- SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, is a project of the
Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN), aUnited States 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization.SPAWN states their mission as “working to protect endangered salmon in the
Lagunitas Creek Watershed, and the environment on which we all depend. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, About SPAWN (http://www.spawnusa.org/about/ [August 1, 2008] )] SPAWN uses a multi-faceted approach to accomplish their mission including grassroots action, habitat restoration, policy development, research and monitoring, citizen training, environmental education, strategic litigation, and collaboration with other organizations and agencies. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, About SPAWN (http://www.spawnusa.org/about/ [August 1, 2008] )]Lagunitas Creek Watershed
The
Lagunitas Creek Watershed,Marin County ,California has been identified as the most important spawning and rearing habitat left in the State for wildcoho salmon .Coho in the Central California Evolutionarily Significant Unit (CCCESU) are a Federal and State listedEndangered Species considered to be “in imminent danger ofextinction .” [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Land Acquisition (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-8 [August 4, 2008] )]Despite having the best run of wild
coho left in the State, estimated at up to 30 percent of the State’s total in 2007, only on average 500 adultsalmon currently return each year to spawn here. TheLagunitas Creek Watershed is also important habitat for federally listedsteelhead trout andCalifornia freshwater shrimp . [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Land Acquisition (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-8 [August 4, 2008] )]History
The seeds of SPAWN, the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network, were planted when
biologist Todd Steiner, the founder, discovered migratingcoho salmon stuck at Roy’s Dam in 1997 on theSan Geronimo Valley Golf Course, unable to migrate upstream to spawn and complete their amazing life history. Steiner, immediately jumped into action, contacting the media to expose the plight of these recently listedendangered species and contactingNational Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS ) asking for an emergency permit to move the fish above the crumbling dam obstruction. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, “SPAWN History,” SPAWN Brochure (2008] : 1]That night on the news, the plight of the
salmon was beamed into the houses ofBay Area residents, appearing on 5 TV stations. Steiner set up his young son’s painting easel at Roy’s Dam with a hastily written petition asking for government action, as hundreds of people came forward to witness the spectacle first hand, sign the petition, and offer help. Residents, the general public,NGO s and government agencies came together to fix the immediate problem and Roy’s Dam was transformed into Roy’s Pools. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, “SPAWN History,” SPAWN Brochure (2008] : 1]Since then, SPAWN has grown from an all-volunteer organization to one with a full-time staff who coordinate the work of hundreds of committed volunteers and interns who are the heart and soul of the organization. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, “SPAWN History,” SPAWN Brochure (2008] : 1] In 1999 SPAWN was incorporated as a program under the umbrella of the non-profit 501(c)(3) environmental organization
Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN). [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, About SPAWN (http://www.spawnusa.org/about/ [August 1, 2008] )]Programs
SPAWN currently has seven active programs and campaigns that focus on protecting
endangered salmon and theLagunitas Creek Watershed. These include habitat restoration, fish rescue, citizen training, creek monitoring, creek walks, land acquisition and water conservation. [ Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Programs (http://spawnusa.org/programs/ August 2, 2008] )]
"'Habitat Restoration"'Each year SPAWN volunteers contribute many hundreds of hours towards restoring streamside habitat in the
Lagunitas Creek Watershed. Volunteers work to plant native trees and understory plants, and remove invasive species. In 2005 SPAWN launched a community-based native plant nursery program that serves to grow thousands of native plants to support local restoration programs and provide plants to landowners living along stream corridors in theSan Geronimo Valley . [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Habitat Restoration (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-4 August 2, 2008] )]Fish Rescue
SPAWN’s fish rescue program focuses on fish relocation efforts within the
San Geronimo Valley in theLagunitas Creek Watershed. Streams are surveyed and as it becomes apparent that pools will dry completely, and based on previous years observations at known sites, relocation efforts begin. Relocation usually begins in June but can start as early as April depending on creek flows and rainfall. Over 15,000 juvenilecoho andsteelhead have been saved from imminent mortality since this effort began in 1999. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Fish Rescue (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-2 August 2, 2008] )] Rescue and relocation efforts take place under State and Federal permits.Citizen Training
