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Friend us on Facebook!
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Thanks to the Santa Cruz Patagonia Outlet for a recent $2500 donation to CWC. Because YOU voted for us, CWC won the top prize in Patagonia's Voice Your Choice Awards. Thanks to this awesome retailer, and thanks to you for your votes!
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Hello Friends of the Coastal Watershed Council, Recently I was listening to a webinar focused on how much we're able and willing to give to causes we believe in. Leading the conversation were two graduate students who have pledged to give 10% of their stipend to charity. That's impressive, as most college students have limited disposable income. What's more impressive, however, is that the two have pledged to give half of their income once they start their careers after graduation! In starting Giving What We Can, they make a compelling case that, relative to the rest of the world, we really can offer more than we first think to
support causes we believe in. I was inspired by their efforts, and motivated by the conversation, so I'm giving more than I used to. What causes do you believe in? How are you showing your support? Even during challenging times, can you offer more than you have in the past? At the Coastal Watershed Council, we do somewhat obscure stuff. Everybody loves the ocean, many of us care for the environment, but who talks about watersheds? We do, and we're trying to generate more interest in stormwater issues. We're trying to teach people how urban runoff affects the natural environment that support our local
economy and special quality of life. Can you volunteer for Snapshot Day this year? Can you donate money to CWC's efforts to monitor local creeks on this May 7 event, our 12th annual Snapshot Day? Check out what these college students have to say, and give some careful thought to how you can help CWC preserve and protect coastal watersheds. Then ask us how we're using your donation. We want to make sure you're aware how your donation will make a difference. See you soon!
Greg Pepping
Executive Director
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Snapshot Day: May 7, 2011 - A Call For Volunteers!
Snapshot Day is almost here and we need your help!
Now in its 12th year, the Central Coast Regional Snapshot Day provides an annual "snapshot" view of the health of the rivers and streams that flow into the Monterey Bay. In partnership with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and hundreds of community volunteers (that's you!) stream waters throughout the central coast of California are sampled for bacteria, nutrients and numerous field measurements during this one-day event.
With your help, Snapshot Day continues to provide resource agencies, local governments and community groups with valuable data to protect and improve the health of our local streams.
Be part of the action! Come on out on Saturday, May 7 and play a key role in your community as stewards of our watersheds.
Trainings will be held on the following dates (please plan to attend one training):
Santa Cruz: Sunday, May 1, 12-3 pm at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, Public Meeting Room, 365 Lake Avenue, Suite A (next to CWC offices)
Monterey: Saturday, April 30, 12-3 pm at REI in Marina
San Mateo: Monday, May 2, 6-8 pm at the San Gregorio General Store
Cambria: Tuesday, May 3, 5-7 pm
To get involved, please contact the CWC at (831) 464-9200 or djch...@coastalws.org.
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CWC Introduces New Interns
 CWC would like to welcome two new interns to the fold. Christina Richardson and Kwai Philpott, both UCSC students, will be assisting CWC staff during the spring quarter with Snapshot Day and CWC's USEPA project with ALBA monitoring Carneros Creek.
Christina is a 4th year marine biology major who is very excited to join the CWC team. She plans to attend graduate school researching freshwater ecology and conservation, making her internship at CWC an excellent fit. Christina looks forward to the hands-on learning opportunties and field experience that she will have during her time with CWC.
Kwai is a 3rd year environmental studies and biology major who loves being outdoors. Besides her studies and internship with CWC she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and rock climbing. Welcome aboard ladies!
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In spite of all the March rain...Water Conservation still a priority!
With summer approaching, water use will surely increase around the state.2011 has so far been a pretty rainy year, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still be mindful about your water use. Installing rainwater catchment systems and reducing your  water use by planting native, drought-tolerant plants are just a few ideas to reduce your impact. For more ideas, check out CWC's Stewardship Toolkit.
The City of Santa Cruz is "catching" on with their Rain Barrel Program. A 65 gallon Moby Rain barrel was available at a low price of $50 (regular price is $149). With almost 200 barrels sold around Santa Cruz, the Water Conservation Office ran out of barrels! If you didn't get yours this spring, look for the program starting up again in the fall.
Sentinel article on water conservation |
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Carneros Creek Project Heads Into Spring
April begins our fifth month performing water quality monitoring on Carneros Creek. So far this month has been relatively dry compared to an incredibly wet and busy March. In fact, numerous storms during the month brought a total of 6.1" of rain to the area by March 31. During several monitoring events the creek rose to amazing levels and periodically overflowed the banks at the most upstream site at the Johnson Road bridge. Also during that time, the wetlands at Sill Road that are part of the Wetland Restoration Project were completely inundated with water.
We offer a very big thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who have given their time to help out while collecting valuable data for this ALBA project on Carneros Creek. And an especially warm thank you to those who came out last minute during some wet and high flow conditions!
We expect the program to run through late May/early June and still have some dates needing volunteer help. Contact Debie Chirco-Macdonald at (831) 464-9200 or djch...@coastalws.org to participate.
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 Farmer's Market
CWC will be participating in the Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market 2011 Earth Day Celebration.
CWC will join local farmers and other environmental groups at the 2nd annual event. On Wednesday, April 20, from 1:30 to 6:30, come down to the downtown Santa Cruz farmer's market to support CWC and other local groups. The focus of this year's event is the use of plastic, particularly plastic bags, and their impact on the environment. CWC will have a booth where you can visit with staff and learn more about our work!
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B-WET Update
CWC's Get Outdoors (GO!) Program is a continuing success. Landmark Elementary teachers are running their own watershed lessons during their first of two support years. All teachers were given an activities binder full of resources used throughout the three full program years at the school. CWC will provide support to all Landmark first grade classes during a field trip to the Watsonville Slough in May.
 Alianza Charter School has enthusiastically embraced the GO! Program. The 4th, 5th and 6th graders are enjoying exciting hands-on lessons presented by CWC staff. CWC will be participating in the annual Children's Day event at the school on April 21st. We will feature the 3-D
watershed model and some fun activities for students and their families at our booth. We are also organizing a creek clean-up at Alianza to create an outdoor learning space for all students at the school.
New Brighton Middle School students will get to visit Nobel Gulch at the end of April, and the recent flooding of Capitola will surely be discussed.
 | | Captitola Avenue turns into Noble Gulch "River" |
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Interesting Links
 No doubt you know about fish farming. Nearly half the fish we consume globally is "farm raised" in cages or pens that can hold thousands of animals at once and are typically kept in lakes or coastal waters. This efficiency exacts a toll: the sewage generated by fish farms, and the nutrients and antibiotics that are pumped into them, pollutes the local environment, and the diseases and parasites that thrive among the crowded, farmed fish readily spread to wild ones.
But imagine a different model. What if, instead of being factory farmed like veal, fish could be let out to pasture like old-school cattle? Check out: Home on the Fish Range
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