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Consider what happens when an inch of rain
falls on an asphalt parking lot at a shopping
center somewhere in the Los Angeles River
watershed. That water hits the
ground and flows toward the
lowest part of the parking lot,
where it enters a storm drain, flows
into a flood control channel like the
LA River and eventually reaches
the ocean. On the way to the storm drain, it
picks up a few drops of oil from a leaking car, a
bit of radiator fluid from another car, and a
plastic lid from a discarded coffee cup. Oh
yeah, there is also some time-released
fertilizer used on the plants along the perimeter
of the parking lot, as well as a bit of insecticide
used to keep the white flies under control.
Hmmm, there’s also a bit of fecal
material, where a dog was
allowed to “do his business” in
the bushes. Each gram of dog
feces contains 23 million bacteria.
Multiply this situation by
thousands of asphalt parking lots. Is it any
wonder that, according to Heal the Bay’s 2005-
2006 Annual Beach Report Card, “the five most
polluted beaches in the state were all in LA
County. “ (continued on page 2)
Open Spaces Create Clean Water
The five most
polluted beaches in
the state were all in
LA County.
Inside this issue….
1 Feature Story
2 Feature Story (cont)
3 Greetings from the
MRCA
3 From the Editor
4 Marsh Park
4 Cyberteer
5 Storm Water Runoff
6 Chautauqua
6 Ask the Naturalist
7 Parks in the News
8 Featured Plant and
Animal
9 Science News You
Can Use
10 For Parents and
Educators
11 Volunteer
Happenings
12 Volunteer Calendar
13 Volunteer Calendar
14 Access
Un-Deniable
14 Invasive Weeds
15 Notes from the
Field
16 Photo Gallery
Summer 2006
Ballona Wetlands - a coastal estuary with a
mixture of both saltwater and freshwater marshes.
Photo courtesy Jonathan Coffin
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 22
Cyberteer…..Cyberteer…..
Here are some websites learn more about watershed
management and water quality:
The EPA has an online Watershed Academy. This Web site
offers a basic and broad introduction to the watershed
management field: www.epa.gov/watertrain/
For information on vernal pools:
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/types/vernal.html
The State Coastal Commission has a model urban runoff
program, with a series of “Best Management Practices”
monographs for local businesses and homes:
www.coastal.ca.gov/la/murp.html
They also have a site for educators:
www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/directory/educate.html
The City of Los Angeles has a website devoted to
stormwater issues, including a glossary of terms and FAQ’s
about stormwater runoff:
www.lacity.org/SAN/wpd/index1.htm
For a copy of Heal the Bay’s Annual Beach Report Card, go
to: http://www.healthebay.org/brc/annual/default.asp
Feature Story Continued….Feature Story Continued…...
Now consider what happens to that same inch of rain when
it falls on one of our parks or open spaces. Some of it
percolates into the soil, where it is cleansed of fecal bacteria,
viruses and other pollutants. Some of it flows into streams,
where UV sunlight acts as a disinfectant, killing the fecal
bacteria that comes from the animals that live there. The
clearer the water, the more effective the sunlight, so properly
constructed trails and minimal erosion are vital. Because this
is parkland, there is no pesticide or herbicide or commercial
fertilizer in the runoff. And if visitors pack out their trash,
(and pick up after their dogs) there is no litter either.
As an agency, we are involved in monitoring small but
ecologically significant portions of our watershed. For
example,Tierra Rejada, located in the City of Moorpark, is
the site of a small vernal pool. The MRCA is responsible for
an annual biological assessment on that site of three federally
endangered species, the Riverside fairy shrimp
(Streptocephalus woottoni), Orcutt grass (Orcuttia californica),
and Lyon’s pentachaeta or Pygmy Daisy (Pentachaeta lyonii).
The MRCA is working on some exciting innovations in our
water demonstration parks. You can read about Marsh
Park, one of our recently launched projects, on page 2. But
there are several more projects in the works.
At 8th Street Park, located in the City of San Fernando along
the Pacoima wash, the MRCA is incorporating stormwater
capture and treatment into the park design. Stormwater
from a 33 acre residential area will be filtered to remove
suspended solids prior to entering two “placitas”, which also
double as community gathering spaces. These placitas also
act as sediment traps, cleaning the water before entering the
naturalized stream which delivers the water to a large sand
media filter detention basin within the park, where water
infiltrates into the underground aquifer.
Further west, the design for the West Mulholland Trailhead
near Topanga State Park uses porous concrete for the park
road and parking spaces. Stephanie Landregan, the Chief
Landscape Architect for the MRCA, explains the influence of
the project: “if all the driveways in LA were pervious
instead of impervious, imagine the impact on regenerating
the groundwater...The small improvements we make in our
water demonstration parks and facilities are contributing to
the big picture and have in the long run a big impact!”
Downstream, the MRCA is working with a number of
agencies and groups involved with the Ballona Wetlands.
Recently, the Agency has been authorized by the State
Coastal Conservancy to “help implement stewardship
activities to protect and enhance the site.”
