Saving creek habitat in Guerneville
”It takes a small group of thoughtful committed citizens to change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
It all started in 2012 when Otto Walker Willis approached me at my Mermaid Festival asking for help with the overwhelming garbage created by multiple encampments along Fife Creek in Guerneville. Together, we walked the creekbed of this seasonal tributary to the Russian River to see how this important creek and habitat was being destroyed.
I had been working with Riverkeeper, Don McEnhill, when he recommended I talk to David Morton (Horticulturist /Riparian Ecologist), who was working on the Riverkeeper Park restoration project near downtown. David immediately made a commitment to restore Fife Creek.
David taught us that Fife Creek begins in Armstrong Redwoods then winds through Guerneville carrying debris and pollutants that drain directly into the Russian River. He envisioned Fife Creek turning into a demonstration project for those who live along endangered waterways.
Through 10 years of volunteer work, David's vision became a reality. The west side of Fife Creek starting at Brookside Lane and Fourth St. to River Rd. is planted with native plants & trees and is now self-sustaining, which has freed us to work on our 4000 sq. ft Butterfly Garden on East side of Fife Creek for the last 3 years.
This important work requires both funding and volunteers.
Community Clean Water Institute (CCWI ) agreed to be our 501 (C) (3) sponsor. Restoring a waterway and potential fish spawning tributary requires learning about how riparian corridor flora, fauna, birds, bees, insects, and animals depend on water habitat for their survival. They taught us how to monitor the health of Fife Creek and document our progress on their their website https://www.communitycleanwater.org/.
A handful of regular volunteers come every Thursday: Vira & Mike Fauss, Daralyn Schmitt, Mitch Lybrand Fauss, and our newest volunteer, Michael Loane, who joined in February to relieve Dave Morton, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Please join us for Fife Creek Cleanup every Thursdays 1-4 pm. Meet us at the Woods Resort parking lot on Fourth St. in Guerneville.
Thank you, to all who have volunteered over this last 10 years, donated at our events and taken the time to help Friends of Fife Creek make this vision a reality!
Our next FREE event will be November 20 from 2 - 6pm at the Fife Creek Butterfly Garden on the north side of River Road (across from Safeway). Tour our garden, see our progress, and consider donating to this worthy cause.
On Tuesday, Nov. 22, we will host Give Back Tuesday at Rainbow Cattle Company, 16220 Main St, Guerneville from 6 ~ 8pm. Dinner and silent auction.
Please consider donating to this GoFundMe site for David Morton https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-david-morton-thru-cancer-treatment
To volunteer or take a tour contact: Vira Fauss, Project Manager, 707-484-8767, thecaliforniamermaid@yahoo.com
To stay in touch with our progress, find us on Facebook: Friends of Fife Creek Bridge to Bridge project: https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Fife-Creek-Bridge-to-Bridge-Project-638445439567687
Anyone interested in learning how to water monitor can learn by volunteering with CCWI directly or FoFC. https://www.communitycleanwater.org
