M A Y 2 0 2 2
On April 7, when Oakland's temperature hit the YTD high of 86° F, the canopy shade in Dimond Canyon and tranquil Sausal Creek offered respite from the heat.
Photo by Kate Berlin.
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 Community Science Opportunity
SOD Blitz
Come out and participate in a world-class community monitoring program that detects disease and identifies areas for proactive management of our oak trees. Sign up for this year's Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Blitz!

This annual community science effort led by the U.C. Berkeley Forest Pathology Laboratory is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming East Bay SOD Blitz happening May 21-23.

Sample pick-up and drop-off are at the U.C. Berkeley West Crescent collection point. To register and get more information, please visit www.sodblitz.org.

You have many choices of where to survey, but we hope you'll survey in the Sausal Creek Watershed. Reach out to FOSC Restoration Manager, Ella Matsuda, who will work with you to choose a location. Hope to see you out there!
Explore the Watershed
Learn about Yampah: An Important Native Plant and Resource
Yampah is a versatile green and resource for many different Native peoples. Closest to the Sausal Creek Watershed are the Huichin Ohlone people whose traditional territory reaches across much of the East Bay.

While yampah's above ground appearance may look like parsley or poison hemlock (take caution, the latter is toxic to animals and humans), there is more to this plant than meets the eye. The greens of yampah can be eaten, however traditionally harvesting the tubers growing below the ground has been the main culinary use.
Friend of the Month
Earth Day Volunteers
A big THANK YOU to all who joined us for Earth Day weekend! It was heartwarming to see folks come out with their families, friends, and classmates and work together at eight sites, caring for the watershed in community with others. Current and former mayors of Oakland, Libby Schaaf and Jean Quan, respectively, kicked the celebration off right with opening remarks at Dimond Park.

The watershed was bubbling with new and returning stewards, knowledge sharing, laughter, hard work, and satisfying results. Check out the stats below and some of the highlights caught on camera.

We are grateful to La Farine-Dimond and Peet's Coffee & Tea-Dimond for generously donating delicious pastries and coffee to sustain the volunteer force at the Dimond sites.
Above: Video of the Dimond Park and Dimond Canyon action by Tom Coroneos.

Below: Mayor Libby Schaaf and former Mayor Jean Quan, volunteers, and some of the founding Friends of Sausal Creek.
If you would like to nominate a Friend of the Month, contact fosceducation@gmail.com.
Kudos Corner
Piedmont Community Service Crew
Piedmont Community Service Crew (PCSC) is a youth-led organization that inspires teenage crew members to actively uplift the broader community through service events. A group of PCSC teens and founder/advisor Ken Li came out to Joaquin Miller Park last month for a restoration workday in the redwood understory.

These teens and other volunteers of the day tackled the invasive holly challenge like pros, removing about 20 cubic yards worth of the woody weed. PCSC youth are responsible not only for major sweat equity at restoration days in the watershed, but have also contributed large scale projects—namely rebuilding the dirty pot shed at the nursery a year and a half ago. They are already dreaming up future projects for this summer in collaboration with FOSC.

Thank you PCSC for all you do in the watershed! Find out more about their mission and impact here.
Arts in the Watershed
The Great Dimond Oak
Bill Mastin shared with us his beautiful sketch and reflection about what he and others called the Mother Oak in Dimond Park. Click here to read more and to get a closer look.
Event Calendar
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, May 7 and 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Meet at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park.

Bridgeview Trailhead Workday
Sundays in May, 9-11 a.m.
Bridgeview Pollinator Garden

Native Plant Nursery Volunteer
Drop-In Hours
*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more
Wednesdays in May 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 and 28, 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, May 14 and 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Meet at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park.

SOD Blitz - East Bay Locations
Saturday - Monday, May 21-23

Sausal Creek Trail Stewardship Crew
*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more
Sunday, May 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Beaconsfield Canyon Restoration Workday
*RSVP Required* for groups of four or more
Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Beaconsfield Canyon, Montclair
Freshly mulched Fern Ravine Trail on Earth Day.
We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!
Join us for one of our many workdays this May.
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. 
Connect with us:
Contact:

Anna Marie Schmidt
Executive Director
510-501-3672 

Ella Matsuda
Restoration and Education Manager

Jay Cassianni
Restoration and Nursery Manager
510-325-9006

Rosa Nelson
Outreach and Stewardship Intern

Kate Berlin
Communications and Restoration Intern
Photo Credits: Kate Berlin, Anna Marie Schmidt, Rob Leidy, Mark Rauzon, Tim Vendlinski, Dee Rosario, www.granadanativegarden.org