From the top of the watershed, through the urban core and
out to the ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
and MRCA are active in helping keep our water clean.
A slough at Ballona Wetlands reflects a nearby building
Page Page 33
From the Editor…..From the Editor…..
About a year ago, my old car, “The Tin Can”, finally died
and we began looking around for a replacement. I noticed
myself paying more attention to the cars I saw on the streets,
especially if they were on our short list of possibilities. That’s
how I felt when we began working on this edition of
Symbiosis. I noticed all sorts of first-class publications were
writing about our polluted watersheds, estuaries and
oceans. The June edition of Scientific American has “Wading
in Waste” and the July issue of National Geographic has “Our
Coasts in Crisis”. There was even an article in The Wall Street
Journal. National Geographic included a stunning picture of
trash in Ballona Creek, which was so much better than the
photos I took there in May. I was left with two questions:
“what can I say that hasn’t already been said” and “where
can I find a great cover photo?”
Answer to question number one came from a marketing
class I took years ago. I remember the Professor was fond of
the phrase, “look for the hole and fill it”. So be it! We’re a
small niche publication and we can tailor it to interests of our
local California readers. So we have devoted this issue of
Symbiosis to what the SMMC and MRCA are doing to be
part of the solution. We also want to equip you with the
tools you need - to explain the local issues, to share some
practical ideas and to identify places where you can learn
more - so you can make informed decisions about what else
needs to be done. I’ll leave it to you to decide how well we
have performed our task.
Answer to question number two came from Jonathan
Coffin, the photographer who provided the cover photo at
Ballona. Thanks, Jonathan, for sharing your photos with us.
I also want to thank Linda Locklin from the California
Coastal Commission and, of course, our staff and volunteers,
whose photos and ideas are always welcome.
One final note. In June, we said good-bye to one of our
regular contributors. For the past year, Asha Bankowski has
been writing the “Cyberteer” and “For Parents and
Educators” pages. She has joined the Peace Corps and will
be spending the next two years in Latin America. We will
miss her, but wish her well on her great adventure.
Wendy Langhans
310-858-7272 x 115
Greetings from the MRCA. . .Greetings from the MRCA. . .
Dear Friends -
Most of my professional life has been spent as an educator
and I will be retiring soon after 37 years in the profession. So
I know a bit about young people and how education, at it’s
best, helps instill positive values in students.
Why was this teenage boy
peering into a storm drain
while holding an aquarium fish
net? To rescue these baby quail,
that’s why. But where did he
first learn to care about other
living creatures?
He was first taught to see, so
that he might care. That’s one
reason why I’m proud to work
with the MRCA - we work with
students to connect them with
their natural environment. We
teach them to see so that they might care. And we help
them put their caring into action.
So when the students of Hollenbeck Middle School
approached LAUSD Councilmember Huizar and
Supervisor Gloria Molina about improving neglected land
near the Blueberry Hills stairway in Boyle Heights, we were
brought in to assist with the project. Now this area will be
turned into a green and usable space for the neighborhood.
If this issue of Symbiosis helps you to see how our local
neighborhoods affect our water quality, then perhaps you
will care. Perhaps you’ll look at your neighborhood in a
new light, with ideas of how we can use the power of dirt
and sunlight to clean our water. Perhaps you’ll be willing to
help us put that caring into action too.
Now go outside and play!
Michael D. “Mike” Berger, Chair
Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 44
This May, we celebrated new park opening in the Elysian
Valley neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. Marsh
Park is the first Clean Water Natural Park on the Los
Angeles River.
What do we mean by a “clean water natural park,”, and
why is it important? Each year, billions of gallons of water
runs off of city streets into storm drains that empty into the
Los Angeles River and, eventually into the Pacific Ocean.
As this water washes along our streets it picks up pollutants
such as motor oil, insecticides, and fertilizer, which pollute
our river, beaches and ocean. Marsh Park’s design
incorporates a detention and infiltration system that uses a
plentiful and naturally occurring substance - DIRT - to
cleanse storm water runoff of pollutants. Marsh Park is
located adjacent to the Glendale Narrows, a section of the
Los Angles River which has a “soft bottom” instead of a
concrete floor, so the water percolates into and replenishes
the underground aquifer.
Most professionals agree that if the water runoff from each
twenty acres of paved city streets were directed to
approximately one-acre detention and infiltration areas like
Marsh Park, our regional stormwater pollution problems
would be solved.
But there’s more to this story than simply cleaner water. To
quote Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy, “We bring nature back
into the neighborhoods and create parkland and
recreational opportunities in densely populated urban areas
where they are needed most. Joint use, multi-benefit
projects give the public the most for its money.”
Marsh Park is an example of several public agencies
working together to create common-sense solutions to
regional problems. Both the City and County of Los
Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
(SMMC) were involved in this project. Funding for Marsh
Park came from voter-approved State bond funds (The Safe
Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and
Flood Protection Act of 2000), Los Angeles County
Proposition A, and private donations.
