Park School Students Restoring Mill Valley Watershed
For the past eight years, teachers and their students have been involved in a program called Students and Teachers Rebuilding A Watershed (STRAW). The work began in 2000 at Warner Creek in Boyle Park with Ro Rigney and three other teachers: Dee Uyeda, Susan Falkenrath and Judith Barry. They worked with local scientists to develop a long-range plan to improve conditions of the water and surrounding area for native wildlife.

The goal is to revitalize the creek so that Steelhead Salmon (which used to frequent the waters about thirty years ago) and other forms of creek life can thrive. Students have planted close to 600 native plants including Juncus (a native grass), Wild California Rose, Chain Fern, White Alder, Coyote Bush, Carex Sedge, Flowering Current, Blackberry, Elderberry, Coffeeberry, Gooseberry and Snowberry. The have also removed non-native English Ivy, Scotch Broom and Himalayan Blackberry.

Throughout the year, STRAW teachers integrate studies related to creek restoration and ecosystems into their curriculum. Students at Park learn to become stewards of the environment, and develop a sense of responsibility and pride for preserving and caring for their natural surroundings.

Suggested ways to protect the creeks:

• Don’t let pollutants go down the storm drains on your street. All storm drain water ends up in our creeks and the bay.
• Stay out of the creeks and give the plants along the banks a chance to grow.
• Please report dumping or pollution of any stream in Mill Valley by calling Kimberly Wilson of the Public Works Department at 388-4033.