Goals & Needs

Marin Water has been managing thousands of acres on Mt. Tamalpais for over 100 years, delivering high quality drinking water to local communities while responsibly managing the watershed for biodiversity and public access. Our collaborations with other public agencies, conservation organizations, and the engaged public demonstrates our proactive approach to fire fuel management and a more resilient, ecologically healthy watershed. 

​

Marin Water is responsible for stewardship of the land to safeguard ecological integrity, protect against wildfire, and maintain water quality. Our Natural Resources department conducts community outreach and interpretation, trail stewardship and maintenance, and forest resiliency planning and implementation but has capacity limitations. In March 2024 we completed a Watershed Recreation Management Study through a public engagement process. A GrizzlyCorps fellow would provide crucial capacity to support our work relating to expanding the Watershed Ambassador Program, re-establishing a trail stewardship program, and visitor interpretation relating to forests restoration and the reintroduction of prescribed fire.

​

The Marin Water Volunteer Program strives to connect people to nature and their water source by offering educational and stewardship activities on the Mt Tamalpais Watershed. Our programs offer volunteers the chance to directly mitigate the effects of climate change. One day in the life for a GrizzlyCorps Fellow could be spent restoring oak woodland habitat with college students, giving them a hands-on opportunity to learn why and how to encourage biodiversity and reduce fire hazards. Another day could involve creating outreach materials for guided hikes or practicing chain saw skills in preparation for the Red Card Certification.

​

Great effort goes into protecting our natural resources from threats, including the impacts of wildfires, the growth of invasive species, forest disease and climate change. Marin Water works year-round to minimize the impacts of potential wildfires and maximize ecological health on our watershed lands – all of which help to protect water quality, our water delivery infrastructure and the community. 

​

Capacity Building Projects

​

GOAL 1 – Forest Restoration and Wildland Fire

The GrizzlyCorps fellow will increase Marin Water’s capacity to implement forestry restoration, prescribed fire, and fuel reduction. They will work with field crews implementing vegetation work on the watershed. The fellow will be introduced to many aspects of forestry stewardship and will assist Marin Water with the implementation of the One Tam Forest Health Strategy and Biodiversity Fire, and Fuels Integrated Plan. The fellow will have the opportunity to build a strong professional network, participate in field trainings relating to forest ecology and native plants, and on-the-job training relating to Ranger duties. The GrizzlyCorps fellow will have the opportunity to get trained as a Wildland Firefighter Type II (Red Card Certification).

 

GOAL 2 – Community Engagement

A primary goal of our GrizzlyCorps fellow will be to enhance the public’s understanding of fire, proactive forest management, and recreational impacts. We have planned prescribed fire operations for fall 2024; getting the word out ahead of these burns are crucial for community support. We just evaluated the priorities for adaptive management around recreation and have identified opportunities that include trail stewardship and interpretive messaging.

The fellow will develop educational materials to help our visitors understand these topics. They will work with our Watershed Ambassador program to improve our public outreach and engagement efforts. Watershed Ambassadors, both staff and volunteers, receive public outreach training which includes communication strategies, developing outreach goals, and techniques for protecting natural resources.

 

GOAL 3 – Community Stewardship

Marin Water’ offers volunteers the chance to directly mitigate the effects of climate change while supporting the educational and recreational pursuits of visitors. The GrizzlyCorps fellow will assist with all aspects of managing a volunteer program and coordinating outreach. The fellow will support develop our recently relaunched volunteer trail stewardship program and annual trail maintenance goals. The fellow will serve side-by-side with volunteers to provide guidance, identify the connection between stewardship and climate resiliency, and to improve the volunteer experience.

 

Fellows will increase our capacity as they...

·       Organize and co-lead volunteer habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and other community stewardship events;

·       Build competency for group management, trail building and maintenance, invasive species management and event planning;

·       Recruit and train volunteers in these stewardship skills;

·       Support the vegetation, maintenance, and ranger teams, plus One Tam partners, in achieving community engagement goals; and

·       Create, edit, and produce educational and outreach materials.

​

​

Organizational & Community Highlights

 

Marin Water’s watershed team is a group of about 22 permanent staff and up to 10 early career folks (interns, seasonals, and AmeriCorps fellows) dedicated to protection and management of watershed lands. Our staff include fisheries ecologists, vegetation ecologists, rangers, educators, heavy equipment operators and watershed maintenance, all working together to ensure a healthy watershed. Fellows will have a chance to see how this work is done and be a part of the team doing the work. Marin County is part of the San Francisco Bay area which includes diverse celebrated urban centers and extensive protected natural areas. The Fellows will be mentored by seasoned dedicated professionals with years of experience mentoring early career folks.

​

​

​