Tolowa Dunes Stewards

The mission of the Stewards is to enhance, restore, and conserve the natural and cultural resources found in the coastal wildlands, wetlands, and tidelands of Tolowa Dunes State Park, the Lake Earl Wildlife Area, and Point Saint George Heritage Area. These public lands are found in Del Norte County, California’s undiscovered northwesternmost corner. The Tolowa Dunes Stewards is a project of the Smith River Alliance and is a collaboration of nature enthusiasts, scientists, graduate students, and other citizen volunteers.

Tolowa Dunes State Park - Lake Earl Wildlife Area - Point St. George Heritage Area

These contiguous public lands encompass nearly 11,000 acres of unique coastal habitat and include:

• 5,500-acre estuarine lagoon
• 5,500 acres of coastal dunes, bluffs, and tidelands
• 11 miles of open and undeveloped shoreline
• 300 bird species
• 500 plant species
• 400 mushroom species
• 50 mammal species
• 21 fish species

Tolowa Dunes Stewards conduct diverse programs and projects that nurture stewardship by:

• Supporting conservation and restoration of natural habitats
• Protecting Tolowa Indian cultural resources and sacred sites
• Building appreciation through education and interpretation
• Encouraging public participation through volunteer opportunities
• Influencing management and planning through scientific data collection

Tolowa Dunes Stewards' projects include:

• Weekly summer educational and interpretive field seminars
• Dune restoration through removal of invasive European beach grass
• Cultural archeological monitoring
• Beach use monitoring
• Lagoon watch
• Rare plant surveys
• Trails map and guide development

The Tolowa Dunes Stewards is supported and funded by donors and conservation grants including the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail License Plate Grant Program, California State Coastal Conservancy, National Park Service’s Rivers Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, California Wildlands Grassroots Fund, Sperling Foundation, Fledgling Fund, and the Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund.

To find out how to become a volunteer or to learn about upcoming projects contact Sandra Jerabek by phone: (707) 954-5253, or email: newsfromlakeearl at jeffnet.org.