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Creekkeeper Volunteer Program

• Program Background • Creekkeeper Academy 2006 • Creekkeeper Academy 2005

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

On the Russian River many watershed problems, legal violations and individual actions contribute to the degradation of our River. Russian Riverkeeper's job is to keep an eye on the river to document and report such activities to educate lawmakers, lawbreakers and the general public. Most public resource agencies simply do not have the resources to address each and every problem.

Until April 28, the Creekkeeper Volunteer program will be accepting applications for 24 students for our 2006 Academy. Click here to apply.

For last year's curriculum, see Creekkeeper Academy 2005.

In order to better cover a 1500 square mile watershed, Russian Riverkeeper received a grant from the Community Foundation of Sonoma County to recruit, train and deploy 24 Creekkeeper Volunteers to augment the Riverkeeper work.

Veteran clean water advocate Sharon Marchetti, formerly with St Joseph's Health System, is the program manager and is assisted by Riverkeeper Don McEnhill. Creekkeeper Volunteers will adopt sections of the mainstem Russian River, rural creeks, urban creeks and issue areas such as gravel mining and construction site and urban stormwater pollution. . In 2005 the goal was to graduate 24 Creekkeeper Volunteers and we exceeded that goal with 27 Creekkeepers graduating on June 28th

Purpose of Creekkeeper Volunteers To improve documentation and reporting of general watershed conditions, watershed change over time and legal and permit violations to supplement the limited resources of public agencies in protecting and preserving the Russian River. By documenting and reporting what they see in the watershed, the Creekkeeper Volunteers will educate the public and agencies about problems on the river and increase enforcement of river protection laws by working with regulators.

Methods of Creekkeper VolunteersReceive training and equipment from Russian Riverkeeper to adopt a section of the watershed and to then monitor and report conditions on a monthly basis with the knowledge and tools provided. Creekkeepers may be called upon to respond to problems reported in their adopted waterbody. Monthly or quarterly meetings will continue the education and training process and a new Creekkeeper Academy will be held each year.

CREEKKEEPER ACADEMY 2006

The Creekkeeper Volunteer program will be accepting applications for 24 students for our 2006 Academy this spring. The deadline is April 28, 2006. Click here to apply.

CREEKKEEPER ACADEMY 2005

The Creekkeeper Academy consists of 5 classroom sessions and one field trip class on the river. Each class is two and a half hours and is fast paced with presentations by various agencies and experts. Creekkeeper Volunteers will learn about; watershed dynamics and biology, the laws and regulations that protect or watershed, how to recognize and document violations, water quality science and monitoring, identification of fish, wildlife and riparian plants, their role as ambassadors, and river safety.

Creekkeeper Volunteer Academy Curriculum

Class 1, May 17, 2005: Watershed Dynamics

Introduction to Riverkeeper Academy; program objectives
Brock Dolman, OAEC-Basin of Relations
Laurel Marcus, Russian River: A Living System

Class 2, May 24, 2005: Water Quality Regulations

NCRWQCB Staff, The Clean Water Act, 401 & 404 Violations
John Short, Paul Keiran and Andrew Jensen
Jeff Holtzman, Environmental DA, Laws and Regulations

Class 3, June 7, 2005: Code Enforcement

Karen Maurer, Fish & Game, Fish and Wildlife
PRMD, Steve Johnson, Code Enforcement
Nathan Quarles, Non-Point Discharge Elimination System Permitting
Mark Mahre, Environmental Crimes Unit, City of SR, Enforcement

Class 4, June 14, 2005: Watershed Science

Don McEnhill, Water Quality Science
Documentation and Reporting
Riverkeepers: Role as ambassadors; Code of behavior

Class 5, June 25, 2005, Field Trip

Skills Study: Application of observation skills and documentation
Sean White, Sonoma County Water Agency - ESA
Gay Bishop, Audubon Society
Bill Cox, Fish and Habitat, F&G

Class 6, June 28, 2005, Review and Final

2005 Creekkeeper Academy Graduates

Mary Barclay, Healdsburg
Waterbody adopted: Syar plant to Healdsburg VMB

Richard Baril, Santa Rosa
Upper Mark West Creek

Gary Bodwin, Forestville
Steelhead Beach

Charise Box, Sebastopol
Guerneville - Neeley Rd

Greg Castagnola, Santa Rosa
Brush Creek

Tom Castell, Windsor
Pruitt Creek

Lena Chyle, Jenner
Jenner

Karen Cooper, Occidental
Willow Creek reach

Tina Fields, Sebastopol
Sebastopol / Vacation Beach

Randolyn Funk, Forestville
Hacienda Bridge

Katie Gordon, Santa Rosa
Lower River

David Herr, Forestville
Healdsburg to Hacienda

Brian Hines, Santa Rosa
Colgan Creek

David Hormel, Sebastopol
Monte Rio to Ocean - On Call

Herb Howe, Santa Rosa
Monte Rio to Ocean - On call

Judith Jasko, Healdsburg
Foss Creek

Kai Klaassen
San Francisco Lower Fitch Mountain to Syar

Ursula Mares, Santa Rosa
Mom's Beach

Patty Mohar, Windsor
Pool Creek

Dennis O'Leary, Guerneville
Mission Creek / Hulbert Canyon

Patricia O'Leary, Guerneville
Mission Creek / Hulbert Canyon

Laurie Ross, Forestville
Steelhead to West Beach

Jenn Struckholz, Windsor
Pruitt Creek

Victoria Wikle, Villa Grande
Monte Rio - Villa Grande

Kate Wilson, Santa Rosa
Upper Mark West Creek