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Last month, represented a milestone in the history of both the City of Los Altos and GreenTown. Six years ago, GreenTown Los Altos started with the goal of engaging the City in taking action to mitigate global warming. On Tuesday evening, September 24, City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to develop a final Climate Action Plan. Six Years In The Making In January 2008, with more than 700 signatures in hand, representatives of GreenTown asked the Los Altos City Council to sign the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Then Mayor Val Carpenter and the City Council agreed and in doing so set the City on a course to measure greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations and from the community, adopt a greenhouse gas emission reduction goal, and develop and implement a Climate Action Plan. On Sept. 24, the Council asked staff to finalize it’s Draft Climate Action Plan. The plan represents a significant effort on the part of City staff (in particular, Zach Dahl), its consultant, PMC, and members of the Environmental Commission. GreenTown expresses its sincere appreciation for their efforts. The measures included in the plan, such as improving bicycle infrastructure and encouraging energy efficiency, have multiple benefits in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including increased safety and reducing costs. “The plan is a roadmap, not a blueprint,” says Gary Hedden, Member of the Environmental Commission and GreenTown volunteer. “The devil is in the details. Staff can now begin work on developing an implementation plan. And one of the key things that Council will be asked to do is set priorities. To succeed by 2020, these measures need to be given the highest possible priority.” GreenTown Los Altos looks forward to working with the City of Los Altos to implement the plan and reduce the carbon footprint of our community. Our volunteers are working daily to educate and mitigate our community’s negative environmental impacts and highlight the positive ways we can create a healthier planet. GreenTown is calling on residents interested in developing specific recommendations to support implementation of the Climate Action Plan. Please contact energy@greentownlosaltos.org if you are interested in participating. About GreenTown Los Altos GreenTown Los Altos is a local non-profit environmental organization. Founded in 2007, its mission is to educate and inspire the people of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills to take action that will make our communities more environmentally healthy and vibrant today and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.GreenTownLosAltos.org and become a fan on Facebook. GreenTown Los Altos is a fiscally-sponsored project of Acterra, a 501(c)3 which supports action for a healthy planet.

Interestingly, all but 2 pounds of the trash collected was recyclable. That 2 pounds included 300 cigarette and a dozen cigar butts, which we kept from flowing into the San Francisco Bay. When rain comes, like it did this past weekend, trash tossed into the streets flows into nearby creeks that carry it into the Bay and eventually the ocean. Cigarette butts are one of the worst types of toxins in our waterways and consequently are the focus of collection by environmentalists around the Bay. Butts are made of plastic and contain several toxins that do not biodegrade. Aquatic critters mistake floating trash as food but it is a deadly morsel. After the animal dies, the cigarette butt may continue killing more creatures when the poisoned animal is in turn consumed by detritus feeders. Save the Bay organization estimates that over 3 billion cigarettes butts litter our landscapes every year, many of which kill wildlife. Read more here http://blog.savesfbay.org/2013/09/we-all-deserve-a-butt-free-bay/. GreenTown Los Altos organized this clean up effort to reduce the impact of careless littering  on increased pollutants in our creeks. Here are statistics on the clean up efforts staged in Santa Clara County: Tentative Totals: Volunteers:  1,483 Distance Cleaned: 54.21 miles Pounds of Trash: 31,874 Pounds of Recyclables: 3,987 I want to thank all the site coordinators for the great work today, despite the rain in some areas. This event would not happen without your help. Kit Gordon GreenTown Los Altos Environmental Advocate

Flash Mob at Downtown Los Altos Farmers’ Market Event Day/Date:  Thursday, September 19, 2013 Time:  6pm Sharp! Address:  Famers’ Market, 3rd & State Streets, Los Altos, CA Presenter:  GreenTown Los Altos “EV Week 2013: San Francisco to Silicon Valley” is a three-city, five-day electric vehicle exposition designed to engage, educate and excite Bay Area drivers about the benefits, ease and accessibility of Driving towards California Governor Jerry Brown’s goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California’s roadways by 2025, EV Week 2013 is inviting Bay Area drivers from San Francisco to San Jose – from commuters to car sharers – to get behind the wheel of an EV and become part of the solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by driving greener vehicles.

