Lizards, Linoleum and Lyme

by Andrea Williams

Western fence lizard or bluebelly
(Scleroporus occidentalis)

Every new thing I learn about lizards just reinforces my belief that they are awesome. Growing up in the Bay Area, western fence lizards (Scleroporus occidentalis)—or bluebellies, as they are also known—were everywhere, not just skittering around fences but doing their territorial pushups on rocks or sitting on the stoop catching some sun. I knew then how to catch them with a lasso made from a wild oat stem; that they lost their tails as a defense mechanism; and that the color on their bellies ranged from turquoise to sapphire.

It’s what I have learned in the past few years, though, that really impresses me. Lizards have antibacterial blood. Ticks that feed on lizards (who knew that happens?!) are cleansed of Lyme disease. That’s almost surely why we have so little Lyme disease in California.

One thing lizards cannot do, though, is run on linoleum. We had a lizard stray inside our building at Sky Oaks a little while ago. We tried to shoo it out the front door so it went toward the back, got to the kitchen and all its forward momentum stopped. So I picked it up to take it somewhere it would be safe, checking the blue of its belly and counting the ticks on its neck, silently thanking it for helping to keep me safe too.

The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District tests Pacific Coast ticks (Dermatocentor occidentalis) for the causal agent of Lyme disease, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, in several areas of both counties. They tested hundreds of nymph and adult ticks and found the rate of “positive” ticks at between 2 and 5 percent. You can see the report and more information here. Their website also has additional information on preventing tick bites and how to properly remove a tick if it bites you.

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Endangered Baker’s Larkspur Faces New Challenge

by Jaimie Baxter

This post is the fourth in a year-long series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Read the previous post here.

Baker’s larkspur in bloom near Soulajule Reservoir (Doreen Smith 2000)

When you think of a species in peril, what comes to mind? In the San Francisco Bay Area, most would say the mission blue butterfly (Aricia icarioides missionensis) or the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). These two species are well-known in the Bay Area for their dwindling numbers and declining habitat. The mission blue butterfly was Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s (GGNRA’s) “Species of the Year” in 2011. This meant that educational programs, events and restoration activities throughout the year on GGNRA lands were focused on this sensitive species. As for the coho, these salmon gained front-page real estate in the San Francisco Chronicle more than once for their spectacular spawning rituals. So, what about the lesser-known endangered species? The ones that are not awarded “Species of the Year” but still face habitat threats and alarming declines in population numbers? Endangered species such as the Baker’s larkspur (Delphinium bakeri) have not received the same attention, but they face the same threat of extinction.

The plight of the Baker’s larkspur has been mentioned in past MMWD blog entries, yet much needs to be done to spread the word about this species that only has one small, wild and natural occurrence in the entire world. This population exists on a steep slope in an oak woodland near Soulajule Reservoir in West Marin. Habitat conversion, grazing and roadside maintenance activities have contributed to declining numbers of Baker’s larkspur populations in other areas. Early in 2010, the Marin Municipal Water District, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the UC Botanical Garden partnered to find suitable habitat in which to plant nursery-propagated specimens of the endangered Baker’s larkspur. Along with members of the California Native Plant Society, these partners planted the larkspur at three sites near Soulajule Reservoir. Directly after the planting, monitoring efforts were encouraging, and optimism filled the air for this fragile, blue-and-purple flower.

Holly Forbes of the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden demonstrating how to build a banana slug fence barrier to be placed around Baker’s larkspur planting locations (Jessica Missaghian MMWD 2012)

Unfortunately, the latest reports state that, while some one-year-old plants survive, it’s too early to know if they will continue to survive the years to come. Holly Forbes of the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden says, “The banana slugs are eating the adult plants. I guess the larkspurs are just so tasty we need to find sites the slugs can’t reach.” Banana slugs are native to Marin County, are often yellow in color and sometimes spotted with brown—just like an overripe banana. To them, the Baker’s larkspur is tasty and because of this, MMWD, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the UC Botanical Garden attempted to make banana slug cages to protect planted areas. As Holly mentioned in her recent report, the banana slugs are still making dinner of the larkspurs, unfortunately. So, not only have the Baker’s larkspur faced immense pressure from human disturbance, they are now being preyed upon by banana slugs. When will these attractive wildflowers get a break?

