Update 8-16-2007
Running the American River rapids effectively ended our summertime lull - many thanks to Friends of the River for a great trip and great work protecting California's rivers. Check it out at www.friendsoftheriver.org, and take action!
Ahead for us creek folks are a busy month and an exciting fall. Along with continued progress on reducing flood risk and restoring habitat on lower Cerrito Creek, we are looking forward to October 13 hands-on art making with environmental artist Zach Pine, and a late October GPS survey to map potential creek problems. We will launch exciting new projects in the Blackberry and Codornices watersheds in North Berkeley's beautiful hills, working with Berkeley Path Wanderers and others. With UC Berkeley volunteers, we also plan to redouble our efforts against invasives at the mouths of Strawberry and Schoolhouse Creeks. The Urban Creeks Council expects to at last carry out its restoration project in the deep, steep canyon of Codornices Creek next to St. Mary's High School. Stay tuned!
AUGUST 25: WORK PARTY ON CERRITO CREEK TO GET READY FOR FALL
To get there, from Central Avenue between San Pablo and I-880 turn south on Santa Clara toward Albany Hill.The street ends at the park. By bus, take AC Transit 72 to San Pablo and Carlson and walk west 1/2 block on Carlson. At Tulip Flooring, jog south (left) on the Adams Street stub and then follow the creekside walkway west (right) to the park. It's also a short walk from El Cerrito Plaza BART.
SEPTEMBER 9: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SOLANO STROLL, PARADE
SEPTEMBER 15: COASTAL CLEANUP NEAR BULB ART
F5C STEWARDSHIP STORY ON LINE
STILL MORE AHEAD for late September - but for now, here's environmental news from others:
BENEFITS AND CLASSES:
OYSTER, SALMON BBQ FOR TOMALES BAY
WINE, BLUEGRASS BENEFIT FOR ALAMEDA CREEK
WATER-QUALITY MONITORING SHORT COURSE AT UC EXTENSION
FALL ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES AT MERRITT
Over the summer, we made huge progress controlling the thornless blackberry that increases flood risk and destroys diversity on Cerrito Creek. Now we need to do erosion control to ready the banks for fall rains and planting. Please join us at 10 am Saturday, August 25, at El Cerrito's Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Street, just north of Albany Hill.
We are looking for volunteers to help staff our table at the Solano Stroll Sunday, September 9, and also to march in the parade - the theme this year is "Going Green - It's Easy!" This is a fun way to get our clean-water, healthy-environment message out to lots of folks. Please email if you can take a shift any time between 9 am and 6 pm, or be in the parade. We'll also be looking for folks for the Sunday, September 30 How Berkeley Can You Be Parade. We have signs and costumes, or you can come up with your own.
We have a special and very fun work party September 15 - helping with Coastal Cleanup on the north side of the Albany Bulb. You'll get to enjoy the wonderful and ever-changing art as well as fall migrant waterbirds and maybe some late blackberries. Put it on your calendars! (Thanks to board members Beatriz Motta, Kat Ridolfi, and Alfredo Chingcuanco for volunteering to lead - I'll be working on Cerrito Creek with the GREAT team from Accenture, who did so much last year.)
As part of its lead-up to Coastal Cleanup Day, the Coastal Commission has posted stories of coastal stewardship on its website, http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/stories.html. We sent in our tale of eight years of struggle against invasive perennial pepperweed along the Bay shore from Berkeley into Richmond - an ongoing battle that's a draw at best so far. You can read this and other stewardship stories at and submit more stories and photos. You also can vote for your favorite story among those posted, but I'm not sure I think this should be a competition.
The Tomales Bay Association, which has worked for the West Marin environment for 41 years, holds its annual dinner Friday, Aug. 17, with barbecued oysters and grilled local salmon, beginning 5 pm at Inverness Yacht Club, 12850 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness. Cost is $20 individual, $30 families, plus bring a potluck dish to share.
Alameda Creek Alliance, working to restore trout and salmon runs on the East Bay's largest creek, holds a 10th Anniversary catered dinner Friday August 24, with live bluegrass by the Forget Me Nots, a silent auction, and excellent wine at Chouinard Winery on Stonybrook Creek. For information and to order tickets go to www.alamedacreek.org and click on "upcoming events."
Dr. Revital Katznelsen, PhD, offers a short course in Water Quality Monitoring Design at UC Berkeley Extension, 1995 University Ave., August 22 & 23. The course, an elective in UC Berkeley Extension's Water Management and Ecosystem Restoration Certificate Program, is designed to meet the needs of those who need to carry out scientifically defensible water-quality monitoring, such as project or grant managers, technical leaders, or contractors. Information at http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/course1274.html ; enrollment information at www.unex.berkeley.edu/enroll.
Fall environmental courses at Merritt Community College start August 22 (short courses in September). A wide range of courses includes Environmental Careers, Introduction to Sustainable Systems, Introduction to Green Building, Watershed Restoration, Introduction to Ranger/Naturalist Outdoor Education, and Tree to Sea, with hiking, biking, and boating from the Ridge Trail to the Bay. Merritt also has a new Environmental Management and Technology certificate program. Information 510.434.3840 or www.ecomerritt.org.