By Lori D. Palmquist, CID, CIC, CLIA, CLWM It is a generally accepted statistic that we over water our landscapes by a margin of 200%. Smart controllers, also known as ET controllers and weather-based controllers, respond to daily changes in the weather by adjusting either the run time of the individual irrigation zones, or the watering days, or both. Smart controllers are the future of irrigation scheduling with some states already requiring them for new landscape installations. There are also many rebate programs offered by cities and water purveyors for retrofitting this technology into existing systems. An important point needs to be made here: Inefficient, problem-riddled irrigation components will not magically improve their performance, if a smart controller is installed. A smart controller will very quickly reveal the weaknesses of an inefficient or faulty system. Want to save water? Time to look at smart controllers. There are two sources of weather data that inform smart controllers. One is professional grade, off-site weather stations. The smart controllers that access off-site weather data often have a small monthly fee for the acquisition and delivery of the data. The other source of weather data is on-site weather sensors, monitors, and soil-moisture sensors. This strategy involves buying the equipment up front, with no on-going, data-service fees. There are more than 30 weather-based smart controllers and 8 soil-sensor-based controllers on an approved list from Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT). It can be daunting to know how to decide which controller would be the most appropriate in any given situation. Following are some factors to consider when deciding which controller is best for the job: ·       Size of landscape ·       Number of controllers needed for the landscape ·       Budget ·       Ability of a pager or cell phone tower signal to reach the controller (signal strength) ·       Importance of accuracy of the data ·       Whether up-front costs (on-site data gathering) or on-going fees (off-site data gathering) are preferred ·       Whether you are hands-on, or want the installer to monitor and maintain the system ·       Which controller you (or the installer) feel confident using Good Tip: The best way to determine which controller to choose is to consult with someone in your area who has hands-on experience with a number of different controllers. Contacting a local water purveyor, professional irrigation supply store, or landscape contractor trade organization, are a few possibilities. Know that there is a learning curve to understand installation, usage, and monitoring of irrigation systems that use smart technology. Many manufacturers offer extensive tutorial videos and literature on their websites. The manufacturers’ reps and technical support crews are also extremely helpful in ensuring that the controllers are installed and monitored properly. Lori Palmquist is an irrigation designer, consultant, and educator in the East Bay. She is an avid spokesperson for water efficiency in the landscape.

Every year, on the third Saturday in September, people join together at sites all over California to take part in the State’s largest volunteer event: California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by the Ocean Conservancy, which is the largest volunteer event on the planet! Making trash extinct? It’s totally possible, with your help! In 2012, >65,000 volunteers removed almost 770,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from California’s beaches, lakes, and waterways. The impact on our daily lives is incredible. Families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups, service clubs, and individuals come together to celebrate and share their appreciation of California’s fabulous coast and waterways. Join GreenTown Los Altos for Coastal Cleanup Day on Permanente Creek, Sept. 21, 9AM-noon near St Francis High School. Register today to be part of the solution to ocean pollution We’ll tally the types of trash we find and report the information as part of California Coastal Cleanup Day. We’ll learn about the impact of trash on water quality in the creek and on the wild life that lives there. Wear work clothes and sturdy shoes that can get dirty, and bring gloves if you have them. We’ll provide trash bags and litter grabbers, and a snack after the clean up. Please bring your own re-fillable water bottle. Find out more by visiting the website or Facebook page. Like · Comment 84