Although the mission blue butterflies and coho salmon get the most attention, there are other species disappearing in our wake, other species such as the Baker’s larkspur. But we’re not giving up! Despite initial problems with predators, we hope to gain the upper hand on the banana slugs and help the Baker’s larkspur survive and flourish.

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A Mother’s Day Thought

by Jaimie Baxter and Janet Klein

The spring season provides us with a plethora of presents—wildflowers, gorgeous weather and new offspring of our favorite wild animals. If you are lucky enough, you may have the opportunity to witness a northern spotted owl fledging and its mother sitting together on in a tree or a doe licking her fawn clean in an open meadow.

Imagine this scenario. It is early morning and you are running along your favorite trail. Your ear buds are in and your running pace is set. You look to your left and East Peak is glowing in the distance. You look right to the open grassland, and suddenly you see a baby fawn sitting all alone in this open field. You are in awe of the cuteness of this small, brown-and-white-spotted creature. You stop running and tiptoe closer to it. As you get closer, you realize that the mother is nowhere in sight. She must have abandoned her young, or worse, been eaten by a mountain lion. Your mind goes into protection mode and you think that someone must do something. Since you are the only one around, you think it’s up to you to take this fragile fawn to an animal rescue center. STOP!

MMWD equipment operator Darrel Patchin returns a “rescued” fawn to the hiding place carefully chosen by its mother before she went off in search of food. This Mother’s Day, please remember that most babies found in the woods are not lost.

Fawn season has kicked off with an unprecedented number of “kidnappings” this year: concerned folks “rescuing” newborns that appear to be completely alone, when mom had simply settled them down for a nap and gone off to graze. Of the fawns brought to WildCare already this year, nearly all appeared hydrated and recently fed, meaning an attentive parent was nearby.

What should you do if you find a fawn alone? Keep going—Mom will re-emerge when no people are around.

If you should happen upon an animal that appears injured, ill or otherwise in need of help, don’t attempt to provide that help yourself. It is never okay to remove a wild animal from its natural home on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Instead, contact the Marin Humane Society at (415) 883-4621. Their staff is prepared to assess the situation, determine if rabies or another disease is potentially involved, and take appropriate action.

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Why is Marin-Friendly Gardening Important?

by Robin McKillop

Perhaps the interconnectedness of gardens, watersheds and people is nowhere more apparent than in Marin. Almost all of our water supply comes from local rainfall, collected from local watershed lands and stored in local reservoirs. Unlike most Californians, people in Marin live in the same watersheds that supply our water, witnessing first-hand the impacts of our activities on our local waterways. It’s apparent that what we do in our gardens has a direct impact on water quality in our local creeks and waterways, and on the plants and animals living here.

Marin Municipal Water District watershed lands total over 21,000 acres, and are home to over 400 species of animals and 900 species of plants, including many rare, threatened and endangered species. The watershed comprises only 0.2 percent of the area of California and five percent of Marin County, yet 15 percent of the state’s native plant species and 50 percent of the county’s can be found here. Lagunitas Creek, which begins above district reservoirs near the peak of Mt. Tamalpais on land owned by MMWD, is a spawning and rearing ground for endangered coho salmon and steelhead trout. It supports one of the best populations of coho salmon in California.

In addition to its critical role in nature, water plays a central role in our gardens. All plants need water to survive, but different plants need different amounts of water. Many plants that grow in Marin naturally have adaptations that allow them to survive through our hot, dry summers without any supplemental irrigation. Other plants, like thirsty lawns, require constant watering and maintenance. In Marin, a lawn the size of a tennis court needs about 400 gallons of water per day in July to remain healthy. That’s equivalent to having 16 people each taking 10-minute showers at your house every day! When you consider that irrigation systems are never 100 percent efficient, even more water is needed. Much of this water is wasted due to runoff, which travels into local waterways carrying harmful chemicals and other pollutants with it.

Marin-Friendly gardening is grounded in the notion that there’s a better way to achieve productive, beautiful gardens and minimize our impact on the environment. Marin-Friendly gardens use practices sensitive to our local environment, particularly ones that conserve and protect our precious water resources.

Want to see Marin-Friendly gardening in action? Join us for the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18.

