September 3rd Bioblitz of EBMUD watershed and endangered canal ecosystem

@leptonia @robberfly @sea-kangaroo @hfabian @kevinhintsa @kueda

Come Bioblitz the historical and threatened Amador Canal just a few miles outside of Jackson, California. This 130+ year old unlined canal runs 8 miles from Lake Tabeaud to Tanner Reservoir and an entire diverse middle Sierra Foothills ecosystem has developed around it which is in jeopardy as water authorities look to close the canal. This is also the watershed that feeds into EBMUD, so if you're from the East Bay and always wondered where your water comes from, this is your chance!

I was approached by Sean Kriletich, a high school friend (I grew up in the foothills) that runs a farm next to the canal and he is worried about how the closing the canal will effect the local ecosystem and wants to get a document of what is there now, before it changes. I was up there a few weeks ago and the water board is holding off on a decision for a year, which at least gives a good amount of time to document the different organisms over the year. Sean is by training is a geologist and also thinks AWA and EBMUD making big mistakes by not sinking some of the water into the geology and ecology as it feeds springs that ultimately feed into the EBMUD reservoirs, which provide extra long drip storage. So that you have an idea of what might be up there, here are observations around the canal:
http://www.inaturalist.org/places/amador-canal-direct-impact-zone

It is bound to be a good time! Camping is available and a few beds are also possible, if you don't want to camp out. We'll run some moth lights Friday night as well. Stone fruit and figs are falling off the trees on the farm and Sean is quite a character/big player in the local community so anything you want to know about this section of the foothills you could get form him.

Sign up here if you are interested:
http://calnature.org/events/2016/9/3/amador-canal-bioblitz

I'll facilitate car pooling from the bay area for anyone that wants it off the sign up list.

Posted on Αύγουστος 19, 2016 0738 ΜΜ by damontighe