Upcoming Meetings & Events

Send your announcements to Sandy Scoggin at sscoggin@sfbayjv.org

4th International Partners In Flight Conference
Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats, and People

February 13-16, 2008
McAllen Convention Center
McAllen, Texas

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The Coastal Society’s 21st International Conference
Coastal Footprints
Minimizing Human Impacts,
Maximizing Stewardship

Sunday, June 29 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, California

Conference website

The Coastal Society is an organization of private sector, academic, and government professionals and students dedicated to actively addressing emerging coastal issues by fostering dialogue, forging partnerships, and promoting communication and education.

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Restore America's Estuaries
4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration

October 11-15, 2008
Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, Rhode Island

Restore America's Estuaries is pleased to announce the Call for Dedicated Sessions, Presentations and Posters for the 4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration - Creating Solutions through Collaborative Partnerships. Proposals are due January 31, 2008.

The Conference Program will address all aspects of coastal and estuarine habitat restoration, in all habitats and at all scales. Habitat restoration - manipulation of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning self-sustaining natural or historic structure and functions to former or degraded habitat offers great promise for reversing trends of habitat loss and degradation and is a crucial component of comprehensive ecosystem restoration, protection and management.

Visit their web site for complete information about the conference: www.estuaries.org.

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Advanced Wetland Delineation
2.5 day course, Thursday, Friday, Saturday June 12, 13, 14, 2008
Cost: $535
Prerequisites: Basic Wetland Delineation Course

This course will expand upon the wetland delineation principles discussed in the basic wetland delineation course. The course will focus on implementing the delineation procedures described in the Arid West and Western Mountains, Valleys and Coast Supplemental Delineation Manuals. Students will learn how to document vegetation, soil, and hydrology using Comprehensive Wetland Delineation techniques. Upon completion of the course students will be able to develop a wetland hydrology monitoring program, determine plant species composition and percent cover using transect sampling/direct sampling techniques, and analyze soil characteristics useful in wetland delineation using field and laboratory techniques. In addition, the course will discuss the new wetland delineation submittal requirements established by the Army Corps of Engineers to determine if identified wetlands and waters are federally-regulated according to the SWANCC and the Rapanos/Carabell Supreme Court decisions. This course will not cover how evaluate a "significant nexus" according to the June 5, 2007 guidance issued by the Corps. At this time, it appears that the Army Corps and EPA have determined that every drainageway has a "significant nexus" no matter how small or far away from the traditional navigable water. Rather, the course will describe methods and procedures for collecting and presenting the data requested by the Army Corps. Such information will include how to determine stream order, relevant reach, ascertain if a drainage is a relatively permanent water, and how to document physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the relevant reach. Any recent changes to the Army Corps wetland delineation verification procedures that arise due to public review and comment will also be discussed.

Class format: 50% lecture and 50% field demonstration
Instructor: Tim DeGraff
Location: RTC Campus

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Wetland Bird Ecology
1 day course, Friday June 20, 2008
Cost $215

This course will provide an overview of the ecology of bird species breeding and wintering in the San Francisco Estuary. It will include an introduction to methods developed to study these populations in the
context of wetland restoration monitoring, including population censuses and food web studies. The course is designed for those with minimal or basic knowledge of ecological concepts and bird identification.

Instructors: Hildie Spautz and Letitia Grenier, PhD
Location: RTC campus

For more information and to register please see our website at http://online.sfsu.edu/~wetlands/
Or contact Program coordinator Aimee Good at wetlands@sfsu.edu, 415-819-2074

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The Wildlife Society 15th Annual Conference
November 8-12, 2008
Miami, Florida

Call for Contributed Papers and Posters: deadline March 14, 2008

Submission of contributed papers and posters are invited on topics of wildlife science, management, conservation, education, or policy within the broad theme of Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship through Science and Education.