A rainstorm in late May demonstrates how storm
water runoff is captured and cleansed of pollutants
while filtering into the underground aquifer.
The Park was
constructed by the
non-profit Los
Angeles
Conservation Corps,
which employs
young adults to
construct
environmental
projects.
Marsh Park captures and filters the runoff that
previously flowed directly into the adjacent
Glendale Narrows section of the Los Angeles River.
Page Page 55
What’s so bad about Storm Water Runoff...What’s so bad about Storm Water Runoff... Let’s begin with a few facts about storm water drainage
systems and storm water runoff in Los Angeles:
1) Every day in Los Angeles County, at least 100 million
gallons of contaminated water and debris drains through
the storm drain system and flow directly into the ocean. On
a rainy day, that amount can increase to 10 billion gallons. In
open channels, this flow can reach a depth of 25 feet and
speeds of 35 mph. Our MRCA Parks and Open spaces
reduce this flow by creating buffers for overflow and
infiltration. Remember, if you want water from a hose to
flow faster, you constrict the nozzle.
2) The Los
Angeles
storm
drain
system
drains
water
from a
1,060
square
mile area
into 35,000 catch basins, 1,500-miles of underground pipes
and 100 miles of open channels that discharges directly into
our coastal waters at 65 points on our coast. MRCA Parks
and Open spaces, such as Upper Las Virgenes Canyon, are
located at the top of the watershed, to minimize pollution
from the start.
3) Unlike the sewer system, storm water runoff is not
treated. Storm water runoff is contaminated with the
chemicals and organisms that make up our urban lives:
pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizer, petrochemicals,
heavy metals and fecal bacteria, protozoa and viruses. The
MRCA does not use pesticides or insecticides on our
properties. We require dogs to be on leash and that dog
owners clean up after their dog.
Why is this an issue? After all, we do treat our sewage
waste water. Isn’t that enough? No, it’s not enough - storm
water runoff is full of disease causing organisms. The EPA
estimates that swimming in seawater even with maximum
acceptable counts of fecal contamination will cause 2 percent
of bathers to fall ill.1 These illnesses can vary from common
ones such as gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, and ear infections
to more serious ones such as hepatitis.
In Los Angeles, Escondido Beach exceeded EPA thresholds
on 95% of sampled days. But the problem is widespread
and not confined to specific beaches. Heal the Bay’s 2005-
2006 Beach Report Card gave a good to excellent grade to
only 68 % of LA County beaches. The five most polluted
beaches in the state were in LA County.
Another concern has to do with
the health of our oceans and the
creatures that rely on it for
survival (including ourselves).
Pollution from our waste water
has reached the point that “over
90% of the area in the Santa Monica bay has contaminants at
levels at which biological effects begin to occur.”3 Today,
the greatest overall threat to the bay is stormwater run-off.3
What can be done about it?
Increase the amount of pervious (porous) surfaces. There is
a correlation between the abundance of E. coli and
impervious surfaces.2 For example, parking lots can be
paved with porous concrete, a semipervious material that
allows water to filter into the soil while at the same time
supporting the weight of automobiles.
Reduce peak runoff flow. Create spaces for storm water
runoff to collect, rather than immediately flow into the drain
system. Allow open channels to have a “soft bottom”, so
that water can percolate into the underground aquifer. By
reducing peak flow, you reduce the amount of sediment in
the water from erosion. The clearer the water, the easier for
sunlight to penetrate and kill fecal bacteria with UV light.
Also, sediment can bind with pollutants such as phosphates,
ammonium and fecal bacteria and carry them downstream.
Filter storm runoff. In the urban core storm water runoff can
be funneled into areas where it can be filtered before
percolating into the ground or flowing into storm drains.
This will cleanse the water of pollutants before it enters the
storm drain system. These filtration areas can be scalable in
size - small for the area the size of a parking lot, or larger for
a residential neighborhood such as the MRCA’s Marsh Park.
(1) M. Mallin. Wading in Waste. Scientific American. June 2006: 52 - 59
(2) J. Bourne. Our Coasts in Crisis. National Geographic. June 2006: 60-87.
(3) United State Geologic Survey. http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/socal/smbay/
One of 35,000 storm drains in Los Angeles County
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 66
Chautauqua programs for Summer…..Chautauqua programs for Summer…..
Summer Campfire Programs at Temescal
We will be taking a break from Chautauqua programs in
July and August, so we can again offer our popular weekly
Campfire programs. Every
Thursday night, 8:00-10:00 PM
THU 7/6, 13, 20, 27
THU 8/3, 10, 17, 24
For more information call
(310) 454-1395 ext.106 or visit
www.Lamountains.com.
Butterflies of the Santa Monica Mountains
Sept. 29, 7:30 PM. Margaret Huffman
Butterflies are very beautiful creatures, with their bright
colors and graceful flight. The Los Angeles area, with its
temperate climate, is home to more than 100 kinds of
butterflies. Monarchs, anise swallowtails, and marine blues
are just a few of the species to grace our local skies. Learn
what butterflies can be seen in the Santa Monica Mountains
and where and when it's easiest to see particular species.
