hues of sky and ocean contrast with thedramatic silhouettes of a steeply sloped landscape.Most often, the sky is a dazzling blue and theMediterranean climate is mild and appealing. But

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Island Recreationcontinued from page 1

Eco-Tour staff (l to r) Dave Gaon, Jim Watson, Don VanSickel, Steve Pillman, Beth Vandervelde and Fred Freeman.

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sometimes, chilly fog swirlsaround the shoulders ofthe hills, the wind whips,and waves punish theshore. On the other hand,summertime temperaturesin Catalina�s low-growingcoastal sage scrub andchaparral communities canscorch. Hat, sunscreen, andplenty of drinking waterare primary gear. There areonly a few locations forrefilling water bottles, sobring plenty.

Hikers must register for apermit at the ConservancyHouse in Avalon, at theAirport-in-the-Sky, or atTwo Harbors VisitorServices. The permit is freeand required. Please see thecalendar section of this newsletter for guided hikeinformation.

BicyclistsThe Catalina Island Conservancy is pleased to offer abicycle program for the serious cyclist who wants toenjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of SantaCatalina Island. Permits are required at a fee of $50 foran individual and $75 for a family (spouse and minorchildren). Permits are valid from the date of purchaseuntil the following April 30th and prorated quarterlybeginning May 1st. Included in the permit fee iscoverage for accident, liability, and life insurance whileriding on Catalina.

Due to the island's rugged interior, mountain bikes arerequired and riders must wear helmets that meet thesafety standards set by either the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) or Snell Memorial Foundation.A limited number of roads are open to bicycling and forthe most part are improved gravel.

Bicycle permits may be obtained at the ConservancyOffice, 125 Claressa, 8:30 AM - 5 PM daily (closed forlunch Saturday and Sunday). Permits are also available

at Catalina's Airport-in-the-Sky and Two Harbors VisitorServices during their regularhours of operation. Bicyclepermits are not available bymail or telephone, they mustbe purchased in person at thelocations mentioned above.

Nearly a million people visitSanta Catalina Island eachyear. Of those, thousandspass through the ConservancyHouse for information aboutaccess to the interior. Thesevisitors are special becausethey are looking for anexperience not found inAvalon, but an adventureinto a natural environment,seventy-six square miles ofundeveloped wilderness.

At Conservancy House, Visitor Services RepresentativesLiz Johnson and Diane Conover are at the ready togreet these folks, answer questions, hand out brochuresand issue the permits that will take them into thisspecial place.

No matter what your mode of transportation, gettingout is the key to finding the very best of Catalina. Beprepared, the island is capricious; every day out is afresh experience. It's best to expect the unexpected.

Rebecca Guay, Director of Visitor ServicesDeb Jensen, Director of Education

Dave Gaon, Jeep® Eco-Tour Supervisor

Thank You For Your ContributionThe Catalina Island Conservancy�s Administration and Accounting Departments thank volunteers for assisting with general office,special events, VIP driving and much more. Your time is appreciated. James H. Ackerman, Lenny Altherr, Linda Altherr, Norris Bishton, Jr., Joel Burt, LynnBurt, Caitlin Dawes, Steve Dawes, Christa Foster, David Gaon, Dave Gardner, Rose Ellen Gardner, Bob Given, Rebecca Guay, Cliff Hague, Rick Harp, Charles Hathaway,Marisella Hernandez, Liz Johnson, Kathleen King , Marie Knowles, Robert Meistrell, Anthony Michaels, Ian Morison, Robert Morison, Richard Murphy, Hank O�Melveny,Paxson Offield, Calvin Parsons, Maria Pellegrini, Alison Rusack, Geoffrey Rusack, Linda Salo, Ron Salo, Ada Blanche Schreiner, Eric Schwartz, Esmeralda Soto, Misdee Wrigley.

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Each year an average of 6,772 hikers, 1,580 runners, and 850bicyclists recreate on Conservancy property, while 1,417 peopleparticipate in our Jeep® Eco-Tour Program. We issue 650 annualvehicle permits, 370 daily vehicle permits, and 28 mopedpermits as well.

Island Recreation

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May 14th was a cool, cloudy morning and the mostly calm seasregistered a chilly 60 degrees, but this did not deter numerousCalifornia Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) from frolicking aboutin the waters of Avalon Harbor, along Pebbly Beach and on pastthe quarry. As we approached Seal Rocks, it became obvious that itwas going to be an amazing day to view marine mammals. Usingbinoculars, we counted at least 117 sea lions hauled out on therocks and beaches of the Seal Rocks area. Several more could beseen darting back and forth amongst a pod of Common BottlenoseDolphins (Tursiops tuncatus) traveling through the nearby waters.

Catalina�s ecosystems are not only essential for terrestrial plants and animals, but also for marine mammals,such as seals and sea lions, which use the island�s numerous beaches and offshore rocks to haul out forimportant activities such as molting and pupping.

Each spring and fall, Conservancy biologists conduct a census of the marine mammals that use the island�svarious beaches and offshore rocks. The census records the number and type of marine mammals in order tomonitor how their populations fluctuate through time. This spring�s count was our fifth and largest censusever. With the help of volunteer Captain Scott Wauben and his boat Dulcinea, we began our clockwisecircumnavigation of the island at around 7 AM.

