Nature Notes - Fall 2019

nature notes FALL • 2019

CENTRAL COAST STATE PARKS ASSOCIATION

W

ait, is it really fall already? It seems like summer just

started.

This June, I was able to take a wonderful and much needed vacation with my family to Costa Rica. Beyond the wildlife, warm water and beautiful jungles, one thing that Kristin Howland struck me was the progressive stance that some communities were taking on environmental issues. I enjoyed drinking my ‘pipa fria’ from a paper or bamboo straw, and there were no plastic bags offered at the grocery store. Friendly signs were posted, reminding people to take their trash with them and not pollute.

The questions that kept popping up in my head were: Why are we (American’s) so attached to our straws, plastic bags and water bottles? Why can’t we overcome our dependence on plastic?

“Plastic pollution” is a phrase that is now a common part of our lexicon. A study undertaken by the World Economic Forum and others showed that we are dumping the equivalent of one garbage truck worth of plastic into the ocean every minute. If this keeps up, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.

Mahatma Gandhi said to be the change you want to see in the world, so I return to thinking about what I can do. We do? Our family do? It starts with making conscious decisions. Do you really need that straw? Could you purchase or make reusable bags for your fruits, veggies and bulk items?

Can you spend a morning picking up trash from a local waterway or beach? Can you contribute financially to an organization that is fighting the good fight?

CCSPA is excited to host our 3rd Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Each night will focus on an environmental issue we face locally and globally. We have speakers, directors and organizations that are making waves in our communities to activate change. We hope that this year’s festival will inspire you to be the change you want to see in the world.

Pura vida!

Kristin Howland

Executive Director Central Coast State Parks Association

CCSPA is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. We are one of 85 similar cooperating associations across the state who work in partnership with State Parks. Tax ID #: 51-0198869.

Cover photo by Gina Jie Sam Foek | pexels.com

Staff Directory Kristin Howland Executive Director ed@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0391 Alissa Maddren Membership and Events Coordinator membership@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0384 Ryan Hughes Retail Operations Coordinator store@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0392 BOARD MEMBERS Marylou Gooden - Board Chair Hannah Romo - Secretary Bob Priola - Treasurer Asit Rairkar - Vice Chair Elaine Rosenfield - Docent Council President STATE PARKS LIASONS Danielle Bronson State Park Interpreter II Oceano Dunes District Eric Hjelstrom Superintendent III SLO Coast District www.centralcoastparks.org

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Are you ready to make a difference? CCSPA is looking for new board members and volunteers! Contact us at: ed@centralcoastparks.org

30,000 You made a difference! You supported programs provided by over 30,000 docent hours!

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Ice cream social

T

he Central Coast State Parks Association is excited to partner with Harmony Valley Creamery for the first ever Montaña de Oro Ice Cream Social. Please join us on Saturday, October 5th from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Spooner Ranch House for some ice cream and camaraderie, as well as to shop the gift shop and participate in the Spooner Ranch House Living History Program. CCSPA members will receive special discounts on merchandise the day of the event.

CMA Poker ride

J

oin the Coast Mounted Assistance (CMA) organization for a weekend of camping, camaraderie and riding the beautiful hills and beaches of the Central Coast of California on your horse.

new chocolate Bars

A

m I the only one excited about this? Chocolate!

The Central Coast State Parks have their own line of chocolate bars available at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, Spooner Ranch House, Oceano Dunes Visitors Center and soon at the Monarch Grove!

CCSPA partnered with the owner of Mama Ganache, Ben Taylor, a local chocolatier in San Luis Obispo, to create a unique flavor combo to represent each park. You will certainly want to try all nine park bars!

CMA hosts it Annual Fundraiser event, the Poker Ride, at Montaña de Oro State Park Horse Camp October 10th - 14th. The Silent Auction, Poker Prizes and BBQ are hosted on Sunday, October 13th at 1:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the CMA Poker Ride go back into the State Park volunteer program and to maintain the trails and horse camp at Montaña de Oro State Park.