Margaret Huffman is program chair and past-president of
the Los Angeles Chapter of the North American Butterfly
Association (NABA). The group promotes enjoyment of
butterflies through programs, field trips, butterfly counts,
butterfly gardening, and through its web site:
www.naba.org. She has put on many shows about
southern California butterflies and run workshops on
gardening for
birds and
butterflies. A
naturalist at
heart, she
emphasizes
growing native
plants for birds
and butterflies
and, ultimately,
for restoration
of the natural
landscape.
California Sister
Photograph by Dr. Paul Levine
Location: Temescal Gateway Park
15601 Sunset Boulevard
Pacific Palisades, CA
310-454-1395 x 106
Ask the NaturalistAsk the Naturalist……
How do wading birds catch fish?
Take a close look at this Green Heron standing on a deck,
trying to swallow a fish he just caught. Notice the sharp
pointy bill; notice how far open it can stretch. Most fish-
eating bird have sharp pointy bills - designed to spear fish
and other water-dwelling creatures like frogs. Sometimes
they use their bill like a set of tongs to grab their prey.
I’ve watched this particular Green Heron hunting. He stands
for a long time in a crouched position, horizontal to the water
surface, with neck and head retracted. Sometimes he oh-so-
slowly walks to a new location, where he again pauses and
watches motionlessly until….
Suddenly - he makes his move - an explosive dart and
leaping dive into the water. Sometimes he lands a fish;
sometimes not.
Green Herons are one of the few birds that use bait to attract
fish; they drop things like bread crusts or insects onto the
surface of the water, waiting for a curious fish to investigate.
Green Herons live near wetlands and rely on their acute
vision to forage during the day. This particular bird has a
nasty-sounding squawk which he does not hesitate to use
whenever he thinks I get too close.
E-mail your questions to [email protected].
Page Page 77
Parks in the NewsParks in the News……
4th Annual Towsley Trail Days
Volunteers from the MRCA, REI Inc Northridge, and the
Santa Clarita Valley community joined together on June
3rd to repair trails in Towsley Canyon.
Trails that are properly designed and maintained are safer
for hikers and mountain bikers. Also, good trails minimize
erosion and storm water runoff - which keeps our streams
cleaner and helps replenish our groundwater.
But it wasn’t all work. We celebrated afterwards with a
Bar-B-Que and raffle, with prizes donated by REI. Top
prize - a plush stuffed bird that chirped when squeezed.
All told - 17 Towsley Trail Volunteers put in over 327
hours this spring. Photos by Dianne Erskine
Kicking
a large
loose rock
down the
hill. (Rt.)
Tread
repair.
(Lft.)
Clean Water, Parks & Coastal Protection Bond
Qualifies For November Statewide Ballot
Measure Protects Drinking Water, Improves
Water Supply & Protects Natural Resources
The California Secretary of State's office announced on June 14 that the
California Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control,
River and Coastal Protection Bond Act has qualified for placement on the
November 7, 2006 General Election statewide ballot. Supporters submitted
more than 600,000 signatures in April, nearly double the amount required.
The $5.4 billion bond measure would provide critically needed funds to
ensure the availability of safe drinking water, improve local water supply
reliability, strengthen flood protection, and preserve California's natural
landscapes, including parks, lakes, rivers, beaches, bays, ocean and coastline.
The proposed $5.4 billion Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond
will invest in California's natural infrastructure to ensure that all Californians
will have access to safe drinking water, be better protected from floods, and
continue to have opportunities to enjoy parks, rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and
coastline.
Newhall Ranch High Country
Recreation and Conservation
Authority
The SMMC has entered into a
partnership with the City of Santa Clarita,
County of Los Angeles and Newhall
Land to manage a 6000 acre preserve in
the Santa Susana Mountains.
The first 150 acres will be transferred
before the end of 2006 to the Center for
Natural Lands Management, a non-profit
that will maintain the land, overseen by
the Authority.
Ultimately, these 6000 acres will have 50
miles of trails. The long term goal is to
connect this open space to Michael D.
Antonovitch Regional Park at Joughin
Ranch.
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 88
Featured Plant and Animal…..Featured Plant and Animal…..
Pacific Chorus Frog is Heard Far and Wide
People around the globe are familiar with the call of the
Pacific Chorus Frog, Pseudacdris regilla. Upon hearing these
surprisingly tiny creatures sing to the springtime night from a
mile or more away, you might imagine that lung power
alone could carry their calls to the far corners of the Earth.
Indeed, the male Pacific chorus frogs often drown out other
nighttime sounds with their rousing chorus of “krek-
ek….krek-ek…” While widespread throughout the moist
areas of southern California, the Pacific Chorus Frog ranges
from California up to southern British Columbia and as far
east as Montana and Nevada. Movie stardom has carried
their call far and wide -- recordings of Pacific Chorus Frog
vocalizations are commonly used in movies as the nighttime
soundtrack.
