2004 Award WinnersSan Diego River Park Foundation: Reaching All for Stewardship ProgramThe San Diego River Park Foundation is a community-based grassroots non-profit organization founded in 2001. Their primary mission is to work with and support community groups and other organizations dedicated to the San Diego River and the River Park. In April 2004 the Foundation completed the first phase of the “Reaching All for Stewardship” Program. This program seeks to bring together a spectrum of traditional and non-traditional partners to address long-term hurdles to sustainable stewardship of the San Diego River. This first phase of the project focused on the challenging situation of public health and safety concerns and environmental degradation relating to a population of more than 100 homeless individuals living in the River’s floodplain. Consistent with the “Reaching All” philosophy, the San Diego River Park Foundation sought to bring services to the homeless population and to promote permanent solutions to this disenfranchised community. Environmental justice for both the natural community and the homeless population was a desired goal. The Foundation embarked on a strategy of raising funds for cleanup activities and then hiring the Alpha Project, a job training and life skills program for the homeless, to help remove trash from abandoned encampments in the floodplain. Alpha Project participants “get off the street and out of the river” and begin the road to new opportunities by learning transferable skills, such as landscaping. Most importantly, they learn that they can succeed by working. The Reaching All for Stewardship Program also contracted with the Urban Corps of San Diego, a job training program for young adults, many of them from underserved communities. The Urban Corps participants received training on habitat restoration techniques with the goal of creating new paths to economic security. The quantifiable results of this project include:
The final component of the Program was to partner with community groups, dedicated volunteers, state and local agencies and local businesses to sustain restoration activities while bringing social services and enforcement to the cleanup activities. New strategies were developed as part of innovative collaborations between numerous City of San Diego departments including the City Attorney, Police, Fire, Environmental Services, Homeless Services and Outreach Team, and Park and Recreation. The Reaching All for Stewardship Program exemplifies the benefits of collaboration between both traditional and non-traditional partners. Environmental Justice Coalition for WaterThe Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (Coalition), was formed at the Pacific Institute in Oakland in 1999. The Coalition’s mission is to educate, empower, and nurture a community-based coalition that will serve as a public voice and be an effective advocate of environmental justice issues in California water policy. The Coalition is a network of more than 50 grassroots groups and intermediary organizations formed to advance a progressive, community-driven policy agenda that affirmatively addresses the water-related issues, problems, and visions of low-income communities and people of color in California. In its 5 years of existence, an extraordinary young staff and energetic planning committee has raised funds and brought Environmental Justice into the legislative process for water policy in Sacramento and has held 4 regional “Water World” Environmental Justice workshops in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Jose and San Francisco. The Coalition has provided a voice for equitable citizen participation and recognition of Environmental Justice values in water policy. Specifically, the Coalition brought Environmental Justice into the CalFED Record of Decision and subsequent funding documents. Because of the Coalition, there are Environmental Justice clauses throughout the California Bay-Delta Authority process and an Environmental Justice Sub-Committee was formed. The support and advice of the Coalition is sought on legislation and by water agency staff as well as private foundations. The Coalition’s steering committee members are taking their expertise to local water supply and surface water campaigns in the Central Valley, Southern California and the Bay Area. In the Central Valley farmworker town of Alpaugh, Coalition members were able to secure funding to address the town’s arsenic laden water supply. At Bay View Hunter’s Point in San Francisco and on Richmond’s North Shore, Coalition members have raised funds and led campaigns to monitor an improve water quality, preserve habitat, and provide water quality and watershed education and training. Perhaps most important, the Coalition has brought critical new concepts of equitable participation in decision making into the water arena where they are being integrated in a way they have not before. The City of Santa Barbara: Old Mission Creek Restoration at Bohnett ParkThe mission of the City of Santa Barbara Creeks Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Program is to improve the health of the City’s creeks and ocean through storm water and urban runoff pollution reduction, creek restoration, and community information and participation programs. Selected as the first in a series of projects along Old Mission Creek and throughout the City of Santa Barbara, the restoration of Old Mission Creek at Bohnett Park combines three key elements of restoration, water quality and education. Located in a densely urban setting within an economically and ethnically diverse neighborhood, the restored creek provides a link to a more natural environment, and a safe and healthy place where children can play. Restoration The creek banks were re-graded to make them less steep, increasing natural riparian habitat and improving access. Creek crossings of stone now make the creek safer to cross, bringing a natural feel to the creek and protecting the banks