WATERSHED FORUM
The Watershed Forum is a meeting of local community members, agencies, and organizations working on watershed-related issues for the purpose of networking and sharing information. Our focus area includes the watersheds of the Lower Peninsula and South Bay, but all are welcome. Past topics have included fish passage and habitat, water conservation, homeless encampments, sea level rise, and healthy soils. Meetings are held approximately quarterly. Partial funding for the Watershed Forum was provided by Valley Water's Safe, Clean Water Mini-Grants Program.
Join the Peninsula Watershed Forum Google Group to stay up to date on local water issues and Watershed Forum meetings. Presentation notes and other files will also be made available through the Google group site.
PAST EVENTS
Projects in the Guadalupe River Watershed
Brian Mendenhall, Senior Water Resources Specialist, Valley Water
One Water Plan for Guadalupe River Watershed
Daria Mazey, Plan Formulation Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District
Upper Guadalupe River Flood Risk Management Reformulation Study
Steve Holmes and Brian Allee, South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition and Dr. Rick Lanman, Associate Director, North Santa Clara County Resource Conservation District
Chinook Salmon Natal Stream Analysis Project
Recorded on Monday, February 13, 2023.
Climate and Ecosystems
Speakers discuss potential climate change impacts to our local ecosystem as seen in plant communities and bird populations. Speakers include:
Stu Weiss, Chief Scientist, Creekside Center for Earth Observation shares research on identifying stands of vegetation that are most vulnerable to increased intensity of summer drought. He will also demonstrate where to find this information online on Conservation Lands Network Explorer.
Katie LaBarbera, Landbird Program Science Director, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory discusses climate change impacts on local birds drawing on data from decades of bird monitoring at Coyote Creek.
Recorded on July 11, 2022.
Bay Area Drought Impacts and Responses
Speakers discuss the challenges, opportunities and environmental impacts of our drought.
Peter Drekmeier, Policy Director of Tuolumne River Trust, gives an overview of water supply and demand in the Bay Area and discusses SFPUC’s responses to our drought and their long term plans.
Katja Irvin, Conservation Vice-chair of Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter, provides an environmental perspective on water supply planning, drought, and climate change in Santa Clara County.
Kirsten Struve, Assistant Officer of Water Supply Division, Valley Water, discusses the status of recycled and purified water projects and other Valley Water drought responses.
Recorded on World Water Day, March 22, 2022
Trees in the Urban Landscape
This talk features two speakers on urban ecology and urban forestry. Learn about the many human and ecological benefits of trees in the urban landscape and considerations around expanding our urban forest.
Maya Briones, Advocacy Associate at Canopy on "Supporting Climate Resilient Communities: Canopy's Free Tree Program in East Palo Alto"
Erica Spotswood, PhD, Lead Scientist, Urban Nature Lab, San Francisco Estuary Institute on "The Health and Biodiversity Benefits of Urban Nature"
Recorded on December 6, 2021.
Shining a Spotlight on the Coyote Creek Watershed
This talk features four speakers:
Ron Horii, a volunteer with Santa Clara County Park and the Open Space Authority shares photos of Coyote Creek at various stages
Katie LaBarbera, Science Director at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory discusses the history of the Coyote Creek Field Station
Jen Michelsen, Associate Environmental Planner at Valley Water provides an update on the Singleton Crossing Interim Bridge project
Merav Vonshak, founder of BioBlitz.club shares how citizen science through BioBlitz events has yielded some exciting finds
Recorded on September 27, 2021.
Fish Forum and FAHCE Facts
The Fish and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE) began in 1997 to improve habitat for these federally listed species.
Professor Jerry Smith discusses the status and ecology of steelhead trout (and salmon) in Coyote, Penitencia and Stevens Creeks
Patrick Samuel with CalTrout, one of the signatories of FAHCE, provides background information of the FAHCE initiative and priorities
Valley Water Biologist Lisa Porcella discusses the status of FAHCE projects, and Clayton Leal discusses the monitoring program
Recorded on April 26, 2021.