Friends of Sausal Creek's July 2022 Newsletter

J U L Y 2 0 2 2

This special edition of the FOSC newsletter features articles, interviews, and art from a few of our incredibly talented and environmentally active young community members,

as well as outreach and leadership opportunities designed for youth!

The Redwood.

Painting by Zoe Thogersen - age 16 - FOSC Native Plant Nursery volunteer.

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.

DONATE

Watershed Champions

Help Us Reach our Mid-Year Goal of $20,000 by July 15!

Your generous donations are the backbone of support for our important work of restoring habitat, educating the community, and protecting urban creeks to keep our native wildlife populations thriving.

Help us expand leadership opportunities and outreach to youth by giving today!

DONATE

Team Oakland teens collecting cow parsnip seeds at the native plant nursery.

Explore the Watershed

The Structure of Nature

This month's Explore the Watershed article is brought to you by Zoe Thogersen, a junior at Oakland Tech High School and a regular volunteer at the FOSC Native Plant Nursery.

"I got really interested in plants and wildlife at the end of 9th grade because we had a Learn a New Skill project and identifying plants was the skill I chose to learn. I saw a sign about volunteering for FOSC on a hike and that's how I started. I like volunteering at the nursery because I get to do something outside and a bit more hands-on. I like seeing the same people at the nursery and having conversations about the plants."

Zoe is looking forward to pursuing further education and a career at the intersection of environmental science and art.

"I've really liked art for a long time, and environmental science is more of a new interest for me, but I think the two go really well together. Art helps me appreciate nature because it is so full of interesting patterns and colors, and nature is definitely my main inspiration for what I paint and draw."

Check out Zoe's great nature observations and sketches in her article below. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and ambitions with us Zoe!

Nature can often seem chaotic and random, but patterns in the structure of organisms, geology, and even water show that nature is in fact intricately organized.

Click here to read the full article

High School or College Student Opportunity

Become a FOSC Student Director!

Friends of Sausal Creek is looking for a high school or college student who is interested in serving on the FOSC board of directors. Student directors have a voice in organization decisions, make a meaningful impact in the community, cultivate leadership and other skills, and have the opportunity to expand their professional network. This opportunity is ideal for someone who shares our organization's passion and commitment to promoting awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of Oakland’s Sausal Creek Watershed.

Our volunteer board of directors strives to expand the diversity of voices, life experience, and skill sets representing the organization. FOSC has long recognized that citizen participation—from residents to policy-makers, teachers, and students—is critical for building a long-term commitment to protecting Sausal Creek as a natural resource for the greater Oakland community.

To find out more about the student director role, please reach out to our executive director, Anna Marie Schmidt, at coordinator@sausalcreek.org or (510) 501-3672.

Kudos Corner

Eagle Scout Fences in Joaquin Miller Park

Fencing projects in Joaquin Miller Park are essential for protecting top-soil, vulnerable native plant communities, and water quality in some of the most important and sensitive habitats in the Sausal Creek Watershed.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of several Eagle Scouts and supporting volunteers, we have roughly 700 feet of split rail fencing at Fern Ravine, and 125 feet at Outlook Point!

Congratulations to Eagle Scouts Oliver Amen, Kamran Uppal, Fischer Gibbs, Liam Campbell, Will Sprague, Rowan Blacklock and Toby Brock for completing fencing projects in these critical habitat areas in 2022.

Special thanks goes to Rob Leidy of FOSC and Dale Risden of Friends of Joaquin Miller Park for their support, mentorship, and coordination of the fencing efforts. Thanks also to Tim Vendlinksi of FOSC for writing the fencing proposal and plan for revegetation and protecting rare plants.

When asked about the experience of working with these Scouts, Dale shared, "Every Scout was a joy to work with, along with their recruits and families who volunteered to help. They are very into what this fencing accomplishes. They get an understanding of why this fencing is protecting Fern Ravine and Outlook Point for future generations. What I enjoy most is that they are not new to the park. Having all ridden bikes or hiked here, they have a personal connection to this wonderful park. It teaches giving back."

Nicholas Harvey, owner of Bay Area Redwood, has been a great partner in these fencing efforts and in providing sustainable solutions. He is a local pioneer in using salvaged lumber for projects like these that would otherwise go to landfills, and he provides the wood to the Scouts at a discount.

Fencing in the tranquil redwood understory at Fern Ravine.

Scout Oliver Amen and Piedmont Troop 11 installing salvaged lumber railing.

Nicholas was impressed by the preparedness and ambition of the young Scouts and regularly hires Scouts as interns at his business. "When it comes to making an impact on the environment, Scouts really do. It's refreshing to see that. These are kids who want to make positive change."

