August 2023 Watershed News | |
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This special edition of the FOSC newsletter features articles and contributions from a
few of our incredibly talented and environmentally active young community members,
as well as outreach and stewardship opportunities designed for youth.
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Lichen is Bikin’
Artist: Jaden Shochet, senior at International High School SF
Medium: Acrylic paint pens on construction paper
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Friends of Sausal Creek is a volunteer-based, community organization. We appreciate your support of our education, monitoring, and restoration programs in the
Sausal Creek Watershed.
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Upcoming Events
Pallid Manzanita and Rare Plant Conservation Crew
Joaquin Miller Park | Friday, August 18 and August 25
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Endangered species in our own watershed? 😮 Our volunteer rare plant conservation crew goes out every Friday in the summer to improve habitat around the pallid manzanitas.
Our restoration efforts at Chabot Space and Science Center brought back a population of this state-listed endangered shrub from 3 struggling plants to over 125 healthy and thriving mature plants. We need several volunteers to help us finish off the summer, giving the same attention to the older, significantly threatened population at Big Trees in Joaquin Miller Park.
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Rainbow Trout Tour
Dimond Park | Saturday, August 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
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Join us for a tour of the Sausal Creek led by ecologist Dr. Robert Leidy. Learn about the resident wild rainbow trout population 🐟, recent discoveries and challenges, and explore habitats and barriers firsthand as we walk along the creek bed. Space is limited, so sign up now! | |
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18th Annual Native Plant Sale and Open House
FOSC Native Plant Nursery | Sunday, October 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
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Save the date and spread the word. Our 18th Annual Native Plant Sale and Open House will be on Sunday, October 29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the FOSC nursery in Joaquin Miller Park.
We’ll have music, community, and of course, 💚plants 💚. We’re offering over 100 species of local, native plants that mitigate climate change, control erosion, and filter pollutants. Our beauties also increase biological diversity and provide pollinator habitat. Sign up below for plant sale updates!
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Arts in the Watershed
Jaden Shochet
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Jaden Shochet is a senior at International High School SF, a regular FOSC volunteer, and an artist who painted this month’s newsletter header image entitled Lichen is Bikin’. | | |
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My first experience with FOSC was a middle school field trip where we volunteered and learned about the watershed, but I started getting involved more recently by volunteering at the native plant nursery and at trail workdays as a way to help the environment, get service hours, and get outdoors, and I ended up having a lot of fun. I really enjoy being part of the effort to help restore the local environment. What keeps me coming back is the super nice and supportive community and all the knowledge they have to offer. | |
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I am interested in a school and career path in environmentalism, especially in environmental science, mycology, and environmental justice. I want to spend my life making the world a better place through activism, art, and science.
I’m inspired by plants, fungi, and other creatures; both seeing them and learning about the amazing things they are capable of. This particular piece is inspired by lichen that I've seen growing around Oakland. One interesting thing I've learned about lichen recently is that the National Park Service uses them as indicators of air quality because they are so sensitive to changes in the air quality. So in a way, this painting of thriving lichen represents hope for a thriving, healthy environment for nature and humans.
–Jaden Shochet
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Welcome our Education and Outreach Manager
Ashley Cisneros
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Ashley is a proud Oakland native who has spent eight years working on trail crews across the country. In addition to teaching San Francisco Bay ecology to people of all ages at East Bay Regional Parks, she has led crews for the Student Conservation Association and coordinated programs for the Golden Gate National Conservancy. With a passion for wildlife and the outdoors, she is committed to ensuring nature is a safe and diverse place for all.
Ashley is finishing her B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. Catch Ashley out in the watershed or at one of our upcoming events!
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Sausal Creek Summer Sesh
Team Oakland
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That’s a wrap on our eighth consecutive summer of Sausal Creek Watershed exploration and education with Team Oakland–a collaboration with Youth Employment Partnership (YEP).
Together, we took on weekly projects across the watershed like habitat restoration in various ecosystems (redwood forest, riparian canyon, urban parklet); lessons on waterway connectivity and the impacts of pollution on local environments; community-centered awareness campaigns; water quality analysis and observation of benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs that indicate stream health); native plant propagation and seed collection in the nursery; and observation, drawing, journaling, and hiking in our local environment.
Thanks to YEP and to our environmental education grantors–The California Coastal Commission, Save the Redwoods League, and The Strong Foundation for Environmental Values whose partnership makes this program possible.
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Back to School
FOSC Field Trips
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It’s that time again! We’re looking forward to welcoming classes out to the watershed. With expanded program offerings adaptable to any age group, we invite you to join us for hands-on experiential learning in the beautiful outdoors! | |
Shout out to students from Julia Morgan School for Girls for these thoughtful thank you cards after their field trips last year. | |
Student Opportunities
Water Quality Monitoring
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We’re looking for a couple of college students to join our monthly water quality monitoring team. Measure the health of Sausal Creek with FOSC and our bioassessment leader, Kathleen Harris, at seven sites across the watershed.
We’re checking out pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and temperature; and we also test for nitrates and phosphates. Results are recorded for a longitudinal study of the condition of the creek.
Our next testing day will be Monday, August 21, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Email [email protected] if you're interested in joining.
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Get your service hours completed with Friends of Sausal Creek. We have weekly (sometimes more!) volunteer opportunities for you to help your local environment. Three easy steps:
✅ Check out our volunteer calendar to find event times and locations.
✅ RSVP online and make sure to get your waivers signed.
✅ Just show up! No experience necessary. We recommend shoes with good grip, long sleeves and pants, sun protection, and a water bottle. We’ll provide the gloves, tools, and instruction.
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We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!
Join us for one of our many workdays this August.
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Friends of Sausal Creek is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to restore, maintain, and protect the Sausal Creek Watershed.
We educate future generations, involve the community in local environmental stewardship, and collaborate with agencies and other nonprofits to have a positive impact on the local ecosystem.
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Photo credits:
Jaden Shochet, Kate Berlin, Ella Matsuda, Ashley Cisneros, Lisa Giordano
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