Please join Mattole Restoration Council board and staff members for our annual meeting on Saturday, January 12^th at the Mattole Camp and Retreat Center, 36841 Mattole Rd. Come learn about the MRC’s work over the past year and bring your ideas, questions, or concerns regarding our current and future priorities and projects. All are welcome to attend (you don’t need to be a current MRC member. If you have any questions about the event, please contact us at nathan@mattole.org or the MRC office at 707-629-3514

3:30 pm – Project updates from MRC staff – what did the MRC do in 2018?

4:15 pm – Membership meeting – we invite you to discuss ideas, questions, or concerns regarding our current and future priorities and projects

5:15 pm – Board of Directors nominations and candidate statements

5:30 pm – potluck dinner– please bring a dish to share

Remembering Freeman and When Restoration was Radical

By Ali Freedlund, Mattole Restoration Council

Seldom do we meet those remarkable souls who so alter the foundations of our perspective that we dare refer to them as Teacher. Freeman House was certainly one of those souls. He was the Doyen of Mattole restoration thought and therefore action. He realigned, in an elegant, delectable way, the lens we use to view the place we live. And it stuck. And it was far-reaching.

Freeman emphasized the need to engage all peoples in their places to reweave what had become a tattered tapestry of the land. Through his writings, speech, and humble presence, Freeman carefully constructed a manner of living in relationship with forest, river, and meadow. He not only studied the earlier traditions of local tribal peoples, but he launched a new and familiar way of honoring and implementing the work that the earth tells us needs to be done. He crafted homages to the ‘work’ as a model for generations. A longtime friend and restorationist, Bob Anderson, when asked what Freeman’s influence was, immediately replied, “Freeman’s gift was his ability to mainstream radical ideas.” Interesting that it was radical to muddle with spawning fish to increase their numbers or to negotiate the protection of an old-growth forest, or to out-slope rural ranch roads to decrease sediment, or to bring together disparate groups in a watershed alliance, or to cobble together conservation parcels in the middle of the watershed that would create a wildlife corridor from Humboldt Redwoods State Park to the King Range National Conservation Area. But in looking back, each one of these successes had been novel, and yes, radical for its time. Yes, Freeman knew that for true recovery to be sustained, it would take enlisting the people living in their watersheds to do the work, to take it on with gusto, and to align with the currents inherent in dynamic processes.

Freeman was an original founder of the Mattole Restoration Council (MRC) in 1983 in order to bring all the groups that were working in isolation in one watershed together to discuss projects, priorities, and philosophies. Originally a 13-member council of groups, in 1998, under his direction, the MRC metamorphosed into an organization that implemented a myriad of projects – much as it continues to this day. Any attempt to encapsulate the legacy he left our community, or to other restorationists, would never be deep enough, hallowed enough, or complex enough, all traits which he embodied completely. So I turned to his friends.

One of the original members of the Council and the founder of Sanctuary Forest,Inc., Rondal Snodgrass sent this offering: “Along the Mattole there were Up River People and Down River People. The salmon migration connected these two elements of river culture. Freeman spoke of us as “reinhabitors,” showing us that we were planted here for higher purposes. He demonstrated and taught us with elegance the deeper ecology of our new culture’s purpose. I have been an Up River Person emblazoned by headwaters, the old growth forests and watered spawning-ground streams. Freeman has been a Down River Person, emblazoned with estuary, forest, prairie, and river mouth. Together with many, many others, we joined heart, mind and spirit to weave these elements together. Yes, we continue. This present time calls us to praise Freeman, an emblazoned elder for us all.”