Coast Mounted Assistance (CMA) was established in 1973 by a group of local San Luis Obispo County equestrians who originally assisted State Park employees in mapping and constructing the trails system within Montaña de Oro State Park. Today, Montaña de Oro State Park consists of approximately 8,500 acres and has over 50 miles of trails which the CMA patrols on a regular basis. CMA is part of the California State Parks Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP) and is made up of of approximately 55 local horse owners and volunteers. For more information about Coast Mounted Assistance or the Poker Ride contact cma4mdo@gmail.com.

fall book sale

O

ctober is National Book Month! The Central Coast State Parks Association offers a wonderful selection of books and nature guides at all of our retail locations. To honor our love of learning, we are offering a 20% discount to CCSPA members on books for the month of October. Non-members receive a 10% discount.

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plastics in the ocean

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bout eight million tons of plastic goes into the ocean each year. The most damaging plastics in the ocean may be those too small to see. Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters long, about 4 times the size of a sand grain. Secondary microplastics are the result of the breakdown of larger plastic products such as: • • • • •

Plastic bags Bottles, including some of the 20 billion plastic water bottles discarded every year.

Containers of various kinds, including disposable food containers Eyeglasses and sunglasses Toys

Interestingly, lost fishing nets and other gear can and do entangle marine wildlife, but don’t appear to break down very much to become microplastic. Primary microplastics are produced and used at a small size, and are even more difficult to control. Examples include: • • • •

Microbeads in shampoo and soap (banned in some countries but still common in the ocean) Glitter Makeup and detergents Fiber from synthetic clothing such as nylon, and fleece linings

In a recent study, researchers affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) took seawater samples from 5 to 1000 meters (16-3300 ft.) deep. Their methods were designed to minimize contamination from

the research ship. This study was done because most microplastic data are from the surface, and we still know very little about what is below it. Shallow and deep water had similar concentrations of microplastic particles, but they were four times that level in water 200-600 meters (6602000 ft.) deep. This indicates they are being concentrated by sub-surface currents.

The study found microplastics in two filter-feeding organisms: pelagic red crabs and giant larvaceans. These materials can be bio-amplified as larger animals feed on them. A 2019 Environmental Science and Technology study characterizes seafood as one of the top three contributors to human consumption of microplastics.

“

Filter-feeding organisms consume microplastics, and pass them on to fish and larger organisms, which may be eaten by people.

Microplastics have also been studied at Coleman Beach by the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, but results were not available at the time of writing.

Pollution we put into the environment finds its way into us as well. It cannot be otherwise. The best thing we can do is to produce less single-use plastic, recycle as much as possible, and be careful to put plastic trash in a proper container.

- Rouvaishyana, Drawing by Malley M., Grade 8 | Flickr Sources: Monterey Bay study: Tiny pieces of plastic pollute California’s Central Coast, Carrie Schuman, SLO Tribune, July 9, 2019, Plastic Pollution in our Oceans, Karen Watts, Nature Notes, Summer 2017, The deep impact of microplastic, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) | FALL 2019 - 5

docent training

D

ocent training for both Morro Bay and Montaña de Oro State Parks will occur on 3 Saturdays in October: October 5, 12 and 26. Training consists of 3 half Saturdays from 9-1 at the different sites; trainees need to attend all three days. Interviews for training will occur in September and will be about 1 hour long. If you are interested in volunteering at either park or at some of the other parks, please contact Faylla Chapman: fayllac@sbcglobal.net, or send a message to docented@centralcoastparks.org

volunteers’ Voices

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ltimately we all just want to do something meaningful in our lives. We feel better knowing that we have contributed to the lives of others and the generations that follow. Volunteering is a wonderful way to do so. State Parks offers so many avenues to volunteer in meaningful ways. The following testimonial is from just one of over 300 volunteers that Central Coast State Parks supports.

Meet Bette Bardeen. Bette has been volunteering as a docent with State Parks in the SLO Coast District for almost 12 years. Here’s what she has to say about the experience: “One of my favorite things to do as a docent is to start new programs. I took the lead in the Natural History Book Group the first five years, and I have read so many wonderful books and learned so much as a result. Skeleton Sunday (now Skeleton Saturday) was the result of a Docent Council goal during the time I was chair to add more family friendly activities. It has been a great way to show off our amazing bone collection and have a lot of fun.

My most recent project was SeaLife Stewards (SLS). For years, some of us talked about implementing a program similar to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Team | FALL 2019 - 6

OCEAN program in Morro Bay. Five years ago, I had the time to spend on getting it started, and it has been a great success.

