LAMORINDA WEEKLY | New Sign Reveals Hidden Secrets of San Pablo Creek


Friends of Orinda Creeks volunteers pose with their new project -- a new interpretive sign in Orinda Community Park. From left are Jim Luini, illustrator Doyle Wegner, Bob Stoops, Reg Barrett, Brian Waters and Adriane Bosworth. Photos Adriane Bosworth

While walking or driving through Orinda, pedestrians and drivers often are unaware they are driving over a rich and diverse collection of plants, animals - even wetland wildlife - beneath them.

"Most people have no idea the creek is there," said Adriane Bosworth, a director of Friends of Orinda Creeks.

That may change now that the FOC has completed a much belabored project dear to their hearts: an interpretive sign at Orinda Community Park that educates about the life in and around the creek. They installed the at the end of April, and it details some of the life that is dependent on the often-invisible San Pablo Creek.

The sign was installed near the play structures.

From frogs to raccoons to skunks and salamanders, the creek supports abundant wildlife, and because water quality is gradually improving since massive construction over the past 50-or-so years, the lives of the critters in and around the creek are improving, too.

"We still have a ways to go," cautions Brian Waters of the FOC.

Since last February, the group has been working on the language and the art for the sign, a laborious task that involved not only finding out how to do it in the first place, including city ordinances, access issues and artistic creativity. Fortunately for the FOC, Bosworth said, they have Waters on the board, "and he pays a lot of attention to detail."

At a recent meeting Reg Barrett, a biologist who sits on the FOC board, visibly lit up in discussing plans for last week's installation. "Has anyone seen an auger at work?" he piped up. He was bringing his for the post holes. His enthusiasm wasn't exactly contagious.

But it worked, and the sign is in.

More information on Friends of the Orinda Creeks can be found at www.orindacreeks.org.