Good Examples from the State of Jefferson

Every March Crescent City becomes the site of a natural wonder. Standing on the ocean cliffs at dawn, you hear and sense them before you see them. Long dark skeins advance toward you as voices begin to fill the air and rise over the sound of the surf. The sky fills with 40,000 geese. You may have heard stories from the past when innumerable birds in flight filled the sky. At the Aleutian Goose Festival, you can experience it.

Only thirty-five years ago the Aleutian Canada Goose was at the brink of extinction. Perhaps as few as 500 individuals existed, their plight due primarily to the introduction of Arctic foxes on their home islands, the Aleutians in southwest Alaska. Starting in the 1970s, a unique partnership of academic biologists, public agencies, private landowners, and rural communities enabled these geese to make a comeback. Their success is perhaps one of the greatest to emerge from the Endangered Species Act in the history of the program. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife's LaVerne Smith, "I don't think there's any other recovery story that rivals this one."

While the recovery of the geese is a modern tale, the memory of their abundance is held in tales of the indigenous people of the Smith River region. The Tolowa speak of the birds in their creation stories. Tribal leader Loren Bommelyn paraphrases: "Every spring of the year the sound of the geese echoes through the atmosphere. This is a forecast of spring, and what life will be in spring, and each year you will witness this returning." The Aleutian Goose Festival now encourages a new people to witness the return of the geese, alongside the Tolowa.

It was only a few years ago that a group of community members saw a nature-based economic development tool in the dawn spectacle and recovery success story. According to Rick Hiser, Festival co-director, "Del Norte County and Crescent City are already on the travel agendas of the world because of the Redwoods! We have visitors from every nation, every continent. It's time we offered our guests more than just Redwoods and a place to sleep and eat. A significant percentage of our guests would take advantage of additional natural experiences, offered by individual entrepreneurs, if these were made available."

Additional economic opportunities are needed in the area. According to 2000 figures, Del Norte County's per capita personal income of $17,856 was 56 percent of the state average, and the county ranked 57th out the 58 counties in California. The Redwood Economic Development Institute (REDI) has been at the forefront of local efforts to address the economic challenges facing the county. REDI has also been at the forefront of regional efforts to promote destination and sustainable nature-based tourism in Northern California. With start-up assistance from REDI and the Forest Service, the Aleutian Goose Festival blossomed from community conversation and vision into reality. With the co-direction of Rick Hiser and Sandy Jerabek, and a host of community supporters, the Aleutian Goose Festival has now celebrated four successful seasons. The passing of these successful years has also generated increased community support for the geese and the festival. "The community has taken ownership of the Festival and the geese. The community refers to them as our birds' now," according to Rick.

Beginning with the dawn fly-off from Castle Island and extending over four days, the festival now offers some 75 events starring everything from rare and unique birds to Banana Slugs and Gray Whales. Activities range from boat trips and slide shows, to bird walks and workshops. Evening lectures and community receptions are popular with the Festival guests and locals alike. Participation in the festival now includes some 250 registrants in addition to 1,000 other folks attending the free activities.

While the registration fee is modest and free activities are legion, the economic contribution to the community during the slow season is important. Hotels and restaurants, retail stores and gas stations welcome the significant contribution to the local economy.

According to Rick, "The Festival demonstrated the eagerness with which nature travelers will venture to this area for extended stays. That's been one of the long-term goals of the Festival, to raise this area in the minds of our traveling public as a destination, rather than a drive through."

Sandy adds that they aim to impact local residents as well. "We want to foster community awareness of what special natural places and species have been entrusted to us here, and build pride in this aspect of our community's identity and economy."