As we proceeded around the far East End of the island and just west of Binnacle Rock, we came across our firstsighting of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina), a group of 35, including a few young pups, hauled out on the beachand not the least bit interested in our position 200-300 feet offshore. Continuing westward we came acrosseven larger congregations of Harbor Seals hauled out on the beaches between China Point and Ben Weston,with several groups numbering more than 50 individuals. Then at Land�s End, we observed another largeassemblage of sea lions, 35 this time, lounging on some offshore rocks.

The surf had become increasingly choppy as we rounded Land�s End and we were all ready for a change ofpace as the waves began to flatten out and our peaceful journey resumed once more on the Channel side ofthe island. As we traveled past the coves and Isthmus, we continued to record seal and sea lion sightings bothin the water and hauled out on rocks and beaches along the way. However, a wonderful surprise still awaitedus on a beach near Frog Rock. There we observed a female Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris), anew marine mammal for our species list, hauling out of the water. It was approximately 2 PM when we pulledback into Avalon Harbor and our census was concluded.

Overall, 565 pinnipeds were observed that day, 285 seals (two species) and 280 sea lions, making it our largestcount ever. The fact that pinniped numbers were three times greater than those for past spring counts suggestthat prey items, such as squid and anchovy, may have been extremely plentiful in Catalina�s waters at the timeof the census, perhaps attracting seals and sea lions from other areas to the island.

Angela AarhusField Biologist

�� The Facilities Management Department gives a heartfelt thank you to the following volunteers for all oftheir efforts: NCCC Western Region Americorps, Jani Eisenhut, Fred Freeman, David Larsen, Tracy Larsen, Paul McIlroy, Calvin

Parsons, Richard Pelouze, Bruce Seibert, and Chris Messett U.C.L.A.

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The Status of Bison on the Island

Maintaining aherd size of 150 -200 animals, achange in thetime of shippingextra animals, anda request formore study on theinteraction ofbison and non-native annualgrasses wereamong the newbison management guidelines adopted by the Board ofDirectors of the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy at itsApril meeting. After reviewing the results of a two yearstudy documenting the ecological impacts of bison onCatalina�s natural resources, the Board was able tomake an informed decision based on sound scientificfindings. The study was conducted by independentoutside researchers from the University of NorthDakota and the University of California at Davis. Thefinal report was received in January 2003, and theConservancy Board of Directors and staff gave it carefulreview before the management decisions were made.

The report, Population Ecology and Ecological Effectsof Bison on Santa Catalina Island, is available to thepublic at Conservancy offices, the public library, and onthe Internet. A recap of the management strategy is asfollows:

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��Learning More About Orange-crowned WarblersThe Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)breeds widely over western and northern NorthAmerica, and east across Canada. There are fourrecognized subspecies of this warbler. One of them,the sordida subspecies (Vermivora celatassp.sordida), is endemic to the Channel Islands andreaches its highest density on Santa Catalina Island.This subspecies is fairly different from others thatbreed on the continent, however, its life history ispoorly known. While mainland Orange-crownedWarblers are long distance migrants and strictground nesters, the sordidas are year roundresidents on the islands or migrate a very shortdistance to the coast of Southern California and nestin shrubs or trees as well as on the ground.

In March 2003, researchers from the SmithsonianMigratory Bird Center and the University ofCalifornia at Riverside began a long-term study onSanta Catalina Island to better understand the lifehistory and ecology of this warbler. One hundredindividuals including males, females and nestlingswere captured and banded. This banded populationwill allow determination of which proportion of thepopulation stays year round or leaves the islandduring the fall.

Over 90 nests are being monitored. On the island,these warblers start breeding in early March andnest mainly in shrubs (Lemonade Berry, CoyoteBrush, Monkey Flower), although several nests werefound on the ground as well as in trees (Island ScrubOak) at 3 or 4 meters high. A very interestingfinding is that the island sordida warblers aredouble brooders, in contrast with the mainlandOrange-crowned Warblers that have only one brooda year. Orange-crowned Warblers feed by gleaninginsects from plant leaves. During March the warblersforage mainly on oaks and in late April and Maythey also get many insects from the grass and nectarfrom flowers.

We are approaching the end of the breeding seasonfor the sordida Orange-crowned Warblers and thefield is loaded with newborn fledglings. So, hurryup, get your binoculars and try to find them! If youare lucky you will get to see their puffed orangecrown.

Note: If you encounter any banded bird try to getthe color combination on its legs and please let usknow when and where you saw it. You can emailthe researchers at [email protected].

Susana PelucResearcher

U.C. Riverside

� Herd size will be maintained between 150 to 200 animals.

� Bison will continue to be allowed range betweenthe fence at Two Harbors and the fence at theSummit. Health of the animals is important and willbe monitored.

� Further research will be conducted to explore therelationship between bison and non-native annualgrasses on the island, especially as related to thepotential of wildland fire, and the spread of non-native grasses.

� The Conservancy will seek the advice of expertrange mangers to explore management options tofurther reduce the impacts of bison on the island�snatural resources.

� An annual roundup to maintain animal numbers at atarget of 150 will be completed by August. Extraanimals will be shipped to the mainland.

