Links to Natural Resources in Alameda County
There are many ways to find out more about the natural resources of Alameda County. You can go on a hike, help native plants and animals in your own backyard with our Backyard Conservation tips, volunteer for a creek cleanup, take a botany class, or check out some websites we think are exciting and informative.
Find a Local Park or Trail
There is no place like the outdoors to learn about our natural resources. To explore or learn from a naturalist guide, just head to a nearby park or trail!
Conservation In Your Backyard
The NRCS Backyard Conservation and Audubon at Home sites can help you learn how to conserve resources, attract pollinators and provide better habitat in your own backyard.
Check out our Plants links for more gardening and landscaping resources.
Geology
Take a self-guided "Geological Excursion to the East San Francisco Bay Area!" You will see evidence of rock formation, fault movement, landslides and other geological processes and learn how they have shaped our landscape.
You can download geological maps and GIS data for the county and region from the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the California Geological Survey.
Soils
Soils perform vital functions, including:
- Sustaining plant and animal life below and above the surface;
- Regulating and partitioning water and solute flow;
- Filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying;
- Storing and cycling nutrients; and
- Providing support to structures
Online soil resources ranging from information for teachers and students to detailed soil survey data can be found at the NRCS soils site. You can also drop by our office and pick up a free copy of the Alameda County soils survey on CD.
Soil Makes the Big Screen!
A documentary on soil is one of the feature selections at the 2009 Sundance film festival. Please select the web site below for more information.
http://dirtthemovie.org
Water
Learn About Local Creeks
Learn what a watershed is and how to identify if your local creek is healthy!
Bioengineering Techniques
Soil bioengineering is the use of living plant materials as the primary structural component to reinforce soil and stabilize slopes along degrading creek beds.
Find your local creek group and get involved with creek monitoring, watershed planning and more at http://www.urbancreeks.org!
Historical and current watershed maps published by the Oakland Museum of California are available online at http://www.museumca.org/creeks
Air
Learn about local air quality at http://www.sparetheair.org/. Go to 511.org to plan a car-free trip by taking transit, ride sharing, or bicycling.
Plants
Wildflower and Plants Photographic Guides:
Visit East Bay Regional Parks District website to view Photographic Guides of plants and wildflowers you might see at local parks.
StopWaste.Org's Bay-Friendly Gardening & Landscaping page has information on local plant communities, native plants, problem plants to avoid, and how to minimize pesticide and water in your garden.
The Bring Back the Natives garden tour is a great way to see local native plants in action in beautiful gardens all over Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
For more information on local plants, including rare and endangered plants, check out the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
Animals
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA species accounts for many of the federally threatened or endangered species found in Alameda County are linked below:
Frog and Toad Calls You Might Hear in Alameda County:
WHC/NRCS Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflets
The Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet series is part of a continuing partnership between the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Follow the link below to view the downloadable pamphlets.
http://www.wildlifehc.org/managementtools/leaflets.cfm
|