The loud call of the male Pacific Chorus Frog stems from a
deep-seated instinct to mate. In frog language, the two-toned
calls of the male Pacific Chorus Frog translates into
something like, “Hey, ladies! I’m looking for a hot date!” An
interested female, measuring up to two inches in length and
dwarfing the male, approaches and if she likes what she sees,
lays a jelly-like mass of eggs in the water which he fertilizes.
The parents hop back amongst the protective vegetation and
leave the eggs to survive on their own.
Join us for a full moon hike at one of our many locations to
hear Pacific Chorus Frogs calling for mates - a two-toned call
during the spring breeding season or the one-tone “c-r-r-ick”
the rest of the year. Schedules can be found on our website at
www.LAMountains.com.
Stately Cattail Takes Care of Dirty Business
Cattails may often be found rising above the wetlands of the
Santa Monica Mountains, their stately stalks towering over
long slender leaves and crowned with their trademark
sausage-shaped, brown flower stems. Tule (Typha latifolia)
and broadleaf (Typha domingensis) varieties of cattail are
common in the area. They serve as a source of food and
shelter for wetland birds and their roots, pollen, and seeds
were an important year-round food source for the California
Indians. Most importantly, the stately cattail takes on the
dirty job of water filtration.
Wetlands are nature’s water treatment plants, and cattails, as
dominant inhabitants of shallow, still or slow moving fresh
waters, are an integral part of the cleansing process.
Sediment- and pollutant-rich waters enter wetlands as
overflow from rivers and lakes. The water’s flow is slowed
by the wetland and as it encounters wetland vegetation,
allowing solid particles suspended in it to settle out. In
slowing the flow, wetlands also protect nearby developed
areas and farmlands from erosion. The water is nutrient-rich
and leaves wetland soils devoid of oxygen. Cattails happily
take root in the oxygen-poor soils and take up problematic
nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen from the
polluted waters. Water exits the wetlands cleansed of gill-
clogging sediments and the excessive nutrients that would
otherwise lead to nasty algae blooms.
Cattails in Towsley Creek
Pacific Chorus Frog
Photo Courtesy MRCA volunteer Dr. Paul Levine
Hear the male Pacific tree frog’s vocalizations at
www.naturepark.com/sound1.wav and
www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=AR0018
Page Page 99
Science News You Can Use…..Science News You Can Use…..
Amphibians - the Canary in a Coal Mine
The expression “Canary in a Coal Mine” originally comes
from the coal mining industry but today it is used to
describe something that is used as a warning signal. While
digging for coal, miners sometimes tapped into pockets of
carbon monoxide (CO). This deadly gas would cause the
miners to become drowsy and eventually pass out and die.
Because CO is a colorless and odorless
gas, the minors had no warning they
were in danger. But canaries are very
sensitive to small quantities of CO; when
exposed they stop singing and sway back
and forth on their perches. That was the
signal for the miners to get out NOW.
It’s no secret among conservation biologists that there is a
worldwide decline in amphibian populations. Results of an
ongoing Global Amphibian Assessment, organized by the
World Conservation Union (IUCN), Conservation
International and NatureServe, indicate that forty-three
percent of all species worldwide are in decline, with one
third of all species categorized as threatened. But what are
the reasons behind this decline? Some we know - loss of
habitat and the fungal disease chytridiomycosis are
significant. But other declines cannot be so readily
explained. The search for additional answers begins with
what we know of amphibian biology.
Most amphibians are biphasic, which means they have an
aquatic stage, and a terrestrial stage in their life cycle. Most
species produce shell-less (amamniotic) eggs that are
deposited in the water. We know that human embryos,
fetuses and children are more susceptible to environmental
toxins. How much more so an unprotected amphibian egg
or larvae, living in water polluted with pesticides, herbicides
and heavy metals.
We know that tadpoles infested with flatworms, specifically
Ribeiroia ondatrae, result in frogs with deformed legs. These
flatworms are parasite of aquatic snails, who feed on algae.
Fertilizer runoff in wetlands results in overwhelming algae
blooms, which leads to larger populations of snails,
flatworms and deformed frogs.
Adult amphibians have extremely thin water permeable
skin, which makes them sensitive to both airborne and
waterborne pollutants. Increased UV radiation may also
affect mortality.
That’s why ecologists refer to Amphibians as “indicator
species”, whose health is used to measure the health of an
ecosystem.
So why do we refer to Amphibians as a “Canary in a Coal
Mine”? Because the factors affecting amphibians are most
likely taking a toll on other species - like us. Consider the
recent scientific studies linking smog, ozone and asthma.
According to the EPA, the incidence of asthma in the US has
increased dramatically in the last 25 years. Or how about
this - recent epidemiological studies are suggestive of
an association between pesticides and Parkinson's Disease.
Are these signals for us to take action NOW?