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126th American Ornithologists' Union Meeting,
the 78th Cooper Ornithological Society Meeting,
and the 28th Society for Canadian Ornithologists Meeting

August 6-9, 2008,
Portland, Oregon

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SUDDEN OAK DEATH PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT TRAINING SESSIONS

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) infestations have increased over the past year, making the demand for preventative treatment training sessions greater than ever before. Responding to this need, free workshops will be offered on the UC Berkeley campus March – July on the second Wednesday of each month. The 2-hour field sessions will be held rain or shine, and are intended for all interested parties, including media. Sessions will cover basic SOD information, integrated pest management approaches to managing SOD, how to select candidate trees for treatment, and proper preventative treatment application.

When: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 | Wednesday, April 9, 2008 | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 | Wednesday, July 9, 2008

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Tolman Hall “Portico”
Hearst Avenue at Arch/Le Conte
(a short block past the Oxford St.-Hearst Ave. intersection at the NW corner of campus)
University of California
Berkeley, CA

“The Sudden Oak Death epidemic in California is at an all-time high. Currently there is only one preventative treatment registered for use in California on oaks and tanoaks. When applied properly, this treatment can help to protect susceptible trees from becoming infected. Anyone dealing with Sudden Oak Death should come to a session and decide if this preventative treatment could be useful for their situation,” said Matteo Garbelotto, UCCE Specialist in Forest Pathology and Mycology, UC Berkeley.

Caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, Sudden Oak Death is severely impacting oaks and tanoaks throughout 14 coastal California counties, from Monterey County, north to Humboldt County. Since the mid-1990s, P. ramorum has killed millions of oak and tanoak trees in California, and countless more are currently infected.

Pre-registration is required for these free training sessions, and space is limited. CEU credits have been applied for with both DPR and ISA (2.0 units). To register, email SODtreatment@nature.berkeley.edu, and provide your name, phone number, affiliation (if applicable), and the date for which you are registering. For more information on the training sessions or on Sudden Oak Death issues, contact Katie Palmieri at (510) 847-5482 or Palmieri@nature.berkeley.edu.

Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm

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Bird Film Festival Submissions Sought

The Golden gate Audubon Society is putting together a film festival night of bird films and are seeking submissions. If any of you have films about birds – especially short films – please contact Eli Saddler, esaddler@goldengateaudubon.org, (510) 843-6551. As long as there’s a bird in the film and it’s a quality product, we might be interested in including it in our lineup for the night (TBA). If we get enough submissions, we might schedule two nights. Right now, we’re just putting the word out for this event and hope we attract some good films.

If you have recommendations, please contact me with them, but we need to find films that we can have permission to show at our event so major films might not work.

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Big River Stewards Work Weekend at Big River and the Mendocino Woodlands

Join the Big River Stewards program of the Mendocino Land Trust and the Mendocino Woodland Camp Association for a work weekend at Big River and the Mendocino Woodlands on April 26th and 27th.

www.mendocinolandtrust.org

Come stay a night at the historic Mendocino Woodlands Camp in the redwoods and help with restoration projects at Big River. Complimentary lodging will be provided to volunteers in rustic private cabins at the Mendocino Woodlands Camp, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

In 2002, the Mendocino Land Trust organized the acquisition of the 7,334-acre former industrial logging property and turned it over to California State Parks. Big River, home to endangered Coho Salmon and threatened Steelhead Trout, is also one of the longest undeveloped estuaries in Northern California. Since then, the Big River Stewards have been working to remove invasive plants (323 hours in 2007), control erosion (175 hours in 2007) and monitor avian and aquatic resources (847 hours in 2007).

On the Saturday workday (11am-4pm) we’ll remove invasive English Ivy from a mature stand of redwoods bordering Big River.

On Saturday night, a complimentary dinner will be served in the historic Camp One dining hall. Event sponsors include Harvest Market, Corners of the Mouth Natural Foods, Frey Organic Vineyards and Waste Management Inc.

On Sunday, April 27th, volunteers will head to Big River Beach to remove invasive Ammophila (or European Beach Grass) from this scenic beach located between the Big River estuary and the historic village of Mendocino.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Big River Stewards Coordinator Matt Coleman at 707-962-0470 or e-mail mcoleman@mendocinolandtrust.org. Lodging is limited to 25 participants

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EXPLORE THE LAGUNA!

