Zeno Swijtink
09-22-2009, 08:38 PM
From: "Bleifuss, Alistair" <[email protected]>
Hello Creek Stewards,
Today the fall equinox occurs in the northern hemisphere. In California we seem to be in the midst of a couple of our four seasons- Flood, Drought, Fire, and Earthquake. In the last days of summer we had some fantastic volunteer creek clean ups and to kick off the fall there are three fun and educational creek events in the next two weeks listed at the bottom of the email.
On September 8 for the United Way’s Day of Caring two teams of County, City and Water Agency workers did a thorough job on two creek clean ups. One team cleaned Paulin Creek from Mendocino Avenue near the County Center downstream to Marlow Road at Northwest Community Park. (They did skip a couple blocks of the creek between highway 101 and McBride Lane where there are no trails along the creek.) As well as the usual litter items of cans, bottles, bags, and cigarette butts they found numerous balls, scrap metal, electronics, and toys. The team on Prince Memorial Greenway cleaned up the remnants of homeless camping spots, traffic cones, clothing, a shopping cart, and a twenty dollar bill. Kudos to both teams who covered more area than I expected.
Last Saturday was the 25th Annual California Coast and Creek Clean Up. The Coastal Commission reports that “With 65% of the [800+] cleanup sites reporting, the statewide count stands at 66,550 volunteers, which should approach the event goal of 70,000 volunteers. Those volunteers picked up 819,394 pounds of trash and an additional 89,899 pounds of recyclable materials, for a total of 909,294 pounds. The Coastal Commission expects to exceed 1,000,000 pounds of trash when all the totals are in. Past Coastal Cleanup Day data tell us that most (between 60-80 percent) of the debris on our beaches and shorelines comes from inland sources, traveling through storm drains or creeks out to the beaches and ocean. Rain or even something as simple as hosing down a sidewalk can wash cigarette butts, bits of styrofoam, pesticides, and oil into the storm drains and out to the ocean. The California Coastal Commission is asking all Californians to take responsibility for making sure trash goes where it belongs securely in a trashcan, recycling bin, or a hazardous waste dump when appropriate.”
As 60-80% of ocean trash originates from inland sources, Santa Rosa did its part by cleaning up four of our creeks. 127 people cleaned up Spring and Matanzas Creeks in Doyle Park, Colgan Creek by Elsie Allen High School, and Sierra Park Creek by Strawberry School. They picked up 359 pounds of trash and 306 pounds of recyclable materials. Volunteers on these clean ups kept track of the individual trash items they collected. These numbers are important as the Coastal Commission uses them to work with manufacturers, retailers and consumers to reduce trash. We’re still compiling the tally cards but here are a few of the numbers from Colgan Creek where the Interact Club and the Health Life Skills class picked up 133 food wrappers, 90 cups, 62 plastic bags, 41 beverage cans, 17 pieces of clothing, 15 toys, 3 balloons, and a crutch among other items. *Special thanks to the young energy from Elsie Allen, Montgomery High, Cub Scout Pack 55 and Windsor third graders from Girl Scout Troop 10093 who helped make the day a success.
Now what’s in store for this weekend and next? All events are free! You contribute your own skills and energy.
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop (ages 12 - adult) Saturday September 26
Time: 10:00 – noon
Location: Pierson Street bridge over Santa Rosa Creek
How clean is Santa Rosa Creek? *How do Santa Rosas creeks compare to other creeks in Sonoma County? How do creeks become polluted? Learn how to measure and analyzes water quality with the Community Clean Water Institute <https://www.ccwi.org/>Community Clean Water Institute (https://www.ccwi.org) Simple tests not indicate the health of the creek but also the whole watershed where we live. City staff will have test results from other creeks in the City and the Community Clean Water Institute has been monitoring creeks all around the county.
