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Action Projects Water Canoes In Sloughs-Urban Creek Survey Correlation to State Science Standards: Correlation to State Social Studies Standards:
What is the name of a creek that flows close to my school? What can I find out about the health of this creek? In what ways does this creek connect my neighborhood to the San Francisco Bay? How can I improve the health of my local creek? The purpose of this action project is to help students find out more about a local creek that runs close to their school, and to get to know the health of their creek by walking a section of it and observing it firsthand. Based on their observations and research about issues affecting the creeks of San Francisco Bay, they can choose an appropriate project that would help to improve the health of their local creek. This project starts with researching what creeks flow near your school, and finding out about where the creeks travel and how they connect your schoolyard to the bay. You will need to use maps and information that can be obtained from local organizations like Save the Bay, the internet and other free sources. Depending on how much information you decide to gather, this process may take anywhere from 3-4 hours or longer. It would be a good idea to read over this project and make a list of things you will need to get (like maps) before you start. Also, you will need to contact certain organizations for information and for things like permission to walk your creek. By looking over the whole project now, you will get a better idea of the timeline of when to do what. After you have done some research about the creek, you will take a survey walk along your creek where you will observe firsthand your impressions of the creek and its' health. This information may lead into several different projects, which range in size from something small like a creek clean-up to something larger like a water quality monitoring project. ** There are SAFETY CONCERNS to consider when you actually go out and explore your creek. It is important that for the creek walk portion, you team up with an adult to help you lead the project. This might be your teacher, school advisor, youth group leader, etc. Together, you will need to get permission for access to walk a section of your creek, and make sure that you follow all safety guidelines. By working with your county creek coordinator or clean water program representative, you will find out what locations would be the safest, most accessible, and would not harm the environment by going there. For example, some sections of creek might be important fish habitat that you wouldn't want to disturb. Find out as much as you can before your field day! The San Francisco Bay and Delta combine to form the largest estuary on the west coast of the United States, covering 1600 square miles that includes nine bay area counties. An estuary is a place where fresh water and saltwater mix together to form brackish water, creating an environment that is unique and provides habitat for many different species. The San Francisco Estuary is an immensely productive ecosystem that supports a diverse community of plant, animal, and aquatic life that are all part of a complex food web. The estuary is an important stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway, and over 2/3 of all the state's salmon must pass through the SF Estuary on their journey from freshwater creeks and rivers to the Pacific Ocean. The estuary also provides many benefits and uses to humans, including providing drinking water to over 20 million Californians and irrigating 4.5 million acres of farmlands and ranches. The events of the California Gold Rush in the mid-nineteenth century greatly affected the SF Estuary, most dramatically by leading to a major increase in the population of the region. Today the San Francisco Bay Area is home to over six million people, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in the country. Many problems now face the estuary because of increased development and population growth, including: loss of habitat, water diversion, pollution, and bay fill. By far the most widespread problem is non-point source pollution: the polluted run-off that drains from our streets, cars, homes, and businesses, often through the storm drain system that empties directly into creeks and waterways that then flow into the bay. To learn more about San Francisco Bay history and ecology, check out these web sites: San Francisco Estuary Institute
Many people have personal experiences with San Francisco Bay, and can relate stories and other information from their own past experiences. Ask your classmates, friends, parents, teachers, and other people you know if they have ever been to a creek or stream in your neighborhood. What was it like? What types of animals live there? Has the creek changed much since they first became acquainted with it? Where does the creek flow to? Have they ever seen trash or other pollutants in the creek? How might this affect both wildlife and humans living near the creek?