Laguna Learning Adventures are designed to connect you to the Laguna de Santa Rosa and its watershed.
The Laguna, Sonoma County’s richest area of wildlife habitat, is a complex system of creeks, ponds, marshes, swales, seasonal wetlands, floodplains, riparian forests and uplands. Most of the County’s population lives within the Laguna’s watershed and its health depends on each of us.

Best known by multiple visits, the Laguna changes with the seasons. With winter rains, the Laguna slowly fills, capturing and slowing floodwaters. In the spring vernal pools bloom, plants grow and food and habitat abound for a great variety of wildlife. Warm summer and fall days are also times of growth and seed production, thus forming a variety of food webs and interconnections.

Many of these classes take place on properties that are not usually open to the public. We are fortunate to have permission to access these sites along with the opportunity for a special look at important habitats. Unless otherwise noted, walks are under 2.5 miles, mostly flat but over uneven terrain.
Some of the adventures in this brochure are docent-led, others are taught by local experts or Laguna Foundation staff and scientists. Each leader shares a love and a commitment to the Laguna. We hope you enjoy your explorations and develop a love of the Laguna as well!

Wetland Topography – Swales & Hummocks
with Denise Cadman
Saturday, May 17 • 9 AM – Noon • $20

Seemingly flat stretches of the Santa Rosa Plain are actually subtly contoured. Sometimes depressions in the land form isolated pools, other times, the depressions are connected by swales. Hummocks are the slightly elevated clumps of vegetation or soil. Come learn how the landscape effects the movement of water and what it all means to the plant and animal life of the area. We will visit and hike around the Stone Farm swale and hummock project, exploring and learning along the way.

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INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY: MAY 10, 2008

The conservation theme this year is Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats and People

International Migratory Bird Day 2008 is your chance to celebrate birds and their conservation. Officially scheduled on May 10th this year, events are taking place from the Yukon to Central America. If you're organizing an event, be sure to check out our website to register and for materials and information. If you want to participate in an event, take a look at our Explorer's Map to find one close to you.

For more information, please visit: www.birdday.org
To find events in your area, please visit: http://www.birdiq.com/journey/index.html

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Wildlife Habitat Council Conference
Restoring Greenspace: Ecological Reuse of Contaminated Properties in EPA Region 9

Event Flier [32 KB PDF]

May 14-15, 2008
Hilton Concord Hotel
1970 Diamond Boulevard
Concord, California 94820

Event website: http://www.wildlifehc.org/events/restoringgreenspace.cfm
Event email: greenspace@wildlifehc.org

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) works with its member companies and conservation groups on voluntarily enhancing properties for wildlife habitat benefits and promotes the inclusion of ecological enhancements as part of site restoration. Both the environment and economy will benefit greatly if ecological enhancements could be included in cleanup and restoration programs on a more systematic and efficient basis.

WHC has made significant progress in achieving these goals by means of the Restoring Greenspace series of national conferences and through the development of its Land Restoration Program in collaboration with the U.S. EPA, state agencies and industry. Moving to the regional level, WHC is promoting on-the-ground measures and developing demonstration sites to increase the use of ecological enhancements in restoration efforts. The 2008 conference will present a first-hand look at innovative programs, new initiatives and case studies that highlight the incorporation of ecological reuse practices in site restoration in EPA Region 9.

Back by popular demand, WHC will offer two pre-conference workshops with leading experts on May 13, 2008. These workshops will set the stage for the main goals of the conference and familiarize participants with unique and improved techniques of ecological enhancements. In the Phytoremediation Technologies workshop, leading expert Dr. David Tsao will present different types of phytotechnology systems through hypothetical examples and real world case studies with varied remedial goals, target constituents and impacted media. The concurrent workshop will teach how brownfields, pocket parks, former gas stations, and other small sites can be effectively used to teach ecology and other topics.

The Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance (MSWG) will host one of 36 national dialogues at the 2008 Restoring Greenspace Conference to explore a new era of ecological law as part of their major long-term project known as the Path to Washington.

