Our Creek. Our City. Our Future.

Media Contact: Deb KramerEmail: deb@sccreeks.org Phone: (408) 372 -7053

CoyoteHowl.org

About Coyote Creek Howl Conference

The Coyote Creek Howl is a one-day summit focusing on the ecology and human issues related to the Coyote Creek Watershed in Santa Clara County, the largest watershed in the county. The summit will inform and culminate in actions that the community can take to help revive the creek.

Years of trash, homelessness issues and resulting pollution has caused Coyote Creek to become a troubled river. With the community’s help, it can be restored back into the beautiful, living stream it once was.

The Coyote Creek Howl will feature expert panelists in their respective fields who will share their knowledge and encourage discussions about the creek’s pollution problems, wildlife struggles and neighborhood concerns. Speakers will inspire and motivate the community to work with representative groups to heal the creek.

Additionally, the event will demonstrate San Jose State University student work conducted over the past year, including arts, photography, journalism, advertising, and more. Community groups, such as homeless organizations, government programs and community and environmental groups, involved in activities related to Coyote Creek will be showcased as well.

Many exciting weekend recreational and educational outings will follow the conference.

Interested individuals may register for the conference and outings at CoyoteHowl.org.

CoyoteHowl15

Register Now!

The Coyote Creek Howl is a one-day summit where panelists will discuss the history, ecology & human issues related to the Coyote

Creek Watershed, the largest watershed in Santa Clara County.

Session topics include:

Wildlife

Homelessness

Advocacy

Coyote Creek activities

Environmental careers

Citizen engagement

Fisheries

Neighborhood issues

Our creek. Our city. Our future.

Register at CoyoteHowl.org

and more!

Friday, April 17, 2015San Jose State University

9am-5pm

Coyote Creek Watershed Background

Coyote Creek is a 64 mile long riparian corridor that stretches from Henry Coe State Park through San Jose to the San Francisco Bay at Milpitas. Despite its name, it is a river with a diverse ecosystem, including creeks, dams, urban areas, ponds, saline environments, and over 20 miles of scenic biking and hiking trails.

During the late 1800s, Coyote Creek stretched through the growing town of San Jose. The creek was a broad expanse flowing through a mostly rural tree-lined landscape and included a flood plain for seasonal rains.

Today, Coyote Creek is a narrow ribbon of a very confined stream with most of its wild meanders straightened out of it and surrounded by homes, businesses and freeways. Fish barriers, including metal culverts that are several feet above the water, make it nearly impossible for the fish to migrate to their spawning grounds. However, hope is not lost. With enough support, Coyote Creek can be restored to its original beauty and natural splendor.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Deb KramerApril 3, 2015 408-372-7053 deb@sccreeks.org

Santa Clara County Joins Together for Coyote Creek Howl

San Jose, Calif., April 3, 2015 - The very first Coyote Creek Howl, a summit focusing on the issues related to the Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County, will be held at San Jose State University on Friday, April 17, 2015.

The Coyote Creek Howl will feature sessions focusing on wildlife and fish concerns, advocacy, homelessness issues, and ways the community can get involved. In addition, its career sessions will guide participants on how to pursue a green career.

“From our sessions, I hope the community will learn more from the people who are intimately involved with Coyote Creek and other South Bay creeks,” says Deb Kramer, Restore Coyote Creek Project Manager. “The issues and collaborative solutions presented in each session can inspire attendees to help revive the creek into a healthy system for people and animals.”

With the similar vision of maintaining local creeks healthy and beautiful, the Santa Clara Valley Water District helped make this event possible by providing a grant to the the Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition.

“The vision of the Creeks Coalition is to transform our creeks into living streams,” says Richard McMurtry, Santa Clara County Creek Coalition Board Director. “This conference is envisioned in a way to share this dream with the community and enlist their support in restoring the creek.”

Coyote Creek is home to diverse wildlife and offers many recreational activities, however, it is a troubled river. Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition aims to inspire and motivate the people in

Santa Clara County to become informed and involved in helping maintain its cleanliness and beauty.

“As the conference tagline states: ‘Our Creek. Our City. Our Future.’ -- the entire Santa Clara County community needs to realize the significance in preserving our waterways, especially in this time of drought, and as a global sustainability issue,” says Michael Fallon, SJSU's Center for Community Learning & Leadership Director.

Fallon also stresses the importance in caring about the over 7,000 homeless people in the county, many of whom dwell along our creeks causing dangerous pollution to water and wildlife. The conference can help individuals develop a better understanding of the complexities with this issue and learn about options for sheltering the homeless.

“I envision Coyote Creek as a vibrant creek, [where] people and nature will coexist in a fashion that allows all to have a clean and healthy environment,” says Kramer.

The organizers, Restore Coyote Creek Project, SJSU and the City of San Jose, hope to offer education, raise awareness, generate serious discussion and encourage collaborative actions.

Additionally, the event will demonstrate San Jose State University student work conducted over the past year, including arts, photography, journalism, advertising, and more. Community groups, such as homeless organizations, government programs and community and environmental groups, involved in activities related to Coyote Creek will be showcased as well.

