Surveyed Some Sites Before the Big Rains

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According to the 2009 5-Year Review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Unarmored Threespine Stickleback there are several known locations of UTS populations in and around the Santa Clarita Valley. A little over a week ago I went out to my five focus sites: 2 in the Santa Clara River, where the Valencia Waste-water Treatment Plant expels its treated water (under McBean Bridge and Bouquet Bridge), San Francisquito Canyon, Bouquet Creek, and Soledad Canyon. Each of these sites were said to support UTS popuations as of 2009. When I went to these sites I not only looked for fish but took pictures and made observations before the El Niño storms hit. For this post my main focus will be on the treated water release site under McBean Bridge. A few months ago I posted pictures from the first time I want to this site. Through those observations I found the following: there were no fish whatsoever, the water was foamy and polluted, and the water ended downstream just shy of the Iron Horse Trail off of Magic Mountain Parkway. Here are some observations from my latest visit:

This shows the area where the water is released. McBean Bridge can be seen in the background
This shows the area where the water is released. McBean Bridge can be seen in the background
Here my dad (who insisted on coming in case of any unfavorable hobo encounters) is helping me look for stickleback in the murky water.
Here my dad (who insisted on coming in case of any unfavorable hobo encounters) is helping me look for stickleback in the murky water.
This is farther downstream where the water ended. The last time I was in this location the water only went as far as the metal pipe in the background.
This is farther downstream where the water ended. The last time I was in this location the water only went as far as the large metal pipe in the background.

 

 

 

Here is just a pool of water downstream. No sign of aquatic life found.
Here is just a pool of water downstream. No sign of aquatic life found.
I took this picture to compare to my last post from this location. I posted a picture of some mysterious orange growth in the water. This is the same spot and the orange growth is now gone. Probably from the few incidents of rain since the last visit.
I took this picture to compare to my last post from this location. I posted a picture of some mysterious orange growth in the water. This is the same spot and the orange growth is now gone. Probably from the few incidents of rain since the last visit.

 

 

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As like the last visit I have not found any stickleback in the area.
These really have nothing to do with my project I just thought they were kind of cool when I stumbled upon them in the riverbed. Animal prints dried in thick slabs of dirt.
These really have nothing to do with my project I just thought they were kind of cool when I stumbled upon them in the riverbed. Animal prints dried in thick slabs of dirt.

 

Are You Teaching with VoiceThread?

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How can technology improve relationships and provide for humanized learning experiences that transcend or take the place of a physical classroom? Ask one of the 3,521 CI students or 142 CI faculty who have used VoiceThread, an asynchronous conversation tool that is integrated into CI Learn. Some of the ways CI faculty are using VoiceThread […]

Thinking About Lidar

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The resolution of WSR-88D isn’t ideal for viewing birds. I am thinking about using lidar in a closed space such as a small canyon or valley. I want to literally turn the lidar on its head and scan the area above it. I am curious if this would be able to give accurate bird counts. I am also curious to see if there is a way to actually take the timing of the scans and use them to create an image of the actual bird. Meanderings of the mind.

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Trip to SRI Update!

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Last week, I was packed and ready to leave for Santa Rosa Island (SRI). In the rain, a group of us waited on the dock to leave. We were unable to depart from the dock, due to weather conditions. As a part of the trip, each of us would take turns cooking dinner each night. I cooked stew for 21 people… Since, we were unable to leave, I had stew for days. This time  tomorrow, I am leaving to SRI to collect data on my capstone. Hopefully, the odds will ever be in my favor to leave tomorrow.

Upcoming Trip Preparations

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Due to the first trip to Santa Rosa being canceled due to the storm that hit California the trip leaving on the 12th has been doubled booked. The research station will be full up but I look forward to the assistance from my research partner Zack and Dulce. Santa Rosa

Upcoming Trip

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Holidays are over and now research continues.

This is the main focus of my capstone
This is the main focus of my capstone

Enjoy Winter Break!

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Enjoy your winter break! I’ll be updating the website soon for my Spring 2016 returning English 103 students and my  new English 105 students.

Seed Preparation

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This past week I have been busy preparing seed to be broadcasted out on Santa Cruz Island. We will broadcast the seed mixture in the C Grove and Former Red Gum Grove in the coming week. This seed mixture includes all native species including Baccharis douglasii, Rosa californica, and Bromus carinatus among many others.

SRI January Trip

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Next Tuesday capstone students embark on the week long trip to the research station. This will be a good chance to get many of the groves out liars pin pointed with GPS. Doing research on papers and articles looking into why oaks do what they do we may have a better understanding of what we are dealing with in these groves! The winter break off from school has allowed me to catch up on some much needed rest and reading for this topic.

One Minute, Hour, and Day at a Time

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College, no doubt, can get overwhelming. You are trying to meet the demands of your professors, your friends, your parents, your roommates, your bosses, and/or…