Spring in the Garden

by Charlene Burgi

Spring—it’s my favorite season of the year. It is all about the freshness of new beginnings! Flower seeds lying fallow through the long wet and cold winter burst through the soil to greet us with new creations in the once drab landscape of our gardens.

Rosebush signs of life

Daffodils, crocus and freesia, among other spring bulbs, are resurrected nodding their pretty heads in the gentle winds and acknowledging the welcome sunlight. With great anticipation, I closely watched the roses that appeared beyond the living after weathering the brutal, below-zero winter temperatures. My faith waned this month as I eyed the ever-present dead leaves and brown stems. Yet, this morning I spotted new growth working its way through the stems, renewing my hope in their life! Perennials that appeared dead are also showing signs of new green leaves as they emerge from their roots nestled within the deep layers of protective mulch.

Grosbeak at feeder

Spring also brings the robin—noted as the harbinger. In Lassen, we are treated by the visit of gorgeous evening grosbeaks. Various birds are constructing nests in nearby trees with building materials found around the property. Soon fledging baby birds will find their way to the bird feeders that seem to empty as fast as they are filled.

The warmer weather beckons me outdoors to discover the beautiful wildflowers popping up, or finds me planning and planting new sections of the garden. Bare-root season seduced me with five new blueberry and an equal number of raspberry plants, which are now looking for an ideal spot to call home and protection from the onslaught of hungry rabbits.

Additionally, spring cleaning is on the list this time of year, beginning with the forgotten, unheated garden shed. During the cold winter months, the greenhouse was filled with tools and materials used for gardening, leaving little room for newly seeded plants. To create space, I reorganized the garden shed and potting bench. Tools were oiled, empty pots were stacked and seed starter was mixed. More seeds were unearthed from forgotten containers, then scattered to find new life or filed with others with the promise of soon being planted.

As I looked around while working outside, it became clear it was time to sheet mulch over unwanted weeds that were springing up. If you have never tried it, sheet mulching is simple. The hoard of cardboard squirreled away in the garden shed will soon be put to use by placing it over wetted-down weeds. After covering the weeds with the overlapping cardboard, I will spray more water on top of the cardboard to help make a better connection with the soil below, then finish with a heavy layer of either mulch or composted material.

If planting in the sheet-mulched area is your plan, you can plant directly into the cardboard by cutting holes and backfilling around the rootball with a mixture of site soil and well-rotted compost material. If you are using recycled cardboard from saved boxes, be certain to remove any staples or cellophane as they will not decompose! You can also buy rolls of cardboard at local irrigation supply houses. The dastardly chore of weeding will be met with a grin when you see how simple this task becomes.

Yes, spring is a wonderful time of year. As a friend just wished me: “May your happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.”

Wishing you all a very happy Easter or Passover.

Volunteers Needed for Marin-Friendly Garden Tour May 18

If you enjoy hanging out in a beautiful garden and chatting with fellow gardening enthusiasts, have we got an opportunity for you! We’re looking for volunteers to work morning and afternoon shifts greeting guests at the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18. You’ll receive a t-shirt and small token of our appreciation, and be entered into a drawing to win a Marin-Friendly prize. Volunteer half the day and spend the other half touring inspiring, environmentally friendly gardens! Learn more.

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Red Legs, Yellow Legs, Edible Legs, NOT

by Eric Ettlinger

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

Peoples’ interest in frogs can be viewed as something of a leg obsession. The most obvious example is our insatiable appetite for frogs’ legs. During the California Gold Rush, populations of native red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii) were decimated by over-harvesting, leading to the importation of bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) from the eastern United States to help satisfy demand. These voracious predators (bullfrogs, not people) quickly spread to anywhere year-round fresh water could be found, and they continue to eat their way through native frog populations to this day.

Our obsession with frogs’ legs is not limited to cuisine, however, and extends to the very names we’ve given them. Here in Marin County we have three native frog species: the northern Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla), the California red-legged frog, and the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii). We also have California toads (Anaxyrus boreas halophilus), which aren’t technically frogs, and since they don’t fit into this essay’s theme on leg obsessions, they will not be mentioned further.

Of our real frogs, two of the three are named for their legs, which gives the impression that there’s something quite distinctive about those springy appendages. On the contrary, the red and yellow coloration for which these frogs are named is generally confined to the undersides of their legs, which few can see.

Naming these frogs for their legs fails to capture what’s truly fascinating about them. The red-legged frog is most famous for being the central character in Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Given such celebrity, wouldn’t a more fitting name be something like “Twain’s jumping frog?”

