Project Summary

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San Diego Coastkeeper will engage a numerous members from a multitude of stakeholder groups to develop a vision and implementation plan for turning Chollas Creek into a sustainable community by examining water quality, land use, social and economic factors.

About me

I was hired by San Diego Coastkeeper in January 2006, to reinvigorate the citizen watershed monitoring program in order to generate data for all 11 watersheds of San Diego County, including Chollas Creek. In addition, I perform pesticide monitoring in Chollas Creek, and through this project have developed a passion for the historic nature of the watershed, the dynamic community, and the social and environmental justice issues that characterize this watershed and its residents. While many parts of the Creek are perceived as worst-case-scenarios, I see huge potential in targeting vacant lots as parks and stormwater infiltration basins, working with businesses and residents to expand trash removal services and removing sections of the concrete channels that line the creek, and encouraging permeable concrete bike paths and community gardens. Before working at Coastkeeper, I lived in Brazil, France, The Netherlands, Los Angeles and Canada. I have an undergraduate degree in Geology and a Masters in Public International Law. Before joining Coastkeeper, I was an independent researcher and worked on several community, policy and development projects related to water. I live in the Chollas Creek Watershed. Key partners for this project include: the Environmental Health Coalition, the City of San Diego Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program, Crawford and Garfield High Schools and San Diego State University.