West County Watershed Day!!!

Saturday, May 17, 2003

What's a West County Watershed Day? Glad you asked. West County Watershed Day is a collaborative community event sponsored by West County Watershed Network (WCW Network) in conjunction with the Goldridge Resource Conservation District (Goldridge RCD) along with cooperating individuals and organizations. This one day event will increase awareness of watershed natural resources and initiate outreach to encourage all residents to participate in future watershed events and management planning. In short, Watershed Day will celebrate water, the element of life.

What is the WCW Network ? WCW Network is a citizen based alliance of watershed groups in western Sonoma County, consisting of Americano Creek Watershed Group, Atascadero Green Valley Watershed Council, Blucher Creek Watershed Council, Dutch Bill Creek Watershed Group, Ebabias Creek Watershed Group, Laguna de Santa Rosa Watershed Council, Salmon Creek Watershed Council, and Willow Creek Watershed Education and Restoration Project. This network facilitates the exchange of experience, information, and ideas between watershed groups who represent local and regional involvement to support sustainable watersheds and restoration of their salmonid populations. It's area coincides with that of the Goldridge RCD, and is bounded on the north by the Russian River, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Estero Americano, and on the east by the Laguna de Santa Rosa.

If you'd like to help children learn to value water as a resource in conjunction with Watershed Day you may find helpful books, videos or established curricula here. Some of these may be specific to another region (Canada, Washington, Oregon, etc.) but could probably be adapted to West Sonoma County issues. Also you will find listed some local organizations and resources with statements of purpose as available.

Please share with interested friends, neighbors, co-workers, students, and parents of students as well. We hope to see you on Watershed Day!

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES K-12 & UP

The Adobe Creek Restoration Project / United Anglers of Casa Grande - S

tudents of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma have worked hard to incorporate students of all ages, kindergarten through college, into the Adobe Creek Restoration Project. Students have put forth extraordinary effort to build a fish hatchery and rebuild creek habitat that was previously incapable of supporting fish in 1983. Their unique efforts are truly inspirational and have generated the support of artist Thomas Creed who created an Alaskan panoramic mural for their classroom wall and biologist Jane Goodall who honors them in her book Reason For Hope.

http://www.uacg.org/

Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water

suggest in their Fifteen Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your Watershed website 15 ways to learn about, celebrate, create wildlife habitat and monitor water quality with links to specific project resources.

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/earthday/earthday.html

Also through EPA you can find a slide show consisting of 21 slides and text called Introduction to Watershed Ecology. "After completing this training, the participant should know the basic biotic and abiotic components of watersheds, the basic natural processes and interrelationships occurring in watersheds, and how watershed structure and functions may vary in time and space. Some background in the life sciences is helpful for comprehending this material, but not required."
http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/ecology/index.html

Adopt-A-Watershed

works to inspire students from kindergarten through twelfth grade with a sense of place in nature and in their community, an awareness that they can make a difference, and lifelong quest for knowledge about the environment. We do this by providing schools with an integrated, sequential, K-12 science curriculum focused on the local environment and emphasizing service in partnership with the community. Many Sonoma County schools are currently listed as offering this curriculum.

http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/

In Our Own Backyard

is a program linking school children to Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD) acquisitions. The program is centered on the "adoption" of a SCAPOSD acquisition within a participating school's given watershed. A series of four theme based site visits evolve from fun and learning expeditions to community service throughout the school year. The sequence is designed to provide learning opportunities while nurturing the desire in children to serve both their human and natural communities.

http://www.landpaths.org/education/ioobkyd.htm

Resources for Teaching about Surface Water Issues -

based in King County, Seattle, Washington - Curricula, newsletters and other resources.

