The Organization

Renaissance High School is a credit recovery school for students that are in need of additional credits for graduation. Project based learning is a method of teaching that our students work well at. We are engaged two projects: California Oak Tree Restoration and our Pismo Clam Restoration project. The Oak Tree Restoration is a partnership with River Partners where we grow oak trees, grasses or plants from seed and send them to be planted in the Central Valley. River Partners covers our costs. (http://www.riverpartners.org/about/) The other project, the Pismo Clam Restoration Project, is the project we are applying for the grant for. Our mission for the Pismo Project is to collect, fertilize, grow out and replant Pismo Clams into the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. We do have a scientific collection permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

The Project

Our project is in response to the depletion of Pismo Clams and the possibility that the clams may be facing a tipping point that could lead to a complete loss of the species in the future. Our plan began as a means of growing out clams to be reintroduced into the Monterey Bay. We had to apply for a permit, build the tanks and the necessary machines to accommodate the clams during the spawning and grow out periods.

The method we used to accomplish our setup was to keep it as natural as possible by not incorporating filters, electrical pumps, surgical extractions and other invasive methods. The reasoning behind this decision was based on an article that explained how a highly technical marine tank setup must be monitored very carefully. It explained that a bacterial or other infection/malfunction could spread quickly and kill all of the live organisms within a twelve hour period. Using the pumps, etc. also requires water changes on a frequent basis.

Other than adding clean salt water to our system, we have not had to replace the water. ( 10 months) Our plan to obtain the clams was to take them from the beach using clamming rakes and spades. We brought in sixteen clams to our tanks in August of 2017. The clams spawned in Tank 1 through September and most of October.

If we are successful and have a collection of recruits, we will grow them out for two - three years and then plant them in the ocean. Our hope is to increase the number of Pismo Clams in the Monterey Bay to a sustainable and viable population through education and action using the many resources in our neighboring communities.

I was encouraged to apply to NOAA for an Ocean's Guardian Grant by a friend. After reviewing the grant, I felt it was focused more closely to the lower grades as it suggested making posters and similar activities. I remembered an incident in 1965 that I thought might lead to a more important project for our students. In 1963 and 64 my family began hosting a clam bake at Palm Beach in the summer. The men would clam for a short time in the morning until the had caught their limits of Pismo Clams (1-1.5 hours). The ladies would clean and cook the clams and we would spend the entire day at the beach.

In 1965, the men went to to get the clams but were unable to find any legal sized clams; my mother had to go to the store and purchase canned clams for the clam bake. That was the last time we had a clam bake and I read the CDFW declared the Pismo Clam population as depleted in 1965.

After further research, I found the Pismo Clams were devastated through over-fishing, careless environmental spills and the return of the Otters. I found the commercial Pismo fishery was closed in 1948 and bag limits declined from 200 to 10 since 1918. After speaking with fishermen in the area and reading the reports, I realized the Pismo Clam is in dire need of our help if they are to continue to be a viable part of our California Costal ecosystem. I also found we are, as far as I can tell, the only attempt in the world to help the Pismo Clam return to it previous numbers. Our funding has been limited and the teachers have had to cover the greatest amount of the project to this point.

Key Project Milestones

* Attaining a collection permit through the CDFW (told by many we would never get a permit for our project, we did)
* Building two 2x16x3 ft. tanks
* Purchase of an RO water system
* Each tank filled with 350 gallons of water and 2900 lbs of clean #3/#6 sand
* Building of wave machines (1 per tank )
* Capture of Pismo Clams and inserting them into our tanks
* Purchase and installation of a new natural gas heater inside our greenhouse (housing clams)
* Clams have spawned 
* Waiting to discover Pismo recruits ( I was told we were likely unsuccessful, but we wait)

Project Locations

Renaissance High School, 11 Spring Valley Road, Watsonville, CA and La Selva Beach (on Monterey Bay)

Rough Budget for This Project

$5,000