New Mercury TMDL for Tomales Bay Will Not Require Additional Action.  At a workshop prior to publishing the new TMDL, Water Board engineers Keith Lichton and Carrie Austin say that remediation measures under the current TMDLs are reducing mercury levels sufficiently, but precautions continue for eating Tomales Bay fish. Andrea Blum reports.

Additional news <not on audio>: Two Republican Senators have written to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asking why charges by Dr. Corey Goodman respecting Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, remain unanswered and were not revealed during Mr. Jarvis' nomination proceedings, among other questions.  Link to a report by David Mitchell on his website, Sparsely Sage and Timely.

Three Local Businesses Report Increases in 2011 and Outline Their Plans for This Year.  Sandy Wollenberg of Coyuchi, Dennis Langer of The Palace Market and John Granatir of Blue Waters Kayaking tell the West Marin Chamber of Commerce about how they did last year, and predict further improvement for 2012 in light of growing tourist interest in West Marin.  George Clyde reports.

After 27 Years as Executive Director of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Robert Berner Will Retire This Year.   Berner tells about the early accomplishments that helped launch MALT, which now holds conservation easements on almost half of Marin's private farmland; and he discusses his own plans.  Co-founder Phyllis Faber, Board Chair Sue Conley and Supervisor Steve Kinsey comment. George Clyde reports.

About Twenty Birders in Four Boats Surveyed Tomales Bay Saturday, Counting Tens of Thousands of Wintering Birds.  Dr. John Kelly of Audubon Canyon Ranch, who has organized the winter counts continuously since 1989, gives an insider's view of how the count is conducted and the birds and beauty that they saw.  George Clyde reports.

Kim Thompson of Inverness to be New Executive Director of the Community Land Trust Association for West Marin (CLAM).  Board Chair Maureen Cornelia tells Herb Kutchins about the search and about Thompson's experience and qualifications, and she gives an update on the affordable housing organization's progress and goals.  Link for more information on CLAM.

The San Geronimo Valley Stewards, Often at Odds With Regulators and Enviros, Host Program with Regional Water Quality Control Board Specialist About How Retaining and Repositioning Woody Debris in Creeks Can Help Salmon and Protect Homes.  George Clyde attended the presentation by Leslie Ferguson of the agency and spoke with Stewards' Board members Michael Snyder and Steve Tognini about the program and plans for more educational programs.

PUC Approves Opt-Outs from Smart Meters, But with a Price Tag.  Opponents of PG&E's wireless meters say that more consumer protection is needed, including community-wide opt-outs, and plan to protest.  Mary Beth Brangan of Ecological Options Network in Bolinas and Katharina Sandizell-Smith of Alliance for Human and Environmental Health in Point Reyes Station talk about what's next; George Clyde reports. Link to PG&E's Smart-Meter information page and to learn more about protesting.