Upcoming Meetings & Events

Send your announcements to Sandy Scoggin at sscoggin@sfbayjv.org

4th International Partners In Flight Conference
Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats, and People

February 13-16, 2008
McAllen Convention Center
McAllen, Texas

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The Coastal Society’s 21st International Conference
Coastal Footprints
Minimizing Human Impacts,
Maximizing Stewardship

Sunday, June 29 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, California

Conference website

The Coastal Society is an organization of private sector, academic, and government professionals and students dedicated to actively addressing emerging coastal issues by fostering dialogue, forging partnerships, and promoting communication and education.

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Restore America's Estuaries
4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
*** Registration Now Open ***

Event Flier [52 KB PDF]

October 11-15, 2008
Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, Rhode Island

Restore America's Estuaries is pleased to announce the Call for Dedicated Sessions, Presentations and Posters for the 4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration - Creating Solutions through Collaborative Partnerships.

The Conference Program will address all aspects of coastal and estuarine habitat restoration, in all habitats and at all scales. Habitat restoration - manipulation of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning self-sustaining natural or historic structure and functions to former or degraded habitat offers great promise for reversing trends of habitat loss and degradation and is a crucial component of comprehensive ecosystem restoration, protection and management.

Visit their web site for complete information about the conference: www.estuaries.org.

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The Wildlife Society 15th Annual Conference
November 8-12, 2008
Miami, Florida

Call for Contributed Papers and Posters: deadline March 14, 2008

Submission of contributed papers and posters are invited on topics of wildlife science, management, conservation, education, or policy within the broad theme of Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship through Science and Education.

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126th American Ornithologists' Union Meeting,
the 78th Cooper Ornithological Society Meeting,
and the 28th Society for Canadian Ornithologists Meeting

August 6-9, 2008,
Portland, Oregon

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UPCOMING SAVE THE BAY EVENTS

Why should kids have all the fun?
This summer Save The Bay is offering two unique programs for parents and children. Families can discover the Bay canoeing alongside Arrowhead Marsh in Oakland and paddling through the sloughs of the Palo Alto Baylands. These easy canoe trips will connect families with the Bay and each other. Sign up today for Save The Bay's Family Days and remember all adults must be accompanied by a youth!

• Sign up for Arrowhead Marsh, Saturday, July 26
• Sign up for Palo Alto Baylands, Saturday, August 9

Save The Bay's Education programs in full swing!
So far this school year over 1,800 students have joined Save The Bay to paddle through the wetlands and engage in hands-on Bay education through our Canoes In Sloughs program. And 1,500 students have participated in hands-on restoration projects, planting native seedlings, removing weeds and trash from the Bay shoreline. By the end of this school year, Save The Bay will have inspired nearly 6,000 students to preserve the richness and biodiversity of the Bay's wetland ecosystem.

Learn more about Save The Bay's Education programs.

Summer Workshop available for Teachers
We are currently accepting sign-ups for our two-day Ecology In Education teacher workshop this summer. We encourage teachers to join us for this unique program to learn more about the history, ecology, and current issues facing the Bay, and ways to incorporate Bay education in their teaching.

To sign up contact Alicia Moore at amoore@saveSFbay.org or 510-452-9261 x125.

Bay Events

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Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change

Portland, Oregon on September 16-18 at the Doubletree Hotel

CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN

There will be a field trip on Monday, September 15. On Friday, September 19 there will be additional workshops sponsored by Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Global climate change will be the primary topic at ASWM's annual conference. Carbon sequestration and wetlands, sea level change, and strategies for managing wetlands in response to long term changes in temperature and precipitation will be important topics. Other related topics will include wetland research priorities, monitoring trends in wetlands and related resources, management strategies, invasive species, biodiversity and policy responses to a changing environment. The purpose of this symposium is to describe challenges, identify opportunities, and share cooperative strategies for protecting, restoring and conserving wetlands in response to climate change. For information, please visit the Wetlands 2008 website or contact Laura at laura@aswm.org or 207-892-3399.

