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Monday, May 2, 2011 – Daily News – 3B Get outside in May — Land Trust Appreciation Month Nine regional land trusts unite to celebrate Sacramento Valley Land Trust Appreciation Month May Day (May 1) is the tra- ditional day across the North- ern Hemisphere to mark the end of winter. It’s also the day to kick off Sacramento Valley Land Trust Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate land and water in the northern end of California’s Central Valley, the wide fertile basin above the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta. Nine regional land trusts are working to protect the best of this land, and together they have protected almost 100,000 acres of farms and natural areas to date. Shake off the rain, brush off those winter doldrums, and get outside during the month of May with your kids, grandkids or young friends. According to First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside campaign, regular exercise in nature improves children’s health and is a fun way for all family members to maintain weight, boost immunity, and lowers stress. So let’s move outside! From the bay to the moun- tains, the richness of wildflow- ers, oak woodlands, rolling emerald hills, grasslands, ver- nal pools, and sparkling rivers await you—and all are within fifty miles of Sacramento. Enjoy this year’s abundant, life-giving rain by participating in a special event, taking to the trails, or volunteering on land that was protected by these nine land trusts. Walk the new South Fork American River Trail; discover the special invertebrates and wildflowers of a vernal pool; tour a “treasured landscape” at Big Hill Preserve; compete in a “pedal to the mental” bike ride puzzler along the Sacramento River; or discover Deer Creek Reentry students invited to apply for reentry scholarships in Chico California State University, Chico’s Regional and Continuing Education invites reentry stu- dents to apply for $50,000 in scholarships from the Bernard Osher Foundation. Scholarships are awarded to reentry students whose studies were interrupted for at least five years by circumstances beyond their control, and who now want to resume their studies at CSU, Chico. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Osher Foundation has supported this scholarship program at CSU, Chico. For the 2010-2011 aca- demic year, 17 students were awarded the Bernard Osher Foundation Reentry Scholarships. In the last four years, CSU, Chico Continuing Education has administered and distributed $200,000 in Bernard Osher Foundation Reentry Scholarships to 44 Chico State students. In July 2010, the Bernard Osher Foundation awarded CSU, Chico Continuing Education a $1 million scholarship endowment to support reentry stu- dents. “There are many adults who want to finish their undergraduate degrees but don’t have the financial support to assist them. The Osher Reen- try Scholarship provides this support. It has been very rewarding to see our early recipients become successful students again and accom- plish their goal of degree completion,” said Debra Barger, dean of CSU, Chico Regional and Continuing Education. The Bernard Osher Foundation, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected businessman and community leader. The foundation seeks to improve quality of life through the support of post-secondary scholarships, lifelong learning institutes and integrative medicine programs. There are currently 77 universities and colleges in 36 states and the District of Columbia that receive scholarship funding from the Osher Reentry Scholarship Program. Scholarship details and an online application are available at http://rce.csuchico.edu/osher- scholarships. The deadline for scholarship appli- cations is Monday, May 16, 2011, 5 p.m. For more information please call the CSU, Chico Regional and Continuing Education office, 530-898-6105. Falls. Nothing is out of reach. From south to north, and east to west, these regional land trusts offer day trips to discover the best of California’s gold. There are many ways to define trust, but the definition that unites these nine land trusts—Solano Land Trust, Yolo Land Trust, Sacramento Valley Conservancy, American River Conservancy, Mother Lode Land Trust, Placer Land Trust, Middle Mountain Foun- dation/Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, Shasta Land Trust, and the Northern California Regional Land Trust—is that they work with willing landowners to protect agricul- tural and open space land in trust for the benefit of all Cali- fornians. They also have geog- raphy, climate, and agriculture in common, but more important is the common ground of their mission statements: Each shares the goal of maintaining quality of life for today’s chil- dren and future generations. They work together to protect our land and water and special places that we treasure; and during the month of May they are celebrating! Join in! There’s a lot going on. Get outside with family and friends to your special place— or discover a new one during Sacramento Valley Land Trust Appreciation Month. To learn about outings, or