Keeping toxins from the watershed

Ecology Center volunteers are isolating ash|

October’s wildfires burned hundreds of structures, leaving behind heaps of toxic ash and debris that must be removed as soon as possible. As a result, this winter’s otherwise welcome rains come with a particular worry for Sonoma Valley residents: that they could wash asbestos, heavy metals and other toxins into the Valley’s waterways, polluting the watershed for years to come.

To respond to this, the Sonoma Ecology Center last week launched its Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which brings local volunteers to high-priority sites to help isolate the toxic ash until it can be hauled away.

The program also focuses on identifying Sonoma Valley landowners with properties that need immediate attention – especially places where man-made structures burned on sloped land close to waterways.

“This is a sensitive time after the fires, and I’m proud of our team for getting so many boots on the ground so quickly,” said Richard Dale, Sonoma Ecology Center’s executive director. “We’ve already accomplished much, and with the help of volunteers we hope to have every toxic site in Sonoma Valley isolated and contained before the rains wash their contents away.”

Already, Sonoma Ecology Center has mustered dozens of volunteers to work at burned sites near O’Donnell Lane, Dunbar Road and Adobe Canyon Road. Under the supervision of SEC’s restoration experts, the volunteers are making sandbags and placing them and wattles (natural fiber rolls used to halt erosion) at strategic locations around burned sites. At the same time, other volunteers are coordinating, entering data, and helping us identify and connect with more Sonoma Valley landowners.

The Ecology Center is asking people with contact information for any neighborhood along Sonoma Valley waterways to email at info@sonomaecolgycenter.org so that it can send those residents registration links to share with their neighbors.

Local residents interested in helping the Ecology Center install erosion control measures along Sonoma Valley waterways are encouraged to let the center know by emailing volunteer@sonomaecologycenter.org or calling 996-0712, ext. 124.

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