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Chat Room Chat Room
Marilyn Latta works with the watershed education program at Save The Bay, and is a founding member of EarthTeam. Save the Bay brings together community groups, middle and high school students and local agencies to improve creeks and wetlands in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. Marilyn helped to coordinate the very successful EarthTeam restoration at Arrowhead Marsh on March 25, and she's working on the next one, planned for late September. (See Club Info for some great photos) Volunteers will work to restore habitat and benefit Bay species by removing non-native species and propagating native wetland, upland, and riparian plants to help revegetate marshland. Marilyn Latta has a degree in marine biology and zoology from Humboldt State University and for the past five years has worked with youth teaching environmental education and science around creeks, estuaries, and oceans. Check out: www.savesfbay.org
(text may not appear in the exact sequence of events due to differences in pacing which occur naturally in on-line chat environments) marilyn: The mitten crab affects local species of mud and rock crabs, as well as benthic bottom feeders who live on the mudflats and on the bottom. marilyn: Its cool that you guys have swam, sailed, walked around, and enjoyed sunsets over the Bay! That is the main reason why I first got involved, I thought it was beautiful and needed to be protected. marilyn: Mitten crabs are just one example of non-native bay species. Other are the asian clam, which siphons half the volume of the bay every day while they feed on plankton. there are also non-native plants, like smooth cordgrass which is wiping out tidal marsh and mudflat communities. These species were intorduced accidentally, through ships coming into the bay from around the world. marilyn: We work with the adopt-a-species foundation which protects endangered species like the CA clapper rail, a shoredird, and the salt marsh harvest mouse, that lives in tidal wetlands. marilyn: I think they wanted to shorten the pier so that boat traffic can get through. Yes, it is safe to swim in the Bay but not after big storms, becasue that is when alot of oil and other pollutants wash off the streets. marilyn: I work in the watershed education program at Save The Bay, organizing Restoration Program that classes can do on creeks and wetlands. Our big project is helping to grow native plants for the wetlands out near the Oakland Airport, and lots of volunteers from schools and the community are helping. marilyn: I think the most harmful thing that is happening is that people don't understand that we are all connected to the water around us. We depend on it for drinking water, recreation, shipping, and many other things. What we put into our creeks and on the streets ends up in the Bay, affecting fish, wildlife, birds, and even whales and dolphins. marilyn: Yea, sometimes it is frustrating when people don't care, but I just try to focus on working to make things better for our quality of life and the environment. Save The Bay was started by only 3 people, so it doesn't take many to make a big difference... marilyn: The Oakland Airport does need help! We are growing sea lavendar, gum plant, salt grass, arrowgrass, and alkali heath. Those names probably aren't familiar, but they are cool plants that are adapted to live in salt marshes, which is one of the most productive environments in the world. marilyn: I haven't heard about AIDS and dolphins, but you definantly can't get AIDS from swimming in water. marilyn: Some fish at the market may be local ffom SF Bay, it is good to ask where it comes from. marilyn: Where are you planting your oaks? Did you grow them? marilyn: Yea, salt marshes are really cool but people thought they looked like swampy wastelands, so they wanted to fill them up. They are really important for species like salmon who need a place to get used to salt water before they migrate to the ocean. marilyn: About eating fish, it is safe to eat a limited amount. People who eat a lot of fish may build up toxins in their bodies, which has been linked to health problems. marilyn: Yes, the bay does get flushed and cleaned by water coming from rain and the mountains. And the tide is coming in and out from the ocean twice a day, cleaning and flushing the water. The problem is that alot of the water is diverted for farming, business, drinking water, etc. marilyn: A safe amount is 2 fish per month, and only eat the fillets, not the fat or the skin because that is where toxins are stored. Health problems over a long period of time can be cancer, birth defects, and neurological and muscular problems. marilyn: Thanks earthsaver! Keep up the good work. marilyn: Unfortunately, toxics in the Bay are not well publicized, so people don't know about the risk of eating fish. It mainly affects immigrant communities because they fish for food from the Bay, and like to eat the whole fish so they don't waste any of it. marilyn: I would love to come and talk at Berkeley high, I met some students from BHS at the Watershed Poetry Festival in the park last saturday. They siad that they are doing a project with creeks. marilyn: Thanks for joining the chat room you guys, and thanks for caring about the Bay. marilyn: Check out our website at www.savesfbay.org or you can email me at mlatta@savesfbay.org Our phone # is 510-452-9261 Feel free to contact me anytime!! Thanks everyone. marilyn: Goodnight Safire Cat, thanks for being the
interviewer! Kelinda: Lake Tahoe must be in better shape than the bay. Kelinda: oh gimme a break, rdog pebbles: what would a safe amount of fish be? Foodlacky: what kind of health problems? SafireCat: Are there many cases of Bay Area fish poisoning? I sure haven't heard of any. earthsaver: I'm leaving but i want to thank you marilyn for your time, and the opportunity to talk to someone so knowledgeable about the Bay Foodlacky: Marilyn, will you ever come and talk at Berkeley High? Kelinda: I am as well leaving, Thank you Marilyn have a blessed evening Foodlacky: by tessie Foodlacky: umm bye Foodlacky: You should contact Dana Richards babyy369: i have to go too. thanks marilyn for giving us so much useful info cspring: Thanks, Marilyn for the great info. Tell us again how to contact Save the Bay. Foodlacky: bye Marilyn and guys babyy369: bye everyone Foodlacky: see you tommorrow (some of you) SafireCat: Thank you Marilyn for an insightful interview on the bay. sue: How can we talk to you another time? SafireCat: Good night everyone, and dream green. pebbles: i'm dreamin green.... thanks, Marilyn, g'night all
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