On a parcel of kingdom near the Sunol Water Temple in the East Bay , the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ( SFPUC ) is nurture native plant seedlings . It ’s a Brobdingnagian undertaking , but by hiring some of the finest people in the industry and using best flora management practices , the Sunol Native Plant Nursery is growing more than 120 different type of aboriginal plants from seeds .
locate on a one - acre plot in close law of proximity to where the future Alameda Creek Watershed Center will eventually be site , the Sunol Native Plant Nursery includes the ATI nursery , as well as a spectre firm , garage , minor office , dirt bins , piddle tanks , metal tables , and equipment .
Agra Tech North Slope 24
In the North Slope 24 nursery acquire from Agra Tech ( ATI ) of Pittsburg , CA , the nursery ’s initial goal is to create 70,000 level-headed plant that will prosper and survive for many decade to come .
Over 15 yr ago , biologists with the SFPUC ’s Natural Resources and Lands Management Division witness coast live oak and tan oak tree dying in significant numbers on their Peninsula Watershed . Tests confirmed that these tree and a whole host of other aboriginal plant were under onslaught by more than one character of Phytophthora plant life pathogen . In an effort to protect the watershed landed estate from further infestations of these pathogen , the SFPUC bulge funding research and imposing strict new prerequisite on the contractors and commercial-grade growers that provided plants for habitat regaining labor on both the Alameda and Peninsula Watersheds . Despite these efforts , many new planting in both watersheds turned out later to hold in pathogens .
Phytophthora is a genus of flora pathogen , whose name entail “ plant life destroyer , ” and they spread through born or human - assisted movement of polluted works , water , or stain if not extenuate . In 2015 , the Phytophthoras in Native Habitats Work Group form to determine steps needed to protect wildlands and aid the restoration diligence . The Group includes representative from multiple land management agencies , including the SFPUC , Golden Gate National Recreation Area , Marin Municipal Water District , Santa Clara Valley Water District , East Bay Regional Parks District , and MidPeninsula Open Space District and the land manager worked in conjunction with a mathematical group of industrial plant pathologists , baby’s room owners , and restoration practician to create best management practices to minimize Phytophthora pathogen in restoration nursery .
Everything in the nursery was design to foreclose the spread of pathogens by adhering to guideline organize by the Phytophthoras in Native Habitats Work Group . " I tell people that what we ’re doing here is more like a research laboratory than a farm , " Ingolia said . " We have to make certain that everyone enter the greenhouse must be wearing sportsmanlike clothes and wash their deal and shoes . Any fomite or equipment entering the nursery need to be cleaned and disinfected before launching , so that nothing is contaminate . "
Germinating seeds collected from 120 unlike native plants
With a 980 square human foot greenhouse from Agra Tech , Ingolia is overseeing a project that is unprecedented and a scholarship experience for all involved , she enounce . " This has not been done before , so it ’s unknown district here . Our greenhouse is outfit with a swamp tank in the back and with powerful lover in the front of the body structure , so that we will be prepared during the summer . We also have a serial of ramble benches to move the seedling around more easily . "
Mia Ingolia has a very important role at the Sunol Native Plant Nursery as a Biologist for the Natural Resources and Lands Management Division . Her projects entail much more than simply forgather seeds and creating seedling , so Ingolia and her squad consist of Chief Nursery Specialist Bree Candiloro , and a group of late graduate who specialize in environmental scientific discipline , landscape computer architecture , and flora are using their knowledge and experience to germinate seeds from more than 120 unlike native plants .
If all goes as planned , these seed will sprout into little plants and put into the ground as landscaping around the newfangled Sunol Corporation Yard , which is under grammatical construction now as part of the Sunol Yard Long Term Improvements Project . Should it prove successful to grow pathogen - devoid plants for the Sunol Corporation Yard and Alameda Creek Watershed Center , the team will consider persist in their efforts to provide aboriginal plants for restoration and palliation projects in the Alameda and Peninsula landmark .
North Slope 24 Greenhouse from the outside
construct by AgCon of San Jose , CA , the Sunol Native Plant Nursery ’s greenhouse was in full use by October 2018 . " It take approximately two months for it to come together and everything went swimmingly . AgCon make for in a work party of 4 - 6 masses and it was great to see it up and in operation , because we began the planning mental process a full two years ago . We marked out the foundation in 2017 and the greenhouse is doing on the nose what we envisioned , so that ’s by all odds solid . "
Ingolia also has praise for Agra Tech ’s customer service and expertise . " From the rootage , James Roberts at ATI was our point soul , " she said . " He was amazing and was more than uncoerced to help us through every aspect of the planning and construction . It was very helpful to be able to rely on James and tap into his broad knowledge . We ask a lot of question along the way and he was always there with the answers . "
With thou of seedlings currently sprouting within their ATI greenhouse , the Sunol Native Plant Nursery is institute two years of laborious work and contrive to fruition . By make these new shoots and putting them into the ground to produce pathogen - free plant for the Sunol Yard Long Term Improvements Project , this enterprise may be continued for future restoration and mitigation drive in SFPUC - own lands in the Alameda and Peninsula watersheds .
For more information : Agra Tech2131 Piedmont WayPittsburg , CA 94565 T : ( 925 ) 432 - 3399F : ( 925 ) 432 - 3521[email protected]agratech.com
