BPFP member group, Friends of Five Creeks, in partnership with Friends of Sausal Creek and California Invasive Plant Council, has been awarded a $5,000 San Francisco Estuary Project grant to produce a multilingual brochure on Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica), a highly invasive parasitic vine that is a serious threat to wild and restored lands as well as to agriculuture.
24″ steelhead spotted in Codornices Creek — Video
Visit Friends of Five Creeks web site for a 34 sec. movie of steelhead up to 24″ long attempting to spawn in CodornicesCreek. The photos are bittersweet: They were possible because retaining walls on this small city creek forced these magnificent seagoing trout to try to nest in unsuitable places. Watching their struggle is inspiring, heartbreaking — and a powerful argument for creek restoration. Codornices Creek is closed to fishing. Please do not disturb the fish!
The Berkeley Daily Planet also covered the story with a nice article providing background information on steelhead salmon, and Northern California creeks and rivers.
Creek Art to Action
A dozen Berkeley High School AP Environmental Science students got “down and dirty” Saturday, Mar. 18, 2006, making ephemeral art with “found” materials in the first session of Friends of Five Creeks’ “Art to Action on Berkeley Creeks” project. Working with local environmental artist Zach Pine (www.naturesculpture.com), students turned leaves, logs, litter, even muddy footprints into art . The site was the swale next to Lower Glendale Path, one of Codornices Creek’s many headwaters. Less visible results: seeing more clearly, and a deepened appreciation of nature and creeks. Huge thanks to students, Zach, and especially BHS teacher Mardi Mertens.
Codornices Creek volunteering
Groups from Brownies to UC Berkeley public-policy graduate students are pitching in to help with weeding at the most recent restoration on Codornices Creek. A little over a year ago, the creek was “liberated” from a narrow concrete channel west of Fifth Street (alongside University Village and between sports fields). The need now is to keep weeds under control along the newly meandering channel, giving natives time to grow in. The most recent group of helpers — 15 residents of Canterbury House, a residence for UC students focused on public service. Thanks to all — and if your group wants to help, contact us at f5creeks@aol.com.
Friends of Five Creeks: November 2005
Friends of Five Creeks volunteers continued to remove harmful invasives and plant natives at three sites on Codornices Creek: at Live Oak Park, where the creek crosses the Ohlone Greenway, and between 10th and 9th Streets. F5C worked especially with school groups at the mouth of Strawberry Creek, and partnered with Save the Bay in maintaining the mouth of Schoolhouse Creek, both in the Eastshore State Park. The group also continued its outreach work, especially at fairs, festivals, and the How Berkeley Can You Be Parade, where they dressed as frogs, fish, and “litter man” and handed out thousands of bookmarks listing “Ten Things You Can Do for Creeks.” Call Susan Schwartz at 510-848-9358 if you’d like to get involved.