Attendees participating in both a workshop and the conference can earn up to 2 continuing education units for this meeting. Continuing Education Units will be offered through California State University, Fresno at no charge for attendees.

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Celebrate American Wetlands Month at McNabney Marsh in Martinez

Event Flier [1.5 MB PDF]

Join Mt. View Sanitary District on Saturday, May 17 for a publicopen house event, rain or shine. We have a lot to celebrate, including American Wetlands Month, our 85th anniversary, the enhancement projects in McNabney Marsh, the opening of a new bird observation platform and interpretive panels, and the memorial plaque in honor of Dr. Teng-Chung Wu. Members and friends of the Peyton Slough Wetlands Advisory Committee, including several agencies, local community groups and companies, are also joining us to celebrate McNabney Marsh.

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Endangered Species Day Celebration

Sunday, May 18th, 2008: 11:30AM-1:30PM, FREE

The GGNRA contains more endangered species than any other national park in continental North America. Come celebrate these species with the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year for an Endangered Species Day Celebration! We'll have informational displays about the GGNRA's work to protect these endangered species and the special places they call home. We'll go on a naturalist-led hike to search for the endangered tidewater goby, a small, nest-building fish that calls the GGNRA's Rodeo Lagoon home! Free snacks and drinks will be provided. Sponsored by the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year: www.ggnrabigyear.org

Meet at Mitchell Rd. and Fort Cronkhite in Sausalito
Take public transportation: Muni Bus #76 to Fort Cronkhite Parking Lot

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Bay Area Open Space Council Tenth Annual Open Space Conference

Registration for our Tenth Annual Conference is now open!

Nature Within Reach is what makes the Bay Area so special, yet it also presents us with some of our most pressing challenges as the region continues to grow. Local agriculture, urban parks, water and air quality, climate change, wildlife habitat - there are many important reasons that the Bay Area needs to maintain and increase its system of natural areas.

This year's Conference will feature noted speakers and presentations that will showcase regional planning efforts and demonstrate creative approaches to ensuring both cultural and biological diversity. Learn about transformational leadership involving individuals and groups coming together to change the economic, environmental, and social landscapes of their regions by rediscovering their communities' visions and developing new paths and unconventional alliances to reach their goals.

The Conference will be held on Wednesday, May 21st from 8:00a-4:30p at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco's Presidio. As last year, there will be no conference registration at the door, so you must pre-register. Early registration ends on April 11th, and regular registration ends on May 2nd. The event has reached capacity for the last several years, so make sure to reserve your spot early.

Agenda highlights include speakers on Agriculture, Environmental Education, Biodiversity and Collaboration.

Two Exhibit Halls will be filled with displays about agencies, organizations, professionals and businesses that protect and manage the region's diverse parks and open spaces.Please see our website for more details.

We will also see images from Christopher Beaver's book After the Storm: Bob Walker and the East Bay Regional Park District.

For more detailed information and to register for the conference, click here: http://openspacecouncil.org/conference/annual-conference-2008/

To become an Exhibitor or Sponsor, please use the link above or contact Elizabeth Adam at 415.235.2756 or conference@openspacecouncil.org.

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ECOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Two-Day Workshop for Educators: June 30 and July 1

Event Flier [192 KB PDF]

DAY ONE: CANOES IN SLOUGHS
• Explore the San Francisco Bay by canoe
• Connect environmental education with California content standards
• Workshop discussions include:
• Hands-on introduction to Bay ecology and watershed
education
• Current status of San Francisco Bay water quality
• Impacts of land use and development on the Bay
• Various sources of Bay pollution
• Actions individuals can take to improve the health of the Bay

DAY TWO: RESTORE BAY WETLANDS
• Learn about Bay wetland loss and the importance of wetland
restoration
• Discover and identify native and invasive plant species
• Engage in a hands-on wetland restoration project
• Learn how to provide environmental service-learning for your students

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UPCOMING SAVE THE BAY EVENTS

Why should kids have all the fun?
This summer Save The Bay is offering two unique programs for parents and children. Families can discover the Bay canoeing alongside Arrowhead Marsh in Oakland and paddling through the sloughs of the Palo Alto Baylands. These easy canoe trips will connect families with the Bay and each other. Sign up today for Save The Bay's Family Days and remember all adults must be accompanied by a youth!

