From testing the water quality of the San Diego River each month to participating in community cleanups, caring for Grant Park, and providing youth with exciting nature learning experiences, SDRPF volunteer Marina Pak is creating a ripple effect of impact for the river and our community!
When asked what fuels her passion for taking action for the San Diego River Watershed, Marina explains:
“I usually run, cycle and walk a lot along the San Diego River from Normal Heights to Ocean Beach. My passion grows every time I see the beauty of wildlife in the heart of San Diego’s urban life. When I came to my first clean-up, I felt a strong sense of joy and satisfaction from connecting with people who were doing something practical and meaningful for nature – people who share the same values. It is very different from reading theoretical books and articles about environmental science; it is a real, direct experience full of pure energy and delight.”
Taking action for the river is meaningful in different ways for the thousands of volunteers working to create a better future for it. For Marina the river is essential for her wellbeing and provides a place of peace. She reflects:
“My connection with water, plants, birds, and clean air keeps me healthy and emotionally stable. I think the San Diego River creates a very special, almost sacred atmosphere of harmony and peace – not only around the watershed but for our entire city. New technology is rapidly changing urban life, making it more and more dynamic, but the river connects our past, present, and future. We definitely have to work hard to save it for the next generations….”
For Marina, taking action means ensuring we are monitoring the health of the river to inform decision making. Because of volunteers like Marina, our monthly water quality data is used by environmental organizations and scientists to track long term trends and identify patterns of pollution, and by government entities to make regulatory decisions, management plans and public health advisories.
When asked why she wanted to volunteer for our Water Quality Monitoring Team, also known as RiverWatch, Marina explains:
“Collecting water-quality data has become one of my monthly habits. This program gave me the opportunity to meet people with diverse scientific backgrounds—engineering, hydrology, biology, chemistry, medicine, environmental policy, and many others. The SDRPF staff and volunteers are amazing people who are always willing to share their knowledge and research experience…. I am so grateful to John Kennedy, who introduced me to a systemic approach using many indicators and tools – from measuring water current speed to analyzing satellite data. Our team job supports annual water quality index reports, aligned with NGSS. Now I share my knowledge about it with a youth club of the Tijuana River. This work creates a ripple effect and builds bridges between science and the public.”
Marina not only collects vital river data, she also helps care for Grant Park as a Grant Park Steward and helps our Education Team provide essential nature-based STEM education to local youth.
When asked what she loves most about caring for Grant Park, Marina says:
“In the beginning, it was just a picture of the future Grant Park that made me so excited. Such a magical idea! A place where people can come to share their knowledge and love for nature. Now this dream has come true. Isn’t it a wonderful example of how we can unite for something absolutely amazing? During my time planting trees, watering plants, and painting the walls of the education center, I met many interesting people from different companies and neighborhoods. For many of us – including myself – hard physical work was something completely new, but we were all so happy to be part of this creative project. The opening ceremony with yoga, music, and delicious food melted my heart and filled me with happiness!”
Now that Grant Park is open and providing innovative nature education to youth, Marina explains why she loves being an Education Docent.
“It is always fun to be with youth. Being with them made me feel like a child again. The education team – Shawn, Kendall, Leah, and Cindy – they know how to teach complicated science in simple ways, through love of nature. We paint, play, and explore water creatures through microscopes to learn even more. All the equipment and artwork inside the education center create a magical world filled with the spirit of wildlife. I help to do first steps in science but at the same time continue to learn and grow with the youth and from the youth. The most important thing is that through this project we inspire them to become good citizens of a sustainable world. I am sure they are our future environmental leaders.”
Wow, the impact of volunteers like Marina inspires us every day. When asked what she is most proud as far as her impact, Marina eloquently states:
“The river runs to the ocean. I am just one drop of it. But all the drops together become very strong. I am proud to be part of an important environmental movement that is growing in San Diego with the new generation. It gives me strong hope that we can unite to create a beautiful, vibrant place where people coexist in harmony with the biodiversity of nature. We have to be together for what we all love. This is not only for our neighborhood and our city, but for our entire Planet.”
We could not agree more, Marina. Thank you for the incredible work you do for the river and our community! Together, we are ensuring a brighter future for our amazing watershed and our region.
If you would like to join Marina and other volunteers making a momentous difference, check out our calendar of events here.