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In Fire Weather, Broom a Particular Concern

Due to high fire danger, the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed is closed until sunrise tomorrow morning, May 2. [Update: The closure has been extended until noon, May 2.] The National Weather Service forecast calls for dry, hot, windy conditions, which can contribute to the ignition and rapid spread of wildfire. Our first Red Flag day comes extraordinarily early this year due to a record dry spring.

Volunteers work to remove a thicket of invasive broom on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.

In fire weather, one of the species that causes particular concern on the watershed is highly invasive French broom. This weed grows densely and spreads rapidly, choking out native species, invading fuel breaks and fire roads, and creating a flammable understory. MMWD is working to control the spread of broom on water district lands to reduce fire hazards and protect the unique biodiversity of the watershed.

Read more about broom in the current issue of the National Park Service’s Fire and Fuels News.

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Welcome Sprouting Scientists to Lake Lagunitas!

by Jaimie Baxter

Do you love learning about Mt. Tamalpais and its plants and animals? Explore the northern side of the mountain, participate in fun activities and become a Citizen Scientist.

The Marin Municipal Water District believes that exposing youth to real scientific projects and the outdoors is the best way to instill environmental stewardship. And, lucky for us, the California Academy of Sciences does too! Citizen science is a big part of what we do on Mt. Tamalpais, so we welcome you to join us for a very special event on the first Saturday of May. What is Citizen science? In essence, it is “the study of nature by the people who live in it, which means YOU!” We encourage you and your families to join us in being environmental stewards to Mt. Tamalpais.

In 2012, the Marin Municipal Water District and the California Academy of Sciences teamed up to conduct a Botanical Bioblitz—a large scale  survey of every single plant species on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. This multi-year effort involves citizens, botanists, nature photographers and students alike. Click here for more information about this project.

On Saturday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., MMWD and the California Academy of Sciences are hosting a “Sprouting Scientist” event at Lake Lagunitas in Fairfax. Both organizations will be on top of the dam at Lake Lagunitas to facilitate family-friendly, hands-on, science-based activities. Our Botanical Bioblitz, a real scientific project, is occurring on the same day, so families can come join the fun of collecting and recording all the plant species in the surrounding area. Come find out what it means to be a Citizen Scientist! Prizes will be handed out to all families who participate. The event is free, although the usual parking fee of $8.00 per vehicle still applies.

For more information, visit our website or contact volunteerprogram@marinwater.org or (415) 945-1128.

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Spring Wildflowers

by Charlene Burgi

Creeping phlox

Spring is in the air. One minute the sun is warming the earth, and the next minute we are donning raincoats and grabbing umbrellas. While the weather is unpredictable, springtime consistently produces some of the most glorious wildflowers to be seen.

As I drove to Marin this week, I noticed sweet drifts of pink creeping phlox showing up along the roadside that, not so long ago, was covered in snow. Brilliant orange poppies spun their gold through meadows and the redbud shrubs burst into color as if vying for attention. New growth of green from deciduous trees seemed to dance through the forest of conifers still bearing the scars of winter storms.

Sagebrush buttercup

I love spring. Everything seems to come alive. During one of those rare sky-blue warm days in March, I grabbed my camera and set out for a walk around the ranch hoping to find some wildlife to capture digitally. While nothing furry appeared before my lens, I did come across the most beautiful glossy yellow wildflowers. I was stunned by the intense color and couldn’t walk by without capturing their loveliness to share with you. I soon learned that the sagebrush buttercup, Ranunculus glaberrimus, is listed as a California native in the northeast part of the state. Amazingly, very few sightings are registered on the CalFlora website. Even more amazing is there is another buttercup, glossy buttercup, that looks much like the sagebrush buttercup but is considered a nocuous weed in many states. Research revealed subtle differences between the two, and I was greatly relieved that I wasn’t promoting an invasive weed!

My research on this little yellow beauty made me think about people collecting seeds from wildflowers. I wondered how many research their discoveries prior to gathering and sowing their finds. Many people new to Marin see the gorgeous yellow blooming bushes during this time of year. They frequent nurseries asking for the plants, not realizing those bushes are invasive Scotch and French brooms we are fighting to eradicate on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and in other parts of Marin. Once again, it is important to know your plants before propagating them!

