February 2023 Watershed News

Red-shouldered hawk perched above the FOSC bird monitoring group in mid-January.

Makes you wonder, who's watching whom?



Photo by Mark Rauzon.

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

State of the Watershed 2023

Dimond Park | Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Community Walk and Talks Docent Search

New Voices of the Watershed

Sausal Creek Watershed | 2023 and beyond

Tables and benches were overturned, the pot washing station plumbing destroyed, every plant (approximately 3,500) thrown to the ground, pots smashed—a senseless act that has destroyed thousands of hours of work by our dedicated staff and volunteers.

By now you may have heard the upsetting news of the vandalism of our native plant nursery in Joaquin Miller Park. We are outraged and heartbroken, but we will recover.

Within 24 hours, bolstered by the support of about 40 volunteers, we right sided benches, triaged and tended to plants, and assessed damages. So far we estimate about $6,500-8,000 in losses and damages, not including the staff and volunteer hours needed for recovery. We know we have long days ahead of us, and challenging replacement and repair costs to get the nursery re-organized and planting plans back on track. Thank you to the many community members and partners who have shown support through volunteerism, donations, and spreading the word.

We are working with the City of Oakland to secure the perimeter to prevent future incidents. Nursery volunteer workdays are held every Wednesday and first and third Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. if you'd like to join us. See our calendar for more information.

Our volunteers have been a huge help in recovery of the nursery and lifting spirits. Thank you!

Flooding in Dimond Park on New Year's Eve as culverts were quickly overwhelmed by high stream flows, woody debris, and sediment.

The storms and heavy rains on New Year’s Eve 2022 and in early January 2023 were some of the most intense in recent memory. What role does our urban creek play in extreme storms like these, which are becoming more frequent and intense with climate change? How do we protect communities—wildlife and human—who live in and interact with this watershed? Let’s take a look at a few key spots and strategies.

What a turnout! Our Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service events attracted a steady stream of enthusiastic volunteers, new and seasoned. Four sites in the watershed—Dimond Park, Marj Saunders Park, Shepherd Canyon, and Bridgeview Trailhead—hosted 175 volunteers in total on this significant day of reflection and community building. Volunteers planted native seedlings, pulled invasive vegetation, cleared debris from culverts, and took on other park beautification and storm-recovery projects. Thank you volunteers!

Student Opportunities

Youth Takeover Newsletter - Winter Edition

Calling youth of all ages! We want to hear your voices in our Winter Youth Takeover Newsletter. We invite you to write an article, conduct an interview, or create some "Arts in the Watershed". What concerns you or inspires you about our local environment? To participate, please email Kate at fosceducation@gmail.com by February 15.

Event Calendar

FOSC prioritizes the health and safety of the community, monitoring Alameda County Public Health Department guidance on COVID-19 precautions.

We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!

Join us for one of our many workdays this February.

Bridgeview Trailhead Workday

*RSVP Required*

Sundays in February, 9-11 a.m.

Bridgeview Pollinator Garden

Dimond Canyon Restoration Workday

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Drop-In Hours

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Wednesdays in February, 1-4 p.m.

Saturday, February 18, 1-4 p.m.

Friends of Sausal Creek Native Plant Nursery

FOSC Board of Directors Meeting

*RSVP Required*

Wednesday, February 8, 7-8:30 p.m.

Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church, 4101 Park Blvd., Oakland

Beaconsfield Canyon Restoration Workday

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Sunday, February 25, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Beaconsfield Canyon, Beaconsfield Place off Chelton Drive

Sausal Creek Trail Stewardship Crew

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Sunday, February 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Meet at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park.

Our first Community Walk and Talk of 2023, King Tides and Oakland Estuary History Tour, featured three presenters speaking about the past, present, and future of the waterway: Coastal hydrologist, Dr. Dane Behrens, executive director of WhollyH2O, Dr. Elizabeth Dougherty, and local historian, Dennis Evanosky. Donors like you help us to keep these community engagement events free and accessible to all.

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 Listserv

Event Calendar

Donate

Connect With Us:

Photo Credits:

Mark Rauzon, Bob Roat, Dr. Rob Leidy, Kathleen Harris, Anna Marie Schmidt, Kate Berlin, Amaya Griego, Elaine Geffen

Contact:

Anna Marie Schmidt

Executive Director

510-501-3672 

coordinator@sausalcreek.org 

Ella Matsuda

Restoration and Nursery Manager

510-325-9006

foscnursery@gmail.com



Kate Berlin

Communications and Operations Manager

fosceducation@gmail.com