August 19, 2009
SPAWN recently realized our dream to create a watershed-based plant nursery to grow local genetic-stock of plants for our coho and steelhead habitat restoration projects.
It's been a busy three years since we got started! And all our successes are a direct result of the tireless dedication and generous support of our community in the San Geronimo Valley!!
At our first nursery retreat this past spring we took some time to reflect back on what we have achieved. We, the SPAWNers (volunteers), staff, and Watershed Steward Project (WSP) Interns:
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* Created a Lagunitas Creek Watershed Seedbank, the only one of its kind to date, and a continuous work in progress;
* Grow and tend over 4,000 native plants (trees, shrubs, and perennial wildflowers) of over 40 different species/yr;
* Forged partnerships with local businesses and agencies to provide our diverse, locally grown stock for their needs;
* Created an outdoor classroom for school groups that visit us each year to learn about Marin's salmon and on-the-ground habitat restoration;
* Provide multiple nursery internship opportunities to train the next generation of Watershed Stewards and restorationists; and
* Created a space that showcases demonstration raingardens and a roofwater harvesting systems and utilizes recycled materials as much as possible.
Our nursery now serves as a vibrant center for our community of restorationists, where we meet each week to plan and prepare for community projects and brainstorm and share restoration techniques. Above all, the nursery is a living demonstration of the generosity and passion of all the neighbors and volunteers who have contributed over the years to help build this program dedicated to coho restoration.
The Sprouting...How it all Began
With a small seed grant in hand, our biggest challenge at the start was to find a central location in our community where we could set up a shadehouse and greenhouse to grow the diversity of native species we envisioned. We put out the word, and not too long after a young Valley family stepped forward offering us space on a ¼-acre parcel they owned in the town of Lagunitas.
With funds secured, a space to set up, and a hard-working volunteer intern, we got right to work in the summer of `06!
First, we cleared all the non-native French Broom that blanketed the parcel.
Second, volunteers and our nursery neighbors jumped in to help us erect our portable 42×15-ft shadehouse.
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And last (but not least), an AWESOME group of dedicated SPAWNers and Americorp Watershed Stewards stepped forward to staff the nursery weekly year-round to collect seeds and cuttings, nurture the next generation of natives, and train the hundreds of volunteers that come through each year to learn about and assist with plant propagation.
And we keep growing.... Last winter we installed a 2,800-gallon roofwater harvesting system as well as a showcase 1,000 sq-ft raingarden at the nursery to demonstrate ways to reduce runoff impacts from impervious surfaces, replenish groundwater, and provide a summer irrigation supply.
Based on these successes, SPAWN is now seeking seed funds to launch a 2nd nursery downstream where we will work to grow natives for floodplain restoration efforts in partnership with the Point Reyes National Seashore. We would love your help in this effort!
Every Drop Counts--SPAWN's Rainwater Harvesting Program
One thing is crystal clear to those of us working with the public in the realm of water conservation: their imagination has been captured by the re-emerging practice of rainwater harvesting, a practice that if widely implemented
also comes with huge potential for watershed restoration!
With the recent intense fire-seasons, drought seasons, and overall scarcity of clean, freshwater for our young salmon and human communities, SPAWN (and our partner organizations) have been inundated with public interest in these innovative and ecologically-sensitive, smaller-scale harvesting techniques to reduce stormwater impacts while also boosting local water supplies in lieu of costly pipelines and desal plants and damaging instream diversions.
Clean Water for Coho and Ourselves...
For SPAWN, it really all began back in the summer of '06 when we received an EPA Clean Water Act grant to build a model project demonstrating practices to reduce runoff from buildings and stormwater-induced scouring of Larsen Creek, a small, 2-mile long headwater tributary at the Lagunitas School that is home to more wild coho salmon in a given year than the entire Russian River basin. Called the "Lagunitas School Rainwater Harvesting Project," hundreds of Bay Area residents, agency staff, and consultants have toured the project since its inception to learn how to implement similar projects themselves. And each and every time we tour the site with new (and returning) groups of people we see the sparks of inspiration ignite!
It was here that a local movement focused on shifting Marin's negative and wasteful perception of stormwater to a perception of it as the important resource it really is, was born.
Last year, SPAWN ramped up our efforts in a partnership with the Marin Community Foundation to promote, build, and showcase rainwater harvesting projects across our County, thereby serving to inspire more and more people to adopt these practices. Through this successful pilot program, we reached out to the public through media and surveys, performed over 62 landowner site consultations, and implemented 18 new projects at residences and schools. We also hosted sold-out raingarden workshops and roofwater harvesting project tours, so this Fall we have scheduled more! Once the rains arrive we will also be planting our "Every Drop Counts" raindrop-shaped demonstration garden at SPAWN's headquarters to demonstrate ways to treat driveway runoff while also providing native habitat for wildlife and pollinators. The garden will be irrigated with roofwater. Check out our calendar at http://spawnusa.org/ to join us for this project and/or the tours and workshops.
2009 Creek Naturalist Training Workshop Celebrates its 9th Year!
On October 10th and 11th we will be hosting our 9th Creek Naturalist Training Workshop and continuing the tradition of empowering salmon activists and watershed ambassadors to lead salmon-viewing walks for the public in the winter and to engage the larger community in watershed restoration and protection.
WHAT: The Bay Area's premier weekend-long training in coho salmon and steelhead ecology, grassroots conservation, environmental education and outdoor leadership, and a general meeting of the minds of West Marin's top creek naturalists. The workshop will include both seminars with guest speakers and a Lagunitas Watershed field-tour.
Prior participants have included agency staff, schoolteachers, watershed groups, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, community activists, students, neighbors, and friends. Anyone with a passion for wild salmon and watersheds who is interested in sharing their passion and knowledge with others is encouraged to participate!
WHERE: SPAWN Headquarters, Olema, CA (West Marin County)
HOW? Cost is $35 to cover costs of materials. Reservations are required as spaces fill quickly! Please contact Chris@Tirn.Net, 415-663-8590 x102
For more info on how you can get involved, or tips on how to start a nursery in your home watershed, contact Paola@Tirn.Net, 415-663-8590 ×111.
More Information About
Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN)
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TOC for Forest & River News, Summer 2009