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/edusrcs.htm

Salmonid Restoration Federation Field School

is a self contained residential school that offers 3- 5 day sessions emphasizing hands-on training and field demonstrations to help students learn to assess habitat problems and causes on a watershed scale. The California Department of Fish and Game's California Salmonid Stream Restoration Manual is a principal text.

http://www.northcoastweb.com/srf/field -school.html

STRAW Project

Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) - The STRAW Project coordinates and sustains a network of teachers, students, community members and restoration specialists as they plan and implement watershed studies and restoration projects in Marin and Sonoma counties. STRAW provides teachers and students with the scientific, educational and technical resources to prepare them for hands-on, outdoor watershed studies, including ecological restoration of riparian corridors. Straw's overarching goals are to empower students, support teachers, restore the environment and reconnect communities.

http://www.bay.org/educate/straw.html

Sustainable Sonoma County

is a learning and action community that connects, inspires, and empowers people to align their thinking and action with their deep need for a life affirming and sustainable world. SSC's integrated array of projects, events, workshops, research, and publications create a whole systems approach that fosters transformation toward a world that works for all, forever.

http://www.sustainablesonoma.org/

TIDEPOOL -

Online newsletter and archives of environmental issues related to the Rain Forest Coast. Includes restoration, invasive species, green business and globalization, among other topics of interest. Options to subscribe by email on a daily or weekly basis.

http://www.tidepool.org/

WSP Environmental Art Gallery -

For one of the lessons in WSP's "Real Science" curriculum, students use materials from their classrooms and from their homes to produce artwork reflecting their thoughts and feelings about watersheds and watershed restoration.

http://www.northcoast.com/~fishhelp/gallery_f/art_index.html

AGENCIES and ORGANIZATIONS

Atascadero Creek and Green Valley Creek Watershed Council -

The mission of the Atascadero Creek and Green Valley Creek (AGV) Watershed Council is to bring together the people who live and work in the AGV Watershed to help each other in taking responsibility for their impact on the watershed through protection, restoration and education.

Email contact Zeno Swijtink at:

swijtink@sonoma.edu

Blucher Creek Watershed Council -

Mission is to protect the quality of life of the human inhabitants of the valley, as well as all the unique plants and animals with whom we share our land.

http://www.bluchercreek.org

Email contact:

BCWC@yahoogroups.com

Bodega Land Trust -

Bodega Land Trust is a group of people working to preserve and restore our land and its communities. "Our world is composed of many kinds of communities that depend on the land for their sustenance. In the last hundred years much of our land has become degraded or threatened. If we and the other creatures are to flourish, we must take better care of the land which has sustained us....We intend to do our part; we hope you will join us."

http://www.bodeganet.com/BodegaLandTrust.html

California Oak Mortality Task Force

(COMTF) is a non-profit organization, under the California Forest Pest Council, that brings together public agencies, other non-profit organizations and private interests to address the issue of elevated levels of oak mortality. The Task Force will implement a comprehensive and unified approach for research, management, education and public policy.

http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/

CERES

is an information system developed by the California Resources Agency to facilitate access to a variety of electronic data describing California's rich and diverse environments.

http://ceres.ca.gov/

Dutch Bill Creek Watershed Group -

The mission of the Dutch Bill Creek Watershed Group is to protect and enhance the hydrological, biological and social conditions of the watershed.

http://www.monitor.net/~david/coyoteadventures/

Environmental Center of Sonoma County

With the aim of pooling resources to protect and enhance the county's environment, a federation of local groups formed the Sonoma County Conservation Council in 1984. Eventually SCCC became incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit. The Environmental Center of Sonoma County is a project of the SCCC. It is operated by volunteers.

http://www.envirocentersoco.org/

For the Sake of the Salmon

is designed primarily for watershed groups and local communities working to restore and protect salmon habitat.

http://www.4sos.org

Forests Unlimited

is a nonprofit organization that monitors logging plans county wide in an effort to maintain forest and watershed integrity.