To find out which creeks flow near your school, you will need to gather a few maps. By using a variety of types of maps (road maps, nautical charts, topographic maps, bay habitat maps), you will be able to find out a variety of information about your creek and its' location. Some excellent sources for maps of the San Francisco Bay area are:
You will also want to request free copies of the fact sheets put out by the San Francisco Estuary Project, specifically the one entitled "San Francisco Bay- Delta Estuary". Look at their web site at www.sfei.org or call 510-622-2465. Once you have obtained the maps, try and answer these questions about your area using the maps: 1. Find the location of your school and your home on the maps. 2. Locate the scale of the map. Approximately how many miles as the crow flies are you away from the San Francisco Bay? 3. Locate where the salt water enters the Bay. 4. Locate and name three large rivers that enter into the Bay. 5. Find and name all of the creeks that flow near your school. 6. How close is your school to the nearest creek that runs above ground? What is the name of this creek? Find where this creek originates. What part of the Bay does the creek empty into? 7. What cities, towns, and roads does this creek flow through on its way to the Bay? 8. Find a creek on your map that runs underground. What is the name of that creek? Why might it flow underground? 9. What do you think are the main human influences, both positive and negative, affecting your local creek? In the fact sheet titled, "San Francisco Estuary Project, San Francisco Bay- Delta Estuary" find the following information: 1. What year was the San Francisco Bay discovered by the Spanish? 2. What did new California settlers do to cause 1 billion cubic yards of sediment to go downstream into the Estuary? 3. What is the average depth of the central bay? 4. What is the average depth of the south bay and north bay? 5. What and where is the deepest part of the bay? 6. What is the largest contributor to Estuary Pollution? 7. What percent of tidal marsh remain of the original 543,375 acres in the 1850's? (Hint: do the math.) 8. List four animals that are on the rare, endangered, or threatened list, that live in the Estuary. Now that you have found out the name of your creek and a little information about the San Francisco Bay, it is time to find out more of the specifics. There are many local and state agencies, citizens groups, neighborhood groups, and environmental organizations who work with creeks. Most people are happy to share what they know, and you can get a lot of information by tapping into your local resources. Here are some places to look for information about your specific creek:
You may also want to contact your local Public Works Dept. and ask for information about your creek, and to request a storm drain map and any other maps that show the creek. As you plan to walk a section of your creek, it is important to remember that safety should be your #1 Priority! Especially during the winter months when it rains a lot, if you are not careful about details like checking the weather and characteristics of your creek, you may be putting yourself in an unsafe situation. It is very important to work with an expert on your creek, who can both tell you the best place to plan your walk, and if there are any special concerns about that section of creek. Call your local clean water program and find out who is in charge of creek access and programs. It may be possible to combine your creek walk with one that is already scheduled through an organized group.
*the Aquatic Outreach Institute is a good resource for this There are many resources available to help you help you to create your own list of survey questions you would like to answer about your creek. In particular, look at the Urban Stream Survey put out by the Isaac Walton League's Save Our Streams Program. Students can order a copy of the Science Project Guide for Students for free! You can find this by looking at their website, at http://www.iwla.org and clicking on the Save Our Streams Program, or by calling 1-800-BUG-IWLA. They have several publications which offer help in creating stream survey questions and monitoring. Make your survey reflect the interests of your school and community. Ask everyone who is participating what they would like to find out about the creek and compile your list accordingly. The survey will be that much more relevant if it addresses the interests and concerns of your peers. Make enough copies for everyone to have their own data sheet to keep records on, and encourage a lot of active observation on your field day.
Now that you have gathered all of your information and picked a date and site for your creek walk, it's time to go do it! You may wish to walk the creek as a whole group, or it may make more sense to split up into groups to cover more area. Make sure you decide on these details with your teacher or other coordinator. Make sure that everyone brings a notebook and pen in order to record information and observations while you are there. In general, it is a good idea to follow these safety guidelines when at the creek: 1. Always monitor with at least one partner. Always let someone else know where you are, when you intend to return, and what to do if you don't come back at the appointed time. 2. Always obtain permission to visit your creek site. This will require talking with any of the contacts listed above, and possibly to any landowners who might own private property along the creek. 3. Watch for hostile dogs, wildlife (snakes), and insects such as ticks, hornets, and wasps. 4. Carry a first aid kit and make sure someone knows how to use it. 5. Watch for poison oak, stinging nettle, and other types of vegetation that may cause rashes, irritation, or scratches. 6. Never drink the water in a stream. Bring your own water from home. 7. Please don't walk on unstable streambanks. Disturbing these banks can accelerate erosion and may prove dangerous if a bank collapses. 8. Be very careful not to disturb streamside vegetation. Also, be aware of areas of sensitive habitat by talking with your creek expert beforehand. 9. Be very careful when working near swiftly flowing streams, do NOT attempt to wade into or across them when the water is swift or above knee height. 10. If at any time you feel uncomfortable about the condition of the stream or your surroundings, stop your survey and leave the site. YOUR SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING! These safety rules are recommended by the San Francisco Estuary Institutes' guide to Volunteer Monitoring Protocols. For more information go to www.sfei.org After your Creek Survey, it is important to assess and compare everyone's results. Talk about the group's observations, and discuss what you think are the most important issues affecting the creek. These may be things like trash, pollution, development, habitat loss, urban run-off, etc. Brainstorm ideas for solutions to some of these problems, and create a list of project ideas to help the creek. You may decide to organize a creek clean-up day, develop presentations and artwork to educate others about your creek, or start a creek water quality monitoring project. Many of the organizations listed above can provide help, resources, and information about action projects. Also, keep your eyes on the Earth Team website for a follow-up write-up of your creek survey, turning your results into a project monitoring the aquatic insects and water quality of your creek. |
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