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SALMON PROTECTION AND WATERSHED NETWORK
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About SPAWN
Mission Statement: The Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN) works to protect threatened coho salmon and steelhead and the environment on which we all depend. We use a multi-faceted approach including grassroots action, habitat restoration, policy development, environmental education, media campaigns and litigation. The Goals of SPAWN
SPAWN History/List of Accomplishments 1998-99 Accomplishments: Our first and foremost aim for SPAWN was to raise awareness of the importance of the Lagunitas Watershed (LW) in order to launch our grassroots campaign, "Save Our Coho. We quickly learned that most people were not aware that LW has the largest population of wild coho salmon left in California, including local residents, media or even many environmentalists. We believe we were very successful in getting our message out through various means including: Media | Creek Walks | Forums/Outreach | StreamKeeper Program | Roy's Dam | Watch Dog Local Water District | Networking | Watch Dog Development Activities | Teacher/Student Involvement SPAWN continues to educate the public through the use of media; below is a partial list of articles and op-ep's
In addition, numerous stories and guest columns appeared in other local print media (including Point Reyes light, Pacific Sun, Stone Soup, Marin Reporter, Coastal Post) regarding a range of LW issues including our spawning creek walks, work with local school, restoration plans, etc. SPAWN personnel also participated in local radio (including a July 200 interview on the KPFA Morning Show about the Pipeline) and several television stories (including several on CNN and Channel 4.) Back to List of Accomplishments WINTER AND SPRING/SUMMER CREEK WALKS More than 700 people have to date participated in SPAWN sponsored walks to view spawning coho salmon and juvenile fish in LW. Participants were educated on issues related to the natural history, conservation and individual actions that could be taken to recover species. Various media participated and press coverage of the events was good. Back to List of Accomplishments SPAWN organized and participated in several forums and community outreach events: Freeman House, author of Totem Salmon: Life Lessons from another species spoke in LW and SPAWN co-sponsored a talk by Freeman with the Wallace Stegner Environmental Center at SF Public Library. In total, more than 100 people attended these two talks. SPAWN spoke at several San Geronimo Valley Planning Group meetings. SPAWN organizes a yearly float (A creek, complete with fish!) and distributed materials in two local parades (Woodacre Fourth of July, and Fairfax Festival Parade). SPAWN printed and distributed more than 5,000 newsletters, including a mailing to all residents in the San Geronimo Valley. SPAWN has distributed materials yearly at the Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair, and at other events such as the North Bay Riparian Station opening. Back to List of Accomplishments SPAWN's StreamKeeper Program accomplished much in three years of operation. A total of 25 people (with ten individuals participating regularly) volunteered as StreamKeepers to: Conduct Spawning Surveys on Arroyo Creek, Larsen Creek and Montezuma Creek. These surveys have increased the known spawning population by approximately 10 percent. Survey & map important juvenile, spawning habitat for creeks; and Rescue (catch, transport and release) juvenile fish which had become stranded in small tributaries that were going dry. More than 3,000 steelhead and coho fish have been rescued to date and monitoring has indicated many more that could be rescued.. These activities were carried out under SPAWN Federal Endangered Species Act permits. Monitor water quality in relation to development (see below) Back to List of Accomplishments ROY'S DAM YEAR 3 PLAN COMPLETION FISH FRIENDLY PASSAGE As was previously mentioned, the participation of Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt in our first work party last year to fix Roy's Dam, turned the event into a highly elevated affair. SPAWN participated with many groups in this work including Trout Unlimited, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and several companies that provided services including Performance Excavators and Van Midde Concrete. In year two, more than 60 volunteers participated in a series of three consecutive work parties that successfully: " repaired the ailing fish ladder, " sealed and strengthened the existing dam wall to prevent cracking " built a first jump pool, " re-built a failing retaining side-wall with giant boulders " planted native trees and grasses to reduce sedimentation and provide shade for creek " dug, redirected and lined with rocks two drainage ditches. The final year (#) of repairs to turn Roy s Dam into Roy s Pools was completed in October, 1999 with SPAWN elected to serve as fiscal sponsor and lead coordinating organization. Back to List of Accomplishments SPAWN was appointed to the Marin Municipal Water District's Technical Advisory Committee which was established after SPAWN submitted detailed comments to the Regional water Quality Control Board and requesting that such a committee be established. SPAWN is a regular participant and continues to monitor MMWD to ensure their activities successfully increase fish restoration efforts. SPAWN just achieved a significant political victory when we forced the Water District Board of Directors to put off their vote on the water pipeline from the Eussian River until they had updated their Environmental Impact Statement. SPAWN galvanized over 800 signatures to be sent to the directors opposing the project, ran a full-page ad in the Marin Independent Journal, and threatened legal action if the EIS was not updated. This is a significant victory as the EIS process will allow for a more thorough debate of the pipeline proposal, as well as extend the date of the vote past when two of the "yes" votes will come up for re-election. Watch for our further actions on the anti-pipeline front . Back to List of Accomplishments SPAWN has also been active in a coalition of California organizations concerned with lack of action of National Marine Fisheries Service to complete rules for the protection of steelhead trout. A 60 day notice of intent to sue has been sent and plans for a lawsuit (if necessary) is being completed. SPAWN has also joined coalitions with groups fighting Yuba River mining activities, the Marin County Watershed Collaborators, and national organizations working to remove dams along the Snake River of Idaho. Back to List of Accomplishments WATCHDOG DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES SPAWN StreamKeepers conducted water quality monitoring in the creek near a large development occurring in the LW (called French Ranch). StreamKeepers collected water samples and provided photo and video documentation of problems. CA Fish & Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Marin County Public Works, US Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies were advised and the developer was required, on several occasions, to increase protective measures and/or cease activities during the rainy season. A 10 minute video was edited from the footage and has been used to educate organizations and members of the public. We hope to create interest in implementing policies that disallows earth grading activities during the rainy season in L.W. Back to List of Accomplishments INVOLVE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES SPAWN made presentations to all teachers in the Lagunitas School district and met several times with the most interested teachers. SPAWN staff made several classroom presentations. In addition, six teachers from a total of three school districts and approximately 80 students participated in SPAWN coordinated activities which included: " Creation of "Salmon Wishing Poles" " Planting of willows to provide creek shade " Participation in "creek float" in two parades " creek walk and water quality monitoring " Fundraising activities which netted close to $1,000 for restoration activities. " implementing a successful Creek Exploration program after-school program. |
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