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July 9, 2009
Winters, CA
July 11, 2009
Center for Land Based Learning, East of Winters
July 11, 2009
Near Winters
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June 20, 2009
We had a great group for last Saturday’s Insect Sampling on Putah Creek! A sweet five year old (on her third biomonitoring outing so far) and her Dad, an entomology graduate student her advisor at UCD, a veteran PCC volunteer looking to try a new activity, myself, and Ken Davis, our intrepid leader and bug expert.
We sampled at Putah Creek not far down from Monticello dam, just down the road from the entrance to Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, where Cold Creek empties into Putah Creek. Cold Creek is dry now- there may be water running in it underground but from the surface its just boulders and a couple pools here and there. Our mission: to find out what the aquatic insect population is like in Putah Creek, and if we could find any Hellgrammites under the dry rocks of Cold Creek.
So what the heck is a Hellgrammite? It is another name for the larvae, pupae or adult Dobsonfly, and a bug that fish enjoy eating, regardless of whether they are in their larval or winged phase of life. Ken, Mara and Don didn’t find any, but as Ken says, “I know they are there, because I see them in the wet season”. The mystery continues- it’s what makes the job of aquatic entomologist so cool and intriguing.
In Putah Creek we did find three kinds of Mayfly larvae: Baetis, Callibaetis and Leptophlebia. May flies generally need to live in water with high levels of oxygen and are considered to be an indicator of a fairly healthy stream, and one that should be able to support fish.
We found New Zealand Mud Snails, the tiny invader species with a big impact, but not as many as we have found at other sites on Putah Creek, such as Fishing Access # 5, where we sampled April 25th. We also native found fresh water snails called Physids. Physids differ from New Zealand Mud Snails in that Physids do not have an operculum, thus lack the ability to close off the entrance to their shell. The NZMS can seal itself off inside its shell, remaining moist, ready to reproduce, and very much alive should it end up in another body of water. This is why it is hard to eradicate and is easily transferred to uncontaminated waters.
Hidden in the abundant algae we found a great variety of worm type creatures: leeches, and chironomids, to name a couple. Hundreds of water boatmen (Corixidae) skimmed the surface, and cute little juvenile fish slipped into our nets, which we released as quickly as possible.
None of this was unexpected and indicates that the ecosystem at first glance appears to be functioning as it has been the last few years. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Except Ken, we are amateurs, and until Ken is able to count and identify all the critters we picked up in our sample, what you just read is a best guess. So, please, stay tuned for the official report on our biomonitoring project! The official results will be posted on Ken Davis’ website and the PCC website as soon as possible.
We would love to have you join us on our next outing!
Check out the PCC website calendar for upcoming dates. Remember, no matter how hot the air, the creek is bracing, cool and great for wading!
06/26/09Putah Creek Council announced today that they now accept donations of used vehicles, boats, and other small-engine craft. The donated goods can be running or not.
Through a partnership with another CA-based non-profit, Cars4Causes, the Council can have your donation picked up at your house and sold to the highest bidder. Cars4Causes donates 70% of the sale price to Putah Creek Council, and deals with all the legalities of donation and sale of the vehicle.
It's an easy way for a donor to give a substantial gift to the Council with virtually none of the headache involved in selling a vehicle, or dealing with the paperwork.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Putah Creek Council's Executive Director, Libby Earthman: 530-795-3006, or see: Cars4Causes
06/23/09
Today a consortium of groups working to engage locals in appreciation of Putah Creek released the schedule for the 2009 CREEKSPEAK! series.
Since May, 2007, local nature enthusiasts have gathered once a month at the Winters Community Center to learn about the nature and culture of the Putah Creek watershed and bioregion. The series of Thursday evening talks continues this year with a twist: Thursday talks will be followed by thematically related and engaging Saturday outdoor activities, such as hikes, art outings, and restoration events.
The CreekSpeak! series is collaboration between Putah Creek Council, the City of Winters, Putah Creek Discovery Corridor Cooperative, and UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment. The talks are a popular local event. The organizers of this year’s series, spearheaded by Joyce Gutstein of the John Muir Institute of the Environment, expect the follow-up activities will also attract a lot of enthusiasm and participation. “The Saturday activities give people a chance to get out and experience the topics first hand. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other nature enthusiasts and learn more about the watershed” said Gutstein.
The CreekSpeak! series kick off at the Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave) at 7pm, Thursday, May 14th with a presentation entitled Art of the Putah Creek Watershed by David Robertson, photographer and English professor at UC Davis. The follow-up activity will engage locals in creating art in the watershed. Please see the schedule below to learn about ways you can engage in your watershed, or see: Putah Creek Calendar for more information.
All talks are held in the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave, from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm on the second Thursday of the month from May through October. Saturday events are thematically linked with the talks they follow. All talks and events are free and open to the public.
04/20/09