And an example of how we use it…..And an example of how we use it….. GLOBE Research and Data Gathering
Students attending the MRCA’s annual field science camp at
Temescal Gateway Park gather data for the GLOBE (Global Learning
and Observations to Benefit the Environment) program. GLOBE is
an international program sponsored by NASA and the National
Science Foundation (www.http://www.globe.gov/globe_flash.html).
Students from the Los Angeles Unified School District gather data on
water quality including: 1) Site Conditions – weather & debris,
2) Air Temperature, 3) Water Temperature, 4) Turbidity
/Transparency, 5) Dissolved Oxygen, 6) pH,
7) Conductivity/Salinity, 8) Nutrients, 9) Bacteria - Total coliform,
Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Enterococcus and 10) Algae.
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 1010
For Parents and Educators…..For Parents and Educators…..
What is wrong with this picture? Circle all the mistakes these
people are making in managing their neighborhood.
Fun Facts Matching Game: Draw a line matching the items on
the left to the amount of water on the right.
1. Taking a shower A. 30 gallons
2. Watering the lawn B. 180 gallons
3. Washing the dishes C. 4-7 gallons
4. Washing clothes D. 1/2 gallon
5. Flushing toilet E. 39,090 gallons
6. Brushing teeth F. 62,600 gallons
7. Drinking G. 15-30 gallons
8. Needed to produce one ton H. 9.3 gallons
of steel
9. Needed to process one can I. 1 gallon
of fruit or vegetables
10. Needed to manufacture a J. 9-20 gallons
a new car and its four tires
Answer Key: (1)G, (2) B, (3) J, (4) A, (5) C, (6) I, (7) D, (8) F, (9) H, (10) E
Thirstin’s
Word Scramble:
All living things need ___________
(tawer) to live.
When water evaporates, it
travels into the air and becomes
part of a ____________(dlocu).
Less than 1% of all the water on
the Earth is _____________(sefrh)
water.
We ____________ (ikdrn) water in
the liquid form.
Wash bikes and cars with a
__________________(kecbut) and
sponge instead of a running hose.
WEBSITES FOR
EDUCATORS:
Project Water Education for Teachers,
or Project WET, has developed a
website. Their mission is to reach
children, parents, educators, and
communities of the world with water
education. www.projectwet.org
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has a very fun and interactive
site, which includes articles and kid
friendly activities to use in the
classroom.
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/
Page Page 1111
ATTENTION NEW VOLUNTEERS:ATTENTION NEW VOLUNTEERS:
Congratulations and welcome to Congratulations and welcome to
the MRCA volunteer family!the MRCA volunteer family!
MRCA park rangers, park staff, and fellow volunteers
recognize the generous contribution of your time, talents
and passions for choosing to volunteer in the outdoors. We
appreciate your commitment to making our parks and
programs a success. Through your selfless dedication,
many families, students, scouts, and seniors will receive
warm welcomes, quality programming, and new
meaningful connections to the natural world.
Be proud, YOU make THE difference!
Congratulations MRCA
Volunteers Naturalists
These talented volunteers have
completed intensive naturalist
training, preparing them to
design and lead effective
interpretive school, scout and
public programs for our MRCA park visitors. We welcome
Angie Fleck, Aaron Gluck, Dylan Gunning, Craig McCain,
Peggy O’Neal, Zandra Platzek, Margery Pope, Carolyn Ritter
and Amy Tibbles. “We look forward to seeing you on the trails!”
MRCA Volunteer Wildland Fire Unit
A proud group of individuals who
have committed their time to
learning the skills, safety and
discipline of wildland firefighting.
“We honor your courage and
commitment!”
Welcome New Mountain Bike Unit Volunteers
Another intrepid group of cyclists have completed extensive
MBU trainings in responsible trail use, visitor services, radio
communications, and emergency procedures. We welcome
Jeff Cary, Ron
Cohen, Aaron Diyarzan,
Joy Dugger, Robert
Ettleman, Cathy Gribble,
Augustin Guerrero, Gregory
Hadinoto, Race Headen,
Danny Kay, Sue Kay, Brad Kraus, Lance Laspina, Eugenia
Luvisaro, Kate Maddox, Lori Meyer, Zachary Morales, Jim
Nowatzki, Ryan O'Malley, Richard Piatt, Scott Sogaard,
Lyndon Talbott, Ryan Thompson, Paul Wisner and Jay
Zimmerman. “We welcome you to the team!”
Special Thanks to the MRCA Volunteer Mentors
who helped make these trainings possible!
State Senator Richard
Alarcon’s Young Senators
in the Parks
The MRCA hosted State Senator, Richard
Alarcon’s visit to Franklin Canyon Park on
May 20, 2006 with his group of Young
Senators. A dedicated group of high school
students from the San Fernando Valley, who participate in a
yearlong leadership training program. Students receive
advocacy training, learn legislative process, and focus on
issues having an impact in their communities and the
environment. The MRCA offered a guided hike and
interpretive program
highlighting its mission
to strategically acquire
open space, provide
services, and make
parks easily accessible
to the Los Angeles and
Ventura County
communities.