And from Jerry Martien, close friend and North Coast poet: “Freeman House’s theory and practice was essentially this: restoration and recovery can’t be done from the outside. Both for the watershed and the person, it has to come from within. Freeman always seemed to be speaking—and writing—and acting from the heart. He also listened from the heart, and was constantly conducting and sharing his own scientific and cultural education. To be formulated, spoken about, and practiced, he would insist, in the vernacular—in terms that express a local culture. He was a dedicated naturalist and a full-on advocate for salmon’s place at the center of that culture, in the Mattole and throughout the Northwest. He was also a Digger, and saw that theater and music, dance and poetry could express those priorities—again, from the heart—and so nourish person, community, and place. He gave himself to that task. In his essay “Afterlife” he provided his own memorial: The Earth will claim me as its own. Which I am.

David Simpson, a co-founder of the Mattole Salmon Group, writes:

“In the fall of 1981, over 40 residents of various parts of the Mattole, having been trained in the then-esoteric craft of salmon species and redd identification, pulled on waders and spread out over the valley. It was the beginning of what was no doubt the first systematic survey of the spawners of an entire watershed to be conducted exclusively by residents of that watershed.

It’s hard to recollect today that, back in 1981, these were far-out ideas and audacious acts. Even referring to the Mattole as a ‘watershed’ was new and mildly wonkish, but turning over the abstruse work of gathering accurate biological data that could help a wild species survive to a bunch of backwoods yokels like us? That was outright radical.

Freeman House, co-founder of the Mattole Salmon Group and the Mattole Restoration Council, was not exactly a raving radical. He had indeed participated quite willingly in cultural events in the 60s and early 70s that sorely challenged existing paradigms. By the time he joined us here in the Mattole, though, to help build the watershed restoration idea into one of the central social movements of our times, his relationship to his fellows was typified by a quiet dignity and an exceptional conscientiousness. These traits would prove essential to the job ahead. He was, of course, a grand writer. He was also a truly inspired watershed administrator.

Looking back, it’s reasonable to presume that when we started out, we had caught the salmon runs on a downswing and that this downward momentum continued, with a few aberrations both up and down, for over 30 years. The return of abundance—a river visibly full of salmon—seemed for much of that time a distant dream. Until, that is, the past two years and especially this year: a Mattole salmon surveyor’s delight. (See article at right.)

It was, propitiously, Freeman’s last year with us. The incredible body of work that started with the hatchbox program and those first spawner surveys may have finally begun to pay off. (Note I say ‘may’—our coho runs have not recovered  and the rebuilding of the Chinook population is still at a fragile early stage.) Freeman’s quiet but hard-core belief in the power of inhabitants of a place, a watershed—in us—to alter the course of history is turning out to have been of great consequence. What might have been another inevitable chronicle of decline and disrepair could turn out instead to be the first chapter in a celebration of renewal and recovery. And we, people of the Mattole, have played the central role. Thank you, Freeman and farewell old friend.”

Freeman was a watershed mystic—one who seeks, by contemplation and self-surrender, unity with the watershed. From his book, Totem Salmon:

“I walk in a world I have come to understand as mutable, ever-changing. My walk on the next morning carries me into streaming fog blowing off the Pacific into my face. The chill of it shortens my planned route and makes me wonder just how wide that line on that map that divides water from land should be.

The rolling hills around me seem still, but I know that they are not. All the land within my view is called by geologists an accretionary prism. In plainer language, the seemingly solid ground under my feet is made of rubble scraped off the Gorda plate as it dives beneath the North American plate. Such knowledge is occasionally enlivened by an adrenal rush that is a response to the rumble and roll of the earth, or by a series of sharp jolts that knocks the jars off the shelves in my home. It is the mountains around me rearranging themselves.

After a while, the movement of mountains rearranges the mind. I find in myself a new fluidity of response, a diminished sense of attachment, a more comfortable sense of humility. I am a different person than I was when I arrived in the valley. I may not be alone.”

No Freeman, you are not alone.

We are now accepting applications for the summer Nick’s Interns program!

Applications are Due on MARCH 23.

Paid interns take part in a range of restoration and land management projects such as native grass seed collection, invasive species removal, trail construction, campground maintenance, steelhead dive surveys, salmon habitat enhancement and much more!