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Spring Break, But Differently

Spring Break! Relax on the beach, take a rest from hecticacademic schedules! Or, for a group of students from theUniversity of Arizona (UofA), spring break is the opportunity totravel to new communities and participate in philanthropicactivities. This group is called Alternative Breaks, and fromMarch 14-22 students traveled to Catalina to volunteer withthe Catalina Island Conservancy.

Alternative Breaks is a non-profit, student run organization atthe UofA in Tucson, Arizona. It is a local chapter of a nationwideprogram based out of Florida State University called, BreakAway. Each year an average of 5 service-oriented trips are takenin surrounding areas to provide members meaningful springbreak projects as an alternative to leisure activities. Trips arefunded by the participants, through fundraising events, grants,support of local businesses, and the University.

This spring break, fourteen participants ranging fromfreshmen to seniors and including majors such as Veterinaryand Wildlife Sciences, Finance, and Engineering, piled into twovans bound for Long Beach, CA. It was raining when wereached Long Beach, approximately 10 hours later. We took aferry to Santa Catalina Island and were greeted by theConservancy�s Coordinator of Volunteers.

During the week we camped at the Laura Stein VolunteerCamp, jokingly coined the �Hilton in the Hills.� We were amazedby the campground facility and at the fact that volunteersconstructed a majority of it. The greater part of our free time inthe evenings was spent huddled around the outdoor kitchenarea preparing dinner, or sitting around the campfire tellingstories and listening to NPR radio for updates on the war withIraq.

Throughout the week we worked with the Conservancy tocomplete landscaping work for the James H. Ackerman NativePlant Nursery. Landscaping included mulching and weeding

the front of the nursery, followed by sporty games of �King ofthe Mulch Hill� played atop a nine-foot pile of eucalyptusmulch. We also worked at Airport in the Sky doing somemaintenance work on the grounds of the Nature Center. Thehighlight of our day was a buffet style lunch of sandwiches andbrownies provided by the Conservancy EducationDepartment.

On our last day, the group ventured into Avalon to explore thetown and take a break from work. Our activities includedkayaking, snorkeling, visiting the Botanical Gardens, shopping,and of course dining at the many restaurants in town. A changefrom the week�s camp foods like hot dogs and peanut butterand jelly sandwiches was much needed and enjoyed!

We started the week at the UofA as a group of newlyacquainted students, coming together to work on a serviceproject. We ended the week as a group of close friends whohad just spent an amazing spring break together on SantaCatalina Island. Our time with the Catalina Island Conservancywill be forever remembered by each of us, and ourorganization hopes to continue a relationship withConservancy into the future.

Jessica Stevens,Alternative Breaks Site Leader

Wanted: Information Leading toInvasive Plant ControlSixty known invasive plant species on Santa Catalina Island arebeing exposed to scrutiny. The Conservancy and CaliforniaState Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo graduatestudent John Knapp are collecting data to develop a prioritizedinvasive plant management plan. Invasive plants in Californiaare defined as species introduced after European contactthrough direct or indirect human activity. Invasive plants arriveand become naturalized 1,000 times faster by human activitiesthan they would under natural conditions; native plants andanimals haven�t the time to deal with the invasion throughevolution. Invasive plants displace vegetation that provideshabitat for wildlife, but their most severe impacts arise whenthey alter ecosystem processes such as fire frequency, soil

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*��&��erosion and chemistry, and water flow in streams. Invasivespecies like Dyer�s greenwold (Genista linifolia), Italian thistle(Carduus pycnocephalus) and tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) areamong others found on Catalina that create these impacts.

Controlling invasive plants without a management plan is liketrying to win a baseball game without any batters; it doesn�twork, you must have a full-lineup strategy. By knowing thecharacteristics and invasiveness of each species, we candetermine how much of a threat each species truly poses tothe health and stability of Catalina�s island ecosystem. Theplan will accomplish this goal through four stages: 1) Mapeach species, 2) Conduct a literature review of biologicalcharacteristics, such as flowering period, seed production andinvasiveness of each species, 3) Model the climatic conditionsof certain species� area of origin to infer potentialinvasiveness, and then 4) Subject all species to ranking forprioritization of control taking into consideration the islandhabitat infested, size and density of each invasive population,ease of control, and level of invasiveness. Thus far volunteershave played an integral part in the mapping aspect, andwithout their knowledge and work, it would be an evengreater challenge to survey the whole island. Scheduledcompletion for the plan is March 2004.

Santa Catalina Island is home to many plants and animals thatare not found or enjoyed anywhere else on earth, and hassome of the best natural habitat left in Southern California. Ifwe work now to protect it from invasive plants, we can keep itthat way.

Mapping the Invasive Plants

On the weekend of March 22 -23, nine volunteers, oneConservancy employee, and one researcher traversed theridges and drainages of Middle Canyon to map invasive plantsfor the Second Invasive Plant Mapping Extravaganza.

