Waste Management Links Community to Biology

By Patrick O’Neil

Staff Writer

Chino Boy Scout Troop 201 will visit El Sobrante Landfill in Temescal Valley on Saturday and work with biologists to help restore the native plant garden.

Waste Management spokeswoman Lily Quiroa talked about the relationship between El Sobrante and the community.

Question: What has it been like working with the Boy Scouts of Chino?

Answer: It’s been great. This is one of the things that we like to do, partner with groups that want to be good environmental stewards. By coming here and working with our biologists they’re going to be earning points for their merit badges it’s one of those activities that fits right in.

Q: What are some of the key points the Boy Scouts might learn on their tour?

A: The importance of native species and plants, their importance to the habits, why we need to restore our open spaces specifically here at El Sobrante and why we need to be monitoring our plant species. One of the reasons we chose this project is how these native plants contribute to the natural habit by providing food for birds and butterflies.

Q: How many types of species of animals will the Chino Scouts be helping?

A: There are 31 animal species and two are on the federal endangered list.

Q: What native plants will the Chino troop add to the garden?

A: Golden currant attracts the California thrasher and the Monarch butterfly, Indian paintbrush and dotseed plantain serve as larval host plants for Quino checkerspot butterfly, chamise plant for the grey hairstreak butterfly and yarrow for the Chalcedon checkerspot butterfly.

Q: Aside from restoring the plant garden, what else will the Chino troop do during the visit?

A: They will also be taking a landfill tour so they learn how the waste is processed. They get the whole perspective of our ecosystem and our environmental community.

Q: How did the project come about?

A: We do outreach. We’re always out at the different community events and we’re always promoting these tours. (Troop 201 Leader) Christy Bradley heard about these tours and she contacted me, and we set it up.

Q: What preparation has gone into this project?

A: We are set up already to hold these tours and projects. It’s something we do on a continuous basis.

It’s just a matter of coordinating the schedules and figuring out the next project that makes sense for our preserve.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to help the ecosystem at El Sobrante?

A: It’s important that we are good neighbors and good stewards of the environment.

That’s why we have our biologists continually working on projects that will increase the number of species living here.

Q: How does Waste Management track the wildlife in its preserve?

A: We have our biologists who, on a season basis, go out and do field studies. Our wildlife preserve is actually certified and we are responsible for maintaining track of species.

We actually have five-year plans that our biologists work very hard on. It’s not only animals but also plants. We want to make sure that the ecosystem is balanced so the animals can survive.

Q: What other projects has Waste Management been involved in?

A: Last summer about 200 acres (of the wildlife preserve) were burned so in December, Lake Elsinore and Wildomar Boy Scouts came out and helped biologists plant trees to start restoring the preserve.

(c) 2008 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.