Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

First Saturday Cleanup on Prince Memorial Greenway

Saturday,  April 4th, May 2nd, June 6th, July 4th and August 1st

Time: 10:00 a.m. - Noon

Location: Olive Park Footbridge near 1698 Hazel Street. On street parking

On the first Saturday of every month, the public is invited to join a creek cleanup event on the Prince Memorial Greenway, a restored section of Santa Rosa Creek that flows through the heart of downtown.

Laguna Stewardship Fun

Saturday, March 14

Time: 9:00 a.m. -Noon

Location: Laguna Treatment Plant at 4300 Llano Road

Bring the kids!  Join us to plant, weed and mulch in a one of a kind native plant garden and wetlands.  An optional tour in the last hour discusses restoration and the native plants and animals that make our home so special

Flat Rock Park Volunteer Day

Saturday,  April 11

Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Location: Flat Rock Footbridge (4227 Flat Rock Circle)

Help take care of the Brush Creek Restoration Area and Flat Rock Park.  Learn about native California riparian plants and how they provide food and shelter for fish and wildlife

Cleanup on the Greenway - Earth Day

Saturday, April 25

Time: 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Location: Olive Park Footbridge near 1698 Hazel Street. On street parking

Celebrate Earth Day's 50th birthday on the Prince Memorial Greenway.  Help with a cleanup of Santa Rosa Creek, native plant care and trail maintenance.  Afterwards, join the Earth Day OnStage festival at Courthouse Square

Love Your Mother- and Steele Creek

Saturday, May 9

Time: 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Location: Next to 1090 Jennings Avenue (east of the railroad tracks)

As a Mother's Day treat, spend a little time caring for Mother Earth.  Ride your bicycles to a cleanup of Steele Creek along the SMART pathway.

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Sierra Park Creek Cleanup

Saturday, May 16

Time: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

Location: Strawberry School, 2311 Horseshoe Drive

Continue the care of this little creek with Strawberry School, scouts and neighbors on Bennett Valley Cleanup Day.  All ages welcome.  Tools provided.

Victorian engraving of alder leaves, flowers and cones

Spring Forward

Greetings Creek Stewards,

Santa Rosa Creek is coming back to life!  Most of the trees and shrubs that grow streamside are deciduous, losing their leaves for the winter.  Along Santa Rosa Creek the first trees have broken bud and fresh, green leaves are starting to grow.  Some of the first species to leaf out include willow, buckeye and alder.  A general rule is the earlier a tree leafs out, the earlier it will lose it leaves in the late summer or early fall.  Buckeyes already sport well developed leaves.  These trees begin their dormancy, dropping leaves in August and even July!  Compare that to the valley oak which may not be fully leafed out until later April.  The valley oak will finally surrender the bulk of leaves to winter in November.

Other harbingers of spring currently present on the Greenway include mourning cloak butterflies.  I watched several flitting gently along under the footbridge today.  A large butterfly, up to 4 inches in wingspan, they overwinter as adults instead of moving south.  Adults tuck away in sheltered places and are active early in the spring, aided by their black coloration that helps absorb warmth from the sun.

Like nature we are ready to break out of winter dormancy, enjoying being outdoors, appreciating fresh growth and the return of butterflies while warming up our muscles for summer fun.  Please join us on Saturday, March 7th to witness the progression of spring and help further beautify the Prince Memorial Greenway for all.

Lets awaken, rise and help our creeks shine,

Alistair

First Saturday Cleanup on Prince Memorial Greenway          

Date: Saturday, March 7th

Time: 10:00 - noon

Location: Olive Park footbridge over Santa Rosa Creek (105 Orange Street/also listed as 1698 Hazel Street)

Tools, gloves and snacks provided. All ages are welcome!

For more information contact: Alistair Bleifuss creeks@srcity.org or 707-543-3845

Nature Quiz: Animals sometimes exhibit torpor over the winter.  What does it mean?  See answer below the picture of a mourning cloak butterfly.

Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal when body temperature drops and metabolism slows.  Animals that undergo daily torpor when conditions are challenging include insects like this mourning cloak butterfly, birds and mammals, particularly rodent species and bats.

Alder breaking bud on the Prince Memorial Greenway

Alistair Bleifuss | Environmental Specialist

Creek Stewardship Program

Santa Rosa Water | 69 Stony Circle | Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Tel. (707) 543-3845 | ableifuss@srcity.org

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