Big Ideas Project

For our Big Ideas project, we worked on environmental restoration at Tule Ponds, a local park in our community. Tule Ponds was founded in 1998 by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Their initial purpose for the project was to construct three ponds and a system to filter water while maintaining a natural reserve for wildlife. We worked to restore and maintain the area. In general we worked to improve the conditions of the pond by weeding, clearing trails, and planting. To be more specific, Dr. Blueford assigned the group ⅙ of an acre to plant native species, remove invasive species, and to clear a path that runs through the land. First, I started to remove the invasive Birch wood trees from the area that were choking and taking up room for the native wild sage we were trying to promote. To remove the birch wood trees we started cutting the branches and limbs of the trees with shears, saws, and muscle to just leave their stumps. Then after all but the stump was removed we applied a natural herbicide that would kill the tree while leaving the native sage alive and with more room to grow. Next, we worked to beautify the trail that ran through our area by raking up leaves, removing any branches that were blocking the path, and picking up any trash we saw. This was the easier part of the project but took the longest since the trail was so large.  Lastly to promote the health of the environment of the ponds, we started the process of planting more wild sage that we first protected from the invasive Birch wood tree. Dr. Blueford explained how we could use the trimmings of the long branches of the sage that were blocking the trail and place them in the greenhouse to create more plants. We used the trimmings of wild sage and placed them in planters with fertilizer. After the sage plants grow after a couple of weeks they will be ready to plant and thus increase the health of the ponds.

The biggest problem of the project was scheduling a time where the entire group could meet for several hours and another problem was the weather. The rain was very beneficial to the pond’s plants and animals, but some days were ended short due to heavy rain. Also, bugs played a role in who did certain work. Some group members weren’t to fond of wasps and spiders that we are all passionate to finish and work hard on since the pond is part of the community and we we faced when we cut down the invasive Birchwood trees.The group correctly chose a project that occasionally visit. Also the group was willing to get sweaty and dirty to finish the project. The group also working well together to accomplish the common goal to make the ponds a place where everyone would like to visit. All in all, the group could have improved communication since some of the meeting times were mixed up.

The effects of the project were very beneficial to the community that uses the pond but more importantly the native plants and animals there. . We can see how much we improved the environment by the amount of land we rid of invasive plants like weeds. We can also calculate the improvements by the number of trees and plants we planted. Also, we can ask the community we helped and determine if we made a significant difference in the beauty of the park. We have affected the population of native species by removing invasive species that were taking up space where the natives would grow and starting the process of planting more native wild sage. The planting of native species doesn’t just directly help the plant but the local indigenous wildlife such as birds and insects that use the wild sage as shelter and a source of food. We also have affected the accessibility of the pond since the residents in the community near the pond can easily walk on a sturdy surface and allow a clear path for wheelchairs and the beauty of the pond since the wild sage we planted and protected has a sweet scent and beautiful flowers.