Imagine picking up a hitchhiker and taking him in to yourhome with the good intensions of helping someone out. Nowimagine coming home after a long day�s work to only find

him sprawled out on your couch taking up all the space,eating all your food, sleeping in your bed, and inviting hisbuddies over to share in his newfound wealth. That isbasically what invasive plants do. Somehow, directly orindirectly, they have been given a ride through humanactivity into wildland ecosystems, such as Catalina�s, only tooutcompete native species for water, nutrients, space andother valuable resources. Invasive plants can alter ecosystemprocesses while displacing native plant species that providehabitat for wildlife. Giant reed (Arundo donax), whichoriginated from Southeast Asia and is a serious and costlyproblem in much of the South Coast area, can displacestreamside vegetation that provides the necessary structurefor many nesting birds. It also has shallow roots, which canresult in soil erosion and silt accumulation downstream.Fortunately, giant reed was not found in the areas searched.

Currently the Conservancy is mapping roughly sixty speciesof plants that are known to be invasive throughout Californiaand on the island. This information will aid the Conservancy inunderstanding the distribution and infestation of eachspecies. Once the island has been mapped, the data collectedwill be used to rank which invasive plants are of the greatestthreat to the health of the island, and to help guidemanagement action.

New and returning volunteers with expertise on SantaCatalina Island, plant identification and the use of globalpositioning system (GPS) units recorded invasive plantlocation, population size and density, reproductive conditionand habitat infested for each of the weeds found. TheConservancy owns and manages 42,173 acres, and withoutthe efforts of volunteers from the island and mainland,mapping invasive plants would be a daunting challenge.Mainland volunteers camped at the Laura Stein VolunteerCamp, and were joined in the morning by island volunteersand Conservancy staff. After a long day of searching forinvasive plants through poison oak and prickly pear cactus,they indulged in an excellent meal prepared by Mary Story.Her delicious treats eradicated everyone�s invasive appetites,and prepared them for another day of mapping. Over dinnerand the camp fire, volunteers told tales of �the one that gotaway�- referring to invasive plants, and the rare and uniqueisland vegetation that was encountered while mapping.

It took the eleven mappers ten hours to map half of MiddleCanyon, which would have taken one mapper roughly threedays to complete. The Invasive Plant Mapping Extravaganzawould not have been a success if it were not for theknowledge, enthusiasm and sweat of the nine volunteers.Thank you!

John KnappInvasive Plant Researcher

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EDUCATION OFFERINGS

Would you like more information about these and other volunteer

opportunitites with the Catalina Island Conservancy? Call Director of

Volunteer Services Kathy King at (310) 510-2595, ext. 102 or email

[email protected]

Volunteer VacationsVolunteer Vacations are an exciting

change of pace from the usual vacation.Your experience will serve as an excellent

opportunity to learn about the unique ecology of SantaCatalina Island, give back to the environment, and havesome fun at the same time.

July 9, Evening Nature Program8:00 p.m. Join Dr. Peter Sharpe, Institute

for Wildlife Studies, as he discusses thereintroduction of the Bald Eagles.

Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.

Aug. 2, The HIKE8:00 a.m. Check out the huge restoration project going onin Middle Canyon.Reservations must be made by July 26.

Aug. 13, Evening Nature Program8:00 p.m. "Catalina Views" is the year's work from someisland photographers. Come see what developed.Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.

Sept. 6, The HIKE8:00 a.m. Travel to Starlight Beach on the West End. ThisHIKE departs from Two Harbors.Reservations must be made by Aug. 30.

Sept. 10, Evening Nature Program7:00 p.m. "Bats Roost Here." Join Angela Aarhus, FieldBiologist as she introduces us to Catalina's bats.Los Angeles County Interpretive Center.

Oct. 4, The HIKE8:00 a.m. Join us as we walk on a trail of beauty from BlackJack to Middle Ranch.Reservations must be made by Sept. 27.

Nov. 1, The HIKE8:00 a.m. Visit the rarest tree in North America, theendangered Catalina Mahogany.Reservations must be made by Oct. 25.

Want to join in on an education program? Contact the Education

Department (310) 510-0954 or [email protected]

VOLUNTEER HAPPENINGS

Save Our Seeds to Begin New LifeLearn the different types of seeds and how they arepropagated for new life. Give us a call, we will train you on thevarious techniques needed for seed processing. Don't let theSeed Seekers get ahead of us!

Island Field Day with the Ecological Restoration Dept.Come join the Ecological Restoration Department staff fortheir monthly island �ER� Field Day, the first Tuesday of eachmonth. Projects vary month to month and run the gamutfrom fence removal to out planting to weed removal. Call usin advance to find out what�s scheduled for the next excitingfield day.

Visitor Services GreeterJoin our Visitor Services Team and greet visitors at theConservancy House. Volunteers work alongside staff, issuinghiking permits and sharing general information aboutCatalina Island and the Catalina Island Conservancy. OneSaturday a month 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Training will beprovided.

GPS Mapping OpportunityParticipate in a hands-on, field class to learn how to use ourTrimble Explorer GPS units. Then travel around the islandmapping utility poles or non-native tree species in theMiddle Canyon watershed area. Volunteers should enjoyhiking and be able to hike over rigorous terrain. Vehicle andtraining are provided. Let us know your schedule.