Female FYLF on cliff at Little Carson Falls. Photo by docent Peter Barto.

Foothill yellow-legged frogs (FYLFs) don’t have a claim to fame but can perform feats like climbing slick bedrock cliffs and clinging to rocks at the bottom of waterfalls. “Clingy frog” is more apropos and interesting, and doesn’t require an acronym.

In recent years both of these frogs have  taken on new, more ominous, labels. California red-legged frogs have been listed as a federally threatened species, and FYLFs are listed as a “species of special concern.” The reasons for their declines include predation by non-native bullfrogs, crayfish, and fish; habitat loss; pesticides; and the modification of river flows. Their plight is a small part of an unfolding global amphibian crisis, which may result in the largest extinction event since the age of dinosaurs. A significant cause of the crisis is the global spread of a deadly Chytrid fungus, although FYLFs appear resistant to Chytrid infection and the role it plays in red-legged frog declines is unknown.

Red-Legged Frog in Lagunitas Creek

In the last decade, a single red-legged frog was seen on the Marin Municipal Water District’s watershed lands. That individual likely dispersed over a ridge from Point Reyes National Seashore, where a relatively large population uses managed stock ponds (artificial ponds for cattle) for breeding.

FYLF populations on MMWD watershed lands appear to include roughly 30 breeding pairs, which breed in only two locations. One of these breeding sites is Little Carson Falls, a popular hiking destination near Pine Mountain. On warm spring days when the falls are flowing, hikers and their dogs have been known to wade in the water and inadvertently dislodge fragile egg masses clinging to the rocks. Fortunately for the frogs, volunteer “Frog Docents” also hike out to the falls, educate visitors about the plight of the frogs, and collect data for the biologists monitoring the population.

Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog at Little Carson Falls. Photo by docent Matthew Sykes.

Now in its sixth year, the Frog Docent Program is looking for volunteers to help conserve these rare frogs. If you’d like to help save this species from possible extinction by becoming a 2013 frog docent,  call our Volunteer Program at (415) 945 -1128 or e-mail volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

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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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Engaging Youth in the Environment Is Focus of 36th Annual BAEER Fair on January 19

The 36th annual Bay Area Environmental Education Resource (BAEER) Fair is just around the corner on Saturday, January 19, 2013. This resource-rich event is designed for teachers, community educators, students, families and all concerned about the environment we share.

Drop by MMWD’s booth for information on our free school education programs in water conservation and watershed ecology and restoration.

For those 18 or older, sign up for our Frog Docent training on March 2. The foothill yellow-legged frog is native to parts of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and is listed as both a federal and state species of “special concern.” MMWD needs help from the community to stop the decline and help restore a healthy population within the watershed.

For those eight years or older, sign up for our Turtle Observer training on March 23 to help us monitor and record activity of California’s only native fresh water turtle, the Western pond turtle, a federally listed “vulnerable species.” This program is great for students, families or individuals.

The BAEER Fair is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Marin Civic Center located in San Rafael. General admission is $12.00, high school students and seniors $10.00, youth $8.00 and children 6 and under are free. Admission to the event is paid at the entrance door. Check out the BAEER website to learn more about the 2013 workshops and exhibitors, and visit MMWD’s website to discover our free water education programs for schools in our service area.

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Start the New Year as a Volunteer Citizen Scientist

MMWD and the California Academy of Sciences are seeking botanically oriented individuals to join our returning volunteers for the 2013 bioblitz field season. Plant and photography enthusiasts are particularly welcome. A bioblitz is a focused survey in a defined location that attempts to document all species present.

For example, at one bioblitz last June, six teams of people fanned out to different locations on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed for one day to collect and photograph all the plants in a specific area. Together, they made 162 observations (collections and/or photographs) and collected 107 specimens.

Science and environmental reporter Jacoba Charles participated in the June bioblitz and produced a wonderful audio piece on her experience for KWMR Radio in West Marin. We combined Jacoba’s audio with photographs captured by our volunteer citizen scientists to create a snapshot in pictures and sounds of a day in the life of a “bioblitzer”:

We hope you’ll be inspired to volunteer for the second year of our three-year bioblitz program to document all the plant species on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. So far, we’ve collected more than 300 species, or one-third of the roughly 900 different species on the watershed!

This year, our goal is to collect between 300 and 400 specimens from select locations between Potrero Meadow and Alpine Lake. Sampling expeditions are scheduled throughout the spring and summer.

