Healthy Waters, Thriving Coast- Webinar Recording

Healthy Waters, Thriving Coast

Presented by Kellyx Nelson and Clifton Herrmann

of San Mateo RCD

Are you curious about water quality at local creeks and beaches? Where does pollution come from, and who is helping safeguard our local waterways? Which pollutants affect humans, and which ones affect wildlife? How does water quality in coastal San Mateo County measure up? What can we, as local residents and businesses, do to be part of the solution? Learn how scientists and volunteers work together to track the health of our streams, wetlands, and coastal waters, and how these data are helping protect our environment and public health. Join the Coastside Land Trust as we welcome Kellyx Nelson and Clifton Herrmann, the Executive Director and Water Quality Specialist of the Resource Conservation District, to answer some of these questions and more.

Learn more about how to get involved and to support that San Mateo Resource Conservation District and its projects at www.sanmateorcd.org.

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust free webinar programs and the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces at www.coastsidelandtrust.org/donate.

Healthy Waters, Thriving Coast - Free Community Webinar Tomorrow at 10am

Healthy Waters, Thriving Coast

Presented by Kellyx Nelson and Clifton Herrmann

Saturday, May 10, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Are you curious about water quality at local creeks and beaches? Where does pollution come from, and who is helping safeguard our local waterways? Which pollutants affect humans, and which ones affect wildlife? How does water quality in coastal San Mateo County measure up? What can we, as local residents and businesses, do to be part of the solution? Learn how scientists and volunteers work together to track the health of our streams, wetlands, and coastal waters, and how these data are helping protect our environment and public health.

Join the Coastside Land Trust as we welcome Kellyx Nelson and Clifton Herrmann, the Executive Director and Water Quality Specialist of the Resource Conservation District, to answer some of these questions and more. It promises to be an engaging discussion on local water quality monitoring, data collection, and community conservation efforts.

Nature Journaling Brings Coastside Families Together at Farallone View

Last week, the Coastside Land Trust partnered with Elexis and our team to host a heartwarming Family Engagement Night at Farallone View Elementary school , where families came together to slow down, connect, and experience nature through journaling. The event welcomed a wide range of participants—from incoming transitional kindergarteners to seasoned 5th graders—along with their caregivers, all eager to explore the natural world through observation and reflection.

With nature journals in hand, families took part in a sensory-based activity designed to deepen awareness and appreciation of their immediate surroundings. Each participant was invited to record:

• 5 things they saw

• 4 things they heard

• 3 things they physically felt

• 2 things they smelled

• and 1 emotional feeling they were experiencing in the moment.

After this mindful exercise, we created gratitude lists that captured everything participants were thankful for in the space around them—from the cool evening breeze to the laughter of their children. It was a beautiful reminder that nature is not only something we visit—it’s something we live in, and live with.

As a parting gift, each family received a nature journal and a ZINE from the Wild Wonder Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering curiosity, creativity, and connection through nature journaling. Founded by naturalist and artist John Muir Laws, the Wild Wonder Foundation provides tools and inspiration to help people of all ages engage more deeply with the natural world. Their colorful and approachable zines include journaling prompts and tips that make it easy for families to continue their nature connection at home.

We’re so grateful to all the families who joined us, and to our partners and volunteers who made the evening such a success. Events like these remind us how powerful it is to pause, look closely, and wonder together.

Stay tuned for more nature journaling events and workshops with the Coastside Land Trust!

This Land Is Our Trust: Help Preserve the Coast

This land—wide open, wild, and free—is a gift we hold in trust, for now and for generations to come.
Our open spaces aren’t guaranteed. They exist today because people like you choose to preserve and protect these precious coastal places.
Your support makes all the difference.
Donate through Coastside Gives this week and be part of a lasting legacy of care.