About the Restore Coyote Creek ProjectRestore Coyote Creek, established in July 2014, is a project of the Friends of the Coyote Creek Watershed and funded by the Santa Clara Valley Water District. This project focuses on engaging the community adjacent to Coyote Creek, the San Jose State University students and faculty, and others to clean up the creek and restore it to a healthy, functioning waterway for fish and other riparian species. It has numerous partners, including the City of San Jose, San Jose Conservation Corp, and the Sierra Club. Learn more at restorecoyotecreek.org.

Fact SheetCoyote Creek Howl Conference Agenda

8-9am Registration9-9:45am Opening Session Welcome Plenary on Creek Issues with Barbara Rose Johnson 10-10:45am Sessions Current Threat and Restoration Efforts for Wildlife Toward Resolving Homelessness on Coyote Creek10:45-11am Break11-11:45am Sessions Creekside Neighborhood Issues and Solutions The Need to Restore Coyote Creek Fisheries 12-1pm Socializing & Lunch Speaker: Herman Garcia, CHEER of Pajaro River Watershed Street Theatre 1-1:45pm Sessions Green Career Catalyst Citizen Engagement for a Healthy Creek2-2:45pm Tabling Session SJSU student work Community & Agency Groups 2:30-3pm Break 3-3:45pm Sessions Riparian Corridor Advocacy Get Out There - Experience the Creek! Green Careers Catalyst at Martin Luther King Library 4-4:45pm Closing Session Volunteer Recognition Session outcomes Downtown Streets Team graduate Sign of commitment cards Closing remarks5pm Coyote Howl Happy Hour at San Pedro Square

Coyote Creek Sessions in Detail

Session: Current Threats and Restoration Efforts for WildlifeCoyote Creek features many different types of wildlife and plants. However, lack of wildlife passages for deer and barriers to full flow restoration, including diminished water supplies during drought, impose threats. This session will explore current threats while demonstrating current restoration efforts and how the community can assist the restoration.

Session: Toward Resolving Homelessness on Coyote CreekMore than 7,000 people are homeless in Santa Clara County. Although these homeless people who were evacuated from the Story Road encampment or “the Jungle,” countless still live creekside. Four speakers will inform and discuss the plight of these homeless, impacts on the creek, stories of those who have found jobs and moved into housing, and options to respectfully relocate the remaining creek dwellers. Attendees should develop a better understanding of the scope and complexities of homelessness and feasible options for sheltering these homeless.

Session: The Need to Restore Coyote Creek Fisheries The San Francisco Bay Area’s fisheries are struggling to survive. The drought, competing demands for food production, and built environments have taken a toll on the Bay’s fisheries. Steelhead trout, which have historically used Coyote Creek as spawning grounds before heading out to the ocean, are a federally threatened species. This panel will share the current state of fisheries in Coyote Creek, why it’s so important to restore them, what’s currently being done to protect them and how the community can get involved.

Session: Citizen Engagement for a Healthy Creek Cities and agencies are taking actions to make things in the community—but they need support. By working together, citizens can make a difference in the health of the creek and their communities. This panel will explore the many avenues for citizen engagement. Attendees will be invited to participate in an activity to learn more about the creek from a community perspective.

Session: Creekside Neighborhood Issues and SolutionsResidents who live along Coyote Creek face a host of issues, including erosion and flood control, vandalism, illegal dumping, and sustainability issues of living along a creek. At the end of this session, attendees will know more about the neighborhood issues along the creek and how you can participate in solutions.

Session: Get Out There - Experience the Creek!Attendees will hear about the historical and recent cultural uses of the area, become familiar ways to explore your local creek, and learn some new ways to get active. At the end of this session, people will become familiar with ways to explore and enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities of the creek.

Session: Riparian Corridor AdvocacySan Jose is criss-crossed with creeks that provide some of the only habitat in urban areas for a host of wildlife species. Development projects that cut down trees in riparian corridors and bring pollution, noise and nighttime lighting close to creeks can have devastating impacts on this wildlife habitat. This session will convey what has been done to protect San Jose’s creeks, what still needs to be done, and how the community can get involved.

Session: Green Career CatalystSJSU faculty will guide attendees through a catalyst session that is focused on helping you find your green career path. Participants will need a computer, tablet, or smartphone and WiFi or data access to login to a website to maximize their experience.

Session: Tabling and Sharing ProjectsSJSU students, community members and agencies are involved in activities related to Coyote Creek. This event will feature tables that will include art, photography, journalism, advertising, and information on homeless organizations, government programs and community and environmental groups. Visitors will learn how people have been engaging with the creek and working towards its ultimate restoration.

Ticket Pricing:

General Admission: $20

*Student Admission: $10

Available to students from any university, institution, or high school. *Students who attend four sessions will receive a refund within 5 days of the conference.