• Sign up for Arrowhead Marsh, Saturday, July 26
• Sign up for Palo Alto Baylands, Saturday, August 9

Save The Bay's Education programs in full swing!
So far this school year over 1,800 students have joined Save The Bay to paddle through the wetlands and engage in hands-on Bay education through our Canoes In Sloughs program. And 1,500 students have participated in hands-on restoration projects, planting native seedlings, removing weeds and trash from the Bay shoreline. By the end of this school year, Save The Bay will have inspired nearly 6,000 students to preserve the richness and biodiversity of the Bay's wetland ecosystem.

Learn more about Save The Bay's Education programs.

Summer Workshop available for Teachers
We are currently accepting sign-ups for our two-day Ecology In Education teacher workshop this summer. We encourage teachers to join us for this unique program to learn more about the history, ecology, and current issues facing the Bay, and ways to incorporate Bay education in their teaching.

To sign up contact Alicia Moore at amoore@saveSFbay.org or 510-452-9261 x125.

Green Never Tasted So Good
Make it an eco-licious Earth Day and support Save The Bay at the W Hotel in San Francisco. eco-licious - the first of a number of programs designed to put W San Francisco's best green foot forward - offers an organic drink menu and farm-to-table bites at this eco-chic cocktail hour.

XYZ Bar and W Cafe will feature a selection of eco-friendly organic cocktails and a variety of biodynamic wines and organic beers. During the month of April, a portion of the proceeds generated during the eco-licious cocktail hour will benefit Save The Bay in an effort to raise eco-awareness and celebrate "Earth Day." When
Monday through Friday
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where
XYZ Bar and W Cafe
181 Third St. @ Howard,
San Francisco
415.817.7836

Bay Events

Native Plant Nursery Workday (Oakland) - May 14
Volunteer in our native plant nursery and learn about local, native plants like gumplant, jaumea and salt grass as you help us propagate.

Baylands Native Plant Nursery Workday (Palo Alto) - May 21
Learn about habitat restoration as you help propagate native plants like sea lavender and meadow barley in our on-site nursery. This unique wetland habitat is home to many native species.

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Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change

Portland, Oregon on September 16-18 at the Doubletree Hotel

CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN

There will be a field trip on Monday, September 15. On Friday, September 19 there will be additional workshops sponsored by Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Global climate change will be the primary topic at ASWM's annual conference. Carbon sequestration and wetlands, sea level change, and strategies for managing wetlands in response to long term changes in temperature and precipitation will be important topics. Other related topics will include wetland research priorities, monitoring trends in wetlands and related resources, management strategies, invasive species, biodiversity and policy responses to a changing environment. The purpose of this symposium is to describe challenges, identify opportunities, and share cooperative strategies for protecting, restoring and conserving wetlands in response to climate change. For information, please visit the Wetlands 2008 website or contact Laura at laura@aswm.org or 207-892-3399.

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LagunaKeepers: Meadowlark Riparian Restoration
Saturday, May 10, 9am - noon
*Last workday before summer break*

Join us at Meadowlark Field, to give the recently planted trees and shrubs a little hands-on love!
Location: Meet at the Chevron Station just east of the bridge over the Laguna on Highway 12.
Contact: Catherine at 527-9277 x108 or email: catherine@lagunafoundation.org

Cotati Creek Critters Planting Days
Saturday, May 10, 9am - noon

The Cotati Creek Critters continue to plant native trees, shrubs, sedges and grasses along the Laguna. Other tasks include weeding and mulching to maintain existing plants, plant propagation and tasks in the nursery.

