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From testing the water quality of the San Diego River each month to participating in community cleanups, caring for Grant Park, and providing youth with exciting nature learning experiences, SDRPF volunteer Marina Pak is creating a ripple effect of impact for the river and our community!
When asked what fuels her passion for taking action for the San Diego River Watershed, Marina explains:
“I usually run, cycle and walk a lot along the San Diego River from
Normal Heights to Ocean Beach. My passion grows every time I see the
beauty of wildlife in the heart of San Diego’s urban life. When I came
to my first clean-up, I felt a strong sense of joy and satisfaction
from connecting with people who were doing something practical and
meaningful for nature - people who share the same values. It is very
different from reading theoretical books and articles about
environmental science; it is a real, direct experience full of pure
energy and delight.”
Taking action for the river is meaningful in different ways for the thousands of volunteers working to create a better future for it. For Marina the river is essential for her wellbeing and provides a place of peace. She reflects:
“My connection with water, plants, birds, and clean air keeps me
healthy and emotionally stable. I think the San Diego River creates a
very special, almost sacred atmosphere of harmony and peace - not only
around the watershed but for our entire city. New technology is
rapidly changing urban life, making it more and more dynamic, but the
river connects our past, present, and future. We definitely have to
work hard to save it for the next generations….”
For Marina, working hard to protect and restore our river means ensuring we are monitoring the health of the river to inform decision making. Because of volunteers like Marina, our monthly water quality data is used by environmental organizations, scientists, to track long term trends, identify patterns of pollution, and by government entities to make regulatory decisions, management plans and public health advisories.
When asked why she wanted to volunteer for our Water Quality Monitoring Team, also known as RiverWatch, Marina explains:
“Collecting water-quality data has become one of my monthly habits.
This program gave me the opportunity to meet people with diverse
scientific backgrounds—engineering, hydrology, biology, chemistry,
medicine, environmental policy, and many others. The SDRPF staff and
volunteers are amazing people who are always willing to share their
knowledge and research experience…. I am so grateful to John Kennedy, who
introduced me to a systemic approach using many indicators and tools -
from measuring water current speed to analyzing satellite data. Our
team job supports annual water quality index reports, aligned with
NGSS. Now I share my knowledge about it with a youth club of the
Tijuana River. This work creates a ripple effect and builds bridges
between science and the public.”
Marina not only collects vital river data, she also helps care for Grant Park as a Grant Park Steward and helps our Education Team provide essential nature-based STEM education to local youth. Check out Marina's full volunteer story here.
Thank you Marina for the incredible work you are doing for the river and our community! Together, we are ensuring a brighter future for our amazing watershed and our region.
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