WoW Days generate broad enthusiasm for “wheeling” in any form, lightening the solo trip vehicle load. Be part of the change! Bicycle safety is a high priority for GreenTown as we work through our WoW! program to get more kids walking and riding their bikes to school. The City of Los Altos Police Department funds primarily lecture style bicycle safety education in the schools, including a Drive that Bike defensive bike riding course for Los Altos School District (LASD) Junior High School students – Blach students will benefit from the September 3 meeting – as well as bike/pedestrian safety assemblies and 3rd/4th grade bike rodeos in LASD Elementary Schools, Bullis Charter School and Montclair Elementary in the Cupertino School District. GreenTown held its first hands-on bike safety class on August 15 for Gardner Bullis elementary school graduates who were headed to Egan Junior High. The class was led by League of American Bicyclists League Certified Instructor (LCI) Chris Cook, who doubles as a Chain Reaction Bicycles wrencher.  Instruction included an initial; (i) ABC Quick Check; (ii) drills to build riding skills, including riding in a straight line, around obstacles, looking over your shoulder and indicating the direction of movement; and (iii) a bike ride to and from Egan with commentary. So what are some of the key take-aways from our bicycle safety: Do an ABC Quick Check every time you ride. It shouldn’t take more than a minute: A = Air – Is there enough pressure in the tire. Put pressure on tire, feel how it bounces, inflate to pressure indicated on sidewall of the tire. B = Brakes. Are the brakes working properly, can you move the front or back wheels when the brakes are engaged. Rotate wheels to make sure nothing is rubbing. Inspect brake pads for wear. Check adjustment of brake levers, when applied you should have 1″ between lever and handlebar. C = Chain, Cranks, Cassette. Chain should be clean, lubricated and quiet, crank should spin freely and not move from side to side, cassette should look clean. Quick = Quick release. Move the lever from fully open to fully closed, lever should meet resistance at the halfway point. Don’t close it right on top of the frame. Check = Overall check. Are there any loose or broken parts? Tighten, replace or fix them. Take a quick ride to see if the derailleurs are functioning properly. If your bike does not pass the ABC Quick Check, it needs repairs or service work. To review the key points of an ABC Quick Check, see this video. Signal to indicate your intention: You can signal with the left arm, holding firm to your bike with your right: •                turning right – bend left arm at the elbow, hand up •                turning left – hold left arm straight out •                stopping – bend left arm at the elbow, arm down Hold each signal for 2-3 seconds to indicate to cars or other bikes your intention. Follow the rules of the road: •                wear a helmet at all times (it’s the law until they’re 18). Information about proper fitting can be found here. •                when on the road, ride in the direction of traffic, not against it; •                stop at stop signs (it’s the law); and •                signal all turns. Practice safe bike riding skills. Be courteous and polite: – Hold your line in a bike lane or on a bike route (San Antonio Road is an example of a bike lane – it is dedicated for bicycles, Los Altos Avenue is an example of a bike route, where it is suggested as a route but cars can park between the striping and the curb which creates challenges for cyclists) – If you need to move around an obstacle, scan (turn and glance over your shoulder) to see if anyone is behind you, and indicate your intention to move to any bikes, pedestrians or cars behind you, with a downward point in the direction of movement. – If you’re riding with friends, remember the rules of three: never ride three abreast and ride three seconds behind the bike in front of you. – When on a pathway or in a bike lane, pass on the left and alert people ahead of you that you are coming by saying : “on your left.” Scan and indicate your direction to anyone behind you. Enjoy the ride! Biking to and from school is good for you! Studies show that kids who walk or bike to school concentrate better and are healthier than kids who don’t. Plus it’s freeing. But all kids need practice to develop their skills as a safe cyclist. Enjoy the ride with your child a bunch of times so you can see what challenges they face on their way to school and help them to avoid or address them. To learn more about the WoW! program or to schedule a hands-on bike safety class, please email Bike@GreenTownLosAltos.org.

