Friends of Sausal Creek Annual Report
FISCAL YEAR 2024
Mission and Vision
Friends of Sausal Creek works to protect, conserve, and restore the Sausal Creek Watershed in Oakland, California.
With the help of thousands of volunteers, students, and supporters, FOSC has improved the ecological health of the watershed, spread awareness about the environment, and contributed to urban greening and climate resilience in Oakland.
See below for a roundup of our work and wins from this past year.
Note from the Board President
As we conclude another fruitful year at Friends of Sausal Creek (FOSC), we thank you for your support and partnership in improving Oakland’s open spaces and natural resources. Now more than ever, it is critical that we prioritize unity and community, and we are fortunate the Sausal Creek Watershed allows us to do so. With your continued support, FOSC will continue to protect and restore our watershed to ensure Oakland can come together in nature for generations to come.
Over the past year, FOSC is proud to share that we have completed two major restoration planning projects for creekside green spaces in the lower watershed at Wood Park and Barry Place. With steadfast commitment from hundreds of community members (many of you!), we engaged in collective decision-making processes to plan a new future for both spaces.
We have also significantly expanded our education and youth programming, with six additional weeks of green job training for Oakland highschoolers. FOSC’s new Spring program in collaboration with Oakland’s Youth Employment Partnership allows students to experience local nature in the watershed – sometimes for the first time – while gaining the skills needed to pursue careers in the outdoors.
Friends of Sausal Creek is now calling on you to help us continue these new projects and ensure their sustainability into the future. We look forward to an opportunity to implement our restoration plans for Wood Park and Barry Place and offer additional nature experiences and training opportunities to youth with the help of your generous contributions.
It has been a privilege to share space with so many of you this year at the nursery, in the redwoods, and under the riparian shade at Dimond Canyon. As we face new changes in Oakland and beyond, we once again recognize the importance of spending time together (in person!) in the watershed, and look forward to continuing to expand our community next year.
Thank you once again for your support and dedication to our watershed – a treasure worth preserving and enjoying.
Barry Stenger
Board President | Friends of Sausal Creek
2024 Impact + Progress
CONSERVATION
We advanced our pallid manzanita conservation efforts, hosting a summit and presenting our work at the NorCal Botanist Symposium. We also made significant progress on our Rainbow Trout Plan implementation by mapping and assessing the quality of rainbow trout habitats and identifying migration barriers.
3,328 native plants outplanted across 18 restoration sites
181pallid manzanitas protected from human disturbance and encroaching vegetation
EDUCATION
On FOSC field trips, students took part in large scale, science-based restoration projects — learning the “why” and “how” behind protecting habitats. Our goal is that every young student will have the confidence and agency to know they can make a difference in the world around them.
437 students on field trips and classroom visits
968 youth engaged in the watershed
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SERVICE
This year we saw a strong turnout of diverse volunteers — individuals, community and corporate groups, scouts, youth organizations, and other nonprofits — who played a crucial role in advancing our restoration and conservation projects throughout the watershed.
6,851 service hours
400 cubic yards of invasive plants removed
OUTREACH
FOSC engaged community members with an array of events, hikes, workshops, interactive outreach meetings, and a growing network of communications. This year we launched two park enhancement projects in the lower watershed, bringing together local residents in a shared commitment to revitalize our urban green spaces.
19 community events hosted
12% growth in subscribers and followers across digital platforms
Stories That Inspired
Maria Katticaran | FOSC Board Member
“As a new board member, I am both honored and inspired to be part of an organization that has such a deep and meaningful impact on the community. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role has been seeing how the organization balances ecological restoration with community building. The commitment to improving urban green spaces like Barry Place in East Oakland is not only about protecting our watershed but also fostering a sense of connection and responsibility among people of all ages and backgrounds. The passion and expertise of the staff and volunteers is notable, and I am excited to contribute to this vital work in the years to come.”
Rick O’Herron | FOSC Volunteer and Wood Park Site Leader
“Collaborating with Friends of Sausal Creek has been a rewarding experience, uniting our community to enhance local green spaces. Our latest project at Wood Park, backed by new funding, focuses on removing non-native species and replanting with native ones to restore the area’s natural beauty. Together, we've collaborated to redesign the park and make it more user-friendly and engaging for neighbors and visitors in the process. It’s been inspiring to see FOSC’s commitment and the collective efforts of volunteers as we work together to transform the park into a thriving space for everyone.”
Tylor Kingsbury | FOSC Stewardship and Education Intern
“Working with school-aged children has really helped put things in perspective. Most schools we work with are Title 1 — not having many resources and opportunities. Being able to provide them with an experience that gives solace and opens up a different way of thinking outside of the “normal” they’re used to has further deepened my love for nature and how restorative it truly is, and how we can do our part to restore nature while it is simultaneously restoring us.”
David Moore | City of Oakland Tree Supervisor II
“In the past year, Friends of Sausal Creek has been a critical partner in making progress on Oakland’s longstanding forest restoration goals. This includes removing invasive trees and replanting with natives at Fern Ravine and Barry Place, as well as protecting native and endangered plants throughout Joaquin Miller Park as we perform defensible space vegetation management with Cal Fire. These projects provide the dual benefit of improving forest health conditions while reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.”
2024 Financials
Service by Watershed Region
Volunteers contributed 6,851 hours at 24 restoration sites throughout the Sausal Creek Watershed this year.
Our increased investment in equitable green space access has led to a 358% increase in Lower Watershed volunteer hours! We are also providing ongoing support to a new neighbor-led restoration site at Austin Square, a fenced creek parcel that neighbors now have access to during monthly volunteer workdays.
Into the Future
We have many exciting plans to share with you for the year ahead. FOSC will expand our restoration work at the watershed's headwaters in Fern Ravine, building on past success protecting and conserving sensitive ecosystems and restoring habitat for fish and wildlife. Our work will also continue in the lower watershed, where we will implement plans to improve the quality and accessibility of Oakland's urban creekside greenspaces.
Of course, we won't be able to do this without you. Please join us to volunteer and spend time with us in the watershed this year! We thank you once again for your dedication and support, and look forward to seeing you soon.
Friends of Sausal Creek is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law.
Our tax identification number is 91-2147216