3rd Annual Spirit Creek Day has something for everyone on Saturday, October 3
Time: 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Location: Spirit Creek at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa, 2075 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa
<https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org>Welcome to Spirit Creek Stewardship (https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org)
Spirit Creek Day is expanding with lots of playful energy this year. *Enjoy the hands-on eco-centric activities including creek clean-up, ecology education, making "creek prayer flags" & grounds care. This year the Creek Theater will come alive with Eco-Art featuring Sahar Pinkham conducting the Recycled Junk-estra, the Spirit Creek Singers, a bouquet of local poets, and the Wellspring Aikido Dragon Dancers. Make instruments out of recycled materials or bring your own to play in the Junk-estra. Please bring your own work gloves and water bottles. Free refreshments donated by local businesses.
Partner Organizations: ArtsSonoma, Discovery Center of Sonoma County Parks, Laguna Foundation, Creek Stewardship Program of City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Water Agency, Wellspring Aikido Arts and the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa.
For more information contact:
Michelle Keip, RN
Eco-Artist
Spirit Creek Stewardship
707-544-2673
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
<https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org>Welcome to Spirit Creek Stewardship (https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org)
Prince Memorial Greenway clean up and trail care with Sonoma Outfitters on Saturday, October 3
Time: 9:00 to noon
Location: Meet at the Sonoma Outfitters store at 145 West Third Street, Santa Rosa
Sonoma Outfitters is located just a block from the Prince Memorial Greenway and the Santa Rosa Creek Greenway Trail that extends six miles west to Willowside Road. Their staff has started regular trail maintenance and creek clean ups and asks all outdoor aficionados to pitch in to prepare the creek for the winter rains. Help clear vegetation and debris off the trails and clean up Santa Rosa Creek. Sonoma Outfitters has been collecting some very nice gifts and prizes to hand out to volunteers. You too can be a hero for our creeks!
I’ve never heard anyone say that there is nothing to do in Santa Rosa. All the best,
Alistair Bleifuss
Creek Stewardship Program Coordinator
Sonoma County Water Agency & City of Santa Rosa
69 Stony Circle
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-543-3845
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Hello Creek Stewards,
Today the fall equinox occurs in the northern hemisphere. In California we seem to be in the midst of a couple of our four seasons- Flood, Drought, Fire, and Earthquake. In the last days of summer we had some fantastic volunteer creek clean ups and to kick off the fall there are three fun and educational creek events in the next two weeks listed at the bottom of the email.
On September 8 for the United Way’s Day of Caring two teams of County, City and Water Agency workers did a thorough job on two creek clean ups. One team cleaned Paulin Creek from Mendocino Avenue near the County Center downstream to Marlow Road at Northwest Community Park. (They did skip a couple blocks of the creek between highway 101 and McBride Lane where there are no trails along the creek.) As well as the usual litter items of cans, bottles, bags, and cigarette butts they found numerous balls, scrap metal, electronics, and toys. The team on Prince Memorial Greenway cleaned up the remnants of homeless camping spots, traffic cones, clothing, a shopping cart, and a twenty dollar bill. Kudos to both teams who covered more area than I expected.
Last Saturday was the 25th Annual California Coast and Creek Clean Up. The Coastal Commission reports that “With 65% of the [800+] cleanup sites reporting, the statewide count stands at 66,550 volunteers, which should approach the event goal of 70,000 volunteers. Those volunteers picked up 819,394 pounds of trash and an additional 89,899 pounds of recyclable materials, for a total of 909,294 pounds. The Coastal Commission expects to exceed 1,000,000 pounds of trash when all the totals are in. Past Coastal Cleanup Day data tell us that most (between 60-80 percent) of the debris on our beaches and shorelines comes from inland sources, traveling through storm drains or creeks out to the beaches and ocean. Rain or even something as simple as hosing down a sidewalk can wash cigarette butts, bits of styrofoam, pesticides, and oil into the storm drains and out to the ocean. The California Coastal Commission is asking all Californians to take responsibility for making sure trash goes where it belongs securely in a trashcan, recycling bin, or a hazardous waste dump when appropriate.”