Sept 8 - 12 Volunteer Vacation

Sept 22 - 26 Volunteer Vacation

P l e a s e D o n � t O v e r l o o k t h e C o n t r i b u t i o n E n v e l o pEnclosed in this issue of the Conservancy Times is a contribution envelope. Whether or not you are currently a donor to the ConservancYour contributions allow us to do our work. And as we work our way through these summer and upcoming fall months, our planning makes it all possible. A contribution at this time, in the enclosed return envelope, will help us.

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SUMMER NATURALISTPROGRAMSJUNE 28th THROUGH

AUGUST 31ST

Sundays, Avalon Nature Hike9 a.m. Come join us as we take a moderate uphill climb tothe back of Avalon Canyon for spectacular views. WrigleyMemorial and Botanical Garden.

Tuesdays, Avalon Nature Walk10 a.m. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the gardens led byour knowledgeable naturalist guide.Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.

Fridays, Avalon Campfire Program8 p.m. Gather around for stories, legends and facts aboutCatalina�s history at the evening campfire.Hermit Gulch Campground.

Saturdays, Avalon Nature Walk10 a.m. Enjoy a guided leisurely stroll through thebotanical gardens led by our knowledgeable naturalist.Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.

Saturdays, Two Harbors Nature Walk10 a.m. Explore the natural history of Two Harbors as wetake a leisurely stroll at the Isthmus.Meet at the Conservancy Kiosk.

Saturdays, Little Harbor Nature Walk3 p.m. Join us as we take a closer look at one of Catalina�ssensitive ecological areas.Meet at Little Harbor Campground kiosk.

Summer Naturalist Programs are FREE and open to the public

(admission for the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden is $3.00

for adults). Reservations are not required. For more information

call 310-510-2595, ext. 134.

o p e i n T h i s I s s u ervancy, please consider sending a contribution now.ning and our projects increase and your financial contribution

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Volunteers Are Recognized in Style High energy was the mind-set at the Riviera Room on theevening of April 3rd as the 11th annual Volunteer Receptionkicked into full swing. A combination of volunteers, staff, Boardof Directors, Benefactors and their guests totaling 170, filled theroom with laughter, goodwill and heartfelt appreciationfor one another. The Reception brings everyone togetherfor a fun time and also recognizes the achievements andmilestones that many volunteers have accomplished.

The year 2002 was indeed a year to be proud of forvolunteers. A grand total of 21,020 hours was dedicatedto various projects. To list a few:

Eagles Nest Road Const.,Fox Habitat Const./Maint., FenceRemoval, Trail Work, Seed Seekers, Brush Clearance,Reserve-Ranger, Exhibit planning, Field Trip Assistance,Environmental Education, Bison Research, Road Repair,Special Events, Christmas BirdCount, Fence Walkers PlantStudies, VIP Dinners, CampMaintenance, GeneralMaintenance, Boat Captain,Burn Area Surveys, Data Entry,Drivers, Feral Cat Research,Seed Processing, WeedRemoval, Weed Mapping,Land Bird Monitoring, BeachCleanup, Outplanting, PlantPropagation, Hike Leading,and Research.

We were fortunate to work with47 Junior Volunteers who dedicated 1,248 hoursin 2002. Each year the Catalina IslandConservancy awards the Junior Volunteer withthe most volunteer hours with a $50.00 savingsbond. This year�s proud recipient was RobertMorison with a grand total of 54.5 hours. Robert,who is 12, has consistently volunteered since1996.

Milestones were many for 2002. Milestoneawards for total accumulated hours arerecognized at 100, 500, 1,000, and 2,000increments. Receiving their one hundred hourruby lapel pins were Randy Boelsoms, EricaBrowne, Joel and Lynn Burt, John Celick, Michael Clifford, WilliamCorey, Joseph and Rita Dlugokecki, Annerose and Hans

Grellmann, Richard Hague, Liz Johnson, Erick Katzmaier, PatKlingensmith, Frank Minuto, Calvin Parsons, and Rudy Piltch. Fivehundred hour emerald lapel pins were awarded to Cliff Hague,Ryan Montgomery and Roy Rose. One thousand hour diamondlapel pins went to Dean Hill and Ryan Montgomery. Andreceiving the 2,000-hour recognition award were Paul McIlroy

and Steve Story. New for thisyear, the 2,000-hour award isthe �Wall of Honor.�Exhibited at Visitor Servicesin the Conservancy House,this handsome oak wallproudly displays the namesof volunteers who havereached this colossalmilestone.

Additional awards werereceived by a group of 14volunteers who dedicated a

combined total of 4,543 hours of volunteer service.Ranging from 200 hours to 828 hours each,these volunteersspent meaningful and rewarding time participating in many,many different jobs.Congratulations to Ryan Montgomery,Steve Story,Paul McIlroy,Mary Story,Dean Hill,MichaelClifford,Patricia Moore,Cliff Hague,Dennis McDonald,Whitey Mendenhall,Joel Burt,Lynn Burt,Shawn Cyr andJudy Hibbs.

A special thank you was awarded to Ryan Montgomerynaming him the Volunteer of the Year.He consistentlydedicated three days a week at the James Ackerman NativePlant Nursery for the entire 2002 year.To top that,he is

currently volunteering five days a week at the nursery!

