What's Ahead for the Point Reyes National Seashore This Year?  Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon discusses some early accomplishments this year and looks forward to celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Park, a decision in the Drakes Bay Oyster matter, opening Duck Cove on Tomales Bay to the public, dealing with the roaming (and swimming) tule elk, and more.  This is the first of two installments of an interview with Muldoon by KWMR's George Clyde. Link to second installment.

Tomales Bay Watershed Council Publishes "Species of Local Interest" - 370 Local Organisms That Either Warrant Protection, or Are Pests to Manage in Our Watershed.  Local scientists Tom Gardali of PRB0, John Kelly of ACR's Cypress Grove Research Center, and Jules Evens of Avocet Research wrote the paper, a project that has been in the works for eight years.  Gardali tells George Clyde about the unique report and how it will help managers in the watershed.

The State of Agriculture in West Marin.  In this second of a two-part series, Robert Berner, executive director of Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), tells George Clyde that rising costs and flat prices for milk hurt dairies, but organic milk and cheese improve yields. Beef, organic produce and shellfish operations are doing well, but the distaff thistle infestation challenges ranches, as does the prospect of little rain. Link to first installment.

About 60 Children Counted Nearly 1,000 Birds at the Second Annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids Saturday.  Brenda Kohn talks with co-founder Tom Rusert, with group leader John Dell'Osso from the Seashore, and with tiny-tot leader Jessica Taylor of the event sponsor Pt. Reyes National Seashore Association, plus young birders Emma Nathanson, Finn Capurro-Durkee and Spirit Daly.

After Four Bank Presentations in West Marin, It's Time to Decide.  Circle Bank, Redwood Credit Union, New Resource Bank and Bank of Marin make their cases compiled in a matrix here (but no local ATMs). Herb Kutchins interviews Eleanore Despina about the process and ideas for a new local investment club, mentioning Fred Smith's series on business plans, which begins Thursday evening. (Email links for more info.)

The Lack of Significant Rainfall - and None Predicted Ahead - Worries Local Ranchers.  KWMR's Matt Gallagher interviews David Evans of Marin Sun Farms and Mike Giammona of Black Mountain Beef, who both raise grass-fed beef, about the impacts of a low-rainfall season. Dennis Rodoni gives a perspective for the North Marin Water District. Link to latest Forecast Discussion.

MALT Analyzing Poll to Assess Feasibility of Sales Tax Benefitting Ag Conservation.  In this first of a two-part series with Robert Berner, executive director of Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), on the year ahead, Berner tells George Clyde that MALT and the County are considering proposing a sales tax to help preserve farmlands as well as support parks and open spaces. Meanwhile, MALT has several new conservation easements planned for this year. Link to second installment.

Also, two news stories from the San Geronimo Valley (not on the audio .mp3 file) - First, according to Jean Berensmeier, local residents have raised $100,000 to complete funding to acquire a private parcel in Forest Knolls on the Manzanita fire road.  With $100,000 from the County and $450,000 from the California Coastal Conservancy, the Open Space District can assure public use of the trail to the Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve. And secondly, after the Marin Municipal Water District released water from Kent Lake last week, water biologists counted 20 new coho redds and 84 salmon swimming and spawning in Lagunitas Creek, mostly upstream of Devil's Gulch - welcome news in this year when the spawning had been crippled by the lack of rainfall.