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Courses offered through the Wetland Science series of San Francisco State University
http://online.sfsu.edu/~wetlands/descriptions.htm

For more information contact Aimee Good at 415-819-2073 or wetlands@sfsu.edu

Identifying Wetland Plant Indicator Species (Biol 9350 1.6 CEU)
Friday & Saturday October 10-11, 8:30am-5:00pm
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Michael Vasey

Wetlands Restoration Ecology (BIOL 9395, 1.6 CEU)
Dates: Friday & Saturday Nov. 7-8, 8:30-5:00
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Gretchen Coffman

GIS for Wetlands (BIOL 9100, 1.6 CEU)
Dates: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 14-15 8:30-5:00
2 Days, Cost: $430
Instructor: Barry Nickel

Watershed Project Events

Watershed Teaching Tools
Mon.-Fri., Aug. 4-8 at UC Berkeley Field Station, Richmond, 9:30 am-3 pm.
Sliding scale fees: $99/$149/$198.

This 5-day hands-on training gives teachers skills and resources to help them bring high-quality environmental education into the classroom. Topics include:

• Creek, marsh, and watershed ecology of the Bay
• Basic gardening concepts for a healthy watershed
• Reducing pesticides and toxins at home and school
• Pollution prevention and waste reduction
• Integrating and evaluating environmental education activities in the curriculum

Free Resources:

• EXTENSIVE RESOURCE BINDERS
• OPTIONAL CANOE TRIP
• WATERSHED MAPS
• WORM BINS, SEEDS, & PLANTS
• 4 ACADEMIC CREDITS through CSU East Bay
• ELIGIBILITY for $150 stipends and grants
• FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT and much more!

Kids in Marshes
Tues., Aug. 12 at UC Berkeley Field Station, Richmond, 9 am-4 pm.
Sliding scale fees: $49/$74/$98.

EXPLORE THE WORLD of wetlands, and the plants and animals that have adapted to survive in these increasingly rare ecosystems. Discover the dynamics at work in the Bay Area’s remaining marshes, and take home lessons in ecology that K-6 students will value.

Free Resources:

• COURSE READER with marsh activities, water quality monitoring ideas, and other resources
• ELIGIBILITY FOR A FREE MARSH ECOLOGY classroom and field trip program for students
• ACADEMIC CREDIT through CSU East Bay
• ELIGIBILITY for $150 stipends and grants
• FREE for K-6 teachers at West Contra Costa Schools!

Volunteer for the Shoreline!
Starting in May 2008
Community Work Days, Naturalist Events and Community Presentations

WANT TO HELP IMPROVE the South Richmond Shoreline? Join the Watershed Project, City of Richmond, and East Bay Regional Parks for a series of presentations on bay and shoreline ecology, naturalist walks, and community work days along the South Richmond Shoreline.

Learn about the amazing plants and animals that call this shoreline home. You can take an active role in improving your local environment.

For more info, go to www.theWatershedProject.org and click on Volunteer.

Baxter Creek Cleanup
Sat., Jul. 26 at Booker T. Anderson Community Center 960 South 47th Street, Richmond, 10 am–12 pm

BRING YOUR FAMILY, friends and neighbors, and help clean and green Baxter Creek, South Richmond’s only creek! Help remove trash and weeds in preparation for the fall/winter planting season. Together we can make Baxter Creek an oasis in the heart of South Richmond!

Please wear sturdy shoes, work clothes, and a hat. Bring a reusable water bottle if you have one. Snacks, gloves and tools provided. Children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

For more info, go to www.theWatershedProject.org and click on Volunteer.

A Conference on Ecosystem Services (ACES) 2008
December 8-11, 2008 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida

ACES will provide a broad and open forum to discuss the latest and most innovative methods, tools, and processes for assessing ecosystem services. Register today for this exciting and innovative conference!

http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ACES

Conference Overview & Purpose

As the issue of ecosystem services and their valuation and location becomes an increasingly important factor in resource management and conservation; decisions relating to prioritizing conservation and development locations, managing public lands, and evaluating the impacts of change are posing new challenges for policy makers. These important decisions require an understanding of the services provided by ecosystems.

