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Water

Greywater Webinar – September 23rd

September 1, 2021 by Sustainable Fairfax

Graywater Webinar – September 23rd.

Washing machines are among the top three water users in your home – about 22% of water use.

Reclaim water from your washing machine to use for your garden by installing a graywater system. Marin Water is holding an introductory webinar with The Urban Farmer Store on September 23rd. Laura Allen, lead author of “The San Francisco Graywater Design Guidelines for Outdoor Irrigation”, will host and give an overview on how to get started with a Laundry-To-Landscape graywater system. To register early for the webinar visit this link.

Marin Water offers $100 discount on greywater kit. Application

For more Water Conservation Tips and Resources

Filed Under: News, Water Tagged With: gray water, grey water, Slide, slider, Water conservation

Water Action NOW in Fairfax and Beyond

August 26, 2021 by Laura Vernon

Understand the Imperative to Save Water Today AND Build Resiliency in our Watershed for the Future

Historically low rainfalls combined with hot weather means that we are experiencing historic drought conditions that cannot be ignored. The threat has been raised from “severe” to “EXCEPTIONAL”!

As of the end of August, our reservoirs which supply about 75% of Marin’s water, are at 38% of capacity. The other 25% would normally come from Sonoma but that is NOT happening this year. That’s bad.

Nicasio Reservoir - June 2021

Hopefully it will rain this Winter but the County will need about 250% of a typical rain year to bring our supplies to a “normal” level. That is unlikely to happen.

It is a priority for communities to come together to protect this watershed. Brown lawns are good and dirty cars are fashionable. Anything else means those folks need help understanding the imperative and tools to take action to change it up.

We need YOU. If you can help with this effort, please contact us.

Read More Water Action NOW in Fairfax and Beyond for Tips, Resources and Rebates, Becoming a Water Warrior and more…

Filed Under: slider, Uncategorized, Water, Water Tagged With: Slide, slider, Water

Ethical Clothing Companies

February 8, 2018 by Jennifer Hammond

The following ethical clothing companies were recommended by

Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed:

Everlane

Ambatalia

Sally Fox and Fox Fibre 

Black Mountain Farm

Bodega Pastures

Boneyard Beanies

California Cloth Foundry

Caprette Cashmere

Running River Organics

Ramblers Way

Duckworth 

Elizabeth Suzann 

Pansy

*purchase 100% organic cotton

*more vendor/producer listings on Fibershed.com

Filed Under: Toxins, Water, Zero Waste

Yes on Measure AA to Protect Against Sea Level Rise

June 1, 2016 by Jennifer Hammond

Sustainable Fairfax endorses Measure AA to improve the overall health of the bay and to help protect our communities from sea level rise, a very real and imminent threat to surrounding infrastructure.

Measure AA is a $12-per-year parcel tax on the June 7, 2016 ballot in all nine Bay Area counties that would generate $500 million over 20 years for critical tidal marsh restoration projects around San Francisco Bay.  These restoration projects will improve the bay’s water quality, restore a healthy habitat for fish, birds and wildlife and protect against sea level rise. We believe it is most efficient to address these issues at the regional level, so that the governing board can make decisions to fund projects in each county that will have the greatest impact on the the San Francisco Bay as a whole.

Read the full text of the measure and impartial analysis here.

If passed by 2/3 of the total Bay Area voters casting ballots in the June election, Measure AA funds would be provided as grants to restoration projects throughout the Bay Area.  See a map and list of potential projects Measure AA would fund here.

Measure AA has been placed on the ballot by the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority after six years of public hearings and research. The Authority’s governing board of elected officials from throughout the Bay Area would provide and administer project grants from Measure AA funds, with input from many community members on its Advisory Committee, and oversight from an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee. Learn more about the Restoration Authority here:www.SFBayRestore.org

Filed Under: News, Policy, Water Tagged With: election, save the bay, sea level rise

Youth Blog: Why Fire is a Threat to Water

July 4, 2015 by Jennifer Hammond

As a senior in Drake High School’s environmental studies academy SEA-DISC, one of my many activities is an internship with the local non-profit organization Sustainable Fairfax.

Recently I have been working with Sustainable Fairfax on their water program, conducting interviews with various experts on water use, waste water, and watersheds in Marin County and getting a great perspective on these issues. Along the way I also discovered a few other exciting projects that are leading the way to sustainability in Marin.

At the Sky Oaks Watershed Headquarters near Lake Lagunitas, stewards of the watershed face daily challenges to ensure that the land stays healthy in order to provide enough clean water for the region’s water demands. Removing non-native scotch broom and preventing pollution are regular tasks, but a challenge most aren’t aware of is the threat of wildfire to our water supply.

According to Mike Swezy, the Watershed Lands Manager at Sky Oaks, fire is one of the main concerns for the health of our watershed. Fires not only change the scheme of an ecosystem on the large and visible scale but even at the molecular level. According to a 2004 Colorado State University article in the Journal of Forestry, high soil temperatures consume the layer of leaf litter and organic material on the surface of the soil which causes a physical change in the charged particles of the soil, creating a “tin roof” effect; the soil actually repels water and it runs off quickly.

Burns, whether prescribed or naturally-occurring, also prompt a type of erosion called dry ravel, in which dry soil and rocks slide downhill without any precipitation moving it. And, exposed soil without any plants to shield it or roots to hold it washes away in heavy rains. Accelerated erosion fills streams with sediment, which has a negative impact on the clarity and quality of water.

However, managing fire risk is not a matter of putting them out, Swezy says. In fact, preventing fires entirely could make the situation worse. “Native Americans had carefully used fire for 12,000 years, so the vegetation is shaped for fires.When Europeans arrived we entered an era of fire suppression, and in the early 20th century we got better and better at putting out fires and ended up with too much vegetation. Its sort of a paradox.”

So how do we protect our forests and watersheds from fire without creating more risk? Sky Oaks is working on solutions that include fuel breaks and restoring areas to resemble old-growth forests (think large, old trees with less underbrush), which are more fire resistant. “An open forest is more fire hardy and yields more water…if you think of your forest as a carbon bank, it is safer to have larger trees that won’t burn entirely and are more spread out than to put all of your carbon into many little trees that burn up quickly.”

Filed Under: Water, Youth Blog, Youth Corner Tagged With: fire safety, Slide, Water, youth blog

Water Conservation Survey – Fairfax Businesses

July 27, 2010 by Sustainable Fairfax

wcposterinurhnds.jpgThis survey takes 10 minutes and greatly helps us know what you have already done to conserve water and what steps you might take to save water in your business.

We want Fairfax to be the Water Heroes of Marin and lead the way to living sustainably in our water shed. Please Join Us!

 Click here!

We will be sending information via email specific to your water needs.

Filed Under: Water Tagged With: Water conservation

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