SPAWN organizes and facilitates a number of citizen training programs that includes a Creek Naturalist Training, native plant collection and propagation,
salmon seminar series, spawningsalmon surveying andwater quality monitoring. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Citizen Training (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-55 August 2, 2008] )]Creek Monitoring
SPAWN oversees a number of creek monitoring programs including
water quality monitoring, out-migrantsalmon smolt monitoring, and spawningsalmon monitoring. Each year SPAWN also responds to many calls from concerned citizens about problems or emergencies on their property or at large. Staff and volunteers respond to these calls and help refer problems to the appropriate agencies if necessary or find ways to prevent or repair the problem. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Creek Monitoring (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-51 August 2, 2008] )]Creek Walks
During the winter season (Nov-Jan) SPAWN organizes weekly creek walks in the
Lagunitas Creek Watershed for the public to view spawningsalmon and provide education onwatershed issues. The walks are led by volunteer Naturalists that are trained through SPAWN’s annual Creek Naturalist Training Program each October. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Creek Walks (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-7 August 2, 2008] )]Land Acquisition
SPAWN’s land acquisition program is focused on efforts to protect
riparian habitat along theLagunitas Creek Watershed from increased development. SPAWN is promoting the creation of a land conservancy to protect theriparian habitat through land acquisition and conservation easements on private parcels along thewatershed . [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Land Acquisition (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-8 [August 4, 2008] )]Water Conservation
SPAWN’s
water conservation program is focused on reducing the impacts ofstormwater runoff on local streams and ensuring adequate in stream flow and spawning and rearing habitat forcoho salmon andsteelhead in theLagunitas Creek . In partnership with theMarin Community Foundation, SPAWN recently launched a community-based program, theMarin CountyStormwater Catchment &Water Conservation Initiative, to provide technical support, cost-share support and incentives to landowners who reduce runoff from their properties using roof-water harvesting techniques. [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, Water Conservation (http://spawnusa.org/pages/page-205 [August 4, 2008] )]Key Accomplishments
Since SPAWN’s beginnings in 1996 the program has achieved a number of accomplishments that include: [Salmon Protection & Watershed Network, “SPAWN History,” SPAWN Brochure (2008] : 1]
- In 2008 SPAWN received the coveted Peter Behar Award from the Environmental Action Committee of
West Marin and the prestigious Ted Wellman Award from theMarin Conservation League for their efforts towards preserving thecoho salmon and their habitat.- Identifying and documenting the importance of the
San Geronimo Valley that makes up only 10% of theLagunitas Creek Watershed but upwards of 40% of the spawning habitat and 30% of the young fish that rear in theLagunitas Creek Watershed do so in this valley.- Documenting the continued degradation of this critical habitat in the
San Geronimo Valley from the impacts of human development fromhydrological disruption, and inputs of septicsewage ,pesticides andsediment throughwater quality monitoring and on-the-ground habitat assessments.- Developing an environmental education program that has trained and organized hundreds of volunteers to learn and participate in habitat restoration techniques.
- Re-creating and repairing
riparian habitat on private and public lands and educating local landowners to sound fish-friendly living practices.
- Growing a native plant nursery to provide local genetic stock plant material for restoration activities.
- Installing and developing rain catchment systems and rain gardens at individual homes and at local schools through its Rain Harvesting Program.
- Convincing the County of
Marin to conduct a cumulative impact analysis of development on thesalmon in theSan Geronimo Valley and to place a two-yearmoratorium on construction in the 100-footriparian (creek) corridors.- Helping to defeat the
Marin Municipal Water District’s (MMWD) attempt to increase theRussian River Pipeline in order to import more water toMarin that would have further impactedsalmon populations of theRussian River andEel River watersheds.References
External links
Sea Turtle Restoration Project website (http://www.seaturtles.org)Got Mercury? website (http://www.gotmercury.org)
Salmon Protection & Watershed Network (SPAWNA) website (http://www.spawnusa.org/)
HEART website (http://www.ridleyturtles.org/)PRETOMA website (http://www.tortugamarina.org/)
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