MRCA Volunteers honored at the
NPS Spring Appreciation BBQ
On May 13th, MRCA Volunteers from mountain bikers to
volunteer naturalists enjoyed good company, nature-themed
carnival games, appreciation awards, and juicy burgers
grilled by the talented NPS staff.
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 1212
Summer Campfire Program Series
Traditional Fireside Fun in the Big City! July & August, Franklin Canyon Park
Every Wednesday 6:30-8:30 pm
July & August, Temescal Gateway Park
Every Thursday 8:00-10:00 pm
Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve
July 11th, 8:00-10:00 pm
September 7th, 8:00-10:00 pm
Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve
(Victory trailhead) - August 9th, 8:00-10:00 pm
Astronomy for the Trail Wednesday, July 26th, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Franklin
Have you ever wondered what to say when the
sun goes down? Learn tricks, tools, and
techniques for incorporating astronomy into your
evening programs.
Volunteer Meeting at Franklin Sunday, August 4th, 12 pm –2 pm
Meet at the Sooky Goldman Nature Center
Meet and greet fellow, and new volunteers.
Learn about upcoming trainings, special events
and volunteer opportunities. Bring a snack or
potluck lunch to share! Please let us know if you are
coming , call 310-858-7272 ext.132
Sacred Geometry, Fractals &
Shared Forms in Nature Sunday, July 30th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Franklin
How are the shapes of trees and rivers alike?
How are fractals seen in nature? Explore the
Golden Mean, Fibonacci sequence and expand
to a new dimension of nature awareness.
You’ll never look at nature the same way again!
Volunteer School Leader Training Tuesday, August 22nd, 10 am-1 pm, Franklin
Help us kick off the new school season! Hike, have
lunch, and learn with NEW, and fellow School
Volunteers. Learn new tricks and techniques for
working with kids on the trail. Play nature trail games
& activities. Visit favorite trail stops and more!
Nature Rambles with
MRCA Volunteer
Bob Margolies Franklin Canyon, 10 am – 12 pm
Sunday, Sept. 3rd, Franklin Canyon Ranch
Saturday, Sept. 30th, Sooky Goldman Nature Center
Join Bob on his monthly public program to explore the
interaction between a variety of plants, insects, and
birds. Great for new volunteers!
Summer Family Campfire Program Series We Need Campfire Program Leaders!
Can you help in one or more of the following ways? Prepare the wood, build the
campfire, tell stories, sing songs, lead nature games, and help roast marshmallows!
Learn how to conduct memorable campfire programs for groups of all ages.
Make them fun, magical, silly and safe for everyone.
Don’t wait, please call 310-858-7272 ext.132 if you are interested!
Mounted Volunteer Patrol (MVP) If you have a horse, and want to help patrol our parks, this group is waiting to ride with you!
The MVP is a group of riders who provide horseback patrol services for the Mountains
Recreation and Conservation Authority, National Park Service, and California State Parks.
Make up Orientation (9 am-12 pm) and CPR (12:30 pm -4:30 pm) at Diamond X Ranch -
Saturday, July 15th. RSVP with Bernie Weiss at [email protected].
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ParkLINK Shuttle now connects with the San Fernando Valley this Summer on Weekends
MORNING Connection:
Take the Orange Line every 15 minutes to the Warner Center.
Catch Metro 161 at Warner Center at 9:53 and 10:53 am.
Metro 161 connects with ParkLINK Shuttle at Agoura/Las Virgenes Rd at
10:35 and 11:35 am.
AFTERNOON Connection:
ParkLINK Shuttle connects to Metro 161 at Agoura/Las Virgenes Rd. at 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.
Metro 161 connects to Orange Line at Warner Center at 4:56 pm and 5:56 pm.
For more info call 888-734-2323 or www.parklinkshuttle.com
To Connect to ParkLINK Shuttle from the Pacific Coast Highway
Take the 534 MTA bus to Malibu Village/Cross Creek (http://www.mta.net/images/534.pdf)
MRCA Volunteer BBQ,
& Franklin Ranch Campout Saturday, September 9th, 2pm -
Sunday Morning, September 10th, 10am
Volunteers and family are invited to play, eat, sing,
relax, hike, and camp out at Franklin Canyon Ranch.
Bring your favorite dish to share!
Optional Activities & Trainings: Sat. 2-4 pm BBQ and Potluck lunch
4-6 pm Nature Games for Trails, Fields, & Campfires!
6–8 pm Evening Birds of Franklin Canyon
8-10 pm Campfire and Smore’s (bring an instrument
and your favorite campfire story or song to share)
Sun. 7:30 am Breakfast (Bring your favorite cereal)
9-11 am Aerobic Trek - Hike the whole park!
10-12 pm Volunteer lead nature hike, Great for kids!
Just want to relax? Plenty of shade and leisure time!
Help us plan for this event, please call 310-858-7272
ext.132, or email [email protected]
to RSVP, or to request camping equipment.
