Posts for the 'Friends of Five Creeks' Category

Help find and slow Sudden Oak Death: Apr. 30 – May 1 ‘blitz’ survey

April 30, 2011toMay 1, 2011

Sudden Oak Death, a fungus-like mold that is ravaging coastal California’s beautiful live oaks, is infecting trees in the hills from El Sobrante to Oakland, and has been found on the UC Berkeley campus and North Berkeley hills.

The disease is carried on many host plants. Its advance is fitful but inexorable, spurred by high winds or late-spring rains. The pathogen affects large oaks; most infected trees die quickly (hence the name). Sometimes, massive infestations of beetles and fungi that follow the disease cause trees to snap off at the base even before the leaves turn brown.

Loss of our coastal oaks means much more than loss of beauty or property values. Hundreds of native animal and plant species depend on oaks. Watershed and water cycling would change. Danger of fire and damage from falling limbs and trees would increase.

There is no cure, but some things can be done to slow the spread and protect high-value or high-risk trees – for example in parks or near homes. Most of these must be done before an area, or a tree, is infected.
Working with UC Berkeley’s Dr. Matteo Garbelotto and other community organizations, BPFP is sponsoring a “blitz” survey of infected host plants – mainly California bay laurels. Sign up here to:

  • Attend a free one-hour training and get survey materials, 1:30 PM Sat., April 30, on the UC Berkeley campus (easy access by BART and bus). Training also is available at 10 AM April 30 at the Orinda Community Center; Bill Hudson at wllhh@ymail.com.
  • Look for infected leaves at locations of your choice (including young home) or suggested by organizers.
  • Volunteers return suspect samples to an on-campus drop box by 5 PM Sunday, May 1.

    • Samples will be laboratory tested. Results will be posted on an online database and Google Earth. A community meeting will discuss results and what can be done.

    For more information about the survey, or if a group is interested if your group is interested in surveying a specific park or neighborhood, please contact Friends of Five Creeks, f5creeks@aol.com or 510 848 8358.

    If you think you have an infected oak on your property, check out the Garbelotto lab’s free treatment-training sessions .

    If the April 30-May 1 blitz doesn’t work for you, but you have an I- phone and want to help add to knowledge of this plague, check out this I-phone app from Maggi Kelly’s lab, also at UC Berkeley.

    For general information on sudden oak death, go to the California Oak Mortality Task Force web site.

    March 22nd, 2011

    BPFP Partners add new steps in Grotto Rock Park

    Over Thanksgiving holidays, Grotto Rock Park got new steps on the steepest, slickest part of its circular trail, thanks to Troop 237 Eagle Scout candidate Tyler Young and his co-workers. The project is part of safety improvements being carried out by BPFP partner groups Friends of Grotto Rock Park and Friends of Five Creeks, with funding from a UC Chancellor’s Community Service Grant. Volunteers also have been removing ivy and blackberry, planting natives, putting it more steps, and preparing the wide, level trail fronting the rock for a new decomposed-granite surface — the biggest part of the project. Grotto Rock Park, on Santa Barbara just north of Indian Rock Boulevard, has spectacular and romantic Bay views, but wet, slippery trails were hazardous in past winters.

    December 2nd, 2010

    Friends of Five Creeks 10-10-10 event draws 89 volunteers!

    Some of the 89 volunteers working at Codornices Creek on 10-10-10Huge thanks to the 89 volunteers who gathered for Codornices Creek restoration and tours on Climate Action Day, 10-10-10. A mountain of trash was removed, over 100 feet of exuberant willows were thinned and pruned, and younger volunteers curbed smaller invasives.

    October 11th, 2010

    Evening walk explores Cerrito Ck. and Albany Hill Thurs., Apr. 22

    April 22, 2010
    6:00 pmto8:00 pm

    Friends of Five Creeks and Transition Albany invite you to enjoy Cerrito Creek and Albany Hill on a spring evening, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Meet at 6 PM at Peet’s Coffee, San Pablo and Carlson, El Cerrito; wear long pants and sleeves (poison oak) and sturdy hiking shoes with good traction; bring sticks if you use them. This two-hour exploration of rare urban wilderness with fascinating history will cross the creek on stepping stones and gain 300′ elevation on moderately steep, narrow dirty trails — with refreshments at the top! Information at www.fivecreeks.org, f5creeks@aol.com, 510 848 9358.

    April 12th, 2010

    Jan. 4 talk on Toxic Legacy: Mercury in SF Bay

    January 4, 2010 7:00 pmtoJanuary 5, 2010 4:00 pm

    Invisible but deadly, mercury threatens San Francisco Bay wildlife, complicates restoration, and is the major reason that people must avoid eating Bay fish. But what to do is a conundrum. San Francisco Estuary Institute ecologist Kat Ridolfi speaks on sources of mercury, current research, and choices that can reduce contamination, 7 PM Monday, Jan. 4, at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin (at Masonic).
    Free; refreshments; all welcome! Information at f5creeks@aol.com, 510 848 9358, www.fivecreeks.org.

    December 30th, 2009

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