from foot traffic. The creek channel was also widened to slow down the flow of the water, reduce erosion, and increase the carrying capacity of the creek. Neglect had also allowed invasive non-native plants to take over parts of the creek, displacing native species. After removing the non-natives, community volunteers helped to replant the restoration area with native grasses and 3,200 native plants, many from local seed-stock. Clean Water Education The restoration project will serve as a learning laboratory for children, adults and families through tours, workshops, field trips and interpretive signs. Students are already visiting Bohnett Park to learn more about the creek restoration as well as the part they can play in improving water quality. Since the project’s completion in January of 2004, water testing for urban pollutants such as bacteria, nutrients, herbicides, and hydrocarbons, as well as biological parameters, track the restoration’s effect over time. The data will provide valuable information to the public and guide future restoration efforts. Constant monitoring will also ensure that the creek is safe for the children and families that use the park. A dedicated restoration caretaker will tend to the growth of the native plants, assist with community planting and restoration maintenance days, and serve as a knowledgeable resource to park visitors. Carla Bard Advocacy Award RecipientsThe Carla Bard Advocacy Award is given in the memory of Carla Bard, a former chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, a former member of the conference planning committee and an avid environmentalist who was recognized for her significant contributions in regards to the intelligent use of California’s dwindling water supply. The Carla Bard Award is given each year to individuals and agencies who go beyond the call of duty on a local level. This year two individuals are deserving of this award. Sandra MerazIn memory of Carla Bard's interest in all battles for water quality and community resources, Sandra Meraz has a short story well worth telling. Sandra Meraz may not be a name well known but it should be and will be after you hear her story. Two years ago Alpaugh (located in Tulare County midway between Fresno and Bakersfield) lost its well when the long-corroded casing around its main pipe collapsed. Drinking water had to be purchased and brought back from vending machines 30 and 40 miles away. Alpaugh’s residents faced a dire situation, one that faces many rural communities in the Central Valley -- how to fund desperately needed local water improvement projects in disadvantaged communities that appear invisible before state and federal funding sources. Sandra Meraz decided to make Alpaugh visible. Born on the Cabazon Indian Reservation in Indio, Sandra Meraz graduated from Coachella Valley Union High School and settled in Alpaugh over 40 years ago. She joined the school board after retiring and soon became involved in the community’s troubled water system. She serves on both the Tulare County Water Works District #1 Board and the Alpaugh Joint Powers Authority that administers the local water system. When Alpaugh faced a water quality crisis as a result of its collapsing wells, Ms. Meraz created the Committee for a Better Alpaugh and fought tirelessly to leverage legal and financial assistance from county and state leaders to get clean drinking water in Alpaugh. Thanks to her efforts, grants were secured for the construction of a new well, which is currently being built. Assemblymember Nicole Parra who helped secure grants for Alpaugh’s new wells said of Ms. Meraz, "Sandra Meraz is a true local hero. She works tirelessly to end poverty and improve the health of our families." For her efforts, Ms. Meraz was honored as Woman of the Year in the 30th Assembly District in March 2004. In standing up and speaking out on behalf of her community, Ms. Meraz has significantly contributed to creating a greater statewide understanding of water supply and quality problems facing some of the State’s most hardworking and least remembered communities. Since bringing Alpaugh’s plight to the attention of state officials and helping to bring immediate relief to her dry community, Ms. Meraz has yet to rest: she continues to advocate up and down the state on water issues that affect her and other communities. In recognition of her efforts to improve California rural communities’ access to safe and affordable water, we are proud to present this award to Sandra Meraz. Frances Spivy-WeberMany environmental advocates are grateful to have achieved at least one major milestone in their career. Fran Spivy-Weber has achieved many. She has negotiated international whaling treaties. She has been instrumental in many national natural resource issues. And all of this before coming to California and helping to change the State. As Executive Director for Policy at the Mono Lake Committee, Fran is a recognized leader in California water resources management and conservation. Her organization, the Mono Lake Committee, has been synonymous with wise water use -- the kind that saves habitat and preserves flows for the environment. But she has also devoted energies to efforts beyond Mono Lake. She has worked tirelessly with community organizations to help them understand and participate in water issues. She has spent many hundreds of hours in the California Bay Delta Authority process, where she serves on the Public Advisory Committee and chairs the Water Use Efficiency Subcommittee. And she is a leader on the California State Water Plan Advisory Board, where she is the premier arbiter for water conservation statewide. Her diplomacy, vision, and strong environmental leadership have earned her the respect of all adversaries as well as supporters. She is able to negotiate through difficult politics and difficult personalities. We honor Fran's efforts on behalf of the Mono Lake Committee and statewide water efficiency by bestowing the Carla Bard award for 2004. |
