On your next trip to Cooks Beach, you'll likely notice a much improved entry. The access to the overlook and trail, with limited parking on the County Right-of-Way on CR526, received some much needed treatment in July.

We had a successful volunteer work party day at Hearn Gulch in June with volunteers who helped to remove three truck-loads of invasive weeds, mostly thistle.

As of June, both California State Parks and Mendocino County have prohibited wood fires and open flames on beaches. The public access management agreement for Cooks Beach does not provide for fire rings or permanent grills to accommodate beach fires.

We want to avoid conflicts and mishaps along the trail, since it is impossible to see the beach from the upper trail. The first concern is dogs racing excitedly down or up the trail and the possibility that a trail user will get sideswiped.

Each year, RCLC presents an Environmental Award for a work entered in the Art In the Redwoods Festival that captures the beauty and spirit of our local natural environment.

This year RCLC has assisted the California Marine Protected Area Collaborative Implementation Project by participating in the Mendocino MPA Collaborative. RCLC stewards Hearn Gulch, which is adjacent to Saunders Reef MPA.

With support from the California Coastal Commission, Mendocino Land Trust, and several other organizations, RCLC organized volunteers to clean up three beaches in Southern Mendocino County as part of California Coastal Cleanup Day; Manchester State Beach, Schooner Gulch and Cooks Beach/Bonham Trail on September 19, 2015.

Each year, RCLC presents an Environmental Award for a work entered in the Art In the Redwoods Festival that captures the beauty and spirit of our local natural environment. This summer the award was presented to Bruce Jones for his watercolor entitled "Dawn At The Beach."