Changes at L.A. Creek Freak, Call for Contributors

The four L.A. Creek Freak blog writers: Jessica Hall, Joe Linton, Joshua Link, and Jane Tsong.

There are some changes afoot at L.A. Creek Freak.

Two of us, Jessica Hall and Joe Linton, started this forum in mid-2008. We knew we had a lot to say about creeks and streams and how they figure into Los Angeles’ past, present, and future. We wanted to reach new audiences, bring new folks down to the LA River and other rivers and streams. Challenge you to think bigger about the flood control system and storm water management.  Create a place where people could discuss local waters.

We wrote a lot, we learned a lot from folks who found us via the blog. As time progressed, two more contributors, Jane Tsong and Joshua Link, came on board to write additional posts.

Creek Freak is a labor of love. We’re all volunteers. Sometimes we’ve scooped the local media on big river stories, and sometimes we’ve gotten busy with other work and neglected our readership. Overall, we’re up to 561 posts, more than 500 subscribers, nearly 2500 comments, and nearly 500,000 visits.

We have a couple of announcements that mean Creek Freak’s future may meander a bit. We’ll still be around, and still posting here, but both Jessica and Joe are heading out of Southern California for a while… so we won’t have our fingers on the local pulse… but we’ll hopefully learn things from other places and bring those lessons learned back to L.A.

Jessica:  I’m the new Humboldt Baykeeper!  Stepping into this executive director role brings new challenges and responsibilities, while moving up to Humboldt County brings a different environment, more accessible natural beauty, and small town living to a city girl who has longed for an adventure like this for a quite a while.  I will miss many things about LA – and while my blogging here at LA Creek Freak will probably decline precipitously, I do still have a few posts writing themselves in my head.  Now, for the time to actually write them…. I’ll be leaving at the end of the month so some things may be left unsaid.  Be well, creek freaks, and tell your electeds you want your creeks back (tell them frequently).

Joe: In early 2013, I plan to move to Jersey City, New Jersey – right across the Hudson River from New York City. I’ve fallen in love with my girlfriend who lives there. I am excited to build a life together with her. In the long run, my girlfriend and I intend to move back to L.A. together (may be months or years, not sure when), but for now I am excited to explore the rivers and wetlands there – also work on my art and get involved in urban environmental activism there. (From late-September through mid-November I am also doing a two-month European vacation.)

Jane and Joshua plan to continue to contribute occasionally. Joe will occasionally contribute stories from afar, and Jessica will as opportunity allows, both looking to convey stories where there are stream lessons that are applicable to Southern California. No matter where we go, we’re still L.A. Creek Freaks!

We’re also looking for volunteers that are interested in contributing to L.A. Creek Freak and share the Creek Freak ethos of respectful yet passionate dialogue about our waterways.  If you’re interested, drop us an email – send to both jishica [at] gmail.com and linton.joe [at] gmail.com. Tell us about yourself, your connection to local waters, and give us links to a couple of writing samples.