In a unique collaboration for the fish, SPAWN (Salmon Protection And Watershed Network) and the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course have partnered to restore and protect riparian vegetation along a 650-foot stretch of San Geronimo Creek in Marin County.
This fall we will install a protective fence on the golf course along a 600-foot stretch of creek, as well as design and place interpretive signs to educate patrons about the value of setting as ide areas specifically to protect wildlife. SPAWN has secured funding and pro bono development of design plans for a bank stabilization project that will reduce sediment erosion at this site. Also starting this fall, we will collect and propagate approx. 2000 native plants from local watershed sources to plant along the creek here, and we will continue to mobilize volunteers to lead revegetation efforts and invasive species removal.
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SPAWN's 2005 Creek Naturalist Training Workshop
Passionate about nature? Fascinated by coho salmon? Join our naturalist training program and gain the knowledge and experience to lead groups on salmon-viewing creek walks. No previous experience required. Training will involve our two- to six-hour field training workshops, evening seminars in salmon and watershed ecology, take-home training manual, and support from our experienced naturalists. You'll learn the life cycles of coho, chinook, chum, and steelhead, the basics of watershed and salmon ecology including the threats to their critical habitat, and much more.
WHEN: October 29 and 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, exciting evening seminars in salmon and stream ecology will be held throughout November and December. The creek walk season runs from November through January.
WHERE: Lagunitas Watershed,
Marin County
WHO: SPAWN provides the training, led by our Watershed Biologist and experienced Naturalists.
COST: $35 to cover materials. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Class size limited to 20.
Helping to Grow the Valley's RainGardens
This spring SPAWN launched its RainGarden Project, funded through our Regional Water Quality Control Board. The RainGarden design will seek to divert stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces at the Lagunitas School into a cistern that will feed water to the School garden. We will also be building vegetated catchment basins around stormdrains that will help filter sediment and toxins from runoff and feed cleaner water back into the groundwater supply and eventually into our creeks. The project is designed to serve as an accessible and replicable model for San Geronimo Valley landowners seeking to implement similar creek-friendly landscaping designs on their own land.
To get involved in restoration efforts or to sign up for our upcoming workshops, contact Paola Bouley at 415/488-0370 x102, or Spawn@SpawnUSA.org, or visit www.spawnusa.org
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TOC for Forest & River News, Summer 2005