Nature lovers get dirty

By Carla Bova, Marin Independent Journal
Sunday, February 5, 2006

About 75 volunteers got their hands dirty and their feet muddy Saturday planting 475 native plants at Santa Venetia Marsh in San Rafael to create a natural barrier and protect sensitive habitat there.

The Marin County Open Space District and Save the Bay are working to build a "biological fence" on both sides of the 1.6-mile levee.

"We are trying to create a living fence on either side of the levee to give cover and concealment to all wetland species, including the endangered California clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse," district ranger Greg Reza said. "There is a lot of public use in that area, so we wanted to create habitat and soften the interface between the public and wildlife."

The county Open Space District is a public agency created in 1972 that works to protect ridgelands and baylands.

Save the Bay works to protect and restore San Francisco Bay and to reduce the impacts of urban sprawl and pollution.

Saturday's planting is part of their joint effort to plant 10,000 native plants in phases throughout the year.

Marilyn Latta, Save the Bay habitat restoration director, said the group planted three kinds of native plants Saturday - coyote brush, sticky monkeyflower and marsh gum plant.

"They all will grow into medium- to large-size shrubs that form a sort of a natural buffer between the trail and the marsh," Latta said. "We want to make sure people and dogs stay on the trail and out of the marsh where there are endangered species."

The new plants are expected to enhance habitat in the marsh ecosystem, which is now predominantly pickleweed, Latta said.

"By planting additional types of salt marsh natives, we are increasing species diversity because each plant provides a food source for a different type of shorebird and endangered species really need a variety of plants," Latta said. "The clapper rail needs marsh gum plant because it creates nests from the stem and hides in it when predators come."

Alex Kahl, a Santa Venetia resident since 1998, said he volunteered to be a good neighbor and to give back to his community.