Location: "Ladybug Lot" Cotati City well lot #2 on Lakewood Ave. Please check www.CotatiCreekCritters.info for directions.
Contact: Jenny Blaker at 792-4422 or email: jenny@creeks.cotati.info

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4th Annual California Water Symposium
Saturday 10 May 845a-130p, Wurster Hall Auditorium, UC Berkeley

This symposium presents results from graduate student research in hydrology applied to environmental restoration and conservation in California. It includes a panel discussion by experienced professionals who comment on the student research papers and the broader themes raised by their results. The symposium begins with a talk by a well-known authority on water issues, this year BJ Miller presents "Science and Activism: Fish Protection in the Bay-Delta of California".

Abstracts are now posted for The 4th Annual California Water Symposium at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/222_08.html

The symposium is free and open to the public but to insure there will be a program and coffee for you, please RSVP to kpodolak@berkeley.edu.

Symposium Schedule

845a Welcome
Keynote: Science and Activism: Fish Protection in the Bay-Delta of California by BJ Miller, Consulting Engineer

930a Graduate Student Research Presentations: Impacts of Urbanization on Peak Flow Using Remote Sensing by John Dingman

A Watershed Approach to Urban River Restoration: A Conceptual Restoration Plan for Sausal Creek
Teresa Ippolito, Kristen Podolak, Katie Jagt, Tiago Teixeira, Eike Flebbe

Unpaving the Way to Creek Restoration: EU Water Framework Directive in a US Urban Watershed
Hong Li and Jane Wardani

A Decade of Changes in the Wildcat Creek Flood Control Channel, North Richmond
Ben Ginsberg

Comparing Perspectives on Dam Removal: York Creek Dam and the Water Framework Directive
Justin Lawrence, Josh Pollak and Sarah Richmond

11a Coffee Break

River Restoration for a Socially and Ecologically Devastated Border City
Noah Friedman

Land Cover and Channel Form Change Detection in the Okavango River Watershed
Yu-Ting Huang

Mercury and methylmercury in the San Francisco Bay area: land-use impacts and indicators
Hyojin Kim

Accountability in Emerging Forms of Governance: A Comparison of the California Bay-Delta Process and the Water Framework Directive
Noelle Cole, Tamar Cooper, Sarah Bickel Di Vittorio, Nuno Oliveira

When the levees break: Relief cuts and flood management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Lindsey Fransen, Jessica Ludy, and Mary Matella

1245p Panel Discussion: Lauren Hammack (Prunuske Chatahm), BJ Miller (Consulting Engineer), Manny DaCosta (Alameda County Public Works Agency)

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NAPA COUNTY WATERSHED SYMPOSIUM

Event Document [156 KB PDF]

THURSDAY MAY 22, 2008
COPIA, NAPA, CA

To raise awareness of issues facing Napa County’s watersheds & explore solutions for
improving the health of the watersheds.

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Identifying Wetland Plant Indicator Species (Biol 9350 1.6 CEU)
Friday & Saturday October 10-11, 8:30am-5:00pm
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Michael Vasey

Wetlands Restoration Ecology (BIOL 9395, 1.6 CEU)
Dates: Friday & Saturday Nov. 7-8, 8:30-5:00
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Gretchen Coffman

GIS for Wetlands (BIOL 9100, 1.6 CEU)
Dates: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 14-15 8:30-5:00
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Barry Nickel

2008 CALFED SCIENCE CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - DUE JUNE 6, 2008

The Biennial CALFED Science Conference is a forum for presenting scientific information and ideas relevant to the CALFED Bay-Delta Program’s goals and objectives in the California Bay-Delta, its watershed, and the adjacent coastal ocean. The conference will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center, October 22-24, 2008. The organizers of this 5th Science Conference are seeking presentations in all four of the CALFED Program’s objectives: ecosystem restoration, levee system integrity, water quality, and water supply reliability. The goal of the conference is to provide new information such as results, models, syntheses, analyses to the broad community of scientists, engineers, managers, and stakeholders working on Bay-Delta issues.

The conference program will feature both oral and poster presentations. We encourage individuals to submit abstracts on any appropriate topic, regardless of funding source of the projects being described. All abstracts are due June 6, 2008.

