Funded Projects 1999-2000

Below is a listing of local projects conducted by schools and community groups and funded by MCSTOPPP's Clean-Water Stewardship Grant. For more information, contact Gina Purin at 499-6528.

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Brookside School-Lower
Contact: Marnee Davis, Janet Kopecki, Edieann Fleming
Site: SleepyHollow Creek
Students: 256

Products

• Propagated seeds in biodegradeable paper pots
  

Activities

• Developed organic garden
  
• Compost project designed to eliminate need for synthetic fertilizers
  
• Utilized beneficial insect controls in garden

Brookside School-Upper
Contacts: Joanne Leach, Leslie Lewis, Joan Ow
Site: school garden
Students: 256

Activities

• Expanded garden by 1400 feet
  
• Built garden shed
• Built additional planter boxes
  
• Piloting Jr. Master Gardener Program
  
• Included IPM in garden practices
  

California Native Plant Society - Marin Chapter
Contact: Bob Soost, David Minkler
Sites: Arroyo, Corte Madera and Del Presidio Creeks
Volunteers: 20

Activities

• Revegetated streambank at Park Terrace in Mill Valley with over 140 native plants of at least 35 different species. Plantings occurred both along the immediate creek bank and the high bank of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio.
  
• Many non-natives have been removed from the park.
  
• Level areas of the park have been graded and seeded with yarrow as a drought resistant turf alternative. Run-off from adjacent parkiing lots is now being filtered by wetland plants.
  
• An irrigation system has been installed using volunteer labor to ensure establishment of plants. (Irrigation materials supplied by Department of Fish and Game and City of Mill Valley.)
  

Friends of Corte Madera Creek
Contact: Carole d'Alessio
Site: Corte Madera Creek
Volunteers: 69

Products

• Created full-color plant species cards.
  
• Distributed MCSTOPPP brochures.
  
  
Activities

• Training session for volunteers on evaluating creek's habitat quality using CA Stream Bioassessment Procedure.
  
• Obtained insurance.
  
• Discussion with Nikki Tureen on "Hey Why Have You Killed My Fish? Or How To Talk to Your Neighbor".
  
• Measured stream channel cross sections and took pebble counts of streambed.

Products

• Visual display of creek studies
  
• Entered River of Words contest by submitting artwork


Activities

• Restoration project at Pozzi Ranch
  
• Added bird unit to watershed unit
  
• Comprehensive study of Corte Madera Creek
  
• Continued creek testing
  

Lu Sutton
Contact: Beth Kraft
Site: Walker Creek

Products

• Created garden plots
  
• Created functioning composting system
  
• Storage shed for tools
  
• Created garden guidebook of plants


Activities

• Established grade-level garden plots (e.g. butterfly gardens, native plants, etc.)
  
• Worked with AmeriCorps to learn about garden eco-system
  
• Classes used garden as outdoor learning lab
  
• Parent open-house where students explained importance of chemical-free garden

Products

• Chocolate steelhead bars w/student-made labels were sold to benefit SPAWN
  
• Native Plants quilt w/student made raffle tickets were sold to benefit CA Native Plants Society
  
• Brochure on environment
  
• Save the Newts Signs
  
  Activities
  
• Water quality testing weekly
  
• Pulled broom at Lake Lagunitas an school nature trail
  
• Planted native wildflower, shrubs, grasses and trees on nature trail
  
• Made quilt and chocolate bars
  
• Planted willows at Pozzi Ranch
  
• Raised steelhead in classroom
  
• Started butterfly and bird-friendly garden

Peacock Gap Lagoon
Contact: Suzanne Mabardy
Site: Peacock Gap Lagoon
Volunteers involved: 12

Products

• Educational fliers (2) developed/distributed on reducing pollution in storm drains.
  
• Flier developed/distributed on community meeting.
  
• Educational sign posted at site.
  
  Activities
  
• Environmental survey conducted: 61% didn't know that storm drains flowed to the lagoon; 100% said they don't use fertilizers near the lagoon; top 4 concerns expressed were algae/water quality, insufficient flushing, affect of lagoon on property value, and foul odors from lagoon. 55% of residents responded to survey. 83% of respondents participated in efforts to improve lagoon.

Products

• Made Earth Day singing cassette & involved over 24 schools in Earth Day activities
  Activity sheets were revised to meet state standards
  
  Activities
  
• Conducted 6 docent training programs

Sir Francis Drake High
(SEA-DISC)
Contact: Sue Fox
Sites: Sleepy Hollow and San Anselmo Creeks
Students involved: 20 with 2 adult volunteers

Products


• Developed a video of practices that can be used to educate other teachers.
  
  Activities
  
• Restored 200 meter section of Sleepy Hollow Creek: 160 plants replaced non-natives that were removed, wattles were added to reinforce eroding banks and an irrigation system was added.
  
• Water quality testing occurred at the source and downstream. Benthic macroinvertebrate samplings were taken in the fall and spring.
  
• Interns assisted K-* students in creek restoration projects.

Sobriety High
Contact: Clara MacNamee
Sites: Areas near China Camp, Vintage Oaks, Gallinas Creek and Bel Marin Wetlands
Students involved:42, Volunteers involved: 6

Products

• Position paper on two years of data.
  
  Activities
  
• Monitored water quality weekly at 4 sites in wetland areas over a period of 8 months. The impact of development with respect to the water quality index was explored. The sites investigated were Vintage Oaks (commercial development), Gallinas Creek (residential development), China Camp (undeveloped area looked at a site near a horse ranch and a trail), and Bel Marin Wetlands (re-established).
  
• Sponsored two open houses and panel discussions on environmental issues as they relate to development