A six-hour orientation and field training session will be held on Saturday, February 23. For more information, please leave your name and contact information on our volunteer hotline at (415) 945-1128 or e-mail us at volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

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Volunteers Help Keep Water Tanks Graffiti-Free

Before: Graffiti on an MMWD facility (photo courtesy of John Lannom)

Graffiti is on ongoing challenge for MMWD. We do our best to clean up obscenities and respond to customer complaints. But with over 200 storage tanks and pump stations throughout our 147-square-mile service area, including many in remote locations, the district simply doesn’t have the staff and resources to remove every tag.

After: The same site after graffiti was painted out. Thank you to MMWD’s awesome neighbors who help keep our tanks graffiti-free!

However, a small group of volunteers is making a difference in their own neighborhoods, “adopting” their local tanks and painting out graffiti when it appears. MMWD supplies the paint and equipment, while these unsung heroes give their time and labor. One dedicated volunteer has been keeping his local tank graffiti-free for eight years.

The district is also taking steps to cut down on graffiti, such as putting in plants to cover blank walls and installing security cameras. You can help, too. Keep an eye on the water facilities in your neighborhood—after all, they belong to all of us! If you see vandals at work, contact the MMWD Operations Center at 945-1500, 24-hours-a-day, and we will notify police.

If you are interested in volunteering to clean up graffiti on your local tank, contact our Volunteer Program at 945-1128 or volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

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The Western Pond Turtles of Mt. Tamalpais

by Ben Schleifer

When I go on a hike, I always hope to see a rare species of animal. Usually, these evasive animals can hear me coming from far away and avoid my heavy footfall, but on those seldom occasions I do see one, I feel like I have experienced something special. Most people go their whole lives without seeing a bear, or a moose, or a bald eagle in the wild, and knowing I have seen those makes an exhausting outdoor trip seem worthwhile. Still, you do not have to travel on a tiring journey to see a rare species of animal. There are many in and around Marin, and if you have ever been to the reservoirs of the Marin Municipal Water District you might have seen one or two. The Actinemys marmorata, or western pond turtle, is one of those subtle rare species that might have escaped your notice.

Western pond turtle at Carson Falls
(photo courtesy of Lorri Gong)

These brown-to-black turtles are found in ponds and lakes all over western North America. Their only truly distinctive characteristic is a motley yellow and brown neck, so unless they are basking on a warm spring day, they are not easy to identify. Still, the western pond turtle is the only native freshwater turtle in California, and they are species in decline. They are recognized as a vulnerable species in California. Their dwindling numbers are in part due to loss of habitat and competition with other, invasive turtles like the red-eared slider. Both western pond turtles and red-eared sliders are found on the reservoirs of MMWD, which has been implementing practices to help protect our native California species.

Scientists at MMWD have been monitoring the turtle populations of both species since 2003. In 2009 an AmeriCorps intern suggested the district set up a program to monitor these turtles with citizen scientists—an idea that has now been implemented for the last three springs. AmeriCorps interns at MMWD, like myself, train volunteers in turtle identification and data collection. Then these volunteers walk around the beautiful lakes of MMWD collecting observations. We have Turtle Observers ranging from seven years of age to seventy years of age, and they are all contributing to our knowledge about these turtles on the watershed.

A native western pond turtle flanked by two non-native red-eared sliders at Phoenix Lake
(photo courtesy of Lorri Gong)

In 2012, our Turtle Observers made 41 visits for 76 hours of observations at the MMWD reservoirs. They made 327 individual turtle observations, and from these observations, we estimated the reservoirs have seven western pond turtles and 27 non-natives. These numbers will help the scientists at MMWD know where to focus their turtle-trapping efforts to remove the invasive turtles. The Turtle Observers also informed countless hikers and bike riders about the native and non-native turtles, and shared with some lucky visitors the experience of seeing a rare species.

We train new Turtle Observers each spring. If you or a young budding scientist you know would like to take part in the amazing outdoor field science of turtle observing, please contact MMWD at volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

If you would like to see how this year’s numbers compare to 2010 and 2011, click here.

I would like to personally thank all the Turtle Observers who turned in turtle report data sheets. It is a testament to what these folks value that they are willing to give their time to protecting and monitoring this native species. Thank you so much to Colin Lester, Sean Tipett, Kathy Tama, Shelly Hauser, Laurel Kelly, Matthew Brod Naeve, Richard Alden Feldon, Marge Gibbs, Eliza and Shelly Peppel, and Lorri Gong.

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Bioblitzes by the Numbers

by Suzanne Whelan

To mark our centennial anniversary this year, MMWD is partnering with the California Academy of Sciences on a series of bioblitzes to document the flora of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.

