Community Based Approach To Environmental Education

The Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco, California, is a diverse community that experiences an inordinate amount of pollution. Within this five square mile area, heavy industry, the city’s sewage treatment plant, and the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (HPNSY) all act as concentrated and diffuse pollution sources. This research project focuses on Yosemite Slough, which lies on the southeast shore of San Francisco and is plagued by the aforementioned hazards as well as several outfalls from the city’s combined sewer. During heavy precipitation events, these combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge storm water runoff as well as untreated municipal sewage. Undergraduate researchers from the University of San Francisco lead groups of community youth in a water sampling program. These local high school students are taught about the environmental factors that impact the slough, receive training on proper sampling procedures, and are ultimately certified as “research assistants” prior to participation in data collection during bimonthly sampling events. A year of baseline data has been collected and is currently under review by the community. Furthermore, geographical information systems (GIS) are utilized as a tool to analyze results and present the data to the community in a clear, dynamic, user-friendly format. These GIS displays are comprised of pertinent data layers, including water quality parameters, elevations, topography, and tidal activity. The principal goal of the project, formally known as the Yosemite Slough and South Basin Watershed Restoration Project, is to educate local youth and the Bayview-Hunters Point community. This is accomplished through the scientific data collection process and regular community meetings and presentations. The data is ultimately targeted for community use in future redevelopment decisions. The aim is to empower the Bayview-Hunters Point community through environmental education so they can envisage a future in which they live in a safer and cleaner environment.