Enjoy hands free shopping at the Los Altos Farmers’ Market, with GreenTown’s Valet Parking Team, those wheels are in good hands. GreenTown Los Altos has volunteered at the Thursday Los Altos Farmers markets (3rd St between State and Main) to provide bike valet every week this summer.  Besides the Farmers Market, GreenTown provided bike valet service at Fine Art in Park and the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival. Even the LAPD got into the bike spirit as Chief of Police, Tuck Younis dropped by the bike valet to show off LAPD’s new police vehicles – bicycles!  The police bikes allow officers to cruise thru parking lots and downtown much more quickly than walking or driving. During the two day Art & Wine Festival, we parked 382 bikes – a 15% increase over 2012. At the weekly Farmers Market, we have averaged about 35 bikes each week and see the number of cyclists growing as more folks learn about our service.  In addition to bike parking, market goers can chat with local electric vehicle owners to learn more about EVs.  Both the parking and the EV’s draw a fair number of curious individuals to the GreenTown canopy. The final 2013 bike valet event is the Los Altos Fall Festival scheduled for Oct 5th and 6th.  GreenTown Los Altos will be stationed on 3rd Steet near State to provide cyclists peace of mind when parking their bikes.  Bike Valet is just one of the many ways GreenTown is helping to create a sustainable lifestyle in our community.  To learn more about GreenTown Los Altos visit our website – www.GreenTownLosAltos.org

The Santa Clara Valley Water District and City of Sunnyvale are co-hosting a Professional Landscape Irrigation Expo on Friday, September 20th from 9am- noon at the City of Sunnyvale Community Center. This free expo will feature presentations on the latest topics in water efficient irrigation and sustainable landscape design and provide a venue for irrigation manufacturers and vendors to display the latest in irrigation technology. Those invited to attend include all landscape professionals in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas, parks, maintenance, and city staff, water retailers, and non-profits with an interest in irrigation efficiency and sustainable landscape design. Some of the topics to be covered include: · Outsmarting Your Smart Controller: Understanding Weather Based Irrigation Controllers · Innovations in Efficient Irrigation Technology · Using Drip Irrigation in the Landscape: Dispelling myths and recognizing the important role drip irrigation can play in water efficient landscapes · Saving Water through Sustainable Landscaping Practices: Find out how techniques such as soil amendments, sheet mulching, graywater re-use, rain gardens, and rainwater harvesting can save water in the landscape, reduce stormwater runoff, and benefit the environment SCVWD staff will also be presenting information on the Landscape Survey, Landscape Water Use Evaluation, Landscape Rebate, and Graywater Rebate Programs. City of Sunnyvale staff will be present to discuss pollution prevention strategies (and how efficient irrigation relates to stormwater pollution prevention). We are aiming for fewer presentations and hoping to allot more time for each presentation (45 minutes to 1 hour each) with time to meet with the vendors before 9am and after noon. We sent a ‘save the date’ e-mail out to all landscape professionals a month ago, and will be sending a flyer out to everyone soon. We are asking all irrigation manufacturers, irrigation vendors, water retailers, and non-profits interested in irrigation efficiency and sustainable landscape design to table at the event if they desire to. As you had indicated a previous interest in irrigation workshops for professionals, we are wondering if you are interested and available to assist with this Irrigation Expo. There is a full kitchen on site and potential for a vendor or agency to sponsor lunch. There are also other opportunities for getting involved as sponsors of this event. Please let us know if you are interested in collaborating on this event and if you have any suggestions, comments, or recommendations, as well as your availability and what task you would like to help with. We will need your response by Friday, August 16 or sooner as we need to finalize the flyer. Please respond to this email or contact Ashley Carter at (408) 630-2951 or Virginia O’Rourke at (408) 630-2330 for more information. Thank you!