As 60-80% of ocean trash originates from inland sources, Santa Rosa did its part by cleaning up four of our creeks. 127 people cleaned up Spring and Matanzas Creeks in Doyle Park, Colgan Creek by Elsie Allen High School, and Sierra Park Creek by Strawberry School. They picked up 359 pounds of trash and 306 pounds of recyclable materials. Volunteers on these clean ups kept track of the individual trash items they collected. These numbers are important as the Coastal Commission uses them to work with manufacturers, retailers and consumers to reduce trash. We’re still compiling the tally cards but here are a few of the numbers from Colgan Creek where the Interact Club and the Health Life Skills class picked up 133 food wrappers, 90 cups, 62 plastic bags, 41 beverage cans, 17 pieces of clothing, 15 toys, 3 balloons, and a crutch among other items. *Special thanks to the young energy from Elsie Allen, Montgomery High, Cub Scout Pack 55 and Windsor third graders from Girl Scout Troop 10093 who helped make the day a success.
Now what’s in store for this weekend and next? All events are free! You contribute your own skills and energy.
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop (ages 12 - adult) Saturday September 26
Time: 10:00 – noon
Location: Pierson Street bridge over Santa Rosa Creek
How clean is Santa Rosa Creek? *How do Santa Rosas creeks compare to other creeks in Sonoma County? How do creeks become polluted? Learn how to measure and analyzes water quality with the Community Clean Water Institute <https://www.ccwi.org/>Community Clean Water Institute (https://www.ccwi.org) Simple tests not indicate the health of the creek but also the whole watershed where we live. City staff will have test results from other creeks in the City and the Community Clean Water Institute has been monitoring creeks all around the county.
3rd Annual Spirit Creek Day has something for everyone on Saturday, October 3
Time: 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Location: Spirit Creek at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa, 2075 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa
<https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org>Welcome to Spirit Creek Stewardship (https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org)
Spirit Creek Day is expanding with lots of playful energy this year. *Enjoy the hands-on eco-centric activities including creek clean-up, ecology education, making "creek prayer flags" & grounds care. This year the Creek Theater will come alive with Eco-Art featuring Sahar Pinkham conducting the Recycled Junk-estra, the Spirit Creek Singers, a bouquet of local poets, and the Wellspring Aikido Dragon Dancers. Make instruments out of recycled materials or bring your own to play in the Junk-estra. Please bring your own work gloves and water bottles. Free refreshments donated by local businesses.
Partner Organizations: ArtsSonoma, Discovery Center of Sonoma County Parks, Laguna Foundation, Creek Stewardship Program of City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Water Agency, Wellspring Aikido Arts and the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa.
For more information contact:
Michelle Keip, RN
Eco-Artist
Spirit Creek Stewardship
707-544-2673
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
<https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org>Welcome to Spirit Creek Stewardship (https://www.spiritcreekstewardship.org)
Prince Memorial Greenway clean up and trail care with Sonoma Outfitters on Saturday, October 3
Time: 9:00 to noon
Location: Meet at the Sonoma Outfitters store at 145 West Third Street, Santa Rosa
Sonoma Outfitters is located just a block from the Prince Memorial Greenway and the Santa Rosa Creek Greenway Trail that extends six miles west to Willowside Road. Their staff has started regular trail maintenance and creek clean ups and asks all outdoor aficionados to pitch in to prepare the creek for the winter rains. Help clear vegetation and debris off the trails and clean up Santa Rosa Creek. Sonoma Outfitters has been collecting some very nice gifts and prizes to hand out to volunteers. You too can be a hero for our creeks!
I’ve never heard anyone say that there is nothing to do in Santa Rosa. All the best,
Alistair Bleifuss
Creek Stewardship Program Coordinator
Sonoma County Water Agency & City of Santa Rosa
69 Stony Circle
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-543-3845
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]