Friends of Sausal Creek, Friends of Joaquin Miller Park, and Bay Area Redwood are eager to continue supporting scout projects in 2022. We would like to put in 500 more feet of fencing in the short term and eventually encompass the entire perimeter of the Fern Ravine Natural Area, totaling about 1,000 feet. If you're a Scout who is interested in a project like this, please contact our restoration and nursery manager, Ella Matsuda, at foscnursery@gmail.com.

Way to go Eagle Scouts!

Grade School/High School Student Opportunity

Student Stewardship

In early 2022, Daniela Quintero, a junior at Alameda High School, reached out to Friends of Sausal Creek in search of a summer project. Her reason for such an interest? "I have always felt a need to help the environment in some way. I enjoy manual work, being outside, and socializing with the people around me. I know for sure I want to pursue a career which involves helping the environment. I am hoping that by volunteering at many different sites through FOSC, I will get a better idea of what I enjoy doing most."

Daniela's quest inspired FOSC to create a Student Stewardship Program, which Daniela has been piloting this spring. This guiding framework is designed for youth interested in learning more about the Sausal Creek Watershed and local environmental efforts through hands-on stewardship and mentoring by various site leaders, staff members, and other volunteers. Students make connections with local scientists and restoration leaders and can put their participation on their college applications and resumés.

Daniela shared that the experience has been fun and educational. She especially enjoyed trail stewardship workdays with site leader Dee Rosario. Listening to the sound of the creek and being surrounded by greenery while working on the Old Cañon Trail at Dimond Park was especially rewarding, along with learning about how erosion and sedimentation impact the creek.

Her advice for anyone looking to get started? "Bring a friend if you're too nervous to go alone!"

Thank you, Daniela, for your energy and dedication working in the watershed. You inspire us!

If you or a student you know is interested in our Student Stewardship Program, please contact Kate Berlin at fosceducation@gmail.com.

Arts in the Watershed

The Caruana Crew

Hayes Caruana (15) and his siblings grew up in the Sausal Creek Watershed. "Joaquin Miller Park means a lot to my family because we grew up hiking there and we were able to feel a lot more connected to our environment and our community. We would play hide and seek or tag in the park, and it was a great way for my siblings and me to bond."

Earlier this spring, Hayes and his father, Ken, teamed up with FOSC and other volunteers for a restoration workday in Joaquin Miller park to remove invasive French broom at the western-most end of the Sinawik Trail.

Hayes Caruana and his father, Ken, with an impressive pile of French broom removed from the Sinawik Trail.

This area of the park is just downslope from an incredibly bio-diverse, serpentine grassland that supports a lot of California native and endemic plant life. Keeping the French broom from "rounding the corner" and taking over the grassland is important for protecting that natural ecosystem and at the same time reduces the wildfire hazard close to the neighboring houses on Woodside Glen Ct.

Equipped with a weed wrench, gloves, and ambition, Hayes tackled a dense stand overhanging both sides of the trail that created an obstacle for hikers and bikers. After a few hours of the Caruana duo focusing on this section, the trail was passable, with the sunlight shining in.

Hayes and brother, River (13), collaborated on a haiku about French broom, inspired by this workday, while sister Harper (11) submitted a nature drawing of a turkey tail laden tree. Thank you Caruana crew for your stewardship and creativity at the park you love!

Submit your Art in the Watershed

FOSC Communications

Our Listserv is Back in Action!

A few of you recently received an unprompted "you have been unsubscribed" message from our Listserv, but we are happy to report it is back in action, issue resolved!

We use this communication channel to send messages about volunteer opportunities, community events, and other creek and watershed related news. If you would like to subscribe to the FOSC Listserv or one of our other communications (native plant sale updates, social media, etc.) please click below.

Sausal Creek News

Event Calendar

View the FOSC Events Calendar for details

To keep our community safe, please come prepared to wear a mask and social distance.

Restoration Workday in Joaquin Miller Park

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

See calendar for meeting point.

Bridgeview Trailhead Workday

*RSVP Required*

Sundays in July, 9-11 a.m.

Bridgeview Pollinator Garden

Native Plant Nursery Volunteer

Drop-In Hours

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Wednesdays in July 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 9 and 23, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Friends of Sausal Creek Native Plant Nursery

Restoration Workday in Dimond Canyon

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Saturday, July 9 and 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Meet at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park.

Beaconsfield Canyon Restoration Workday

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Beaconsfield Canyon, Montclair

Sausal Creek Trail Stewardship Crew

*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more

Sunday, July 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Grazing goats at the nursery—A pastoral scene.

We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!

Join us for one of our workdays this July.

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.