(707) 632-6070

Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District -

RCDs are Resource Conservation Districts. They are non-regulatory, grass roots special districts established by Division 9 of the California Public Resources Code.

http://www.sonomamarinrcds.org/

North Coast Water Coalition

Successfully managing our watersheds for a potable water supply in perpetuity addresses all of our issues - fisheries, timber, gravel mining, agriculture, urbanization, wastewater, pollution, habitats, land use planning and governance. Mission is a healthy watershed because that is the least cost and most reliable way to have a safe drinking water supply forever.

http://www.sonomaconnection.com/ncwc

Northern California River Watch -

River Watch is a non-profit membership organization that has worked since 1996 to strengthen the ability of citizens to protect water quality in rivers, tributary watersheds, oceans, bays, wetlands, surface and groundwater in Northern California. River Watch works throughout Marin County and Water Quality Control Board Region 1 including Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Lake, Trinity and Glenn counties.

http://www.northerncaliforniariverwatch.org

Occidental Arts & Ecology Center -

A nonprofit educational center and intentional community located on an 80 acre property of organic gardens, orchards and wildlands in western Sonoma County. Ecology courses include Water Management, Sustainable Forestry and Starting and Sustaining community Watershed Groups, among others.

http://www.oaec.org

Redefining Progress

Calculate your Ecological Footprint - Simple 13 question quiz to determine your ecological impact on the planet.

http://www.redefiningprogress.org/programs/sustainability/ef/

Russian River Watershed Council

- The mission of the Russian River Watershed Council is to protect, restore, and enhance the biological health of the Russian River and its watershed through a community based process, which facilitates communication and collaboration among all interested parties.

http://www.rrwc.net

Salmon Creek Watershed Council -

Links to other resources, some information on previous Watershed Days and watershed related artwork done by children. Salmon Creek Watershed Council meets monthly at Osmosis OFFICES on the left in the same building as the Freestone Store. Bohemian Hwy., Freestone

Email Contact:

watershed@bodeganet.com

Email Contact: Steve Killey

skilley@bodeganet.com

http://www.bodeganet.com

http://www.bodeganet.com/SalmonCreek

http://www.freestone.com/salmoncreek/

http://www.joyridge.com

Stewards of Slavianka (SOS) -

A nonprofit volunteer organization that funds educational and interpretive opportunities in the State Parks of the Russian River. Stewards of Slavianka works in partnership with California State Parks to protect and interpret the natural and cultural resources of the Russian River District. Volunteers promote public awareness and an understanding of our natural and cultural history as well as assist in the development and maintenance of interpretive facilities, programs and trails.

Michele Luna, Executive Director

Stewards of Slavianka - PO Box 221 - Duncans Mills, CA 95430

(707) 869.9177

Email Contact :

sos@mcn.org

http://www.stewardsofslavianka.org/

Town Hall Coalition

The mission of the Town Hall Coalition is to build a social movement that promotes ecologically and economically healthy communities through responsible land use: conserving, protecting, and restoring our watersheds, forests and natural habitats and supporting sustainable and diverse agriculture.

http://www.townhallcoalition.org

USDA Forest Service Reports -

Great source for Forest Service reports on various aspects of watershed-scale management.

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs.htm

Warm Springs Dam Release Change Notification

- Provides the date and time of outflow release changes from Warm Springs Dam.

http://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/cgi-bin/rel_notif.pl?-wrs

VIDEOS

We All Live Downstream A video documentary providing information about watersheds, how they function and ways in which communities can get involved in watershed management. Available for purchase from a Monterey area organization called Coastal Watershed Council at (813) 426-9012 or http://www.coastal-watershed.org/education.htm

Red Fish Blue Fish Won Global Vision Award Grand Prize at the 1998 World Population Film/Video Festival, 1999 International Wildlife Film Festival Award Winning Video for best use of music, best narration, 2nd place for best script, and special jury prize for extraordinary achievement. About endangered salmon and Salmon Recovery, Columbia and Snake River. Ecologic resource with articles on endangered salmon and salmon recovery plans in Idaho. Information on Snake River Dams and Columbia River Dams...
http://www.bluefish.org/

For updates, additions and deletions please contact Adrienne Badella at: abadella@sonic.net