This Fall season marked the period of data collection for Pinole’s Thriving Earth Exchange community science project. People of all ages, including Earth Team interns, joined together to complete over 25 Pinole Creek litter assessments between September and December. To celebrate this project milestone, volunteers, students, city council members, and longtime Pinole residents hiked to the top of the Pinole Creek Watershed.
Everyone who dared brave the steep climb to the top of the hill met at Briones Regional Park. Starting at the Bear Creek Staging Area they hiked up the Briones Crest Trail, nearly summiting 1200ft. Traversing rolling, grassy green hills, the group enjoyed panoramic views of Mt. Diablo to the east and Mt. Tamalpais to the west. Once at the top, the group stopped to rest and enjoy views of the beloved watershed they’ve worked so hard to clean and protect.
Guided by Earth Team coordinator, Itzel Gomez, everyone participated in a land acknowledgment to offer homage to the Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone, whose ancestors are the original stewards and inhabitants of the lands visited that day. Everyone came away reflecting on the ways they can affirm tribal sovereignty for the Ohlone people. Visit the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust to learn how you can pay a voluntary Shuumi Land Tax to support their efforts to return indigenous land to indigenous people.
The group will get together again in January and meet with community scientist, Dr. Win Cowger, to review preliminary results of the data collected. Stay tuned to learn more about Pinole’s Thriving Earth Exchange project!