Even the biggest storm to hit California in 20 years could not stop Congressman Miller and students from the “Water and Environment” class at John Swett High School in Crockett from their plans to restore Edward Creek located directly behind their school. On January 3, 2006, George joined the team of ten students, and their teacher, Ms. Meilin Duncan, to get the densely wooded area ready for habitat restoration. George and the students worked diligently in the rain clearing the riparian zone (the area around the creek) by identifying, collecting and removing invasive non-native plants and replacing them with native coast live oak trees. The class hopes that their efforts will eventually bring back endangered Monarch butterflies and become a sanctuary for other native California wildlife.

The team was led by Sandra Dare and Karina Korde of the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center (CREEC). CREEC is a nonprofit that educates students about the environment and encourages communities to volunteer in creek restoration along the Carquinez Strait. CREEC has worked with the class for over a month on the restoration project. For more information about CREEC, please contact mailbox@CREECyouth.org.

George Miller, Ms. Duncan and student (Mikella Glass) head up a hill to plant a tree while other students prepare the ground below.

George Miller, Ms. Duncan (teacher), student Skylyn McKoy and her classmates watch as Sandra Dare (CREEC) instructs them on how to prepare the ground for planting native trees.

George Miller standing with students from the Water and the Environment class at John Swett High School: Mohammad (Moe) Munshi, Alex McNeally, Randy Jones (back), Mikella Glass, Chuy Padilla, Skylyn McKoy, Sandra Dare (CREEC), Latressa Alford (back), Ms. Duncan (teacher), and Ryan Taplin