26 Mar February Reflections

Coast Miwok and Ohlone Land

Work: Winter salmonid habitat surveys

A big project I worked on this month was surveying Redwood Creek for suitable habitats for juvenile coho salmon and steelhead trout. This involved wading the creek looking for logs, rocks, undercuts, and other features that provide shelter and slower flows for juvenile fish. We flagged and mapped every feature we found, estimated its shape and size, and measured the water’s velocity. We then characterized the habitat types of the channel more broadly – again walking the creek, dividing and classifying it into segments assigned one of three categories: pool, riffle, or flat water. Finally, we walked the stream again and snorkeled a subset of the salmonid habitat features we previously mapped, counting the number and species of fish inhabiting each habitat feature. I feel very grateful to see, feel, and hear the watershed while actively working to conserve it.

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Growth: Coastal wildflowers

Another delight I’ve experienced this month is watching wildflower blooms stipple the seaside cliffs. So far, winter at Golden Gate National Recreation Area has been characterized by heavy rains and brief interludes of sunshine. This is the perfect cycle for plants to drink and photosynthesize to their hearts’ content. How lucky are we to share in their celebration of life and the changing of seasons?

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Dialogue: Alcatraz Island Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series

My favorite part about working at Golden Gate is its urban interface with the city of San Francisco. This interaction between parks and people emphasizes the human social aspects of parklands and outdoor spaces. For example, many visitors flock to Alcatraz – part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area – for its often-sensationalized history of incarceration. But rather than leaning into the stories of Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly, the park centers dialogue around mass incarceration and the indigenous occupation of Alcatraz in the 1960s-70s. Aside from their very well-done permanent exhibits, I have enjoyed going to Alcatraz for the monthly Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series, which invites people who have experienced incarceration to come to the island, tell their stories, and encourage learning and conversation about mass incarceration. On Alcatraz, amidst nesting birds and rolling currents, visitors can reflect on humanity and question the systems we are a part of – that, to me, is a quintessential park experience.

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