Public Education and Participation Program Information
Annual Report Year 11 (2023-2024)
Gonzales Stormwater Permit
Students learn how trash can enter storm drains and how they can make a difference! Report Prepared By:
Maris Sidenstecker
Executive Director
Save The Whales
www.savethewhales.org
P: 831-899-9957
2 Save The Whales Annual Report for Gonzales Year 11 (2023-2024) The annual report covers the Public Education and Outreach Program activities for July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 (Year 11). This report provides information on the measurable goals for each program activity, whether the measurable goal was met, and activity effectiveness if applicable.
School Outreach
Grades K-3
E.7.a, E.7.a.ii.j.1, E.7.a.ii.d
Save The Whales (STW) compiled teacher packets with materials in English and Spanish for grades 1-3. STW distributed them to teachers at La Gloria Elementary School.
Grades 3-6
E.7.a.ii.j.2, E.&.a.ii.d, E.7.a.ii.b
The programs provided by STW help fulfill the California Schools Science Content and the new Ocean Literacy Principles that represent an ocean-oriented approach to teaching Science Standards. “Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean's influence on you - and your influence on the ocean.”
This year, STW presented 12 programs to 252 students, with the interactive and handson watershed model. The programs focused on storm drain pollution and how to prevent it. Qualified instructors from STW, made each program an interactive and inspiring educational experience for the students.
Following the program, the students did a litter pickup of their school campus and collected trash. They learned about the different types of trash items and how much of the litter is recyclable and what will go to the landfill.
Students were asked what they can do with their families to reduce the use of plastic, and how to recycle at home. We emphasized what actions students can take to prevent pollutants from entering storm drains and asked them to help educate others.
Teachers
E.7.a.ii.j.4,E.7.a.ii.f, E.7.a.ii.d
Teachers were asked to distribute and collect student pre-and post-survey responses to gauge effectiveness of the hands-on presentations. The results are tabulated below. 3 2023-2024 Evaluation of Student Pre- and Post-Survey Results School Name
Total of 219
Student Surveys
PreSurvey
Before
Visit 1
Correct
Answers
(Points)
PreSurvey
% of
Correct
Responses
PostSurvey
After
Visit 1
Correct
Answers
(Points)
PostSurvey
% of
Correct
Responses
Grade 2: (6 classes)
La Gloria School
(117 students, 1,521 possible
points)
958 62.9% 1,123 73.8%
Grade 4: (4 classes)
La Gloria School
(102 students, 1,326 possible
points)
1,006 75.8% 1,148 86.5%
TOTAL Points Possible: 2,847 1,964 68.9% 2,271 79.7% The results from the students that completed both a pre-survey (prior to the classroom visit) and a post-survey (after 1 classroom visit) were evaluated. Student surveys were requested from all classes, 132 students from La Gloria School in grade 2, and 120 students from the same school in grade 4. Of the 252 students, 219 students returned the pre-and post-surveys. Each pre-survey was matched with the appropriate post-survey in order to provide accurate responses. There was a 10.8% increase in correct student responses after 1 school visit.
Studies have shown that hands-on learning increases learning retention among students and is a valuable teaching method. The hands-on presentations reach people beyond the classroom. Students often take information home and share it with friends and family members reaching an untold number of people with conservation messages.
Middle-High School
E.7.a.ii.j.3, E.7.a.ii.c, E.7.a.ii.d
Classrooms in these grade levels did not respond to our requests to provide programs.
We used the funds to offer more programs to the lower grade levels.
Our Water Our World
E.7.a.ii.c, E.7.a.ii.d, E.7.a.ii.f, E.7.a.ii.h, E.7.a.ii.i Educate the public about this statewide program with bilingual flyers that offers nontoxic and less-toxic alternatives to pesticides for residential use. Distributed Our Water Our World materials at public events.
4 Media Outreach: Radio Ads (English and Spanish)
E.7.a.ii.c, E.7.a.ii.d
A total of 168 radio and streaming ads aired on storm drain pollution prevention on radio stations in English and Spanish languages. A total of 60 ads aired on KHIP (English station) and 48 ads on La Tricolor (Spanish stations). In addition, 60 Audio Streaming ads aired.
Print Ads
E.7.a.ii.d, E.7.a.ii.h
Color print ads ran in the Salinas Valley Tribune newspaper. One ad ran in April, 2024 as part of the Earth Day edition. One more ad ran in June, 2024. The ads were about reducing trash and preventing stormwater pollution and asking residents to participate.
Residential and Community Outreach
E.7.ii.a, E.7.ii.c, E.7.ii.d, E.7.ii.f, E.7.ii.g, E.7.ii.h, E.7.ii.i, E.7.ii.k, E.7.ii.l 5/23/24 Garden Day walking field trip with 121 students from La Gloria School in grade 2. They participated in seed planting, a butterfly craft art project, and a scavenger hunt in the NEW community garden (see below photo) to learn about pollinators. 12/2/23 Gonzales Library Program with the interactive watershed model and bilingual materials, reached 10 members of the community.
5 Students from La Gloria School made butterfly art for the NEW community garden.
Events
E.7.a.ii.e, E.7.a.ii.g
6/27/24 Cleanup Day where we collected intercept surveys from the public and educated residents about stormwater pollution prevention with bilingual materials. 10/13/23 Cleanup Day-where we collected intercept surveys from the public and educated residents about stormwater pollution prevention. Assisted with sorting recyclable items. Educational bilingual bookmarkers were distributed. 6 Save The Whales team with our CSUMB college students helped with Gonzales Cleanup Days! Litter Cleanups or Event
E.8.ii.c
Community members participated in the Garden Day!
3/9/24 Garden Day in the NEW community garden with partners, residents, and the City of Gonzales. We donated staff and volunteers to assist with the inception of the garden and provided a butterfly crafting table for families, and painting garden rocks.
Under grant funding from NOAA B-WET, we were able to provide permanent gopher hardwire and two outdoor garden sheds for the garden.
7 6/25/24 Gonzales Summer Camp for La Gloria students at the NEW community garden! Activities included seed potting, the hands-on watershed model (below photo), and a litter cleanup. We reached 67 students in grades K-5.
Gonzales Summer Camp students learned about storm drain pollution with the hands-on watershed model, followed by a litter cleanup around the school
Restaurant Outreach
E.7.a.ii.c, E.7.a.ii.d, E.7.a.ii.f, E.7.a.ii.h
STW was able to reach out to 19 restaurants and distribute posters and bilingual materials about proper Best Management Practices.
8 Restaurant Outreach June 29, 2024
Name/Address of Restaurant Poster
Accepted
Materials
Received By
Valley Donuts
851 5th G St.
yes Linda
Linda Taqueria
851 5th St. F yes Jaylin
Subway
851-Z Fifth St. yes Victoria
McDonald’s
805 5th St. yes Alexandra
Little Caesar
851 5th St. STE M yes Jasmin
Canton Garden
851 5th St. yes Mindy
Chilloko
146 S Alta St. yes Alia
La Enchilada Restaurant
118 S Alta St. yes Alonsa
El Antojito
35 4th St. yes Carmen
Tacos El Siete
800 5th St.
yes Fatima
Linda Taqueria
851 5th St.
yes Beatriz
Mike’s Pizza
320 Alta St.
yes Brenda
Del Valle Paleteria y Neveria
851 5th St.
yes Maria
Tacos Don Elias
31 3rd St.
yes Jose
Luigi’s Restaurant
346 Alta St.
yes Maria
Pacheco Water Store & Ice cream
216 Alta St. yes Deisy
Soto’s Gonzales Nutrition
32 4th St. yes Sagrado
Market Jalisco
47 4th St. yes Yeo Fabiola
Plaza Bakery
33 3rd St. yes Jorge
9 Educational Materials
E.7.a.ii.c, E.7.a.ii.h, E.7.a.ii.i
The popular bookmarks in English and Spanish were distributed at events and schools.
The NEW Clean Water brochure in English and Spanish on stormwater pollution prevention and proper residential disposal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) was printed.
The brochure is distributed on city websites, at public works departments, and the community library, and public events.
10 CBSM Intercept Surveys
E.7.a.ii.b
Analyze public survey responses through Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) to determine the effectiveness of the education program and determine behavior change.
Measurable Goal Results:
A total of 194 public intercept survey responses were evaluated. The intercept surveys were obtained from members of the public filling out surveys at community events. The results are tabulated below.
11 Q1 Where do you wash your car?
Response:
Home 127
Carwash 50
Home or Carwash 14
No car/ Do not wash 3
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer(NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10 -
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
53 39 23 11 0 1 0 0
16 11 18 5 0 0 0 0
3 4 7 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Q2 Only rainwater belongs in the storm
drains.
Response:
Yes 134
No 53
Blank 7
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10-
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
48 39 38 9 0 0 0 0
23 15 10 4 0 1 0 0
2 0 1 3 0 0 0 0
12 Q3 Motor oil, household cleaning fluids, or
chemicals poured on the ground or washed
down the street and into storm drains can
pollute the groundwater (drinking water)?
Response:
Yes 166
No 16
Blank 12
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10 -
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
66 46 40 13 0 1 0 0
3 7 4 2 0 0 0 0
4 2 5 1 0 0 0 0
Q4 A healthy ocean is good for me and my
family.
Response:
Yes 189
No 4
Blank 1
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10-
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
72 53 48 15 0 1 0 0
0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Q5 What type of grocery bags do you use?
Response:
Own 94
Paper 20
Plastic 49
Own or Paper 8
Own or Plastic 7
Paper or Plastic 8
Any 6
None 2
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10-
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
34 26 24 9 0 1 0 0
13 4 3 0 0 0 0 0
17 17 12 3 0 0 0 0
3 2 3 0 0 0 0 0
0 3 3 1 0 0 0 0
4 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Q6 Do you think litter is a problem for
cities?
Response:
Yes 154
No 39
Blank 1
Total 194
Sex (M/F/No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10-
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
61 38 44 10 0 1 0 0
11 17 5 6 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Q7 Do storm drains (grates in the street)
lead directly to a sewage plant where the
water is cleaned?
Response:
Yes 117
No 76
Blank 1
Total 194
Sex (M/F/ No Answer (NA) & Age Range
MALES FEMALES No Answer
10 -
54 55-
100
7-
54 55-
100
NA 7-
54 55-
100
NA
49 31 30 7 0 0 0 0
24 24 19 8 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Evaluation:
• Most people reported that they wash their car at home (65%) with the second most likely place at a car wash (26%).
• Most people reported that only rain belongs in the storm drains (69%). • Most people reported that motor oil, household cleaning fluids, or chemicals poured on the ground or washed down the street and into storm drains can pollute the groundwater (86%).
• Most people reported that a healthy ocean is good for their family and themselves (97%).
• Most people reported that they use their own bag at the grocery store (45%), followed by using plastic (25%) or paper (10%) bags.
• Most people reported that litter is a problem for cities (79%). • Most people reported that storm drains do not lead to a sewage plant where the water is cleaned (60%).