The purpose of ACES 2008 is to provide a needed forum for sharing information on state-of-the-art methods, tools, and processes related to ecosystem services. ACES will highlight the importance of ecosystem services in making sustainable natural resource management and urban development decisions. The interdisciplinary nature of ACES will facilitate interactive discussions and networking to create and build partnerships while sharing lessons learned from the field.

Who Should Attend

The Conference is designed to bring together government, non-government, and academic leaders who are interested in natural systems and its relationship with the built environment. Including:

• natural and social scientists
• urban planners
• resource and ecosystem managers
• conservationists
• developers
• policy makers
• other researchers and practitioners who are on the cutting edge of dealing with ecosystem sustainability, economic development, and informed decision making
  

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SPAWNERS
(San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education and Restoration Society)
Summer 2008 Events Newsletter [800 KB PDF]

Summer Re-leaf of San Pablo Creek
Sat. June 14th and July 12th, 9:30 AM-12:00 noon
Location: 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante CA 94803
As we approach the final year of our creek-side revegetation project behind the El Sobrante Library we need your help more than ever. Stop by on the second Saturday of the month and help us re-leaf San Pablo Creek. Volunteers will help remove invasive vegetation, mulch the grounds and stabilize slopes. Tools, gloves and refreshments provided.

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Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee Meeting

Event Document & Map [48 KB PDF]

Date: July 16, 2008
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: County Public Works Department Ro2475 Waterbird Way

Presentation of Statewide Multi-Agency Mitigation and Banking Template Documents

July 18, 2008:
From: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

In the cafeteria conference room of the Federal Building at: 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825 (near the offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

The cafeteria conference room is external to the building security desk and can be accessed through the cafeteria or through the outside entrance.

A brief presentation will be followed by an opportunity for questions, comments, and discussion.

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Managing Dirt in Ecosystems: A three-day workshop for resource managers on the cutting edge of erosion and sediment control, July 22, 23, 24

Event Flier [88 KB PDF] | Agenda [52 KB PDF] | Registration Form [64 KB PDF]

The San Mateo County RCD is offering a power packed 3-day workshop entitled Managing Dirt in Ecosystems. If you deal with soil erosion and sediment control, you won't want to miss it. This workshop will feature the always cutting edge and wide ranging experiences of John McCullah from Salix Applied Earthcare. Other highlights include presentations from:

• Redwood National and State Parks* Watershed Restoration Program
• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District*s Watershed Protection Program
• US Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt Unit*s Ecosystem Restoration Program
• Field trip to CalTrans* Devil*s Slide Tunnel Project
• We'll also be covering the latest in erosion and sediment control BMPs, storm water pollution prevention, bioengineering, and water quality regulations.
• You will also have an opportunity to take the CPESC (Certified Professional
  in Erosion and Sediment Control) Exam at the end of the workshop, thanks to
  Rich Casale of the NRCS, CPESC #3.

FEATURING: John McCullahof Salix Applied Earthcare

Topics include:

• Stream Restoration
• Road Removal and Repair
• Construction Site Management
• Storm Water Rules and Regulations
• Gully and Landslide Repair with Bioengineering
• Erosion and Sediment Control Best Mgmt Practices
• Field Trip to the CalTransDevil’s Slide Tunnel Project
• Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Exam

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Geomorphic and Ecological Fundamentals for River and Stream Restoration

Sagehen Creek Field Station, Truckee, California 11-15 August 2008
http://sagehen.ucnrs.org/courses/geomorph.htm

Event Document [48 KB PDF]

A 5-day shortcourse emphasizing understanding of geomorphic and ecological processes as a basis for sustainable river restoration, incorporating insights from recent research in fluvial geomorphology/ecology and lessons learned from analyses of built restoration projects.

River restoration can be more effective when approached with an understanding of processes and the larger context, when it benefits from systematic learning from previous built projects, and when it is based on
predictive connections between objectives and actions. This course emphasizes understanding geomorphic process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration projects and programs, covering general principles and case studies from a wide range of environments. The course emphasizes understanding geomorphic and ecological processes in rivers, approaching restoration from a watershed-scale and longer-time scale context, incorporating insights from recent research in fluvial geomorphology and ecology, developing predictive connections between objectives and actions, learning from built restoration projects, and developing restoration strategies and innovative management approaches based on understanding of underlying causes of channel or ecosystem change, rather than prescriptive approaches.

