Dozens of Sir Francis Drake high school students in San Anselmo, CA came
to SPAWN headquarters in West Marin to learn about ecological restoration and flood plain ecosystems.
One economics and two environmental classes used the field trip to learn about the economic value of ecosystem services.
For example, one mile of flood plain will filter as much water as a water treatment plant for a small city, like Monterey, every year.
The students dug out and pulled out invasive plant species like the Himalayan blackberry, a European species of blackberry that is highly invasive and hard to control.
Himalayan blackberries create mono cultures. This occurs when a nonnative species takes over a local ecosystem.
“Students literally got their hands dirty by digging up the noxious plants.”
SPAWN Education Specialist Catie Clune.
The students also walked along San Geronimo Creek to see ongoing restoration areas. San Geronimo Creek has the largest remaining wild run of the endangered coho salmon in central California.
