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• Bird Monitoring
• Aquatic Insect Sampling
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Oyster Monitoring (finished)

Description: The Friends have been monitoring birds along Sausal Creek for several years. In 2003, birding outings started on a quarterly basis. Outing participants get started in the morning and hike for 3-5 hours near the creek identifying and admiring the wealth of birds that share our watershed. General protocol includes documenting birds observed during a ten-minute period at each of several locations (aka "point count"). Data gathered by FOSC bird monitors will be used to evaluate the impact of the Friends' restoration activities.

Skills: None necessary. Be prepared to learn about birds!

• Downloads (.pdf format)
  • Birding Brochure, a checklist for use in the watershed (also available at trailhead boxes).
  • List of birds of the Sausal Creek watershed.
  • "Special status" birds of the Sausal Creek watershed.
• Photos
  • See beautiful photos of Sausal Creek Watershed birds.
  • See bird monitoring photos from the FOSC Photo Archive.

Contact: Mark Rauzon (or call 501-FOSC); check the Volunteer Calendar for the next quarterly bird monitoring date.

Read a report from the October 2004 bird monitoring hike in the December '04/January '05 newsletter (.pdf format, 232k)


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Description: Insects found within a stream are indicators of the overall health of the aquatic habitat. Specific aquatic macroinvertebrate orders, and even individual families within these orders, are known to be pollution sensitive or pollution tolerant. Members of the aquatic insect monitoring team for Friends of Sausal Creek have been observing and learning about stream fauna within the watershed since early 1998. Thus, our data spans a period of 2-1/2 years prior to the 2001 channel restoration. We now look forward to watching how the stream is re-colonized with new, or perhaps familiar, insects.

Skills: Previous knowledge or experience with aquatic insects or sampling techniques is not necessary. The methods are simple. This work is not recommended for persons under 12-years of age. An adult must accompany volunteers aged 12-18 years old unless arrangements are made in advance.

Reports on aquatic insect sampling efforts at Sausal Creek:

• Monitoring Program Update (from August-September 2012 FOSC Newsletter)
• January-February 2012 Monitoring Report
• November 6, 2011 Monitoring Report
• Monitoring Program Update (from October-November 2011 FOSC Newsletter)
• Monitoring Program Update from September 18, 2001
• See aquatic insect monitoring photos from the FOSC Photo Archive.

Contact: Kathleen Harris, (415) 377-5576

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Description:

• Background on Sausal Creek Water Quality Monitoring
  
• Location of Sausal Creek Water Quality Monitoring Stations

• Standard Operating Procedure for Volunteer Monitoring of Surface Waters for Bacteria, USEPA Region 9
• 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria, USEPA

• Bacteria Monitoring Analytical Testing Results, January 23, 2013-February 20, 2013, USEPA Region 9
• Bacteria Monitoring Summary of Analytical Results, January 23, 2013-February 20, 2013, USEPA Region 9
• Bacteria Monitoring Analytical Testing Results, July 25, 2012-August 23, 2012, USEPA Region 9
• Bacteria Monitoring Summary of Analytical Results, July 25, 2012-August 23, 2012, USEPA Region 9

Contact: Kimra McAfee, (510) 501-3672

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The Friends' Oyster Monitoring efforts have come to a close. This project, under the tutelage of Save the Bay, helped provide data about the water quality in the SF Bay. Watch this space for a follow up report on this project.

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