At our most recent bioblitz on June 23, our six teams:

• Made 162 observations total (collections and/or photographs of individual plants)
• Collected 107 specimens

To date, from several outings this year, we have:

• Made 502 observations total (collections and/or photographs of individual plants), comprising approximately 300 different species
• Collected 323 specimens total, comprising approximately 225 different species

These are great numbers: Since there are roughly 900 species of plants on the watershed, we’ve already documented close to a third of them! The MMWD watershed lands comprise just 0.01 percent of the state but are home to 15 percent of the state’s plant species. If we are talking Marin, 50 percent of the county’s plant species are found on the watershed.

Bioblitz volunteers documenting plants on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

Our citizen science model aims to mobilize a cadre of volunteers to collect data to answer a scientific question. By training volunteers we build a sense of stewardship among participants, initiate folks to the process of science and provide meaningful scientific data which can build support for local sustainability initiatives. We offer a tiered approach to involvement—botany or field science professionals mentor those who are students or amateurs. Members of the general public participated in guided hikes and presentations during our all-day centennial celebration June 23. We are thrilled with our successful forays working with Cal Academy and so many enthusiastic and knowledgeable plant lovers!

Our next bioblitz is August 25. Please contact volunteerprogram@marinwater.org for more information.

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Wish You Were Here

by Andrea Williams

Leopard lilies on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

The Marin Municipal Water District and the California Academy of Sciences held a bioblitz a few weeks ago. I haven’t written about it yet, because all I can give you are numbers and words. I can’t make you present in the Throckmorton Fire Station engine bay in the morning, the air electric with anticipation for the day’s sites, where people would be going, and the things they might see. I can’t take you to a spot lush with green grasses and sedges, show you the impossibly vibrant colors of a leopard lily while you’re immersed in the rank odor of hedge nettle. You won’t be there, part of a focused team, each with a task essential to documenting the plant life at that spot, at that instant of time, blending centuries-old herbarium specimen collection methods with present-day GPS camera technology. You aren’t back at the fire station in the afternoon, surrounded by waves of laughter and chatter as people share details of the day’s experience, pool their data, ask questions about their plant specimens. And I couldn’t save you a piece of MMWD’s birthday cake. But you can share in a solitary facsimile of the process, by taking photographs and locations of plants you see and uploading them to iNaturalist or Calflora, or using one of their smartphone apps, to contribute to the body of knowledge about the mountain.

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June Watershed Volunteer Wrap-Up

by Jaimie Baxter

The month of June brings us the longest days of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere. The extra hours of day are loved by the flora, fauna, children and adults of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. This bountiful time of year provided us with the energy needed to accomplish so much.

On the first Saturday in June, we celebrated National Trails Day with a “trailgating” party on the watershed. Thanks to the efforts of forty volunteers, the Fern Creek Trail and Tavern Pump Road look absolutely stunning. The group replaced countless water bars and cut back excessive vegetation. After a morning of hard work, the group was rewarded with a pleasant lunch at the historic West Point Inn.

June’s habitat restoration event was a scorcher! However, we had a few dedicated restoration volunteers brave the heat and remove Douglas-fir at Lagunitas-Rock Road and Ridgecrest Boulevard. It seemed like Christmas in June with the smell of Douglas-fir perfuming the air.

On June 23, we hosted a centennial celebration on the watershed to mark MMWD’s 100-year anniversary. Close to 400 people took part in naturalist hikes and presentations on the sounds of Lake Lagunitas, tracks and scat, dragonflies and damselflies, beginning birding and much more. Tule basket weaving was taught and many watershed bingo games were played. Along with the fun events around Lake Lagunitas and Sky Oaks Watershed Headquarters, the California Academy of Sciences and MMWD watershed staff led a “bioblitz” on the southern portion of Mt. Tamalpais. The bioblitz brought botanists, citizen citizens, conservation photographers and others together to collect data on the mountain’s plant species. It was a tremendous success and loads of fun. There were beautiful specimens of tiger lily, coyote mint and many others!

Thank you to all of our volunteers for your hard work! We really appreciate all that you do for the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, and if it could speak, I am sure it would thank you as well. And if you haven’t volunteered before, now’s a great time to start. We have a habitat restoration event on San Geronimo Creek coming up next Saturday, July 21. Did we mention ice cream will be served? And our next Trail Crew event will be Saturday, August  4. This will be Jessica and Jaimie’s (MMWD’s AmeriCorps members) very last event! Come join the fun and say farewell to them. Visit our Volunteer Program webpage to learn more.

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