In addition to the awards there wassincere thanks for the people whomade the Volunteer Reception thememorable evening that it was;Joanna Arnold, Catalina Marineros,Geoff and Alison Rusack and RusackVineyards, Mary Stein, DavidMarkowitz, Audrey and Chris Clasen,Margarette Wagner, Adam King,Peter Schuyler, Michael Herrera,Linda Altherr, and Nick Riera.

Kathleen KingDirector of Volunteer Services

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Above and BeyondThe Volunteer Department recognizes the following volunteers for participating in our special events to our sitemanagers who keep Bosky Dell, Summit Vista Garden and Haypress, beautiful. A big thank you to; NCCC WesternRegion Americorps, Anne Johnson Casa Colina, Dave Gardner, Odie Hernandez,Rickie Hernandez, Robert Husted, Jupiter Jones, Adam King, SEALab LA Conservation Corp, Paul McIlroy, National Sierra Club, Richard Pelouze, Bruce Seibert, Paul Carlton Sierra Sage Club, Esmeralda Soto, MaryStory, Steve Story, Chris Messett U.C.L.A., Cambel Berk University of Arizona, and Margarette Wagner.

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Welcome New Volunteers! Individuals�make the decision to become involved�If, they don�t, they miss their most important chance to feel innerpower and to become whole human beings.

~John D. Rockefeller

Leah Jane Adams, Jacqueline Aldern. Jared Aldern, Mary Aldern, David Andrade, Heather Andrade, Carl Bell, Jill Boivin, Julie Bovay, AliceCastro, Devyn Christiann, Deborah Clayton, Clark Cowan, Christine Crow, Kristyne Dahnert, Nicolette David, Phillip Davis, Donna Denning,Barbara Diamond, John Diamond, Diamond Girl Scouts, Robbie Dixon, Geoff Doner, Danielle Drabeck, Elizabeth Drake, Sabrina Drill,Barbara Ehrick, Steve Ehrick, Barbara Erin, Sue Etherington, Christa Foster, Lee Freeman, Mary Lou Freeman, Pat Freeman, EdwardGreenberg, Jane Greenberg, Patric Greene, Nancy Hansen, Khris Hughes, Vincent Hughes, Jennifer Irvine, Barbara Jones, Jupiter Jones,Blair Kerr, Adam King, Alyson King, Dorothy Knox, John Knox, Katherine Lamb, Randy Lewis, Raylene Lewis, Tony Licari, Michael Lieb,Brooke Long, Annie MacAulay, Jennifer McMahon, Robert Meistrell, Milo Mendenhall, Chris Messett, David Moreno, Stella Moreno, LaurenNickerson, Veronica Nunez, Chris Peterson, Darcy Peterson, Wendy Peterson, Roger Polanco, Katherine Porterfield, Tom Privett, RichardRaker, Michelle Richman, Bill Ross, Agueda Sancho, Kevin Schmidt, David Scott, Judie Scott, Doug Shelton, Ronnie Silos, Kimberly Starbuck,Loretta Steffen, Eric Story, Matthew Sutton, Kate Symonds, Francisco Tablas, Bryan Thompson, Chris Messett U.C.L.A., Carlos Valencia,Marijke Valencia, Christmas Wakefield, Frank Wakefield, Alice Weatherford, Peterson Wendy, Lori Whalen, Dayna Whitlock, KelseyWhitlock, Matt Williams, Michael Wozniak, Alison Wrigley-Rusack.

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You�re a Lifesaver Catalina Island Conservancy Ball, Earth Day, Underwater Cleanup, Video, Trade Shows, and Golf Tournaments are just a few projectsthat volunteers help the Development and Membership Department achieve. Our deepest gratitude to the following volunteers: RandyBoelsoms, Jill Boivin, Randy Brannock, John Celick, Emily Cleveland, Linda Jo Cleveland, Estelle Conover, Caitlin Dawes, Donna Denning, Phil Dockery, Brian Frankish, PatFreeman, Glenn Hibbs, Judy Hibbs, Dean Hill, Laurie Hill, Kathleen Hill-Zeller, Gary Holmes, Robert Husted, Liz Johnson, Barbara Jones, Jupiter Jones, Dick Kellogg, NancyKellogg, Tina Kennedy, Alyson King, Kathleen King, Jackie Kruse, Jeremy Leonard, Randy Lewis, Raylene Lewis, Lynnette Licari, Tony Licari, Isabella Luv, Maria Marks, RuthMartinez, Mary McKernan, Jim Meier, Peggy Meier, Robert Meistrell, Robert Morison, Linda Salo, Ron Salo, Doug Shelton, Jeanie Shelton, Jim Steffen, Loretta Steffen, MaryStory and Steve Story.

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Surprises from the SeaConservancy Divers� Thermograph ProjectResults from the Catalina Conservancy Divers� Thermograph project are now becomingavailable and show many surprising features. For over ten years, the divers have maintainedan array of underwater thermographs, the devices that record temperature at various

locations and depths around the island. Ongoing studies include the analysis of seasonal and long-termtemperature trend variations, how temperature changes with depth, short-term fluctuations and the differences intemperature between various locations about Santa Catalina.

The thermograph project is executedentirely by volunteers. Thermographs arepurchased by the CCD and housed instructures built by CCD members. Divers,often taken to the instrument locations byMarineros, periodically download data fromthe sensors and replace them when needed.The retrieved data are organized and storedon CD-ROM and distributed to volunteerstrained in data analysis.