We have about 40 volunteers on the water in kayaks and SUPs each weekend in the summer, talking to visitors about our wildlife and how important it is to observe without disturbance. I think it is a great way to get new people involved in our programs.

“

My favorite things about volunteering are the people I have worked with and the things I have learned.

- Bette Bardeen

After five years I am stepping down from the SeaLife Stewards planning team, but not from State Parks. I love working on new programs, and am already started on one!”

Rouvaishyana, manager of the Morro Bay Natural History Museum says that “Everyone at SeaLife Stewards recognizes Bette as a special and energetic person, we call her the ‘founding mother,’ and she has served as committee chair and team leader for several years.”

Monarch season

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he Oceano Dunes District Staff, docents and volunteers are gearing up for another busy season at the Pismo State Beach. This season at the Monarch Grove will begin earlier than usual with docents on hand the first two weekends in October and daily as of Oct. 19th. Weekdays volunteers will be present from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a Monarch program offered at noon.

Weekends and Holidays will have volunteers present from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with programs offered at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Training to volunteer and become a docent with State parks begins soon. Email Mallory.Claassen@parks. ca.gov for more information on volunteering at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Grove. Pismo unit chair Betty Sleeth stresses that “To volunteer in the grove is to appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us and to be given the opportunity to learn and participate as a citizen scientist.�

skeleton saturday

C

ome join us this fall for our celebration of all things skeletal. New activities, as well as past favorites, will return to showcase the extensive collection of skeletons, skulls, bones and teeth at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History. Bats and bears, fish and fowl, sharks and seals, complete whale skeletons and miscellaneous metatarsals, will be on display. There are workshops, art activities, games and puzzles, and prizes for some events. Interactive and educational, there is something for all ages in this family oriented event. For more information, call the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History at 805-772-2694.

What:

WORKSHOPS, ART, GAMES, PUZZLES & PRIZES Where:

MORRO BAY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY When:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 10 - 3 P.M. Cost:

$3 ADULTS, CHILDREN UNDER 18 & MEMBERS FREE | FALL 2019 - 7

Central Coast State Parks Association PO Box 445 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 548-0390 centralcoastparks.org

BECOME A NEW OR RENEWING CCSPA MEMBER All members receive a copy of Nature Notes quarterly newsletter, a 10% discount on Wild and Scenic Film Festival tickets and discounts at participating Public Lands Alliance stores. Additional benefits include: $50 Otter

$25 Hummingbird

$75 Raft of Otters

$100 Coyote

H Two vouchers for

H Free admissions for two

Family Membership that includes two adults and unlimited kids 17 and under.

All benefits of Raft of Otters membership, plus:

H 10% discount at all

H Four vouchers for

All benefits of Otter membership, plus:

Cream Social at MontaĂąa de Oro

admission to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History CCSPA nature stores

adults to the Mind Walks Lecture Series

admission to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History

H 10% discount at all CCSPA nature stores

H Invitation to the Ice

H 15% discount at all CCSPA nature stores

H Explore Parks Passport discount coupon book

$250 Monarch

$500 Gray Whale

$1,000 Oak Grove

All benefits of Coyote membership, plus:

All benefits of Monarch membership, plus:

All benefits of Gray Whale membership, plus:

H Invitation to Afternoon

H Invitation to Martini de

H Invitation to a behind-the-

with the Monarchs at Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove

Morro

scenes tour of Hearst Castle

H An exclusive holiday

shopping night at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History

Membership level: _____________________ Membership amount: $ _________________ I would like to make an additional donation to CCSPA in the following amount $ __________ Total enclosed: $ ________ Name (to be displayed on membership card(s)): ___________________________________ Street: ____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Email: _____________________________________

$1,500 Keystone (Corporate Sponsorship)

H Logo and link on website H Free small ad in Nature

Notes newsletter (option to upgrade) H Free small ad in the Explore Parks Passport discount book H Logo displayed on screen as Keystone Member at all Wild and Scenic Film Festival events

I would like to receive the Nature Notes newsletter via mail I would like to receive the Nature Notes newsletter as an e-newsletter (digitally)

Please make checks payable to CCSPA and mail to: CCSPA, PO Box 445, SLO, CA 93406.

You can also pay online at: http://bit.ly/CCSPAmembership