how to donate time or money, visit the web- sites listed below: • American River Conser- vancy - www.arconservancy.org • Middle Mountain Founda- tion/Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust - www.middlemountain.org • Mother Lode Land Trust - www.motherlodelandtrust.org • Northern California Regional Land Trust - www.landconservation.org • Placer Land Trust – www.placerlandtrust.org • Sacramento Valley Conser- vancy - www.sacramentovalleycon- servancy.org • Shasta Land Trust – www.shastalandtrust.org • Solano Land Trust – www.solanolandtrust.org •Yolo Land Trust – www.yololandtrust.org The Northern California Regional Land Trust has assist- ed northern California landowners and public agen- cies protect their land and nat- ural resources, while also help- ing them gain the economic benefits of conservation, since 1990. The organization carries out its mission by negotiating con- servation easements and facili- tating voluntary land exchanges and land acquisi- tions with willing sellers and buyers. For more information call 894-7738 or visit www.land- conservation.org. Snowmelt prompts water safety warning Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and California State Parks warn out- door recreationists to take precautions this spring season. This year’s abun- dant snowfall and spring snowmelt will result in swift and cold river flows that can create treacherous con- ditions for all recreationists – waders, swimmers, paddlers, boaters, anglers and even hikers cooling off at the water’s edge. The utility and state departments cautioned that the water content of California’s mountain snowpack was at 163 percent of normal as of April 1 – the highest amount since 1995. As warmer weather and longer days begin melting snow in mountainous regions, water temperatures will con- tinue to drop and flows will continue to rise in waterways and reservoirs. Reservoir operators have begun increasing water releases in anticipa- tion of filling later in the spring. Most PG&E reservoirs are expected to fill and water to flow over dam spillways in the May through July period. “Those planning outings near mountain streams, rivers and reser- voirs need to be extra vigilant and take appropriate safety measures,” said Alvin Thoma, director of PG&E’s power generation depart- ment. “Water flows will fluctuate with the warming and cooling of the day so always be prepared for a change in conditions.” “Even experienced swimmers can get caught in swift river flows,” said DBW’s Acting Director Lucia C. Becerra. “Stay safe by checking local conditions before taking a boating trip, wear a life jacket and avoid alco- hol.” “Spring is a wonderful time to visit our beautiful lakes and fast mov- ing rivers,” said Ruth Coleman, direc- tor of California State Parks. “But please read the safety tips in this water safety warning because making a mistake could kill you or a loved one.” Here are some safety tips: Know the Water Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the “gasp reflex” caus- ing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis, hypother- mia and drowning. When faced with swift water, even the strongest swim- mers may be easily overwhelmed. Cold water entering the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This may confuse swimmers, causing them to venture deeper into the water. Know your limits Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool – people tire more quickly and can get into trouble. Cold water causes impairment leading to fatalities. It reduces body heat 25-30 times faster than air does at the same temperature. Many unseen obstacles can be lurking below the water’s surface. Swift water can make these obstacles even more treacherous. Wear a life jacket Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming. Wearing a life jacket can increase survival time. A life jacket can provide some thermal protection against the onset of hypothermia and keep you afloat until someone else can rescue you. Parental Supervision Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. Appoint a designated “water watch- er,” taking turns with other adults. Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swim- ming in a pool: they need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weath- er. Know the Law A 2010 boating law states that children under age 13 must wear a life jacket when on a moving vessel that is 26 feet or less in length. Every person on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as “jet skis”) and any person being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. It is against the law to operate a boat or water ski with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. You can be arrested even when your BAC is less than 0.08 per- cent if conditions are deemed to be unsafe. Support our classrooms, keep kids reading. DONATE YOUR VACATION newspaper dollars to the Newspaper In Education Program HELP OUR CHILDREN For more details call Circulation Department (530) 527-2151 D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 PHONE: (530) 527-2151 FAX: (530) 527-5774 545 Diamond Avenue • P.O. Box 220 • Red Bluff, CA 96080