San Rafael – Canal
Wetlands Community Monitoring
Amigos de los Pantanos del Canal
The goals of the Wetlands Community Monitoring Project are to develop programming related to wetland workforce development for people in the Canal District of San Rafael that create learning opportunities where the voices of the community are centered. At the same time, the project aims to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands while paving a path for a more resilient shoreline community.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
What is Amigos de los Pantanos del Canal?
Amigos de los Pantanos del Canal is a community wetlands program led by MCM’s Community Resilience Team, sponsored by the SF Estuary Institute’s Wetland Regional Monitoring Program. The program centers the voices and knowledge of Canal District residents, ensures community participation in protecting the local shoreline, and works to advance community resilience and the equitable care of our wetlands.
What have we done together?
Next steps for Amigos de los Pantanos del Canal include developing a community science curriculum and educational materials, planning wetland restoration site visits, and designing a community-led wetlands tour. In collaboration with WRMP staff, the team will also work with China Camp State Park to develop an educational demonstration site, while exploring opportunities at Tiscornia Marsh to create permanent signage that shares the importance of these wetlands in our community’s own words.
Next Steps
Community members have learned about the pivotal role of wetlands in our region, toured local marshes in Marin, and developed and piloted a community mapping exercise. Presently, residents are designing bilingual educational materials and video campaigns to encourage more residents to learn about and care for our local wetlands.
How can I get involved? Canal residents are welcome to join our community sessions and wetland visits. Sign up below or reach out to us directly.