December 2025 Watershed News

Thanks to an incredible turnout at our Winter Solstice Plantings so far, 2,400 new native plants are now in the ground—more than halfway to our winter goal. Planting continues!

Photo by Eliana Thompson

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. 

Upcoming Event

King Tides Walk and Talk

January 3, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join Friends of Sausal Creek and I Heart Oakland–Alameda Estuary (IHOAE) for a guided King Tides Walk and Talk along the Oakland–Alameda Estuary. Mary Spicer from IHOAE and FOSC Board Scientists will join us to share about the estuary, marine wildlife, and how rising tides shape our shoreline. We’ll observe the King Tide as it peaks during our walk and discuss what these extreme tides reveal about sea level rise and watershed health.

What Your Giving Grows

2025 Annual Report

Your gifts make this work possible. This year, donor support helped us quadruple our environmental education reach, launch a 50-acre redwood restoration project, and welcome nearly 25% more community participation across our restoration sites. Check out all the details in our Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report. And now through December 31, your gift goes twice as far thanks to a $30,000 match pledge from our Board of Directors, Pat and Robert Raburn, and several anonymous donors.

New Signage in Dimond

Signs and Webpages Connect Visitors to Restoration Work

Our new bilingual signage in Dimond Park and Dimond Canyon give park-goers a closer look at what FOSC is doing at these sites, from ongoing restoration projects to the native plants taking root, and shows how anyone can get involved. QR codes connect visitors to new dedicated webpages for Dimond Park and Dimond Canyon — we’ll be expanding these to more restoration sites in the new year.

Friend of the Month

Justin Tungate

Meet Justin Tungate, a dedicated volunteer who has spent several years contributing at multiple restoration sites, including Dimond Canyon and Fern Ravine. Justin shows up with enthusiasm for taking on challenging tasks like clearing large patches of invasive blackberry, putting in long hours, and inspiring friends to join him in caring for the watershed. He shared with us about what motivated him to start volunteering with FOSC, what keeps him coming back, and how the experience has deepened his sense of place in the watershed and in Oakland.

Native Plants for Your Garden

Phacelia californica - California Phacelia

Earlier this month, volunteers planted California phacelia (among many other native plant species) in Dimond Canyon. Beloved by bees and butterflies, the pale purple flowers of California phacelia unfurl from tightly wound floral spikes in spring and summer.

California phacelia is an easy-to-grow perennial that thrives in partly shady areas. Once established, it's drought tolerant, although occasional summer water will prolong blooming. Its silver-gray leaves look soft to the touch, but its many fine hairs can irritate the skin, so wear gloves when planting or pruning your phacelia.

Notably, California phacelia is an important food source for the Bay Area's endangered Mission blue butterfly. We grow California phacelia at the FOSC nursery, so you can pick this beauty up at our plant sale next October. Plant California phacelia alongside other shade-loving plants like fringecups (Tellima grandiflora), Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), and hummingbird sage for a vibrant nectar landscape.

FOSC Bookshelf

Community Recommendations

Here are three memoirs recommended by FOSC board and staff members—thoughtful reads well suited to this season of reflection, whether you’re gifting or adding to your own list. We'd love to hear your book recs too! Please email info@sausalcreek.org if you have suggestions to include in future newsletters.

• Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship – Catherine Raven
• A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon – Kevin Fedarko
• Birding to Change the World: A Memoir – Trish O'Kane

We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!

Join us for one of our many workdays.

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.

How to get involved:

FOSC Website

Join our Google Group

Event Calendar

Donate

Photo credits:

Eliana Thompson, Elena Stenger, Justin Tungate, Kristy Brady

Connect with us:

info@sausalcreek.org