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Environmental Resources

Are you looking for information about recycling, conservation, and other environmental initiatives in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven? If you are, then review the sections below:

Recycling
Lead Safety
Conservation
Other Programs

Recycling

RecycleWorks of San Mateo County

 RecycleWorks, a program of San Mateo County, provides information for County residents and businesses on recycling and where to donate items in good condition. In addition, it provides composting and green building information. The hotline is answered live in English and Spanish and serves the entire county.

RecycleWorks es un programa del Condado de San Mateo que trabaja para reducir la cantidad de desperdicios, ayuda la gente a reciclar y animar construcción que es bueno para el medio ambiente. Hablamos español.

For more information contact:

Telephone Hotline: 1 888 442-2666
www.RecycleWorks.org

City of East Palo Alto Recycling

The City of East Palo Alto offers a variety of recycling options. There are recycling programs available to houses, apartment buildings and businesses. For more information, please visit the Recycling Information page in the City Website: /www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/recycling/index.html

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Lead Safety

San Mateo County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)

The Lead Program provides case management to children with elevated lead level and offers presentations and educational materials to families or those that work with children between the ages of 0-6. East Palo Alto is one of the "lead hot zones" in San Mateo County. The zones are areas that are more likely to have children that are at risk for lead poisoning. Children in all economic groups are at risk for lead poisoning, but those that qualify for income-based programs, such as CHDP, WIC, or Medi-Cal, are at an even higher risk.

For more information contact:

For General Information (650) 573-2877.
For presentations, email cugaitafa@co.sanmateo.ca.us
call Cristina Ugaitafa at (650) 573-2462.

or visit the following Web sites:

            San Mateo CLPPP Web site: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0,,1954_191102_194628,00.html
 

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Lead Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead Program conducted a year-long focus project on lead in East Palo Alto in 2002. Lead inspections were conducted at apartment buildings and property management firms and education programs were conducted at public events and through community organizations. A grant to the Family Support Center assisted them in lead education. The EPA Lead Program remains available to answer questions from the public about lead problems and the above websites provide information.

For more information contact:

Mary Aycock, Lead Coordinator  aycock.mary@epa.gov   (415) 947-4169
Marjorie Xavier, Lead Outreach  xavier.marjorie@epa.gov  (415) 947-4164
 

or visit the following Web sites:

            EPA Region 9 Lead Program: www.epa.gov/region09/lead
            EPA( national) Lead Awareness Program: www.epa.gov/lead
            California Department of Health Services Lead Program: www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead
            National Lead Information Center: www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm
 

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Conservation

San Francisquito Watershed Council, a project of Acterra

The San Francisquito Watershed Council works to improve water quality, reduce flood dangers and maintain and restore wildlife habitat along San Francisquito Creek, which flows through East Palo Alto on its way to the Bay.  One of the main roles of the Watershed Council is to involve members of the community, along with representatives of public agencies and other interested organizations, in the process of watershed management and stewardship.  Examples of Watershed Council projects and activities include monitoring of water quality and other indicators of creek health, helping spread information on ways to be "watershed friendly" in daily life activities, and volunteer events twice a month to clean up the creek and restore streamside habitat.  For info or to get involved, email Creeks@Acterra.org.

For more information contact:

San Francisquito Watershed Council
Located at the Peninsula Conservation Center
3921 East Bayshore Road (near San Antonio)
Palo Alto CA 94303
650-962-9876 x305
email: Creeks@Acterra.org

or visit the following Web sites:

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Acterra protects and restores our local natural environment through stewardship, information, and leadership programs.

These programs include a large Environmental Library which is open to the public weekdays or by special arrangement, located just 4 miles south of East Palo Alto. The Library features great resources for kids and adults alike, such as local hiking maps and books, lots of magazines and videos, articles about local toxics hazards, and more. www.acterra.org/library/index.html

Our San Francisquito Watershed Council mobilizes volunteers twice a month to clean and restore the San Francisquito Creek, which runs through East Palo Alto to the Bay. For info or to get involved, email Creeks@Acterra.org.

Our High Schools Group offers an open environment for teens to meet and discuss environmental and social justice issues on a local, regional, and global basis, plus ways to make a difference in their local communities. The youths also organize an annual leadership conference for Bay Area teens called Deep Green -- info on last year's event can be found at www.Acterra.org/schools/.

Our weekly EcoAdvocate email list informs thousands of citizens on the Midpeninsula about hot issues and upcoming events. Subscribe by emailing EcoAdvocate@Acterra.org.

For more information contact:

Acterra
Located at the Peninsula Conservation Center
3921 East Bayshore Road (near San Antonio)
Palo Alto CA 94303
650-962-9876

or visit the following Web sites:

            www.Acterra.org

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Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, extending from the City of San Carlos to the Town of Los Gatos, is a public agency, which has preserved nearly 48,000 acres of diverse open space and manages 26 open space preserves. The District offers approximately 250 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging terrain. Bicycles and horses are permitted on many District trails. Leashed dogs are allowed on some preserves, and there is one off-leash area at Pulgas Ridge Open Space
Preserve.

The Ravenswood Open Space Preserve is located in East Palo Alto adjacent to the San Francisco Bay, just south of the Dumbarton Bridge. Visitors may catch a glimpse of sandpipers, dowitchers, avocets, great blue herons, snowy and white egrets, and white pelicans.