In addition to contributed sessions and poster topics based on the abstracts received, conference participants can propose special oral sessions or poster clusters on topics of particular importance to the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. Special session proposals and abstracts must be submitted by June 6, 2008.

For additional details please visit the conference web site: http://www.science.calwater.ca.gov/conferences/

If you have questions about the oral program or special sessions, please contact the Conference Program Co-Chairs: Debra Denton (denton.debra@epa.gov) or Ted Sommer (tsommer@water.ca.gov).

For questions on posters or poster clusters, please contact the Poster Co-Chairs: Brian Pellerin (bpeller@usgs.gov) or Mary Menconi (mmenconi@dfg.ca.gov).

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BROWN-NICHOLS SCIENCE AWARD NOMINATIONS - DUE JUNE 6, 2008

The Brown-Nichols Science Award has been established to honor the substantive contributions of Dr. Randall Brown and Dr. Frederic Nichols to science, their facilitation of good science by others, and their communication of science to managers and policy makers in the San Francisco Estuary and watershed. The first award recipient will be announced at the 2008 CALFED Science Conference. Nominations are currently being accepted for the award, please see: http://198.31.87.66/sciconf_08/sciconf_bn_award.shtml for details.

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Ocean Protection Council Meeting - May 15, 2008

The next OPC meeting is to be held May 15, 2008, 9 a.m., at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I street, Sacramento, CA. The meeting agenda is available online at http://resources.ca.gov/copc/05-15-08_meeting/ <http://resources.ca.gov/copc/05-15-08_meeting/. Additional supporting documents will be posted prior to the meeting date.

The OPC was established pursuant to the requirements of the California Ocean Protection Act signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004. In addition to my position as chair, the OPC consists of State Lands Commission Chair and State Controller John Chiang; Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda Adams; two legislative members, Senator Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Pedro Nava; and two public members, Susan Golding and Geraldine Knatz. The OPC helps to coordinate and improve the protection and management of California's ocean and coastal resources.

For more information about the OPC, please visit our Web site: http://resources.ca.gov/copc/

Endangered Fish Habitat Restoration

Saturday, June 7, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Join SPAWN staff and volunteers along beautiful Lagunitas Creek to help restore critical streamside habitat and learn about (and see!) endangered coho salmon and steelhead. It is not uncommon to also see wood ducks, pileated woodpeckers, hawks, and other cool creatures while we work along the creek. Wear sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing for weather and gloves. Families welcome! Breakfast, snacks and lunch will be provided. RSVP required: call 415-663-8590 x107 or email Kevin@SpawnUSA.org or Jenny@SpawnUSA.org (email preferred). Meet at SPAWN headquarters, 9255 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Tocaloma, approx. 1 mile west of Devil's Gulch State Park. Sponsored by the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year: www.ggnrabigyear.org.

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Watershed Project Events

Watershed Teaching Tools
Mon.-Fri., Aug. 4-8 at UC Berkeley Field Station, Richmond, 9:30 am-3 pm.
Sliding scale fees: $99/$149/$198.

This 5-day hands-on training gives teachers skills and resources to help them bring high-quality environmental education into the classroom. Topics include:

• Creek, marsh, and watershed ecology of the Bay
• Basic gardening concepts for a healthy watershed
• Reducing pesticides and toxins at home and school
• Pollution prevention and waste reduction
• Integrating and evaluating environmental education activities in the curriculum

Free Resources:

• EXTENSIVE RESOURCE BINDERS
• OPTIONAL CANOE TRIP
• WATERSHED MAPS
• WORM BINS, SEEDS, & PLANTS
• 4 ACADEMIC CREDITS through CSU East Bay
• ELIGIBILITY for $150 stipends and grants
• FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT and much more!

Kids in Marshes
Tues., Aug. 12 at UC Berkeley Field Station, Richmond, 9 am-4 pm.
Sliding scale fees: $49/$74/$98.

EXPLORE THE WORLD of wetlands, and the plants and animals that have adapted to survive in these increasingly rare ecosystems. Discover the dynamics at work in the Bay Area’s remaining marshes, and take home lessons in ecology that K-6 students will value.

