Stafford Lake Reflections
1. The ecological problems of the stream at Stafford Lake were that there was erosion around the creek. The flow of the water through the stream causes the water to cut through the banks, causing banks that drop off suddenly to the water.
2. The components of Marin Country Parks that addressed these problems is to restore and enhance the stream, by re-creating meanders, stabilizing soil, and installing gently sloping stream banks.
3. Yesterday, the part of the project that I worked on was sheet mulching. I spread the straw, laid down the cardboard, added more straw, and made a layer of mulch on top. I helped with all of the stages of the project, because you had to finish one step before moving on to the next one, so we all had to follow the same steps.
4. My work was part of an Integrated Pest Management Approach, because now that we have created a barrier to keep out the invasive weeds, they can plant native species that will thrive and keep out the weaker invasive species.
5. What I liked about this field trip was that we got to help something that affects all of the community, and we got to have fun doing it. The importance of our volunteer work was obvious and positive, and that is not always obvious with community service. I liked it because we helped a lot with the cleanliness of our water, but it was not too long or strenuous. With so many people, it was less work, there were more friends to hang out with, and it was altogether a really fun experience.