The Contra Costa Watershed Forum A Partnership Focused on the Creeks and Watersheds of Contra Costa County John Kopchik, CCC Community Development Department Phone: /

Quick look at the Presentation History of the CCWF how it all started About the CCWF Mission, Participants, Staffing/Funding Programs of the CCWF Signage, Data Collection, Publications What Works… and what we are still working on

About Watershed Activities Contra Costa County has about 20 “community-sized” watersheds (& 2 big ones) Grassroots interest in local creeks has been present for years Many subregional activities – monitoring, clean-ups, env. education, restoration, native plantings, etc. Patricia Mathews History

Watersheds of Contra Costa County

Evolution of the CCWF Fall 1998: County’s Fish & Wildlife Committee initiated planning for a county-wide creek symposium April 1999: More than 300 people attended symposium in April of 1999 Summer/Fall 1999: Symposium planning group evolved into the CCWF 2000: CCC Board of Supervisors recognized the Forum and authorized staff time to support Forum activities History

Mission of the CCWF The mission of the Contra Costa Watershed Forum is to identify common principles among parties involved in creek and watershed issues and promote actions that transform these principles into multi-objective enhancements of creeks and watersheds throughout the county. About CCWF

Local governments Watershed planning groups Friends of creek groups Special districts –RCD –Flood Control –Water Districts –Park Districts –Sanitary Districts –Mosquito Abatement, etc. Environmental education organizations Private landowners Farmers and Ranchers Developers Regulatory agencies About CCWF Who is Involved

Funding and Staffing About CCWF CCC Community Development Department provides most staffing within its Water Agency One FT Volunteer Creek Monitoring Coordinator Three additional staff FT staff work PT with CCWF Flood Control / Public Works provide additional support and staff leadership Some CCWF activities are managed by others Most funding is project by project (generally) CALFED, Prop 13/SWRCB (2), County Water Agency funds, CC Clean Water Program, GIS grant, CCC Fish and Wildlife Committee, SF Foundation…

Regular bi-monthly meetings (+ committees) Creek and Watershed Signage Volunteer GPS Data Collection/ BMI Surveys Publications: Watershed Atlas, Databook Historical Ecology (new project) Mitigation Coordination Quadrennial Countywide Symposium Periodic Regional Symposia (evenings) Awards program Website: Programs Activities

RCD staff conceived of the idea of developing a countywide creek signage program CCWF very receptive and a subcommittee was formed to brainstorm the details RCD submitted grant application on behalf of CCWF and implemented program Posting of signs is an on-going process that started in Winter 2003 (approx 600 signs) Creek Signage Programs

In 2001, CCWF launched a creek survey program using GPS technology and volunteers Survey focuses on physical characteristics of creeks: bank composition, substrate, shade cover, exotic plant patches, outfalls, drops, etc. Survey developed in conjunction with agency scientists and creek group leaders In 2004, CCWF hired a full-time Volunteer Creek Monitoring Coordinator Programs Volunteer Data Collection GPS Mapping

Program benefits: –Basic data on creek locations –Growing, detailed picture of the physical vital signs of our creeks –Analysis spin-offs –Public education and outreach Programs GPS Mapping Creek bank composition and large erosion sites

Bioassessment Surveys Clean Water Program initiated in Partnered with CCWF in st Volunteer training was Spring 2005 In cooperation with the Clean Water Program, CCWF is continuing and expanding the bio- assessment survey program Programs Aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) are indicators of water quality and overall watershed health. By monitoring their presence (or absence) and diversity we can learn about the effectiveness of policies and programs

Programs Volunteers Collect Data (and lots of it!) hours - 42 sites and volunteers - 5,000 hours - ~20 miles volunteers GPSBioassessment

Data Compilation, Publication & Distribution Programs

Publications Contra Costa County Watershed Atlas A countywide reference document on creeks and watersheds filled with maps, data tables, contact information, restoration projects. Programs

Chapter Overview Creeks and Watersheds Political Boundaries Planned Land Use Population Topography Earthquake Faults, Landslides, Flood Plains Soils, Slope, Aspect, Land Cover Temperature, Rainfall Impervious Surface Present and Historical Steelhead Population Resources, Volunteer Opportunities Overview of Atlas Programs

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Overview of Atlas Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources Overview of Atlas

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources Overview of Atlas

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources Overview of Atlas

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources Overview of Atlas

Watershed Overview Color Aerials Creek Channel Conditions Topography Hydrology Political Boundaries Population Density Planned Land Use Protected Lands Volunteer Activities & Resources Overview of Atlas

Historical Ecology Programs New Project! Other regions have similar projects: Santa Clara Water District, SFEI, Sonoma Ecology Center and others Watershed planning and restoration tool New (old) perspective on landscape Lots of CCWF stakeholder interest Looking for funding…

What’s Worked … Committed, creative and effective volunteers and stakeholders Decision-making by casual consensus Committees for special projects Good meeting attendance (daytime mtgs) More than a “Forum” - there is always a group project (data collection, publication, study, etc.) Buy-in from County government (wish we had more from the cities) Not taking policy positions

…and what we are still working on Not taking policy positions Better connection to decision makers Permanent funding Extra-regional coordination Mitigation coordination Closing the gap between the amount of monitoring performed and the amount needed

John Kopchik CCC Community Development Department Phone: