F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1
Dimond Canyon as captured by Andrew Aldrich
FOSC is a volunteer-based, community organization. We appreciate your support of our education, monitoring, and restoration programs in the Sausal Creek Watershed. 
Community Event
2021 State of the Watershed
Join us for a virtual State of the Watershed event to reflect on 2020's obstacles and triumphs in the Sausal Creek Watershed.

Hear from community members and volunteers about their efforts and hopes for this year with video reports from throughout the watershed!

Attendance is by registration only - make sure to register to receive the Zoom link!




Can't make it? Check back on our website after the 17th to watch the State of the Watershed videos on your own time.

Explore the Watershed
Early Bloomers
Some may find the color palettes of California’s winters to be muted, but if you look closely you’ll see a range of colors and shapes in the form of winter blooms and flowers. While pollinators tend to be much more scarce during the winter months, those that remain have a few early-winter bloom plants to choose from. However, winter months tend to bring harsher climates, and winter blooms have adapted their morphological characteristics to survive. Some winter blooms, such as those that can be found on manzanitas and on Ribes speciosum, have waxy upside-down flowers that are protected from the elements. Because winter pollinators tend to be few and far between, the flowers of winter blooms also tend to last longer, sometimes blooming for weeks at a time, providing crucial food for insects and overwintering Anna’s hummingbirds. 

Kudos Corner
40 Days of Service for MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is usually a single day event when volunteers come out to give back to the community and watershed. Last year we had over 200 FOSC volunteers at six different Sausal Creek Watershed sites! This year is different. In lieu of large events, the City of Oakland will commemorate MLK Jr.'s vision for 40 Days of Peace with 40 Days of Service from January 15 through February 28.

Thank you FOSC volunteers for making a difference via solo and household activities in neighborhoods, local parks, and waterways by picking up litter, removing invasive plants, reporting illegal dumping, and pledging to practice environmental conservation actions at home. If you are looking for ideas, contact FOSC or visit the City of Oakland website.
Stewardship of our watershed continues even though our large events have temporarily stopped. Kudos to everyone who helped or continues to help around the watershed, caring for Adopt-A-Spot and Adopt-A-Drain sites, and volunteering from home. See the map above for locations where volunteer efforts have already taken place. If you haven't already done so, consider participating.

Tag us on Instagram or Facebook to let us know what you have done and continue to do during the MLK 40 Days of Service!
FOSC Friend of the Month
Alexandra Fiske
Alexandra Fiske is a sophomore at Oakland Technical High School and the founder of the Oakland Tech Ecology Club. Alexandra began volunteering with FOSC in the Summer of 2020 to reconnect with Beaconsfield Canyon, her childhood playground, and learn about ecological work in her community.

As a volunteer in Beaconsfield Canyon, Alexandra works to remove invasives like Ailanthus and Himalayan Blackberry, scatter native seeds, and plant native plants from the FOSC nursery. In addition to her weekly volunteering with Wendy Tokuda, Alexandra has been exploring the watershed and forest bathing to de-stress from daily life during COVID.

As Alexandra looks to the future, she sees herself pursuing environmental science as a researcher, policymaker, or engineer.

Thank you, Alexandra, for your commitment and leadership in the watershed!
If you would like to nominate a Friend of the Month, contact [email protected].
Out and About
Sculptures in the Watershed
We’ve received reports of mysterious woodland creatures spotted on Bridgeview trails. Both the artist and intent of these whimsical creations are unknown but they seem to be enjoying themselves. Maybe you’ve seen them on the trails too. These photos were taken by FOSC Board of Directors Member Richelle Jacobs.
Event Calendar
Upcoming FOSC Events:

Presentations by FOSC community members
February 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Online event - registration required!

Organized by the City of Oakland
January 15 through February 28
Volunteer online or in the watershed!

Online Events of Interest from other Organizations:

Presented by Robin Wall Kimmerer at River Restoration Northwest Symposium
February 1 at 1:00 p.m.
Online event

Presented Peter Warner of the Milo Baker Chapter of the California Native Plants Society
February 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Online event

Presented by the Peninsula Open Space Trust
February 12 at 12:00 p.m.
Online event

Presented by John Zentner and the Golden Gate Audobon Society
February 18, time TBA
Online event


FOSC is now accepting volunteers for outdoor and distanced workdays on a limited basis. Contact the listed event leader from our events calendar to sign up!
Get Involved
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. 
FOSC needs your support -- 
 
Amazon Smile purchases donate 0.5% to FOSC --
 
Connect with us:
Contact:

Jay Cassianni
Restoration and Nursery Manager
510-325-9006
 
Anna Marie Schmidt
Executive Director
510-501-3672 

Jackie Van Der Hout
Community Education and Restoration
Photo Credits: City of Oakland, Jackie Van Der Hout, Richelle Jacobs, Andrew Aldrich