The AmeriCorps Gold 1 Team helped victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico prior to coming here to support the Valley Women’s Club’s Native Habitat Restoration Program for the San Lorenzo Valley. On April 7, each of the 11 young men and women received a certificate of appreciation from the California Legislature, presented to them by Assemblyman Mark Stone at the VWC event held in their honor. Stone thanked the Valley Women’s Club as well, noting volunteerism is good for the community.
This team, along with predecessor teams, including the Gold 5 team, which served earlier this year, conducted habitat and trail restoration at our county parks under the guidance and supervision of Linda Skeff, Program Director of the Habitat Restoration Program, assisted by Assistant Director Shannon Howe.
At Quail Hollow Park the teams removed 825 ft. of barbed wire fencing, carried 40 ft. of replacement fencing up five miles of trail, and restored 10 miles of hiking trails, increasing safety for both wildlife and hikers and protecting fragile sand hill habitat. They restored the bride’s room at the Quail Hollow ranch house. At the site of the new Felton Library, the AmeriCorps team pulled over 6,000 non-native blackberry crowns, and eradicated non-native French broom. At Highlands Park the team removed 8194 blackberry crowns and moved 4,800 pounds of chip to restore oak woodland habitat.
Skeff explained restoration is important because native plants protect and provide for local wildlife, preserve the riparian corridor and are more resilient to climate change. Margaret Ingram, Volunteer Coordinator for the County Parks, reported that County Parks does not have sufficient staff resources to conduct the restoration. County Parks Superintendent Gretchen Iliff also thanked the team, saying, “They don’t come for the income, they come for the outcome.”
Several AmeriCorps team members spoke as well. Kevin Moncada, from New Jersey, said he was a city kid at heart, and now he knows more about the environment. Jesse Delph, from Maryland, spent a full hour pulling out a blackberry root, to make sure it did not grow back. She said she learned patience, “If you are truly passionate you can get things done.” Logan Lawler, from Iowa, was used to driving through cornfields, not woods, and now he gives more thought to where his water comes from and the use of pesticides. Maura Astra, from Florida, learned that conversations are an opportunity to “trade-up in knowledge basis,” and she has learned more towards her career goal of environmental stewardship.
The program is supported by foundation grants from Community Foundation Santa Cruz. Local businesses Scarborough Lumber and Casa Nostra also made contributions. County Parks provided the large equipment needed for the project. Nancy Gert, from the Felton Library, said, “Stories become the conscience of the group, they belong to all of us, and AmeriCorps has become part of our story.”
