Fires caused by lightning strikes on Catalina burned approximately 1100 acres from Saturday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 26. During the fires, nearly 350 firefighters and a number of Conservancy staff joined the L.A. County Fire Department, Avalon City Fire Department, L.A. County Sheriff's Department and other local emergency responders on Catalina. As many as 11 U.S. Navy hovercraft delivered firefighters and equipment at Whites Landing to get a jump on the blaze. Affected was the Empire Landing area just west of the Airport, and a much smaller area in upper Bulrush Canyon on the East End – mostly involving a mixture of Island chaparral, coastal sage scrub and grassland habitats. “Lightning-ignited fires are natural and part of the evolutionary history of many habitats,” explains Carlos de la Rosa, the Conservancy's Chief of Conservation and Education. Conservation staff are researching the fire history of the Island, and de la Rosa notes that “this fire will contribute to our overall understanding of the function of fire in the life of the Island’s ecosystems.” A June 16th fire at the junction of Middle Ranch and Airport Roads, potentially human-caused, burned 4-5 acres and is still under investigation. Photo by Carlos de la Rosa: Lightning strikes Catalina

In the past twelve months, five Catalina Island foxes were lost to motor vehicle collisions. Said Carlos de la Rosa, “This is probably an underestimate, since we normally recover only foxes with radio collars that emit the mortality signal, or foxes that get hit on the road and die there. Some crawl away and die undiscovered.” Conservation, Education and Facilities staff are teaming up to locate a speed feedback unit on some of the highest-risk roads on the Island. This radar device, like those seen on highways in neighborhoods across the United States, will alert drivers to how fast they’re going to help them control their speed voluntarily. The unit will be rotated to various locations along Airport Road, Middle Canyon Road, and Two Harbors Road. New caution signs are also being installed. Photo: Familiar caution signs (like the one pictured) will soon be joined by new signs and a mobile radar unit.

The Rose Ellen Gardner Interns (REGI) for 2006 have spent the summer getting to know the work of the Conservancy. They’ve helped set and check fox traps and learned more about fox recovery with Conservation Staff Julie King, Calvin Duncan and Robyn Powers. They’ve taken a hike with Catalina Island historical figure Dr. Charles Frederick Holder (a.k.a. Volunteer Department's Matthew Sutton). They’ve had a field day with Chief of Conservation and Education Carlos de la Rosa collecting aquatic insects; a week of mapping vegetation with new Conservation Plant Ecologist Lauren Danner; and a trip to the Long Beach offices for hands-on lessons in communications and development practice with Conservancy staffers Bob Rhein, Chuck Wright, Jackie McDougall and Leslie Baer. Says REGI Program Coordinator Rich Zanelli, “We consider it a good sign that the Internship has a strong value for the participants, in that all three interns have indicated an interest in participating in the program next summer.” Photo: REGIs and Rich Zanelli (right) with volunteer pilot Mike Sheehan (left) readying to take to the air to track radio- collared foxes

During the first seven months of 2006, six generous foundations awarded grants to the Conservancy. The Offield Family Foundation contributed to support Catalina fox monitoring, the Quail Valley wildlife clinic, and upgrading of our Geographic Information System (GIS) capability. The Seaver Institute committed funds to complete the Oak Woodland Study, now in its third year, and to publish the much-anticipated “Catalina Island Flora.” The Orange County-based Marisla Foundation (previously the Homeland Foundation) funded Windward Beach restoration, including dune protection at Ben Weston. Two of their directors hiked down to the beach with Conservancy executive staff in June to see what was planned first hand. The Harold McAlister Foundation and Steinmetz Foundation are funding environmental and archaeological reports required for the construction of the new access road to Ben Weston Beach. In the pipeline are additional grant requests for other important programs and projects such as restoration planning for Eagles Nest Lodge. Contributions from foundations, members and donors like you make the Conservancy's important work possible, and, EVERY donation counts. Photo: Oak woodlands

Recently, Conservancy Visitor Services Representative Judy Seals greeted two guests drawn into Conservancy House by the new “Explore Store” sign out front. She answered questions and fielded a spirited discussion of the Conservancy's Mission. When the guests learned that 100% of the profits from the gift store supported conservation and education programs, they purchased hats for their group—all 22 of them, a sale valued at more than four hundred dollars. Excellent service sparked another group to invite a staff member to join them for wine and cheese after work. After hearing about all the exciting volunteer opportunities, they decided to assist at the James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery the next morning. The experience was so meaningful to them that they called it the highlight of their week-long Catalina trip. This evolving ethos of extraordinary customer service is creating the kinds of experiences that engender future supporters and volunteers (like you!). As a note, 2005 welcomed nearly 1000 volunteers who donated nearly 25,000 hours of service. If you were one of those, thank you. If you'd like to be, contact our Visitor and Volunteer Services Staff at 310.510.2595.