Sessions / Location / Dates

Job Posting, Executive Director

Posted: 11/20/17,  position open until filled

The Mattole Restoration Council, a watershed restoration non-profit on the Lost Coast of Northern California, seeks an Executive Director to lead our long-established organization of 12+ regular staff. The MRC is one of California’s oldest watershed councils, and works to restore and increase resiliency of the North Coast’s rural and remote Mattole River watershed. The MRC undertakes landscape-scale watershed restoration to improve  salmon habitat, forest, woodland, and grassland ecosystems, and to promote a stewardship land ethic. For more information about our programs, please visit www.mattole.org.

Ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in: programmatic fundraising; non-profit and personnel management; and establishing dynamic relationships with a broad base of stakeholders. Candidate should also have a commitment to community-based restoration and conservation, a background in ecology/biology/geography, a familiarity with watershed restoration strategies and methods, and a strong sense of self-direction and self-organization.

Full to half-time employee (negotiable), reports to the Board of Directors through the Chair, and is responsible for overseeing the staff implementation of the policies and strategic direction set forth by the Board.  The position is based in the Petrolia office, but also requires periodic travel to various field and meeting sites around the watershed, and occasional travel around California and beyond, including Sacramento and San Francisco. Valid driver’s license and functioning personal vehicle is required. Compensation commensurate with experience.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Cassie Pinnell, at cassie@mattole.org.  Position is open until filled.

The Executive Director’s responsibilities include:

Organizational Management & Human Resources:

1. Maintain a climate which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality people. Create positive work environment through strong leadership, proactive problem solving and morale boosting activities. See that an effective management team, with appropriate provision for succession, is in place and retain or release staff as necessary
2. Work with the Board to assure that the organization has a realistic Strategic Plan which achieves its mission, and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress. Create, shape, and maintain programs and projects in accordance with the Strategic Plan.
3. Oversee six staff members: One Program Director / Coordinator for each of MRC’s four programs, and the two administrative staff positions. Approve timecards and conduct annual performance reviews for the six direct reports, work out timecard and performance issues as necessary.
4. Serve as the top-level Safety Officer for MRC, supervising the Program Directors/Coordinators in their capacities as either direct field supervisors or supervisors of field supervisors.
5. Participate in all Board of Directors’ meetings, provide written monthly report to Board on the Council’s programmatic activities, financial status (reports will be provided to ED by bookkeeper), and all other substantial organizational news, participate in Board committees as needed.
6. Implement MRC policies as adopted by the Board. Regularly review the policies and make recommendations to the Board for needed modifications as the organization evolves.
7. Arbitrate internal disputes via the Grievance section of the Personnel Policy.
8. Develop and Oversee MRC’s volunteer program. Work with project managers to recruit, engage, and track volunteers. Work with administrative staff to ensure that proper policies and procedures are in place and implemented that represent best practices for incorporating volunteers into MRC’s work.
9. Ensure that the MRC complies with all legal employer requirements.

Fundraising/Development:

1. Work with staff and board members to maintain financial support for the Council through diverse funding sources, while ensuring that each program has adequate resources to complete its work.
2. Maintain positive relations with agencies, foundations, and private funders.
3. Oversee the Council’s membership program, and work to grow the membership and overall donations.
4. Work with program staff, Board, and community members to identify new project opportunities.
5. Prepare grant proposals and outreach materials, as necessary to maintain program funding.