Coyote Creek Howl Outings - Register at CoyoteHowl.org

1) Kayak San Francisco Bay Date: Saturday, April 18Time: 9am - 1pmLocation: Provided upon completed registration Led by SJSU Kinesiology faculty member, Shirley Reekie, attendees will head out by kayak into the sloughs of San Francisco’s South Bay region to see the wildlife from water level. Kayakers are encouraged to bring a bag to collect intriguing trash, including lots of balls of every shape and size. Optional lunch (on your own) nearby. Attendees can expect to kayak approximately 4-5 miles at slow to moderate pace. All kayaking equipment will be provided. Cost: $30 / $15 SJSU student with IDAvailable tickets: 16 2) Bird Banding Demo

Date: Saturday, April 18Time: 8am - 10amLocation: Exact meeting location will be provided to completed registrants. The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) is a nonprofit organization in Milpitas with the mission to conserve birds and their habitats through science and outreach. For more than 30 years, SFBBO scientists and citizen science volunteers have studied birds that live or migrate near the Coyote Creek. SFBBO Landbird Program Director, Josh Scullen, will host a fascinating bird banding demonstration at SFBBO’s field station. Attendees will see scientists in action and learn why bird banding is so important for protecting birds. For ages 7 and older. Cost: $10Available Tickets: 30

3) Street Retreat Date: Saturday, April 18Time: 9am - 5pmLocation: First Unitarian Church of San Jose, 160 North 3rd Street, San Jose Participants will join Silicon Valley Progressive Faith Community on this one-day street retreat hosted by Faithful Fools, a street ministry based in San Francisco. This will be a unique and spiritually rich opportunity to reflect deeply on the profound questions of our shared experience in the capital of Silicon Valley. Cost: $45Available Tickets: 50 4) Nature Walk Date: Sunday, April 19, 2015 Time: 10am - 12pmLocation: Olinder Neighborhood Center, 848 East William Street, San Jose

Walkers will learn about the beautiful waterway that runs through the heart of San Jose, explore the native plants and trees, and how they can help protect and restore the creek as a habitat for fish and wildlife. After a brief nature talk, attendees will walk towards the William Street Bridge and take a short nature hike along the Coyote Creek Trail – from William Street to Story Road – and explore the beautiful creek. The walk back will end at the Santa Clara County Water District’s outdoor classroom. Cost: Free

5) Bike Ride Date: Sunday, April 19Time: 9am - 12pmLocation: Hellyer County Park, Velodrome

Attendees will participate in a family-friendly Bike Tour of Coyote Creek. Bikers will meet with park rangers at the Velodrome to go on a 6 mile round-trip bike tour and discover the creek’s integration of business development, recreation, and resource management. Cost: $6 or $20 for family of 4 or moreAvailable Tickets: 30

6) Cleanup

Date: Saturday, April 25Time: 9am - 12pmLocation: 1001 E Capitol Expressway at Tuers, San Jose Volunteers will help us beautify our creek for all and for healthy fish and wildlife by cleaning up litter and trash to make the creek clean and beautiful. This community event is open to all ages. For those under 13 years of age, an adult 18+ must be present. Cost: Free

7) Kayak the Coyote Date: Saturday, May 2Time: 12pm - 3pm

Date: Saturday, May 18 Time: 11:30am -3pmLocation: Provided upon completed registration The Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed will lead two kayak paddles along Coyote Creek for a 3-hour kayaking tour of the lower creek beginning in Milpitas. Skilled naturalists will reveal to us the ecology of the riparian corridor we will paddle through, including the night heron rookery and basking turtles sites and steelhead trout passage issues. Cost: $15Available Tickets: 15/date

FAQ

Who can join in the summit?

Individuals of all ages and affiliations are welcome!

Where do I sign up?

To learn more about the event or purchase tickets visit CoyoteHowl.org.

Do I have to pay for parking?

Yes, but registered participants will receive a reduced rate parking pass. The parking code will be distributed a few days prior to the event.

As a student, how do I receive a refund?

Students must attend at least four sessions to receive a refund. The refund will be processed through Eventbrite, within 5 days after attending the conference.

Am I obligated to stay for the full event to get a refund?

Students must attend at least four sessions to get their money back.

As a student, how will we demonstrate that we’ve attended four sessions?

Students will receive a card and will need to earn at least 4 stickers on it, which will be offered at each session.

Deb Kramer - A Green Hero, according to the City of San Jose

Kramer is currently Coyote Creek Howl’s Project Manager and has many years of experience as a project manager in environmental fields.

Coyote Creek

Lupine and blue sky

Photographed by Deb Kramer

Coyote Creek near Roosevelt Park

Photographed by Richard McMurtry

Coyote Creek Trail Sign

Photographed by Deb Kramer

Wildlife at Coyote Creek

Capped Kingfisher

Photographed by Deb Kramer

Salmon

Photographed by Steve Holmes

Deer

Photographed by Keith Farrell

Juvenile Bullock’s Oriole

Photographed by Gerry Ellis

Volunteering at Coyote Creek

Volunteers pausing for a photo.

Photographed by Irving Perez

Volunteers working alongthe creek.

Photographed by Irving Perez

Additional photos available upon request.