Each month, the District offers to the public a number of opportunities to enjoy a Docent led hike or family fun event at the Daniels Nature Center. Spaces & Species, Exploring Natural Communities, is an innovative environmental education program offered for grades 3 through 6.  Schools can schedule to attend this program in the spring and fall.

For any information on these programs or to obtain maps of our preserves, please visit our website at  www.openspace.org.

For more information contact:

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
650-691-1200
www.openspace.org

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San Francisco Bay Trail

The San Francisco Bay Trail is a 400+ mile shared-use path that will one day allow continuous travel around the bay.  The Bay Trail links the shoreline of nine counties and 47 cities, including East Palo Alto, and will eventually cross seven toll bridges. The Bay Trail offers opportunities for hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and many other recreational activities, and is a perfect setting for hands-on environmental education.

The East Palo Alto portion of the Bay Trail includes the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve and is linked to popular destinations such as the Palo Alto Baylands and Sunnyvale Baylands Park.  To view or purchase maps of the Bay Trail in East Palo Alto go to: http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov/map.html.  East Palo Alto is covered on the South Bay map.

For more information contact:

San Francisco Bay Trail
101 Eighth Street
Oakland, CA 94604-2050
510-464-7900
e-mail: Baytrail@abag.ca.gov
 www.baytrail.org

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Save the Bay

Save The Bay offers three education programs which are conducted in the East Palo Alto Area. These include:

Canoes in Sloughs: our on-the-water canoe field trip program for middle and high school students. Participants learn about Bay ecology and experience wetlands up close from a canoe. Weekday programs can take up to 28 participants, ages 12 and up, and the cost is $35/ participant with a sliding scale and scholarships for schools that show financial need.

Community-Based Restoration: our restoration stewardship volunteer program for all ages. We offer weekday field programs for school and community groups, and Saturday community volunteer days for all ages. We are working to restore the mouth of San Francisquito Creek in East Palo Alto, in partnership with the City of Palo Alto Baylands Preserve. Activities include removing non-native plants, collecting seed and growing out natives for planting, shoreline clean-ups, and water quality testing.
There is no fee, all ages and abilities welcome.

Discover the Bay: weekend adult outings program which offers an opportunity for Bay Area residents to get out and have a direct experience with San Francisco Bay. Weekend trips include canoeing, kayaking, sailing, bird walks, shoreline bike rides, and many more. Cost varies from free to $50/ trip.

For more information contact:

Save The Bay
1600 Broadway, Suite 300
Oakland, CA 94612

Contact:
Marilyn Latta
Community-Based Restoration Coordinator
mlatta@savesfbay.org
510-452-9261 x109

          www.saveSFbay.org

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Other Programs

San Mateo County Health Services Agency - Groundwater Protection Program

We provide local government oversight for the investigation and/or remediation of soil and groundwater contamination in relation to public health. This is similar and supplementary to the resources the State of California Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Department of Toxic Substances Control provide to the City of East Palo Alto.

For more information contact:

San Mateo County Health Services Agency - Groundwater Protection Program
455 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4565
Fax: (650) 599-1071
Email: cice@sanmateo.ca.us

or visit the following Web site:

           San Mateo County Groundwater Protection Program  Web site:
           www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0,,1954_187544_193952,00.html

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CA EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is one of six departments in the California Environmental Protection Agency. DTSC oversees the cleanup and regulates the management of hazardous waste. To visit our website go to www.dtsc.ca.gov.

Additionally, DTSC works with communities to ensure equal environmental protection for all California communities without regard to race, culture or income. For details on our environmental justice policies please go to: www.dtsc.ca.gov/PolicyAndProcedures/env_justice/env_justice_policies.html

DTSC also provides information and resources on environmental education for grades K-12 as well as information for the regulated community. More information can be found at www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/

For more information contact:

Department of Toxic Substances Control
Public Participation Specialist
(916) 255-6681

or visit the following Web sites:

            www.dtsc.ca.gov
            www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/

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Project Build: Construction and Environmental Training

Project Build prepares low-skilled, unemployed adults and youth for successful construction careers. Established in 1995 in partnership with local construction trades unions, Project Build later expanded to include Environmental/Hazardous Waste training. Project Build has been recognized as one of the best Brownfields Minority Worker Training sites in the nation. Over 300 youth and adults have started construction careers thanks to Project Build's training and job placement services.

During the intensive 16-week course, students learn safety skills, construction basics, hazardous materials handling, and forklift operation. Students get everything from counseling, job placement, and follow-up services to life skills, academic brush-up, and GED preparation. Graduates are ready to start working — they have the right construction, safety, and life skills.

To enroll in the program individuals need to register with the One Stop Program and attend an OICW orientation (held every Tuesday). After orientation each potential trainee meets with a counselor who reviews the program and the required paperwork. The enrollment process is quite simple and is meant to assist each client make an easy entry into training. It should be noted that trainees come from a variety of backgrounds from those interested in changing careers to individuals who may have faced personal challenges that have affected their employability. Anyone interested is encouraged to enroll – female trainees are welcome!

The next Project Build course will begin July 14, 2003. 

For more information contact:

Public Build office (650) 462-7262 or (650) 462-7268

or visit the following Web site:

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