MRCA Volunteer Beach Blast Sunday August 26th, 11 am-4 pm
Location: Leo Carrillo State Beach
(North of Kanan Road on PCH)
Volunteers, Family and Friends!
Everyone is invited to put on a hat, sunscreen,
and your favorite flip-flops.
You can bury someone in the sand, play a serious
game of volleyball, or simply enjoy a day at the beach
with fellow MRCA Volunteers. Bring a potluck dish
to share, a chair, and your favorite beach toys!
Help us plan for this event, please call 310-858-7272
ext.132 or email [email protected]
Plenty of shade and cold drinks!
Leo Carrillo State Beach
MRCA Volunteer Wish List - What exactly do we need? As the MRCA continues to grow, volunteer opportunities increase. Consider volunteering in new ways,
or help us to recruit new volunteers! We specifically need school, scout, public, and campfire program
leaders, Sooky Goldman Nature Center hosting, trail patrol, trail maintenance, outreach and special
events, Symbiosis mass mailing, kiosk updating, and program marketing.
These volunteer opportunities and available now, and in need of your assistance!
If you are interested, please call 310-858-7272 ext. 132., or email [email protected]
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 1414
Access UnAccess Un--deniable…..deniable…..
It’s a simple little trail, leading down from the eastern
end of Malibu Road to the beach. But for years,
public access was obstructed by a chain link fence
topped with razor wire.
So when Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the State
Coastal Commission (SCC), requested the assistance
of MRCA in removing the fence, we were more than
happy to oblige.
This 100 foot long parcel is owned by the SCC and
was acquired in 2002. Currently the SCC is in the
design process to construct a viewing platform and
stairway to the beach. There are geologic issues that
need to be addressed in the design, so it will probably
be another year or so before work begins.
On May 18, work crews from the MRCA removed the
fence. Now the public can once again enjoy
uncluttered views of the ocean and have access to
Malibu Beach. Parking is available on the street next
to the guardrail.
As Linda Locklin, SCC’s Coastal Access Program
Manager, describes it, “Our beaches are like public
sidewalks. People are free to walk on them, as long
as they respect nearby private property.”
(Photographs courtesy Tom Sinclair and Linda Locklin)
Invasive Weed Awareness Week, July 17th-23rd
In celebration of California Invasive Weed Awareness week, the MRCA will host a variety of
free public programs at Franklin Canyon Park. To kick off the week, on Sunday, July 16th, 11 am-1 pm
Nature Journaling - Hike, highlight and discuss invasive weeds of California
Invasive Weed Removal Project with REI, Saturday 9 am-11 am, to participate, please call 310-858-7272 ext.132
Run Away Plants - Explore invasive plant species, and the threatened California native landscape, on a scenic hike.
Saturday, July 22nd, 11 am-12 pm (All programs meet at the Sooky Goldman Nature Center).
*Remember, all MRCA parks are open daily, 7am-sunset to visit during the week*
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Notes from the Field….Notes from the Field…...
Variable Checkerspot Caterpillars seek out
Sticky Monkeyflowers
This Variable Checkerspot Caterpillar was recently spotted munching
the leaves of a Sticky Monkeyflower plant in East/Rice Canyon. This is
an example of naturally occurring chemical pest control. But unlike the
pesticides and insecticide we humans indiscriminately spread over the
landscape, this chemical is localized and targeted for specific plants and
animals.
The Monkeyflower leaves produce a sticky resinous chemical that tastes
AWFUL to most would-be browsers. But the Variable Checkerspot
butterfly seeks out this particular plant as the place to lay her eggs.
(Photo courtesy MRCA volunteer Dr. Paul Levine.)
Her eggs hatch into caterpillars, which eat the resinous chemical in the
leaves. After eating the leaves, the caterpillar tastes AWFUL to any
would-be predators. This chemical protection continues throughout the
Checkerspot’s life cycle, up to and including the butterfly stage.
Variety in our Watershed
River (Riparian) habitats support a variety living things. Clockwise from top.
This stubby Lewis Evening Primrose was found at Ballona Wetlands during
an ongoing plant inventory by botanists with California Fish and Game.
This Hooker’s Evening Primrose, found along the Santa Clara River, is
significantly taller and the flowers are four times larger.
And this close-up of a Mustard Evening Primrose, found along Las Virgenes
Creek in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon OSP, is deceiving. The tiny flowers sit
on long spindly stalks.
Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page Symbiosis Summer 2006 Page 1616
Water birds can be found
along our rivers, estuaries and in
open spaces.
Snowy Egrets were hunted almost to
extinction in the 1800’s. Their feathers
adorned the hats of fashionable ladies.
Ranger James Latham took this photo recently from San
Vicente Mountain Park. This view looks northeast, over the
San Fernando Valley towards the San Gabriel Mountains and
is a major component of the Los Angeles River watershed.
This Green Heron obviously never heard the
saying - “don’t eat anything bigger than your
head.”
A Great Blue Heron watches
expectantly while stalking fish.
Canada Geese bob their heads up and
down as a warning if anyone comes too
close to their chicks.