July–August 2015 Inside ......................Page Swim Lessons, Junior Lifeguards, and Junior Cadets .......................page 4 Photo: Michael Short Fishing Instruction ....................... page 4 Pole Walking, Skills & Hikes .....page 5 Kayaking Opportunities ............page 5 Cajun-Zydeco Music Festival ....page 6 4th of July at Ardenwood .......... page 6 Free Outdoor Movie ..................page 7 “Second Sundays Campfi re” at Big Break ..................................page 7 Concert at the Cove ................page 11 Twilight Walk at Tilden Nature Area ..................page 11 Little Farm Open House .........page 11 Tyler Ranch Land Bank Tour ....page 13 Photo: ©2013 John Clare P. Photo: ©2013 See summer activities inside. Contents Adapting to the Drought WATER QUALITY Aquatics/Jr. Lifeguards .........4 A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER ROBERT E. DOYLE AND THE DROUGHT Recreation Programs ...... 4-5 Ardenwood ....................... 5-7 As California’s Dry conditions will also contribute to The drought is having a dramatic Big Break ................................7 historic drought and increase the risk of fi re. One of effect on the Park District’s wears on, the East the most important drought-related 10 lakes, miles of shoreline, and Botanic Garden ....................7 Bay Regional Park steps we’re taking is eliminating dry hundreds of creeks. Because of Black Diamond ...................10 District is working fuels in the East Bay hills. Using funds warmer water temperatures and hard to protect our from Measure CC, our fi re prevention a lack of rain to fl ush out bacteria, Coyote Hills ........................10 resources, conserve program focuses on removing we’re expecting an increase in Crab Cove ......................10-11 water, and educate non-native plants from our hillside toxic algae, harmful bacteria, and the public how the parklands, where they pose an the parasite that causes swimmer’s Sunol ......................................11 drought is affecting extreme fi re threat to the densely itch at several locations. Tilden Nature Area ...........12 our parklands and how we can all work populated cities nearby. At Lake Chabot, please keep pets together to save water. Other Regional Parks ...12-14 So far, thanks to Measure CC, park away from the lake due to a toxic Throughout the District’s 120,000 acres, crews are working along a 40-mile species of blue-green algae. If you Volunteer Programs ..........14 we’re replacing some turf with native ridgeline that includes Tilden, Sibley, or your dog come in contact with Registration & Fees............ 15 grasses, permanently cutting irrigation Wildcat Canyon, Anthony Chabot, or ingest the lake water, wash by more than 25 percent, reducing Redwood, Leona and Point Pinole parks. thoroughly with soap and fresh Visitor Centers/ water, and see a doctor fi re hazards, closely monitoring water Measure CC funds have also allowed Swim Areas .......................... 15 or veterinarian immediately quality and reaching out to visitors us to add fi re sprinklers at the historic if symptoms arise. about the importance of water carousel at Tilden, and make other conservation. We expect lake levels infrastructure improvements to keep Park District water quality to fall and water-quality issues, such our parks safe in what’s expected specialists regularly monitor as blue-green algae blooms, to increase to be an especially dry season. water quality throughout all due to these severely dry conditions District lakes and beaches. We hope you enjoy your time in our (see sidebar). There may be impacts The safety of our park visitors beautiful parks this summer, and join to recreation, especially in our lakes, is our most important concern. but we are doing everything possible us in saving water and protecting to keep our parks open. our open spaces! General Information/Free Brochure 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 Camping & Picnic Reservations ...... Volunteer Spotlight: Greens at Work ..................................1-888-327-2757 Naturalist & Recreation Tom and Jane Kelly of Berkeley used to transformed that segment of the Bay Programs ................1-888-327-2757 ride their bikes along the Bay Trail and Trail into one of the most scenic and TRS Relay for the revel in the rugged beauty of the bay well-tended in the East Bay. Hearing Impaired ........................711 shoreline – except for the weeds. Website ..............www.ebparks.org They’ve formed a non-profi t, called “We used to say - ‘Why doesn’t Greens at Work, and are now co- someone do something about this?’ ” EBRPD Board of Directors sponsored by the California Native Tom Kelly said. “Then we got home Plant Society. The Kellys and their crew Whitney Dotson (President) ....Ward 1 one day and said, ‘Well, maybe that John Sutter ..................................Ward 2 hold twice-monthly work parties and, Dennis Waespi ...........................Ward 3 someone should be us.’ ” since the couple began the undertaking, Douglas Siden .............................Ward 4 So the Kellys got permission from the they’ve put in almost 3,500 hours Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 of volunteer work. Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 staff at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond to remove wild radish, Diane Burgis ...............................Ward 7 “My wife and I are pretty hard-core broom, cape ivy and other weeds Robert E. Doyle ......General Manager about our concern for nature. We along the Bay Trail and replace them want to make the habitat safe for all with plants native to that particular Visit www.ebparks.org for map the animals that live here,” Tom Kelly watershed, such as toyon and Artemisia. downloads, activity and event said. “To see the transformation information, and much more! That was seven years ago. The Kellys’ of this area has been spectacular. To learn more about volunteering with efforts have now grown to include Now it’s not only better for animals, the District, go to www.ebparks.org/ more than 1,000 volunteers who’ve but better for people, too.” about/getinvolved. Animals in Our Parks: Frogs Replacing Turf Health with Native Plants Matters They can also tell us a lot about Join the East Bay Regional Park District the state of our environment. in converting your lawn to native grass and ground cover. In response to the “Because they live in both aquatic East Bay drought, we are replacing much of and terrestrial environments, we Regional Park District our turf throughout the District with need to pay close attention to what AND native plants that require less water, happens to them,” said Matthew Photo: Steve Bobzien less fertilizer and less mowing. Here Graul, the District’s Chief of are a few plants we’re using that might Stewardship. “They’re barometers ARE PROUD PARTNERS A California red-legged frog work in your garden, too: IN 2015 WITH THE MUTUAL GOAL for the health of the environment.” OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS. The melodious croaking of frogs is a • Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) The pristine upper reaches of familiar sound on summer evenings in is a great option if you live around Alameda Creek are a favorite East Bay parks. Our creeks and ponds Mt. Diablo or in a warmer part breeding spot for native amphibians. Kaiser are home to many amphibian species, of the East Bay. We can all help these sensitive including Pacifi c tree frogs and the Health Tips creatures survive the long, hot, • Sedges (Carex) are recommended rare western toads, foothill yellow- Swimming is a great way to stay in dry months by: for those in more coastal areas, such legged frogs, and the threatened as Berkeley, Alameda and Oakland. shape, reduce stress, lose weight, California red-legged frogs. • Keeping dogs out and cool off in the summer. The of Alameda Creek Our District biologists keep a Park District manages more than close eye on the health of these • Refraining from building rock a dozen places to swim, including native species, monitoring their dams, which prevent water beaches, lakes, lagoons, and pools reproduction from year to year, from fl owing downstream throughout Alameda and Contra studying how they cope with • Not swimming or wading Costa counties. drought, and keeping tabs on their in the creek If you and your family go swimming population counts. Frogs are an important part of our ecosystem • Hauling out trash. AaronPhoto: Arthur ©2012 this summer, remember a few because they eat millions of insects With your help, we can ensure these health and safety tips: and are prey for carnivores further rare, native frogs will be around for • Keep an eye on children at all times up the food chain. generations to come. • Make sure everyone in your family knows how to swim TRAIL TALK FROM BOB COOMBER • Wear waterproof sunscreen Coomber, also known as Four-Wheel • Drink plenty of water • Above: Turkey tangle fogfruit (Phyla Bob, is an expert hiker from his • Only swim when there’s nodifl ora), which has delicate white wheelchair. He lives in Livermore. a lifeguard on duty and lavender fl owers, is a favorite of bees and butterfl ies throughout • Never swim alone. the East Bay. hen summer’s heat gets and dozens of other wading birds Woverwhelming, I seek out the and ducks congregate in the marshes The best way to get rid of your sometimes foggy, cooler refuge of and along the shallow shoreline. lawn is by placing cardboard or our bayside parks and trails. Wandering over the many creeks old newspapers over the grass and in this area reminds me of how the covering it with 3 to 6 inches of mulch. My favorite, as a bird watcher and shoreline must have looked 150 By the end of summer, the grass should fan of a cooling breeze on a warm years ago. Thanks to restoration be dead and you can plant natives. afternoon? Martin Luther King Jr. efforts of the Park District and its Visit our Botanic Garden for more Regional Shoreline. I usually park many partners in San Francisco Bay’s ideas about native plant gardening, at the Tidewater Boating Center preservation effort, we can walk, or to talk to an expert for advice.