Close to Home presents a talk and slide show...

East Bay Reservoirs: A Curse or a Blessing?

Monday, Oct 5, 2009      7:30 P.M.

Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland

How many people know where their tap water comes from, and what impact the local reservoirs have had on the environment? Discover what role our local reservoirs play in maintaining human life and wildlife close to home. Learn why reservoirs are a curse and a blessing, how they have impacted wildlife, and what species of flying wildlife they support. You will see amazing historic photos of engineering disasters as well as beautiful shots of dragonflies, birds and butterflies that depend upon and thrive because of our local reservoirs.

Naturalist and EBMUD ranger Bob Flasher will give us a brief history of East Bay water, locate all the reservoirs, take us on a virtual flight over local reservoirs from Eagle 6, the EBRPD helicopter, and tell us some EBMUD trial and error stories along the way. They attempt to mitigate the damage done by reservoirs in a variety of ways, and that allows us to continue to live here (a blessing) while minimizing the environmental havoc (the curse).  

Bob Flasher is a Ranger-Naturalist who works on EBMUD watershed lands close to home. He also teaches classes on ecology and parks at SFSU. He is making this controversial presentation as an individual, however, to stay out of trouble at work.  

Hosted by: Close to Home: Exploring Nature in the East Bay            

Co-sponsors:               

• Ecostewards of Montclair Presbyterian Church
• Oakland Museum of  CA   /   Bay Nature magazine
• Lindsay Wildlife Museum  /   EarthLight community

Donation: $5  (K-12 Free)

Montclair Presbyterian Church is located at 5701Thornhill Rd. in the Montclair area of Oakland. Take the Thornhill exit on Highway 13 and go east ½ mile. Parking available in lot ½ block west and on street. For more information: Cindy Spring (510) 655-6658  www.close-to-home.org

On Nov 8, 2009, Bill Monahan from Golden Gate Audubonwill do a presentation on the impact of climate change on local bird populations.