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Water Board Meeting August 13

The Water Board has issued a Tentative Order for Phase I of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project which can be found, along with eight attachments, at:

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/board_decisions/tentative_orders.shtml

The Board will consider issuing waste discharge requirements for this project on August 13, 2008 at 9 A.M. in the Auditorium, Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612. Please send any comments by 5:00 P.M., July 17, 2008 to Andree Greenberg at agreenberg@waterboards.ca.gov. Comments received after this date will not be considered or included in the preparation of the package presented to the Board for their consideration. The Staff's response to comments will be posted on our website one week before the hearing.

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Stream Habitat Measurement Techniques FIS3200

Course Dates: September 29-October 3, 2008
Course Location: National Conservation Training Center
College Credit: 2 semester hours
Course Length: 5 days/36 hours
Last Day to Apply: July 18, 2008
Course Document [88 KB PDF]

This field-intensive course provides skills to carry out commonly used stream physical habitat measurements required for determining regional setting, watershed attributes and stream size, longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles, channel dimension, pattern and profile, substrate characterization, mesohabitat identification, discharge and hydrology, velocity, depth, instream cover, riparian cover, and bank condition. The scale of instream habitat attributes addressed encompasses the macro-, meso-, and micro-habitat levels. Techniques learned can be applied to a variety of programs including those involving instream flow determinations, habitat assessment, stream restoration and monitoring, and fish-habitat relationships. Participants will learn techniques applicable to wadeable streams, and will utilize surveying gear and a variety of other tools; measurements will be used to classify a stream reach using the Rosgen classification methodology.

Who should attend: Biologists and other natural resource professionals interested in acquiring skills and knowledge related to stream habitat and geomorphic measurements. This course is a pre-requisite to the FIS3210 Applied Fluvial Geomorphology-Level 1 course.

Society for Ecological Restoration Conference
August 13-15, 2008

Restoration’s Bigger Picture: Linking Local Restoration to Regional and Global Issues: http://sercal.org/conference.htm

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Public hearning on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
for the Alviso Slough Restoration Project

The Santa Clara Valley Water District has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Alviso Slough Restoration Project. A public hearing will be held on July 16 at 7:00 pm at the George Mayne Elementary School in Alviso. Copies of the DEIR are available at the: Santa Clara Valley Water District offices as per above, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Library, 180 West San Carlos St., San Jose, and at the Alviso Public Library, 5050 North First Street, Alviso. Comments must be submitted by 5:00 pm July 18 to: Santa Clara Valley Water District Attn: Mr. Michael Coleman, Environmental Planner 5750 Almaden Expressway San Jose, CA 95118 Phone (408) 265-2607 x 3096 E-mail: MColeman@valleywater.org

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South Bay Science Symposium 2008: Research Supporting Restoration of the South Bay

Event Document [60 KB PDF]

Organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Dept. of Environmental Studies, and College of Social Sciences at San Jose State University

8:45 AM to 9:00 AM – Sign-in and Coffee
9:00 AM to 5:15 PM—Presentations and Discussion
5:15 PM to 7:00 PM—Reception and Posters

Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University
Rooms 229A/B (meeting) and 255/257 (posters)

**NO FEE and OPEN to the PUBLIC**

For details including how to present a poster, directions, abstracts, and the agenda, please refer to the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project website at: www.southbayrestoration.org

San Francisquito Watershed Forum Meeting August 14

San Francisquito Watershed Forum will meet on 8/14 at the Peninsula Conservation Center from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.

Agenda:

1. Introductions
2. Stanford's Habitat Conservation Plan (Brief Update - Alan Elauner)
3. Speaker/Discussion topic: Early Implementation Projects (ahead of the main Corps project) for restoration/flood control on San Francisquito Creek (Joe Teresi, City of Palo Alto)
4. Mechanism for scheduling future "Forums"
5. Information sharing among attendees

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