04/19/2026
Today we say a huge thank you to CWC’s River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano Monroy, who is departing CWC after four and a half amazing years. In that time, Kaiya has brought so much heart and care to her efforts for the plants and wildlife along the lower San Lorenzo, and inspired hundreds of volunteers while working together to improve the river’s habitat. 🌿
Regular community volunteer and UCSC professor Amanda Smith shared this tribute to Kaiya: “During monthly River Health Days, as I ripped up invasive Himalayan blackberry and reseeded the levee with native plants, I also learned from the CWC’s river ecologist, Kaiya, how to listen to the San Lorenzo. If you spend time with her, she tends to say, you can kind of get a sense of what she wants on her banks. When the task of removing nonnatives felt insurmountable, Kaiya would remind me that you have to go slow because the invading plants have become habitat and destroying them all at once would hurt others as well. Repair must unfold slowly.” 🌱
Thank you, Kaiya, for all you have planted, nurtured, and taught during your time with CWC. Our river and our community are better because of you! 💙
