News
At the GGNRA BIG YEAR Endangered Species Day celebration Sunday, over 40 people got to see the elusive Tidewater Goby in the species’ critical habitat at Rodeo Lagoon! Also, the prizes for the winners of the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year were announced!
First Place: $500 gift certificate to either Eagle Optics or REI!
Runner up: $250 gift certificate to either Eagle Optics or REI!
In addition, both the first and second place will receive complimentary annual memberships from each of the GGNRA Endangered species Big Year’s partner organizations.
So log onto the Big Year website now and check out the species pages, upcoming events, and checklist!
State Parks Off the Hook
California State Parks Foundation
On Wednesday, May 14, the Governor's May Revise contained unexpected good news for the state park system. He reversed his original stance to close 48 state parks and reduce lifeguard staffing on 16 state beaches by "finding" $11.8 million in General Fund dollars, and by requiring the Dept to raise $1.5 million through fee increases.
But the fight is not over and the Save Our State Parks campaign is not ceasing. For one, the Legislature needs to approve this proposal from the Governor. And secondly, while this is an important current-year fix, it does not fix the systemic problem. This proposal clearly illustrated how underfunded the state park system is and how precarious its long-term health is.
New Spills Hit the Bay
Baykeeper
Last Wednesday, May 14, a tug boat in the Carquinez Strait hit a gasoline pipeline near the Tesoro refinery in Martinez, spilling gasoline into the Bay. Not long after, a sewage overflow from a treatment plan in Marin sent 64,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater into Raccoon Strait.
Baykeeper was on the scene of the gas spill, closely monitoring their response and they are now investigating the details of the sewage spill into Raccoon Strait. For more information about the events go to Baykeeper's website.
Snowy Plover Outreach Volunteers Needed
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the world’s largest urban National Park systems encompassing 80,000 acres of California coastal landscape visited by 17 million people each year. The Golden Gate National Parks also hold more threatened and endangered species than any other national park (33!), and this project aims to spread awareness of one of those species, the threatened Snowy Plover.
Click here for the full position description.
May 31 - June 1
12 pm - 7 pm
Jack London Square, Oakland
Organized by the largest ever coalition of West Coast salmon advocates (including commercial, recreational and tribal fishermen, conservation organizations, chefs, restaurants, scientists, and many others), SalmonAid will raise awareness of the plight of west coast salmon populations, the rivers and streams they spawn in, and the many coastal and inland communities that rely on salmon for their livelihoods and survival. Live music, food and drink, information booths and much more.
Volunteer Opportunities
Wednesday May 21
Presidio Park Stewards @ Inspiration Point
CNPS @ McLaren Park
Presidio Nursery
Thursday May 22
Crissy Field Landscape
Haight Ahsbury Stewards @ Tank Hill
Lands End Stewards
Friday May 23
Presidio Plant Patrol @ Fort Point
Saturday May 24
Quail @ Harding Park
Alvord Lake Beautification
Corona Heights Grassland
Presidio Park Stewards @ Baker Beach
Fort Funston
Colma Creek
Lands End Stewards
Presidio Nursery
For more information, contact info, and directions to natural areas go to the Community Calendar on the Nature in the City website.
Photos Margo Bors
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Photo Margo Bors
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Nature in the City is a project of Earth Island Institute, a501(c) California non profit public benefit corporation.
More Eco News and Events
ACT locally, ADVOCATE globally
It's Not Easy Growing Green
Treehugger
Hemp has a huge eco-potential - it can replace cotton in many places and it uses a lot less water and pesticides. But it's not always easy, as seen in this Photo of the Day from Treehugger, where a North Dakota hemp farmer tries to explain that his crops are not for smoking.
Senate & House Pass Farm Bill
The House of Representatives and Senate overwhelmingly passed the 2008 Farm Bill on Thurday, May 15. The bill makes real gains in subsidy reform and provides desperately needed new funds for conservation, nutrition, and healthy and local foods. Although the bill does not include all the reforms pushed for, there is no question it is decisively better than the alternative—an extension of current policies. For more information about what is included in the new bill visit the American Farmland Trust.
The Giant Salmon Hits the Road
The Save Our Wild Salmon National Road Show left Seattle on April 10, 2007 with a 25' fiberglass salmon in tow. They will be traveling 10,000 miles, through more than 30 cities, across the country to Washington D.C. to bring attention to the Northwest salmon crisis and to make a call for national solutions. They already hit the San Francisco Bay Area, but follow the rest their journey on the Save Our Wild Salmon blog!