Unexpected results found so far include theso-called �March effect,� a mysterious,sudden, temporary, warming of wateroccurring at all depths around the island.Another surprise is that the seasonaltemperature variations change with depth;the average maximum temperature at 15 ftoccurs at the end of August, but at 100 ftthe maximum average occurs at thebeginning of October.

One of the biggest surprises was discoveringlarge, rapid temperature variations found at deeper depths. Shorter-term variations, those that occur daily or evenas frequently as every 5 hours, are produced by the flow of water masses of differing temperature and are relatedin a complicated manner to the tides. One of the tough problems is to unravel the temperature data to determinethese flow patterns. Such rapid variations as seen in the CCD data are rarely found in other thermograph arraysoutside the island.

Scientists suspect that rapid variations in temperature, such as those measured by the CCD thermographs, play asignificant part in near-shore marine biology. In the past, researchers have used temperature studies on the islandto compute the availability of nutrients for giant kelp growth and the dispersal of larvae such as those of kelp bass.The latest data will help us to characterize and better understand the marine environment of Santa Catalina Island.

Craig GelpiCatalina Conservancy Divers

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Bravo, Good Job!! From meetings to patrol, the Ranger Department congratulates the Reserve-Rangers on a job well done: BoydCargill, Joseph Dlugokecki, Cliff Hague, Richard Hague, Dean Hill and Scott Patterson.

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Give a Little or Give a YachtThe Conservancy recently announced the Boat and Yacht Donation Program. This program presents analternative to a boat or yacht owner who is going through the agony of selling his craft. And it is also anopportunity for those boat or yacht owners who have decided to move on to other adventures to do somethingto help ensure the continued success of our work protecting and preserving Santa Catalina Island. The CatalinaIsland Conservancy offers a perfect remedy for these situations. In lieu of trying to find a quick buyer for thevessel, the owner can offer it to our charitable organization on a tax-deductible basis.

The Conservancy has teamed up with the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), to accept donations ofthese types. SCMI is a non-profit organization built on the combined ocean studies of several southern Californiacolleges. Their goal of marine research and education fits in nicely with the goals of the Conservancy. If you areinterested, contact the Conservancy�s Director of Development, Chuck Wright at (310) 306 3577 and he will putyou in touch with our boat donation expert, Holly Scott, who can help in determining whether the donation ofyour boat or yacht would be mutually beneficial to you and to the Conservancy.

Donors come from all across the spectrum of society and they give for many reasons. We welcome your inquiry.

8th Annual Conservancy Ball a Sellout!This year�s Conservancy Ball in the Casino Ballroom was a great success with over 600 guests attending. They enjoyeda hosted cocktail hour, gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions, dancing, and of course, a stroll around the Casino� sbalcony overlooking the beautiful Avalon Harbor. The 2003 Ball was sponsored by Newport Harbor Yacht Club andraised almost $300,000 in proceeds to the Conservancy for its work in restoring and protecting the island.

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New Vegetation Map Aids ConservationQuestion: if you were responsible for wildlife habitat, plant life recovery, fire risk, and rare plants, what would you need? Answer: avegetation map! Just such a thing was finished for the entire island early this year. This new map identifies 17 different plantcommunities, including island chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, and southern riparian (streamside) woodland. The map wasdone at an uncommonly fine scale, so plant communities are mapped to about 66 by 66 feet. This makes it more useful for analyzinghabitat, tracking plant community changes, and guiding restoration.

Because Catalina�s plant communities are often mixed, there were two versions of the vegetation map produced: one which showscombinations, such as when oaks are scattered through a grassland, and one which represents only the dominant community. Thenext step in the process will be to sample and describe each of these mixes throughout the island, identifying alliances. Plantalliances are poorly described for the Channel Islands, and understanding their composition and distribution is the first step indetermining what is rare, what is changing, and how best to protect the diversity of our island home.

The volunteer opportunities in the Ecological Restoration Department are countless and the valuable time that volunteers dedicateseems endless. Sincere thanks to the following; Leonard Abrescia, Leah Jane Adams, Jacqueline Aldern, Jared Aldern, Mary Aldern, Lenny Altherr, NCCCWestern Region Americorps, Art Barker, Carl Bell, Anne Johnson Casa Colina, Peter Chaibongsai, Diane Conover, Estelle Conover, Donald Cook, William Corey, ClarkCowan, Nicolette David, Phillip Davis, Caitlin Dawes, Diamond Girl Scouts, Sabrina Drill, Jani Eisenhut, Dave Farley, Howard Fineman, Ben Fortson, Jonathan Fox, FredFreeman, Lee Freeman, Pat Freeman, Edward Greenberg, Jane Greenberg, Jani Hall, John Hayden, Michael Herrera, Glenn Hibbs, Judy Hibbs, Dean Hill, RobertHusted, Jennifer Irvine, Jeff Jensen, B.Z. Jones, Barbara Jones, Jupiter Jones, Thaddeus Jones, Erik Katzmaier, Jim Kehr, R. Blair Kerr, Kathleen King, Pat Klingensmith,Dorothy Knox, John Knox, SEA Lab LA Conservation Corp, David Larsen, Tracy Larsen, Chuck Lavington, Doyle Lindsey, Leonard Lopez, Annie MacAulay, DennisMcDonald, Mary McKernan, Milo Mendenhall, Whitey Mendenhall, Frank Minuto, Ryan Montgomery, Patricia Moore, Charles Morse, National Sierra Club, VeronicaNunez, Chris Peterson, Katherine Porterfield, John Reese, Linda Salo, Ron Salo, Agueda Sancho, Dylan Schuyler, Jaime Schuyler, Peter Schuyler, David Scott, JudieScott, Jeanie Shelton, Paul Carlton Sierra Sage Club, Hugh T. Smith, Kimberly Starbuck, Eric Story, Steve Story, Lisa Stratton, Matthew Sutton, Kate Symonds, FranciscoTablas, Cambel Berk University of Arizona, Margarette Wagner, Matt Ward, Scott Wauben, Dayna Whitlock, Kelsey Whitlock, Matt Williams, and Leilani Williamsen.

