|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friend us on Facebook!
 |
|
|
Hello Friends of the Coastal Watershed Council, Just like all of you, CWC staff are excited that the weather is feeling more and more like Spring, and the days are slowly getting longer. People grew tired of the rain, it seems, but soon enough we'll be very glad we got every drop. Much to be thankful for, including generous donations from many of you. Please keep CWC in mind as you're deciding where to spend your valuable time and money. We need volunteers like you with us in the field, and we seem to always have more staff and lab costs, so your donations go a long way in supporting our programs. Read on for news on what CWC is up to, with much of your help, as we preserve and protect coastal watersheds through stewardship, education and monitoring - the mission that drives us. Thanks for being a part of this work. Take care!
Greg Pepping
Executive Director
|
|
|
CWC School Programs a Continuing Success!
CWC's Get Outdoors (GO!) Program continues at New Brighton Middle School and Alianza Elementary.The GO! Program is made possible from a B-WET grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospherice Administration (NOAA). New Brighton Middle School students are continuing to fine tune their water quality monitoring skills with a monthly visit from CWC. Students test water quality at Noble Gulch Park as well as learn about each testing parameter such as electrical conductivity or transparency, during each visit.Students also play a fun game, such as "The Incredible Journey" where they learn about the path of a molecule of water as it evaporates, condenses and rains down on the earth.
Another activity students will be participating in is called "Mystery Pollutants" where students read hints about common pollutants found in our watersheds due to urban runoff. Based on the hint, they make a guess and open a box where the answer is revealed.Pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste and litter are featured.Students think of creative solutions to reduce these pollutants in their community.
This month's game is called "Oh Deer" teaching students about wild animals' need for food, water and shelter out. CWC's upcoming visits to New Brighton Middle School include a focus on ecology, including lessons about benthic macro invertebrates and their importance as biological indicators in the aquatic environment.
Alianza 6th grade students have are also participating in the GO! Program. Students have received an overview of what kinds of pollutants affect watersheds and a lessons on water quality equipment used in monitoring the health of a watershed.The 6th graders have also conducted erosion experiments, studying rainstorm simulations and their impacts on different land types. Students collected runoff and sediment during their artificial rainstorm, measured it and held a discussion comparing the results.
|
|
February Brings Rain to Carneros Creek
 The month of February was a fantastic month for monitoring on Carneros Creek in North Monterey County. Nearly 4 inches of rain fell, bringing creek levels up from the January lull. Fabulous volunteers continue to donate their time to collecting valuable data and Kaley Grimland, ALBA Triple M Ranch Project Coodinator, joined CWC staff and volunteers for a monitoring event during a storm in mid-February. While CWC continues to collect water quality data in and around ALBA's Triple M Ranch property, ALBA stays hard at work on the upcoming Wetland Restoration Project which targets nearly 40 acres of historic floodplains and wetlands. We are still seeking volunteers for some dates in March, April and May. Contact Debie Chirco-Macdonald at (831) 464-9200 or djchirco@coastalws.org if you are interested in getting on board. |
|
CalEPA Releases Environmental Education Curriculum
Cal EPA recently released its newly approved environmental education curriculum, a model set of grade-specific curricula that continues California's history of environmental leadership. The K-12th grade curriculum has a variety of useful materials, visuals, student workbooks and background information for teachers. Access these resources and read more about the multi-agency effort at the Cal EPA website.
|
|
CWC Featured in THE LADDER Magazine
Citing CWC's excellent science education work, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently asked CWC Education Coordinator, Bridget Posson, to contribute to the district's online magazine, The Ladder. CWC was contacted by the LAUSD Career Ladder Office in Los Angeles, which provides support for high school teacher academies and educators seeking a credential. The Spring issue of THE LADDER magazine features Bridget's article along with articles from other organizations that are involved in projects or programs that center on conservation.
"THE LADDER" is a magazine published by the LAUSD Career Ladder Office, with a readership of 120,000. The target audience is primarily college professors, teachers, future teachers, and community partners statewide. Students at colleges and universities can learn about the pathway to becoming a teacher, read articles on pedagogy and curriculum and find out about useful information on programs and events.
|
|
Snapshot Day: May 7, 2011 - the Countdown!
Coastal Watershed Council staff are very exctied about the 12th Annual Snapshot Day event. We are already gearing up and hope to see you out there! This year's event falls on Saturday, May 7th in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Monterey Counties - so mark your calendars now! The community-based event provides an annual "snapshot" view of the health of rivers and streams that flow into the Monterey Bay. In partnership with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) and hundreds of community volunteers, we systematically sample the stream waters throughout the central coast of California during this one-day event.
Volunteers are trained by CWC and MBNMS staff to record field measurements and collect water samples for laboratory analysis. The volunteers who collect this valuable data play a key role in our communities as stewards of our watersheds. The information provided is used by resource agencies, local governments and community groups to protect and improve the health of our local watersheds.
So come out and get your feet wet! Join us on Saturday, May 7th! Trainings will be held on the following dates (please plan to attend one training):
Santa Cruz: Sunday, May 1, 12-3 pm at Natural Bridges State Beach
Monterey: Saturday, April 30, 12-3 pm at REI in Marina
San Mateo: Monday, May 2, 6-8 pm at the San Gregorio General Store
Cambria: Tuesday, May 3, 5-7 pm
To get involved, please contact the CWC at (831) 464-9200 or djchirco@coastalws.org.
|
|
Interesting Watershed News & Links
Amphibians seem to be rapidly disappearing worldwide, and California is home to 16 threatened amphibian species. Santa Cruz is fortunate to have endangered California Red-Legged Frogs at Antonelli Pond, an urban pond that sees high
recreational use due to its accessibility to town. Unfortunately, the long-term future of this population of endangered frogs is not secure due to the presence of predatory non-native fish and frogs at the site, as well as heavy infestation of weeds surrounding the pond.
In partnership with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, SAVE THE FROGS! will be working in 2011 to restore habitat at Antonelli Pond and increase the number of California Red-Legged Frogs at the pond. Work will include removing non-native frogs and weeds, and planting native vegetation at the pond; creating signs to educate the pond's visitors about the plight of amphibians and ways they can assist amphibian conservation efforts; and creating a short film to document the work. Local youth groups will assist in these efforts, which will help ensure the long-term survival of Santa Cruz's endangered frog populations.
One courageous US Iraqi is leading efforts to restore the marshes destroyed by Saddam Hussein in Iraq, including a marsh which Biblical scholars believe is the site of the Garden of Eden.
"You do feel a little strange when you're holding a pH monitor in your hand while everyone else is carrying a machine gun." An interesting quote from Azzam Alwash, working to restore Iraq's Garden of Eden.
Simply by eating the leaves of an invasive tree that soaks up river water, an Asian beetle may help to slow down water loss in the Southwestern United States...
|
|
|
|
|
|
