Springtown BioBlitz 2025

Bring your smartphone and curiosity to help catalog the natural wonders at Livermore's Springtown Preserve! Professionals, educators, volunteers, students, citizen scientists and curious minds are all welcome to join and inventory this rare alkali sink habitat for plants, birds, insects, and other wildlife. The Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD), the City of Livermore, and Swaim Biological are hosting the event. Observations will be recorded as part of the City Nature Challenge (CNC) a global effort to connect communities through the discovery and documentation of biodiversity.

Data Collection: We’ll break the Preserve into zones and spread out to collect as much data as possible! We'll be using the iNaturalist app for our data collection. Make sure you join the iNaturalist project prior to the event! We'll send out more information on how to use iNaturalist and do an orientation prior to the event. Because Springtown is a sensitive habitat, access to the Preserve will be limited to our data collectors.

Don't know much about plants and critters? No problem, you don't have to collect data – just register as "Here to Learn" and join us at the event hub to learn about the ongoing restoration project, local critters like fairy shrimp and California Tiger salamanders, why the plants here are so rare, and all the amazing conservation work our event partners are up to! Any member of the public who wants to come and learn about this area is welcome.

We'll meet near the intersection of Bluebell Drive and Hartford Ave to do a quick orientation and start blitzing! After a few hours we'll wrap it up and show off the results.

· Please wear loose-fitting, long pants, and bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and reusable water bottles. No dogs, please.

· Don't forget to bring your smartphone and camera, field guides, or other useful supplies if you have them! And don't forget to join the iNaturalist project.

· Snacks and refreshments will be available, but you may want to pack yourself a lunch if you plan to collect data for several hours.

While the event is free, we do ask that you RSVP so that we can plan accordingly. Spaces are limited for data collectors, so register today. For additional information, questions about accessibility or to request accommodations please contact [email protected]

Schedule of events (may change slightly as date gets closer)

9:00 - 10:00 am - Bioblitz-ers arrive, get oriented, and start collecting!

10:00- 12:00 - Public welcome to learn from local naturalists and conservation partners share

information on the Springtown area

● Plant walk

● Fairy Shrimp Demo

● Bird identification

● How and why do we collect data?

12:00-1:00 pm- Data collectors return to share what they've seen, upload data, chat with the public

and enjoy refreshments.

All participants will be asked to approve a photo release for yourself and photos that you take of Springtown species. You are welcome to take photos on a telephoto lens, digital camera, or a smartphone.

Learn more about what lives in Springtown via iNaturalist observations

Learn more about how to make observations using iNaturalist

Host or Publisher Alameda County Resource Conservation District