Pescadero’s Ouroboros Farms Two GreenTown members recently visited Ouroboros Farms in Pescadero to learn about aquaponics, and here’s what they found. We won’t water it down: aquaponics are in Pescadero You’ve probably heard of aquaculture – farm raised fish – and hydroponics – crops grown in water. Put the two together and you get aquaponics which is what Ouroboros Farms is all about. Ken Armstrong, founder and owner of Ouroboros Farms decided to give aquaponics a try last year and now has a successful operation underway in a rented greenhouse just east of Pescadero. The theory behind aquaponics is that fish produce organic, nutritive waste that can be used to fertilize hydroponically grown plants. Plants love it and flourish. The water is used in a closed circuit where plant-growing water is circulated with the fish tank in a cycle that uses 90% less water than conventional farming. The end result is fish to harvest, healthier plants, and less cost to grow the plants. Pristine Hydroponic Lettuce The execution of this process is not nearly so simple. First problem: pH. It’s a bit technical, but plants like slightly acidic water, fish like it neutral, and the bacteria that help make the whole system work like it basic, requiring lots of pH adjustments. Another challenge: bugs. It is farming after all and bugs love to eat plants, in particular, aphids. He uses ladybugs, midges, and wasps to eat the aphids. No chemical pesticides are allowed in an organic operation. In fact, Ken says it is cleaner than traditional organic because the fish are sensitive to even organic pesticides such as neem oil. Hence, this operation is truly “beyond organic.” Finally, Ken carefully sources the corn and soy-based fish feed he uses, no GMOs are tolerated, and the fish feed doesn’t have any fishmeal in it, as he doesn’t believe in harvesting one type of fish to feed another. GreenTown Touring the Facility Pilot Phase of Crops Ken’s operation is still in the pilot phase and he is experimenting with lots of crops: tomatoes, lettuce, kale, basil, and even root crops like carrots. At this time, the best return is from kale and basil. He sells to farmers’ markets but really hopes to get connected to high-end chefs. Then he might finally turn a profit! Right now it’s a niche market, but with climate change, who knows? Aquaponics might be the farm of the future! Ken loves the challenges. He wears many hats – farmer, fisherman, plumber, engineer, chemist, and oh, he also handles marketing. Interested? He gives tours the first Saturday of every month. Sign up at his web site . It’s fascinating, entertaining, and informative – and if that’s not enough, Pescadero has a lot of fun shops, markets, and Duarte’s Tavern – still a great place for lunch. #Aquaponics #hydroponics #OuroborosFarms

On May 4, 2013, 60 lucky participants boarded a Google Bus and toured Permanente Creek from Rancho San Antonio to the Bay. Sponsored by the Committee for Green Foothills and GreenTown Los Altos, speakers talked about flood control to fish passage, from history to future and from climate change to creek dynamics. In the early 1800s, the Spanish settlers took notice of a significant steelhead trout creek with perennial flow, and they named it Arroyo Permanente. The headwaters in limestone-rich Black Mountain release their winter rains slowly through the year into the creek. Fast forward to 2013, this creek has changed substantially. The pristine headwaters still contain descendants of steelhead trout, but they are landlocked by manmade barriers. Lehigh Cement and Quarry occupy 3.5 miles of creek and for the last 70 years, the water flow has been dammed, diverted, filled with sediment and poisoned with selenium and mercury. Following the flow below Lehigh, the creek enters Rancho San Antonio Creek. This is the only accessible section of creek that bears some resemblance to its original form. Downstream of RSA the creek flows through residential area, Heritage Oaks Park and then a diversion channel. In 1959, Santa Clara Valley Water District built a trapezoidal channel to divert Permanente’s flow to Stevens Creek. The water flow beyond the channel’s location at Portland & Miramonte out to the bay was considered only a flood risk and not needed for any creek life. Although Stevens Creek does have steelhead trout, the fish have no chance of entering the diversion channel or swimming the 1.3 miles of channel. Despite the ignorance and abuses of the past, Permanente’s future is bright, especially for steelhead trout. On Earth Day 2013, Sierra Club and Lehigh signed a consent decree requiring restoration of the section of Permanente that runs through Lehigh and calls for a water treatment plant. Lehigh’s section of creek will be fish habitable by 2015. Once the Lehigh section of the creek is ready for steelhead trout, the remaining barrier is the diversion channel. A group of concerned citizens and environmentalist are investigating options diversion channel. The Water District estimates $12M to make the channel suitable for fish migration.