Free Resources:

• COURSE READER with marsh activities, water quality monitoring ideas, and other resources
• ELIGIBILITY FOR A FREE MARSH ECOLOGY classroom and field trip program for students
• ACADEMIC CREDIT through CSU East Bay
• ELIGIBILITY for $150 stipends and grants
• FREE for K-6 teachers at West Contra Costa Schools!

FREE After-School Kids Program: Creek Lab
Weds., Apr. 2 – Jun. 11 at Booker T. Anderson Community Center 960 South 47th Street, Richmond
3:30 pm–4:30 pm

LOOKING for a GREAT outdoor science experience for kids and students in South Richmond? They can join our new after-school creek lab. It’s free! They’ll spend 12 weeks with us learning everything they ever wanted to know about creeks through fun field trips and activities.

First session begins April 2nd, but late registration is available.

For more info, visit www.theWatershedProject.org and click on Education Programs. Then go to Public Workshops.

Volunteer for the Shoreline!
Starting in May 2008
Community Work Days, Naturalist Events and Community Presentations

WANT TO HELP IMPROVE the South Richmond Shoreline? Join the Watershed Project, City of Richmond, and East Bay Regional Parks for a series of presentations on bay and shoreline ecology, naturalist walks, and community work days along the South Richmond Shoreline.

Learn about the amazing plants and animals that call this shoreline home. You can take an active role in improving your local environment.

For more info, go to www.theWatershedProject.org and click on Volunteer.

Baxter Creek Cleanup
Sat., Jul. 26 at Booker T. Anderson Community Center 960 South 47th Street, Richmond, 10 am–12 pm

BRING YOUR FAMILY, friends and neighbors, and help clean and green Baxter Creek, South Richmond’s only creek! Help remove trash and weeds in preparation for the fall/winter planting season. Together we can make Baxter Creek an oasis in the heart of South Richmond!

Please wear sturdy shoes, work clothes, and a hat. Bring a reusable water bottle if you have one. Snacks, gloves and tools provided. Children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

For more info, go to www.theWatershedProject.org and click on Volunteer.

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A Conference on Ecosystem Services (ACES) 2008
December 8-11, 2008 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida

ACES will provide a broad and open forum to discuss the latest and most innovative methods, tools, and processes for assessing ecosystem services. Register today for this exciting and innovative conference!

http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ACES

Conference Overview & Purpose

As the issue of ecosystem services and their valuation and location becomes an increasingly important factor in resource management and conservation; decisions relating to prioritizing conservation and development locations, managing public lands, and evaluating the impacts of change are posing new challenges for policy makers. These important decisions require an understanding of the services provided by ecosystems.

The purpose of ACES 2008 is to provide a needed forum for sharing information on state-of-the-art methods, tools, and processes related to ecosystem services. ACES will highlight the importance of ecosystem services in making sustainable natural resource management and urban development decisions. The interdisciplinary nature of ACES will facilitate interactive discussions and networking to create and build partnerships while sharing lessons learned from the field.

Who Should Attend

The Conference is designed to bring together government, non-government, and academic leaders who are interested in natural systems and its relationship with the built environment. Including:

• natural and social scientists
• urban planners
• resource and ecosystem managers
• conservationists
• developers
• policy makers
• other researchers and practitioners who are on the cutting edge of dealing with ecosystem sustainability, economic development, and informed decision making
  

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Alameda County Watershed Forum Meeting

Our next Forum meeting will be on Tuesday June 3rd from 2 to 4 p.m. at the California Coastal Conservancy conference room on the 11th Floor at 1330 Broadway, downtown Oakland. Please note -- this is a change from our usual morning time, due to the unavailability of several key people on the planning committee. I apologize to those of you who cannot make this time.

I will send out an agenda in a couple of weeks. We will be finalizing the draft scope of work that was discussed at the last Forum meeting, talking about funding ideas, brainstorming on possible project ideas for funding, and we expect to have a presentation by one of the creek groups (to be determined). We will also be talking about the latest update on a regional watershed conference to be held in the Bay Area in spring 2009.

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