April 27, 2004

We started this trail at the visitor center. There were displays of traditional Ohlone Indian life in this area. There were also displays of the wildlife that inhabits Coyote Hills Regional Park. 

The DUST trail is a Demonstration of Urban Stormwater Treatment. Rainwater that drains from neighboring Fremont is directed into this marshy area. The oil and litter from the rainwater is greatly purified by the marshlands. This illustrates a good reason to preserve and restore our marshlands.
Our hike began on boardwalks among the cattails in the marsh. There was a great population of waterfowl in the marsh. Besides the normal coots, mallards, and Canadian geese we saw herons, egrets and white pelicans. 
After our short walk through the marsh we emerged on dirt roads raised above the marsh and headed for Alameda Creek. We found a paved trail along the broad plain of the creek. It isn't hard to image the wide creek bed filled with water during winter rainstorms. Now it was home to the waterfowl and flowers.

After about a mile we turned back onto a dirt road then onto a trail above the main marsh. As we headed back to the visitor center a ranger was spraying the marsh for mosquitoes. It was interesting to reflect on what this area could have been like for the Ohlone Indians - no raised roads, no mosquito spray. But probably full of birds, fish and other animals among the reeds along the bay.