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It�s Poison Oak Season! The bare sticks and twigs that remain dormant all winter are now producinga canopy of shiny leaves. Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) can displayitself as a bush, a vine twining up the trunk of an oak, a twisted root andsometimes even take on a tree form. The lobed leaves come in many shades,ranging from light green to pumpkin orange to brick red. The leaves arearranged in three leaflets, thereby leading to the saying of �Leaves of three,let it be!�

Poison oak is widespread throughout mountains and valleys of California,generally growing below 5,000 feet in elevation. It commonly grows as aclimbing vine with roots that adhere to trunks of trees in shady canyons, butcan also be found in streamside habitats. On Catalina it can be found in suchplaces, as well as in chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities.

A rash from run-ins with poison oak is caused by a chemical called Urushiol, which is present in theleaves, branches and roots. When any of these plant parts are touched the oil is absorbed into the skinand the rash that forms is our body�s defense against this foreign substance. While most people tend tohave a negative view of this plant because of this allergic reaction, poison oak plays an important roleon the island by the habitat it provides and the diversity it contributes to our island ecosystem. If youcan get past the negative association with poison oak, you will begin to see how striking this plantreally is. This summer, watch for poison oak to avoid getting a rash, but also to appreciate its beauty andchemical uniqueness.

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Young Naturalists on Catalina

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Island Scholars, a group of 4th, 5th and 6th graders fromAvalon School, studied recycling as their project for thisschool year. These are a sampling of their thoughts.

Posion Oak

Making the Difference With the assistance of Volunteers, the Catalina Island Conservancy is able to provide a wide curriculum of courses andclasses specifically designed for students. The Education Department appreciates the following volunteers fordedicating their valuable time: NCCC Western Region Americorps, Lynn Burt, Jeff Chapman, Judith Clark, Rita Dlugokecki, Dean Hill, LaurieHill, Dick Kellogg, Nancy Kellogg, Denise Knapp, Whitey Mendenhall, Richard Pelouze, Lisa Stratton, and Cambel Berk University of Arizona.

Recycling Poems:

We could reduce paper to make trees safer.All the trash is really dirty we could quickly reduce tomake it tiny.Taking recycling seriously coulddefinitely clean the dump. But if you slowly recyclethe dump will grow big.

Use blue bags to recycle paper, cans and glass.Neatly sort and recycle to keep clean.We cleanup simplify pickup clean.

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This collection of writings was gathered from a notebook at Lone Tree trail, a popular hiking destination for Avalonresidents and visitors. After a somewhat strenuous trek, hikers share their experiences, views, and ideas in thisnotebook, lending to a creative collection of writings. The hike to the overlook is approximately 7 miles round trip,and affords spectacular views of the island�s backside, the Palisades, and San Clemente Island. Hiking permits to LoneTree are issued at the Conservancy House. Be sure to leave a sample of your own writing in the notebook once you�vemade it to the top!

�Well, we made it! It was a toughdecision to make once you see the upsand downs out here to the tree. Thecliffs, the rocks, the water aremagnificent. The serenity and quiethere are rejuvenating.What a beautifulocean! This island hasoffered us a greatrenewal and energy. Iam glad we came outhere- if you are goingto do something do itall the way!�

Rebecca and MitchLangeuerChicago, IL

�It couldn�t be morebeautiful. Cirrus cloudssweeping across the azureblue sky as the sun darts inand out of them. Light breeze that tickles yourbare skin. Infinite colors of blue and green fromthe shoreline to the sea. Vast expanse of theworld as it is supposed to be. One of manyparadises I am fortunate to have enjoyed.�

MelindaDavis, CA

�Twenty four years ofliving and hiking on thisisland and there�s alwayssomething new to see!The beauty of knowing

the island has made most workdays a pleasure. How can you notbe�as some say�a happy camperwhen this is your back yard? I dailythank the powers that be forguiding me to this island. I must beblessed.�

Anonymous

�Laying on my back I watch the ravensabove. It is a cool and windy day�lastnight it rained and all seems fresh. Here, Ican quiet my mind and perceive reality,

unbiased, unfiltered.Thank you �Pimu,raven and sea.�

Jeff ChapmanLos Angeles, CA

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