Community Relations & Outreach:

1. Serve as the primary community liaison for MRC. Regularly visit field work operations. Meet with field crews, contractors, and participating/prospective landowners to positively represent the Council and our work, listen to concerns, and identify ways to address them. Maintain positive relations with Mattole landowners and residents.
2. Serve as the primary public representative of the MRC. Handle media appearances and community presentations as needed. Ensure positive representation of Council activities, staff/Board/volunteers, and MRC’s positions in the Mattole community, media and MRC publications.
3. Serve as the primary liaison between MRC and the other two organizations of the Mattole River and Range Partnership: Mattole Salmon Group and Sanctuary Forest. Seek to maintain a positive, productive, and clear partnership while representing MRC’s particular interests.
4. Periodically attend meetings of other Mattole watershed groups to foster mutual understanding between MRC and its community such as Mattole Grange, the volunteer fire departments, schools, the Buckeye, other local nonprofits, etc.
5. Attend and conduct appropriate outreach at community events.
6. Contribute regular letters to the readership of the Mattole Watershed News that serve to foster positive community relations and understanding.
7. Cultivate relationships with local journalists, submit periodic press releases.
8. Strategically use the Mattole Google Groups, public radio Community Announcements and the various public bulletin boards in the watershed to communicate with Mattole residents.
9. Reach out to new or seldom seen landowners. Provide informational mailings to new landowners. Meet with or otherwise correspond with these individuals at their convenience for outreach and listening.
10. Conduct periodic community “salons” to discuss Mattole restoration topics and allow a regular forum for community members to learn more about MRC’s current work and to provide MRC with feedback.
11. In these and other public communication forums articulate a compelling vision for the restoration and stewardship of the Mattole.

Wider External Relations/Policy:

1. Maintain positive relations with government agencies with jurisdiction in the Mattole.
2. Ensure excellent “customer service” in all MRC fee-for-service programs.
3. Participate in regional networks of restoration practitioners to understand and apply emerging concepts in watershed restoration, for example SRF, NCRLT, RCAA, ACCW, etc..
4. Provide effective representation of the Council’s interests in local, state and federal policymaking arenas.
5. Attend Mattole Technical Advisory Committee meetings.

Project Work:

1. As possible and as funding is available, engage in direct contract / grant project work.

Financial Management:

1. Maintain lines of credit and other loan sources as needed to manage cashflow. Monitor cash needs and access lines of credit as needed.
2. Manage all bank relationships.
3. Oversee bookkeeper production of annual 990 tax return; sign and submit on behalf of MRC, along with all other legally required government submittals.
4. Maintain sound system of internal controls, procurement, and accounting procedures. Maintain and refine/update as needed MRC Financial Procedures and Contract Management Procedures documents. Manage staff, accounting and IT systems accordingly.
5. Support administrative staff as needed to review/renew/shop out all needed organizational insurance policies including worker’s comp, general liability, and D&O insurance.
6. Review monthly financial reports, as prepared by bookkeeper.
7. Work with staff to create sound organization-wide annual budget (based on amalgamation of all anticipated project budgets with their associated GL-level detail of revenue and expense) for adoption by the board prior for each fiscal year.
8. Oversee management of MRC’s revenues and expenditures to adhere as possible to the annual budget. Apply business logic and management strategies to help MRC meet its financial goals.
9. Ensure MRC meets all contractual obligations. Oversee all contract managers to promote sound management of all funding contracts and subcontracts.
10. Serve as a primary signatory on all bank accounts.
11. Serve as Code Manager for funds including annual budgeting, revenue seeking, and expenditure approvals.
12. Review and approve pre-payroll reports and sign all employee paychecks each payday (with support from other signatories as needed).
13. Review and approve all annual Blanket Purchase Orders with spending caps in line with the annual budget.
14. Review all current Payment Requisitions each week, prioritize, decide, and approve for payment PRs as cashflow allows.
15. Ensure employee benefits are properly accrued, tracked, and communicated through MRC’s payroll system, and remain in compliance with the Personnel Policy.
16. Chair the staff-level Financial Committee, maintain a highly functional team of financial management staff.

Human Resources:

1. Retain HR consultant to advise on any legal changes or questions regarding human resources.
2. Serve as staff main point of contact for any HR needs.

Other Business Management:

1. Ensure MRC maintains all legal statuses needed for operations, such as its Contractor’s License.