Speaking of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, there are many wonderful spots to hike and see wildflowers this time of year. Take a stroll around Lake Lagunitas or explore the different habitats along Rocky Ridge. I hear that the iris and lupines are particularly beautiful this year! This is also the time of year to explore Days Island in Novato where native rockrose is found exclusively along with one other place in the Mediterranean. Those seeds are collected for propagation purposes. And the rockrose is a sure winner for planting in native gardens. (As a reminder, seed collecting is not permitted on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.)

If you are interested in adding native plants to your garden, don’t miss the Marin California Native Plant Society’s Annual Spring Plant Sale tomorrow, April 13, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Green Point Nursery in Novato. While visiting Marin, I spoke to staff members at the College of Marin and learned the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden also has its Spring Plant Sale coming up next weekend, April 20 – 21. In addition to native plants, they will be selling many organic vegetable starts. This is the perfect opportunity to collect healthy native and vegetable starter plants that thrive in the garden. Will I see you there?

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Why Do We Need It?

by Andrea Williams

This post is the third in a year-long series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Read last month’s post here.

In talking about saving rare things, the question of “What good is it?” is often raised. After I set aside my unvoiced, impertinent rejoinder of “What good are you?” I still find the question of a species needing to have use a rather odd one, along the lines of “What good is beauty?” or “Why keep all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle?” And I could talk about intrinsic value, or about potential undiscovered uses, or about the morality of stewardship over destruction, but I won’t.

I want you to think of a place. A wild place that you love, and what makes it different from any other place for you.

Unlike Mt. Tamalpais, which has thousands of acres of serpentine soils that provide homes for plants found nowhere else on earth, San Francisco only has a few patches. In the early 1900s Alice Eastwood named a new kind of manzanita the Franciscan manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana), as it grew on three of the rare patches of thin soil in the City and nowhere else. But San Francisco was a growing metropolis and the first site was lost to a subdivision; two others remained in cemeteries. But when San Francisco’s land became so valuable the buried dead were shipped to Colma, the last populations of Franciscan manzanita were also dug up. Alice Eastwood bemoaned the loss of the wild plant she loved as Laurel Hill Cemetery fell to the blade, even though her colleague took cuttings to grow in a garden; would we celebrate the last wild tigers living in zoos? She grieved the loss of a plant that made “her” place what it was, a place like no other on earth.

In a new chapter for the Franciscan manzanita, ecologist Dan Gluesenkamp doing what many of us do—scanning roadsides for weeds—saw a mound of manzanita growing next to an off-ramp. The area had been cleared of taller vegetation in preparation for the Doyle Drive work near the Golden Gate Bridge. He thought perhaps it was the endangered Raven’s manzanita (Arctostaphylos montana ssp. ravenii), another plant that once grew with the Franciscan manzanita but still exists in a single genetic individual growing as clones around the Presidio. The shrub turned out to be the Franciscan manzanita, now a listed endangered species that has been moved to a different spot on the Presidio.

Mt. Tamalpais manzanita (Arctostaphylos montana ssp. montana)

So how does this tie to Tam? We have our own “rare” serpentine-loving manzanita, the Mt. Tamalpais manzanita (Arctostaphylos montana ssp. montana), but instead of a few individuals we have several thousand. It’s one of the dominant plants in our serpentine chaparral, one of the plants that make Tam different from any other place. And as the closest living relative to the endangered manzanitas of San Francisco, plant experts turned to our populations to test germination methods for any seeds of the Franciscan manzanita in the soil salvaged along with the plant. Our wealth of serpentine and foresight in setting land aside a century ago may help contribute to the saving of a species, returning a piece of uniqueness back to the world.

http://www.nps.gov/goga/naturescience/endangered-scrubland-plants.htm
http://baynature.org/articles/the-presidios-miracle-manzanita/

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Frog Docent Heroes Needed!

by Ariana Chiapella

Volunteers gather at Little Carson Falls.

We are approaching the exciting time of year when MMWD’s Frog Docent program returns. The foothill yellow-legged frog (FYLF) is a federally listed species of “special concern,” and here in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed we have only two remaining breeding sites for a species that is in decline throughout its range. The habitat at Little Carson Falls also happens to be a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers and dog-walkers.

