Welcome to our annual Headwaters Assessment, where volunteers venture into the headwaters of the San Diego River to gather valuable data for our organization and other land managers! This year, our focus is on documenting the Southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida), an endemic freshwater turtle found in central and southern California, along with other threatened and endangered species, hydromodifications, non-native invasive species, and more.
During this in-person training event, we will cover basic protocols and procedures for conducting and recording observations. Volunteers will learn to use handheld GPS devices and cameras for recording observations. Additionally, we will introduce Avenza, a powerful smartphone tool for recording GPS tracks, adding placemarks, photos, measuring distances, and more. Volunteers will be trained to document various aspects, including threatened and endangered species, hydromodifications, non-native invasive species, and more. We will also discuss general safety guidelines and methods to minimize environmental impact while hiking in these pristine areas.
The in-person training session will run for two hours, from 9 AM to 11 AM on April 4th. The meeting location is the Mast Park parking lot in Santee, located at 9125 Carlton Hills Blvd, Santee, CA 92071. Please remember to wear a hat, sunscreen, long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy closed-toed shoes. Don't forget to bring water and your smartphone. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you are unable to attend the in-person training, we have a recorded virtual training available. Follow this [link] for the recording and the presentation from last year.
