Why are wetlands important?

Reasons why we should care about wetlands:

• Wetlands help to filter our water, ensuring cleaner, safer drinking water for our communities.
• Wetlands act like giant sponges to trap water to reduce floods and ease drought.
• Wetlands can help to keep our groundwater clean.
• Wetlands along the shores of our Great Lakes, as well as interior lakes and streams, provide important spawning, feeding and nursery habitat for many species of fish including minnows, perch, bass and pike.
• Wetlands provide essential habitat (food, water, cover and breeding area) for much of Ontario’s wildlife.
• Wetlands provide recreational, educational and important scientific opportunities throughout Ontario.
• If you want to see nature at work, wetlands provide the best opportunity, whether you’re interested in birding, viewing wildlife, reptiles or amphibians, or seeing a fascinating and seemingly endless variety of bug-life.  
• Wetlands help to store carbon, reducing the its impact on our atmosphere.

Information from:  http://www.downatthepond.ca/whats_a_wetland.html

Free 2-day Educator Workshop

Learn new ways to teach about the Santa Ana River Watershed at SAWA's Educator Workshop hosted by Inland Empire Utilties Agency.

Register online for this free two day workshop!!

Contact carrie@sawaedu.org for more information.

Arbor Day!!

Today is Arbor Day. It's a time to celebrate the wonders of nature, and to plan for an even greener future by planting and caring for trees. http://www.arborday.org/arborday/

What did you do with the plants and trees you received on Earth Day? Did you plant them in your backyard?

The Park in the news!!

Daily Bulletin: City News Earth Day - Chino Creek Park April 27 2012

Please see the article (linked below) in today’s Daily Bulletin City News section featuring the Chino Creek Park Earth Day Event.

Daily Bulletin

Earth Day Event Exceeds Expectations

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) co-hosted, along with the City of Chino and the Santa Ana Watershed Association, an Earth Day Celebration at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park on Thursday, April 19, 2012. 

The Earth Day Celebration was open to schools that had scheduled field trips between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  Over 1,200 students, teachers and parents attended the event from 9 different schools within the IEUA service area. All students received pre-event packets that contained t-shirts, backpacks, educational materials and other green related giveaways. The Earth Day Celebration was also open to the public between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Thank you to the 1,000 community members that joined us in celebrating Earth Day at the Chino Creek Park.

If you are interested in participating in next years Earth Day event please contact Lucia Diaz at ldiaz@ieua.org or Andrea Carruthers at acarruthers@ieua.org. 

Wally the Water Drop welcoming students

Students learning about soils and gardens

Meeting the Great Horned Owl "Archimedes"

Enjoying the various booths throughout the park

Students at the Plant Factory activity - understanding all the parts of a plant

Students at the Water Cycle activity - understanding each element in the water cycle

Ally the Owl welcoming students to the park

Students enjoying the Environmental Magic Show

Students at the SAWA booth

Students at the Wonders of Wildlife booth

Students at the Enviroscape Model - understanding the watershed

On the train tour through the wetlands

Walking through the Watershed bridge

 

Earth Day Event 4.19.2012

Earth Day Event 4.19.2012

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency will be co-hosting, along with the City of Chino and the Santa Ana Watershed Association, an Earth Day Celebration at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park tomorrow Thursday, April 19, 2012. 

The Earth Day Celebration will be open to schools that have scheduled field trips between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  The Earth Day Celebration will be open to the public between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Come out to the park and enjoy a fun afternoon!!

Featuring:

Environmental Exhibits!

Environmental Shows!

Hand-on Earth Friendly Activities!

Giveaways (including COMPOST!!)

Food Trucks!

Free Family Fun!

And much more!!!

Native Plant Week!

Native Plant Week History 

Second Annual California Native Plant Week, April 15 - April 22, 2012.

The first California Native Plant Week (CNPW) in 2011 would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Mike Ross, Barbara Wolf, Nancy Morin, Mark Naftzger, Diana Ruiz, the CNPW Committee and chapter members. The contributions by many volunteers has transformed California Native Plant Week from text in a bill, to a wonderful program that will promote, educate, and conserve California's rich native flora for future generations.

The California State Assembly and Senate approved Resolution ACR 173 establishing California Native Plant Week, which proclaims the 3rd week of April, each year, as California Native Plant Week and encourages community groups, schools, and citizens to undertake appropriate activities to promote the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of California's native plants.

The resolution (ACR 173) was introduced by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D – Napa) and sponsored by the California Native Plant Society, while it garnered the support of horticulturalists, conservation organizations, and nurseries throughout California.

ACR 173 recognizes the vital historical, artistic, and economic contributions California’s native plants have made to our State, and points out that California native plant gardening and landscaping have tremendous positive impacts to our watersheds, to habitat recovery, and to curbing catastrophic wildfires. In particular, the resolution recognizes that home landscaping and gardening with native plants can cut residential water use from 60 to 90% over conventional gardening.

For more information and to find events please click here: Native Plant Week!!

For information on events, landscape workshops and plant sales click here: IE Garden Friendly