A suitable habitat for several native fish species was found Kit Gordon, GreenTown Los Altos team member, took a trip to look at Permanente Creek’s health and filed this story. On a cool crisp morning, Mondy Lariz and I waited in the parking lot with Alice Rich, Fisheries and Ecological Consultant. A white van drove up with government license plates carrying Gary Stern and Darren Howe from NOAA Fisheries. The two introduced themselves and we headed up to survey Permanente Creek starting at Heritage Oaks Park. A month ago, I called Gary with a proposal to remove a massive fish barrier, the 1.3 mile long, concrete Permanente Diversion Channel. Currently, steelhead trout swim past this barrier and up Stevens Creek. They can’t get far on Stevens Creek as there is a dam and its flow is controlled by the Water District for flood mitigation and water supply purposes, but not to sustain fish habitat. “I don’t want to send fish to their deaths,” Gary feared. He however decided to take a closer look at Permanente Creek to assess its habitat potential. By the 10th time my boots submerged, I stopped taking them off to empty. I copied Darren’s technique and just swung my heavy water filled boot up the creek bank and bent slightly to empty. Around 9:15AM we started walking up the creek. Gary and Alice were the most experienced but, dressed as near opposites. “There won’t be any deep pools,” I mistakenly proclaimed. Gary had full waders, up to his hip. Alice had shorts and hiking shoes. I soon realized either of these two footwear choices were better alternatives to my knee high boots. By the 10th time my boots submerged, I stopped taking them off to empty. I copied Darren’s technique and just swung my heavy water filled boot up the creek bank and bent slightly to empty. We found FISH, most likely resident trout along with roach and suckers. Yes, this creek can sustain fish, as least in the late spring. Happy to see steelhead trout swimming freely in the creek. “You have a nice little creek here,” Gary said several times. Mondy, with his depth of knowledge and contacts, answered Gary and Darren’s stream of questions. We found great habitat for steelhead: refugia, deep pools, cool water, and only a few minor fish barriers. But several more questions needed to be answered. What are the flows in the fall? When should we schedule a date for electrofishing to identify the species? What’s the plan for the minor fish barriers? What about Lehigh’s impact? The sediment increased and the variety of fish decreased as we approached Rancho San Antonio – evidence of Lehigh’s discharges into the creek. “It may take years for this sediment to clear up, but the potential here is quite good,” Gary concluded. “What are you doing?” asked Mike, the ranger at Rancho San Antonio as we emerged from 3.5 hours tangled in blackberries, nettles, poison oak, and brush. We didn’t look like the usual RSA guest with twigs sticking out from our hats, soaked pants, waders, and note pads. “Matt knows we’re here,” I said apologetically. Mike was very excited after hearing our findings and offered to check flows on the upper west branch for us. “You’ve got a great job,” I said to Darren. “Not all days are this much fun,” he replied. Kit Gorden, Green Town Volunteer

Over the last two years GreenTown Los Altos, working with public school teachers within Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, have surveyed how students travel to school. In the latest survey ended May 2013, 67% of 7-8th graders, 51% of 4-6 graders, and 41% of K-3 graders – Walked, biked, carpooled, bused, or scootered to school. WoW! 67% of  7-8th graders, 51% of 4-6 graders, 41% of K-3 graders -walked, biked, carpooled, bused, or scootered to school!!! After two years of tracking students, there is a noticeable trend. Most K-2 grade students are driven to school which makes sense given their age. In 3rd and 4th grades, parents organize carpools rather than solo trips. In 5th and 6th grades, the carpools become students who bike to school as parents recognize children are becoming old enough to transport themselves. In 7th and 8th grades, students transfer from local elementary schools to middle schools, usually farther away.  To travel to the longer distance, students opt to bike to school rather than be driven.  Again, the transition to middle school corresponds to students starting to show their independence and being more self reliant as well as parents giving the child more freedom to be accountable. For the 2013-14 school year, GreenTown’s Bike/Walk program is concentrating efforts to increase bike education in the elementary schools – specifically 3rd and 4th graders by: Organizing a program to increase student bike trains, providing maps with departure times, educating parents about the safety and benefits of biking to school. Continuing bike rodeo support in the elementary schools and bike safety education for 7th graders.  Our goal is to increase the number of WoW students by 10% from the May 2013 survey. Can We Count On Your Support? To help make a difference in our community, we count on our membership to support efforts to increase safety around our schools and support a better transportation method.  If you want to be the difference in student transportation, become a member at http://www.greentownlosaltos.org/