F E B R U A R Y   2 0 1 6

FOSC is a grassroots, community-based organization. Your donations go directly to support our projects and programs in the Sausal Creek Watershed. 
Help an Endangered Friend

With the dry spell forecast for this week, the monthly second-Saturday pallid manzanita workday should be on! The endangered pallid manzanita (Arctostaphylos pallida) needs all the friends it can get to help clear debris around new seedlings and older plants. Please RSVP to field@sausalcreek.org.

Saturday, February 13, 9 a.m.-Noon
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
Love Your Creek

What better way to start your Valentine's Day than knee deep in creek water picking up trash? After grabbing supplies, we will head upstream from the El Centro Trailhead, sure to find golf balls and other dirty delights. Dress down, including long pants. We'll bring all the boots we have, but if you don't have your own please wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting soaked and muddied. Note that this event is not suitable for small children--8 and older only, please. Please RSVP to coordinator@sausalcreek.org.

Sunday, February 14, 10 a.m.-Noon
Meet in front of the Dimond Recreation Center
3860 Hanly Rd., Oakland
Friend of the Month:
John Bowers 
 
For more than 15 years, John Bowers has been a champion of and steadfast volunteer at the Barry Place restoration site, located at E. 27th Street and Barry Place. Each Earth Day, Creek to Bay Day, and Solstice Planting Day you will find John helping to nurture this rare stretch of open creek on public land below I-580. In the early days of FOSC, John advocated strongly for the legal protection of the creek, pushing to get passage of the landmark Oakland Creek Ordinance. Kathy Kramer recalls, "John was polite, persistent, courteous, yet determined to get this done. Whenever I think of John Bowers, I am filled with admiration." Thank you, John!
Explore the Watershed
Housing a Pair of Wrens
 
House wrens are generally common across America in the summer and migrate to warmer climes in winter, but in the San Francisco Bay basin they are uncommon in the summer, preferring the east side of the Diablo range. However, they do pop up from time to time. A good place to look is at the Fern Ravine restoration area near Sequoia Arena in the thickets of blackberries.

A while back a pair nested in the collection of pots stored at our nursery. House wrens nest in natural cavities and readily take to birdhouses or any place out of the elements and safe from predators. The nursery pair lost their first fledgling to a scrub jay that was attracted to the noise of the babies taking their first flight. It's a jungle out there ...

--Mark Rauzon
Hurray for an Actual Wet Season for Water Quality Monitoring!
 
We conduct water quality monitoring during two periods a year, one in the dry season and one in the wet season.  We test for coliforms, E coli, pH, and conductivity at six locations in the watershed. For this testing, we take samples once a week for five consecutive weeks.  

If you have time during the week (likely on Wednesdays) starting the third week in February, please email kathalini@comcast.net for more information on volunteering with the water quality monitoring team.
Event Calendar

RESTORATION WORKDAYS
  
Beaconsfield Canyon  
(last Saturdays) 
Sat., Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-Noon

Bridgeview Trail
(2nd Sundays) 
Sun., Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-Noon 

Bridgeview Trailhead Native Bee Garden 
(3rd Sundays)
Sun., Feb. 21, 10 a.m.-Noon

Chabot Space and Science Center
Pallid Manzanita Habitat Enhancement
(2nd Saturdays)
Sat., Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-Noon  

Dimond Park
Sat., Feb. 20, 9 a.m.-Noon
 
Marj Saunders Park
(1st Mondays)
Mon., March 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  

Montclair Railroad Trail 
(3rd Saturdays)
Sat., Feb. 20, 9-11 a.m.

Palos Colorados Workday at Joaquin Miller Ct.
Sat., March 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 
 
WD Wood Park
(3rd Saturdays) 
Sat., Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-Noon


IN-THE-CREEK CLEANUP 
Meet at the Dimond Recreation Center entrance
Sun., Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-Noon 
TRAIL CREW   
(last Sundays)
Sun., Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

CUTTING COLLECTION HIKE 
Location TBD
Fri., Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-Noon

NURSERY WORKDAYS
FOSC Native Plant Nursery
Joaquin Miller Park
(2nd and 4th Saturdays)
Sat., Feb. 13 and 27, 1:30-4:30 p.m. 

BOARD MEETING
Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church 
Wed., Feb. 10, 7-9 p.m.

MEMBER MEETING 
Dimond Library
Wed., March 16, 7 p.m.
Holly Alonso, Bread and Tortillas, Frock Coats and Ponchos: Mapping Culture on--and in--our Bodies 

 
Get Involved
Our mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of the Sausal Creek Watershed and to inspire action that will help preserve and protect the creek and its watershed as both natural and community resources. 

FOSC needs your support -- 
 
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Contact:
Michelle Krieg
Restoration & Nursery Manager
510-325-9006 

Kimra McAfee
Executive Director
510-501-3672 
February News Photo Credits: Megan Hess, Michelle Krieg, Mark Rauzon, Judy Schwartz, Beth Wurzburg  
Friends of Sausal Creek   www.sausalcreek.org
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