Educating and inspiring communities
to protect our local watersheds
We all live in a watershed. No matter if you are in the middle of San Francisco's financial district or on a cherry farm in Contra Costa County, water trickles and gushes around you on its journey to one of the world's greatest estuaries--the San Francisco Bay. Our lives are interconnected through our relationship with our watersheds. They are the containers for our homes, schools, and places of work. Everything we do, from mountaintop to marsh, affects the health of local water, soil, air, wildlife, our families and communities.
The ecological and cultural importance of our relationship with our watersheds is undeniable. Unfortunately, our ties to precious water resources are rapidly unraveling. San Francisco Bay has become the most altered aquatic ecosystem in the United States. What was once a paradise for shorebirds, waterfowl, oysters and salmon, is now a soiled afterthought to development of new mines, mansions and malls. Today, the debris and gravel-filled Bay bears little resemblance to the natural wonderland that was celebrated by the Ohlone, Patwin, and Miwok people over 10,000 years ago.
Learn about your watershed today. Take a workshop or support a local community group. Together we can protect the Bay Area's many creeks, waterways, and watersheds.
Watch a Video: What is The Watershed Project?
Showdown Over Plastic Bags
Finally, A Statewide Effort to Reduce Trash, Save Energy and Protect Marine Life
As I begin this article, the ticker on www.reuseit.com shows that 293,651,720,000 plastic bags have been consumed this year. Since the plastic bag first found its way into the back seats, kitchen cupboards, and spare space under the sink in American households, we have been consuming them at an alarming rate. Worldwide plastic bag consumption falls between 500 billion and 1 trillion bags annually. That breaks down to almost 1 million every minute.
What's in Your Watershed?
The Brazen Burrowing Owl
Sighting an owl is a rare and thrilling experience given their nocturnal behavior--they're silent, reclusive characters that only come out at night in search of prey. Or so you thought. In fact, right here in the Bay Area we live alongside a curious little fellow you're likely to see in the daytime! But sadly, the Western Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia hypagaea, is no longer a common sight during the night or day. As grassy prairies turn to urban sprawl, their numbers dwindle. Thankfully, concerned bird lovers are taking action to rebuild burrowing owl habitat. Learning a bit about these unorthodox owls might motivate you to join in!
