Tennessee Hollow - How Community Scientists Spurred a 20 Year Restoration

Join long-time docent Barbara Corff on a loop through the Tennessee Hollow Watershed on the Presidio. We will see how just a trickle of water supports wildlife and learn about the earliest Hispanic family who lived at El Polin Springs and the soldiers whose encampment gave the watershed its name.

Walk Leader: Barbara Corff

Barbara manifests settings, secret routes, and nature moments as a local guide with interpretation training by the National Park Service and experiential work with Airbnb and community building with Build.irl. She believes in ‘sense of place’, and creative collaboration, where opportunities unfold.  Generating personal meaning, deeper connections and stewardship is her goal. She embraces her ‘many-ness’ including architecture / music / performance / archaeology / gardening / genealogy / history.

Details:

We will start where the freshwater joins a saltwater marsh and follow uphill to its source. Along the way, restored wetlands, meadows and native plants will be in focus. We’ll look for birds and Barbara will share firsthand letters from soldiers who camped here in 1898. Bring a snack for our stop at the Springs, where we’ll hear stories about fertility myths retold in E Clampus Vitus rites.

This walk will be approx 2.8 miles with an elevation gain of 300 feet. The route will mostly be on paved or compacted surfaces, with a few sandy spots and inclines.

Preparation:

Wear hiking shoes, a hat, layers and a coat. Bring a small backpack, water, binoculars (optional), and a snack.

Bring the answer to this question: What was San Francisco named for before it was renamed San Francisco? … Barbara will bring a “taste of SF” that was served by Juana Briones at El Polin Springs as the answer!

Meeting Location:

Meet at the Presidio Field Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uPtdFb1HoNYTZ3XC6

Transportation and Parking:

The Muni 30 drops off right outside the Field Station. The 43 drops off close by at the Presidio Transit Center.

Paid parking is available at Tunnel Tops park, and free parking at East Crissy Field.

Weather:

Heavy rain will cancel. We will send out an announcement the morning of the walk if we decide to cancel.

Cost:

This walk is FREE* to attend (with RSVPs kindly requested).

Donations (in cash or Venmo) can be made to Nature in the City on the day of the event. Special bonus! Everyone who donates $10 and above will receive a copy of the Nature in the City Map.

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