Because of this, it is vital to have enthusiastic people at the falls to educate visitors about the importance of protecting this special spot and its inhabitants. This is where our volunteers come in. They have helped MMWD educate hundreds of visitors about the FYLF, why it is important to respect and protect their habitat, and gather data that has helped professional herpetologists monitor the population of the frogs.

Foothill yellow-legged frogs in amplexus. Photo by Frog Docent Matthew Sykes.

The coming season looks promising for this unique program; we have had a few good rains so far, and for those who have been out on Azalea Hill, you may already know that this means that the falls have lots of water! In my opinion, there’s no better place in the watershed to volunteer.

We will have our initial training day for Frog Docents on Saturday, March 2, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Sky Oaks Ranger Station in Fairfax. We’ll start off with some refreshments and a presentation from one of the biologists who is working with the district on compiling and analyzing the data gathered by our volunteers. We’ll then hike up to see the falls. Volunteers will sign up for their weekend time slots (March-June) at Little Carson Falls through Google Calendar. This will be a great opportunity to meet like-minded nature enthusiasts, help out a species in need, be active and spend time outside—so many New Year’s resolutions packed into one!

For anyone out there who wants to band together to protect this important native frog species and form a community of wildlife stewards, this program is for you. Please tell your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors so that they can join in the fun too! We love and are always looking for new volunteers. No special skills or experience are needed, but volunteers must be 18 years or older.

If you have any questions, comments or want to sign up for our training, email us at volunteerprogram@marinwater.org or call (415) 945-1128!

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An Endangered Species Soars Again

by Elise Hinman

Protecting, maintaining and stewarding the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed are daunting responsibilities, especially for a new seasonal watershed aide like me. Starting in the chill of winter, even walking outside sometimes presents a challenge, let alone the duty of keeping a watchful eye on the reservoirs and trails. Luckily for me, in my time of perceived helplessness and inferiority, I am not alone.

At this point in the post, you may be expecting an ode to my accommodating coworkers and supervisors, or a sonnet about the unshakeable, vibrant volunteers I met at my first Trail Crew day. While they are certainly deserving of recognition, do not jump to conclusions so easily. The warden of whom I speak weighs less than 15 pounds, but its wingspan reaches eight feet. Can you guess this creature’s name?

Did your thoughts soar to the majestic bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)? You’d be right! In wintertime, visitors and staff sometimes spot bald eagles using Bon Tempe and Kent lakes as fish foraging habitat. This noble bird commonly appears in Native American legends as a courageous, powerful guardian associated with spirituality and balance. I wouldn’t mind channeling some of those qualities during my months on the watershed.

Bald eagle nest on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

These stately birds are also international travelers. Many spend their summers in Canada and Alaska, migrating down to the balmier states and northern Mexico during the winter months. In the late winter and springtime, bald eagles return to the vicinity where they were born to build a nest and procreate. Though predominantly solitary raptors, bald eagles mate for life, reconnecting with their significant other each breeding season. Mating pairs will also rediscover their nest from the previous year, adding to its size and stability. The largest bald eagle nest on record weighed over 2 tons!*

Loyal, well-traveled, independent and brave—admirable traits we can all spot in the bald eagle. Had it not been recognized as an icon of freedom and power in the United States (as would have been Benjamin Franklin’s wish—he pushed for the turkey, instead!), the bald eagle might have gone extinct decades ago. The extensive use of DDT as a pesticide in the mid-1900s caused the bioaccumulation of poisonous chemicals in bald eagles and other raptors, and had devastating consequences on the species’ reproductive health. Because of the bald eagle’s importance as a national symbol, the United States took great strides to save the species from extinction. Congress listed the bald eagle as an endangered species in 1967, and in 1972 banned the use of DDT in the United States. Bald eagle numbers soared in the years following this legislation, and in July 1995 the bald eagle was delisted from endangered to threatened. In August 2007, it was removed from the threatened species list—a success story!

So begins our string of monthly blogs dedicated to threatened, endangered and species-of-special-concern flora and fauna using the watershed and its surrounding habitats to cling to survival. Keep your eyes open in February for another scintillating story, but for now, just take some tips from the bald eagle: Always remember to be reliable, self-sufficient and vigilant; it just might lead to achievement.

*“Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus.” National Geographic Animals. National Geographic.

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