M A R C H   2 0 1 6
Thank you Civicorps Learning Academy students for helping restore habitat at the Fern Ravine wetlands!

FOSC is a grassroots, community-based organization. Your donations go directly to support our projects and programs in the Sausal Creek Watershed. 
Confluence of Cultures on Sausal Creek

How did Native Americans and early Californians navigate the collision of cultures that occurred between 1775 and 1875 in the East Bay? Holly Alonso, executive director of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, will paint a detailed picture of this cultural encounter and its impact on how we eat, dress, dance, posture, worship, perform, and interweave cultures in the neighborhood today.

Ponchos and Frockcoats, Bread and Tortillas:
Confluence of Cultures on Sausal Creek
Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m.
Dimond Branch Library
3565 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland

FLYER
Friend of the Month:
Percy Honniball  
 
Less than a year old, our monthly trail crew has accomplished loads thanks to recurring volunteer Percy Honniball. Since volunteering with the crew last July, Percy hasn't missed a chance to help improve the trails, whether the task is pruning, trail widening, or extensive vegetation clearing. With many of the helpers being high school students who are new to volunteering, Percy's experience and dependability are a boon to crew leader Dee Rosario. Percy also is a regular at our bimonthly meetings at Dimond Library--we love filling the room for our speakers, and we know we are choosing the topics of interest when folks keep coming back.
Explore the Watershed
Palos Colorados Trail
 
The trailhead for this glorious hike is at Joaquin Miller Court, an unassuming residential street off Mountain Boulevard between Park Boulevard and Joaquin Miller Road. Climbing the steep wall of Palo Seco Creek, this narrow trail requires careful footing as it traverses majestic stands of second growth redwoods and abundant fern groves and other lush vegetation. In wet weather, torrents of water will cascade down the creek creating pools and waterfalls. Even during droughts, several perennial springs produce intermittent sections of clear, flowing water. At 0.7 miles, four trails branch off to connect to all of the trails in Joaquin Miller Park, Redwood Regional Park, and to the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

--Bob Davis

TRAILS MAP
Volunteer for Annual Sudden Oak Death Citizen Science Survey
 
Help track--and slow--the fungus-like water mold that is killing our beautiful coast live oaks. Participate in a one-hour training on April 9, and then collect leaf samples wherever you like--in your own back yard, walking around your neighborhood, or while enjoying a hike along our wonderful trail system. You then return specimens to your training location by Sunday night. Email coordinator@sausalcreek.org if you want help choosing a route.

Trainings:

Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m.
Orinda Community Center

Saturday, April 9, 1:30 p.m.
UC Berkeley
Sign up here

More information on Sudden Oak Death is available on the lab website of event organizer Dr. Matteo Garbelotto or here.
Visit our Dimond Park Demonstration Garden on May 1


Our native plant demonstration garden in Dimond Park is featured on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour on Sunday, May 1. To get a sneak peak of our garden, and learn about the talks and tours we will host on May 1, click here. As a garden neighbor, you are welcome to stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on that day, or any other time. If you want to visit any of the fabulous private native plant gardens on tour day, or sign up for a workshop this spring, visit the Bringing Back the Natives website. Registration for the garden tour closes on April 24.

FOSC needs volunteers to serve as greeters and garden assistants throughout the day. If you are interested in helping, please contact Kimra for details.
Kudos Corner
 
Congratulations to founding (and still current) board members Mark Rauzon and Eleanor Dunn for being named 2016 Local Heroes by District 4 Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington.
Event Calendar

RESTORATION WORKDAYS
  
Beaconsfield Canyon  
(last Saturdays) 
Sat., March 26, 9 a.m.-Noon

Bridgeview Trail
(2nd Sundays) 
Sun., March 13, 10 a.m.-Noon 

Bridgeview Trailhead Native Bee Garden 
(3rd Sundays)
Sun., March 20, 10 a.m.-Noon

Chabot Space and Science Center
Pallid Manzanita Habitat Enhancement
(2nd Saturdays)
Sat., March 12, 9 a.m.-Noon
Rain may cancel. Check calendar for updates.
FLYER  

Dimond Park
Sat., March 19, 9 a.m.-Noon
 
Marj Saunders Park
(1st Mondays)
Mon., March 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Rain may cancel. Check calendar for updates. 

Montclair Railroad Trail 
(3rd Saturdays)
Sat., March 19, 9-11 a.m.

WD Wood Park
(3rd Saturdays) 
Sat., March 19, 10 a.m.-Noon
TRAIL CREW
El Centro Trailhead 
(last Sundays)
Sun., March 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

CUTTING COLLECTION HIKE 
Location TBD
Thurs., March, 10 a.m.-Noon
Rain may cancel. Check calendar for updates.
NURSERY WORKDAYS
FOSC Native Plant Nursery
Joaquin Miller Park
(2nd and 4th Saturdays)
Sat., March 12 and 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m. 
 
MEMBER MEETING 
 Dimond Library
Wed., March 16, 7 p.m.
Holly Alonso, Bread and Tortillas, Frockcoats and Ponchos: Confluence of Cultures on Sausal Creek
FLYER

Endangered pallid manzanitas flowering in the Oakland hills
 
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 -- 
 
Amazon purchases donate 0.5% to FOSC --
sign up today 
Contact:
Michelle Krieg
Restoration & Nursery Manager
510-325-9006 

Kimra McAfee
Executive Director
510-501-3672 
March News Photo Credits: Andrew Aldrich, Vice Mayor Annie Campbell Washington's District 4 Newsletter, Nina Egert, Michelle Krieg, Kimra McAfee, Dee Rosario, Doug Schmidt  
Friends of Sausal Creek   www.sausalcreek.org
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