News and Events
from One Tam

Hello!

Dear Friend,

As the last showers of Spring soak the mountain, the landscape is swathed in vibrant green brushstrokes while colorful wildflowers- clarkia, milkmaids, and lupines add splashes of their own colorful hues!

Mt. Tam is a masterpiece and the season is bustling with opportunities to help restore, maintain and improve the mountain that we all love and enjoy.

Find your inspiration this month.

See you outside!

~ Your friends at One Tam

t.l.c. for trails on national trails day 2019

Volunteers from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Tam High Mountain Bike Club, and the Trails Partners help repair trail tread at Diaz Ridge. Photo by Tom Boss of Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

On June 2, 2019 over 100 volunteers joined One Tam, National Park Service, State Parks, Marin County Parks, and Marin Municipal Water District staff to lend a hand to over 6 miles of trails on the slopes of Mt. Tam.

Through brushing back vegetation, repairing trail tread, fixing staircases, and reducing erosion, these volunteers ensured safe and sustainable access for recreation on the mountain.

A big "thanks" to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Tam High Mountain Bike Team, and the Trail Partners for their support for the day!

One Tam is designing a trails-specific volunteer program with opportunities to learn the tools of the trade, participate in weekly volunteer projects on trails, and be a part of a thriving community dedicated to supporting the trails of Mt. Tamalpais. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months!

Community Spotlight: Nancy Hanson

As a volunteer at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Nancy has seen how habitat restoration changes the landscape for the better. Photo by Peter Lin/ One Tam.

Volunteer Nancy H. shares her passion for parks and what keeps her inspired to volunteer year after year to care for them.

“I’m originally from the East Coast, but fell in love with wild California while living and wandering in the Santa Barbara hills. I’ve lived in Marin since the 1970s. I remember seeing my favorite trail becoming overgrown with invasive non-native plants about 10 years ago while hiking up to Stairstep Falls in Samuel P. Taylor State Park (SPT). It disturbs me to see native species being overrun and habitat being destroyed. Removing invasive plants allows the native seed bank to regenerate followed by the insects and other fauna who depend on them for food.

I have been a Volunteer in Parks at SPT for 8 years now and Iead volunteers for ‘Zen of Weeding’ twice a month.  Our goal is to give visitors an experience of an authentic, healthy California habitat.  Weeding the woods may seem a little crazy but we have seen a reversal to a more pristine riparian and redwood habitat at Taylor as a result of our restoration efforts.  The work feeds our souls and connects us deeply to this beautiful place."

From all of us at One Tam, thank you to Nancy and to all the other dedicated habitat restoration volunteers who protect our watershed's biodiversity!

backcountry tour for One Tam Members June 9

Rolling forests of Mt. Tam's watershed. Photo by Allison Taggart-Barone.

On Friday, June 7 at 9 am, join us for a guided tour with the Marin Municipal Water District to learn about ongoing vegetation management efforts in the watershed and the Marin Vegetation Mapping Project. This tour will be led by MMWD Natural Resources Manager, Shaun Horne, and One Tam’s Community Conservation Program Director, Janet Klein. Space in our vans is limited and registration is required. Secure your spot today!

Honoring a peak partnership 

Mt. Tam framed by a double rainbow after spring showers. Photo by Christin Coy.

On May 15, on an unseasonably wet day, One Tam held its inaugural Peak Partnerships luncheon, honoring Janice and Matt Barger. But the rain outside didn’t dampen the spirits of the 100 plus One Tam supporters enjoying the sold-out event.

What is Peak Partnerships, other than a clever new alliterative One Tam phrase?  Peak Partnerships is One Tam’s annual opportunity to acknowledge a key partner or partners who has had significant impact helping us to advance science, conservation and stewardship on Mt. Tam…and beyond!

Though the celebratory luncheon focused on the visionary investment of the Bargers, it was also the perfect opportunity to illustrate the leveraging power of our initiative. Sharon Farrell provided the keynote address for the luncheon and shared the inspirational story of how Janice and Matt were able to multiply the value of their contribution by inspiring timely investments from several agency partners to produce a first-of-its-kind vegetation map of Marin County--a resource that will benefit the entire county in innumerable ways.