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Old Mill Creek is an upper tributary to Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio that drains most of the city of Mill Valley CA into San Francisco Bay. Restoration projects coordinated by the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP) and the STRAW project (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) incorporate hands-on learning for school children with community volunteers to rehabilitate suburban streams. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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Students from nearby schools including Bayside School in Marin City, have been working for the last 4 years to remove exotic invasive plants such as cape ivy. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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Students then plant native species in the cleared areas. This is at Old Mill Park behind the town library. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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Students are trained and supervised by MCSTOPPP scientists to insure successful transplanting and safety. Plant protection is installed to ensure survival from predation during the plant's three year establishment period. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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This year's (2003) work showing native plants where cape ivy recently smothered the ground. Students planted over 80 plants this year. Species planted include Redwood Sorrel, Dogwood, Big Leaf Maple, Hazelnut, Carex and Sword Fern. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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At nearby Boyle Park, students from Park School in Mill Valley are working to restore this section of Warner Creek, another upper tributary of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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Students work together in teams with a parent or community volunteer. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.


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Park School students have decorated the fence enclosing their area of creek with signs that explain the work they have done and to ensure the survival of their restoration project. Photo provided courtesy of The Bay Institute.