HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07112006 - C.109 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - 1 ;f- - ;, Contra
FROM: FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEEs1Costa
sra coui+`�'Z
DATE: July 11, 2006 County
SUBJECT: APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE PROPAGATION FUND TO
SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT BENEFITS FISH AND WILDLIFE
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
ACCEPT recommendation of the Fish and Wildlife Committee regarding the awarding of grant from the Fish and
Wildlife Propagation Fund;
AUTHORIZE the transfer of$17,625 from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund to the Contra Costa Watershed
Forum (c/o County Community Development Department).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No impact to the general fund. A portion of the fines collected from violations of fish and game regulations in the
County is deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund, which has a current balance of approximately
$73,000. State law defines how money in this fund may be spent, but the Board of Supervisors is responsible for
authorizing specific expenditures.The project recommended to receive funding is consistent with the expenditure
criteria established by State Law.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
Since 1996,the Fish and Wildlife Committee(FWC) has implemented a structured process for reviewing funding
requests. The intent of this structured review process was to replace case-by-case decision-making (such as
occurred previously and such as is the norm with most other Fish and Wildlife Committees)with a grant process
that enables comparative and efficient review of applications. Stuff. ,r1„ RV�
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATUR �4l
Daniel Pellegrini
Chair, Fish &Wildlife Committee
ECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
,-APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): r
ACTION OF BO?7 ON�?.�1�T/psi_APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED T_OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
�G UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 4,wb—•- I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
AYES: NOES: CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Kae Ono (925) 335-1230 ATTESTED d+/II ,0 (.@
cc: Community Development Department JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE
County Administrator's Office BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
Clerk of the Board COU TY ADMINISTRATOR.
Auditor-Controller
Community Development Department BY: DEPUTY
Accounting Division
I�
Aprpropriation from Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund
July 11, 2006
Page 2
In addition to the normal grant review cycle, out-of-cycle grant proposals are accepted on a case-by-case
basis. In 1998,the County Board of Supervisors approved specific criteria for reviewing grant requests outside
the normal grant review cycle. One criteria is if the proposed project cannot be performed at all unless funding
is received from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund sooner than would'be possible under the annual
review cycle. The FWC reviewed the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's application at its June meeting and
decided that it qualified for the out of cycle grant review because State funding will run out in November and
without extra funding, this program could not be continued.
The Contra Costa Watershed Forum's citizen volunteer creek monitoring program has been successfully run
since early 2001 by the County Community Development Department with the partnership of participating
creek groups and watershed related agencies from the Contra Costa Watershed Forum. 5,000 hours of
volunteer hours have been contributed so far to collect data from local creeks. The collected data has been
presented in two recent publications. In the fall of 2003, the Watershed Forum released the Contra Costa
Watershed Atlas at the Second Quadrennial Creek and Watershed Symposium. In the spring of 2006, it also
released the Data from the Creeks manual at the Creek and Watershed Symposia. Both were well received by
the public and are utilized by many agencies which deal with watershed management in the County. Members
of the Fish and Wildlife Committee agreed that supporting this program is beneficial for fish and wildlife of the
County and wish to see more data collected from creeks that have not been surveyed so far.
On June 21, 2006 the FWC unanimously agreed to recommend the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's
proposal to the County Board of Supervisors.
1) Require three general commitments from all projects receiving funding from the Fish and
Wildlife Propagation Fund: a) return funds if the project is not performed; b) provide
documentation and/or accounting to show that funds were spent for the purpose described in
application; and c) provide a brief summary report on the progress or results of the project
within a year of the grant approval announcement(July 11,2007)[unanimous(8 ayes/0 noes)]
2) Appropriate $17,625 to the Contra Costa Watershed Forum c/o Contra Costa County
Community Development Department for the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's Volunteer
Creek Monitoring Program. [8 ayes/0 noes]
ATTACHMENTS:
• Cover letter for funding application packets distributed by the Fish and Wildlife Committee.
• Criteria established by state law for expenditures from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund.
• October 1998 Board Order which lists the criteria for projects to be qualified under the out-of-
cycle grant reviewing process.
• Grant Proposal by the Contra Costa Watershed Forum
• Letters of Support for the Grant Proposal
GAConservation\FWC\Grant 2005\Propagation Fund Recommendation 6-21-2006.doc
Community Contra Dennis M. Barry,AICP
Community Development Director
Development Costa
Department County
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street
4th Floor,North Wing -
Martinez,California 94553-0095 0 s
Phone: (925) 335-1230 ,-
a coua't'�
DATE: October 24, 2005
TO: Persons & groups interested in the fish and wildlife resources of Contra Costa County
FROM: Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee
RE: Requests for funding from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund
The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee is pleased to announce the availability of funds from the
Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. The Fish and Wildlife Committee requests the
submission of completed Funding Applications(attached). Proposals need to be received by 5:00 p.m.on Thursday
December 29,2005 (a postmark of December 291h does not satisfv the submission deadline). Recommendations of
the Fish and Wildlife Committee will be forwarded to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, which
maintains final decision-making authority for expenditures from the Fund. Successful applicants may anticipate
receiving funding awards by the spring of 2006.
The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund is entirely supported by fine revenues which result
from violations of the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations in Contra Costa
County. Expenditures made from the Fund must benefit the fish and wildlife resources of the County. Projects
awarded funds from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund must meet the requirements of Section 13103 of the
Fish and Game Code (attached) which describes the types of projects that maybe eligible. Though all projects
which meet the requirements of Section 13103 will be considered, the Fish and Wildlife Committee strongly
encourages applications relating to activities to protect and conserve fish and wildlife,including improvement of fish
and wildlife habitat,public education about fish and wildlife conservation,and scientific fish and wildlife research in
Contra Costa County. The Fish and Wildlife Committee generally does not recommend funding for operating costs
and overhead. The funds also need to be expended within a year of receiving funds from the Committee(i.e. spring
of 2007). Grant applicants need to submit their final project report at the same time.
The Committee expects to recommend awards to several applicants.. However, it is possible that a particularly
excellent proposal will be recommended to receive a large portion of the total available funds. 'Awardees will be
asked to provide a summary of the outcome of the project and an explanation of how awarded funds were spent.
During the 2004/2005 grant cycle a total of$94,471 was awarded to 17 projects. The awards ranged from$480 to
$10,000. The Fish and Wildlife Committee appreciates your interest in this opportunity to improve the fish and
wildlife resources in Contra Costa County. Should you have any questions about the Fish and Wildlife Committee
or this funding program, please contact Kae Ono at(925) 335-1230 or John Kopchik at (925) 335-1227.
Office Hours Monday- Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Office is closed the 1 st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of each month
Please note that izuidelines for proposal submission have changed Please review and follow the
instructions below. Plan your submission accordingly. In addition to the Application Cover Page,
please submit the following
What Should Be Included in Your Proposal:
I Description of the project for which funding is requested. Please include an explanation of.
o' how this project will benefit the fish and wildlife of Contra Costa County
o how this project meets the requirements of Section 13103 o'f the Fish& Game Code (attached)
which defines the eligibility requirements for projects requesting funding from the Fish and
Wildlife Propagation Fund. Indicate which letter(s)of the Section 13103 is/are satisfied. If your
proposal is eligible under Section 13103 (d),(h),(i),or(in),please include a letter from the CA
Department of Fish and Game. (This letter does not count toward your four page limit.)
2) Project schedule - Funds need to be expended a year from the date you receive the funding (by
Spring 2007)
3) Project budget(itemized)
4) Annual budget for the applying organization(NOT itemized)
5) Statement describing the applying organization, listing the Board of Directors and officers of the
organization, and listing all affiliated organizations
6) Statement describing the qualifications of the sponsoring organization and participating individuals
for completing the project
7) List of individuals responsible for performing project and of individuals responsible for overseeing
project
8) Statement describing the status of permit approvals necessary to perform project (if applicable)
Format:
9 Your proposal packet, including cover sheet and any attachments must not exceed four single-
sided pages or two double-sided pages, 8.5 by I I inches in size.
* Do not attach brochures,posters,publications, CDs, DVDs or large maps.
0 Do not use yellow-sticky paper(e.g. Post-It )to express extra comments.
0 Your application packet must arrive by 5:00 p.m. December 29,2005 to be considered for
funding. (Please note: A postmark of December 29th does not satisfy the submission deadline).
Email submissions should be sent to Barbara Melton at bmelt@cd.cecounty.us with"Fish and
Wildlife Prop. Fund" in the subject line. Faxed applications will not be accepted.
Please submit your proposal packet to the following address:
Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee
c/o Contra Costa County Community Development Dept.
651 Pine Street,North Wing,Fourth Floor
Martinez,CA 94553
Attn: Barbara Melton
If you have questions regarding the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant process,please contact
Kae Ono:kono@cd.cccounty.us /(925)3315-1230 or John Kopchik:jkopc@cd.cccounty.us/(925)335-1227 . This form
may be downloaded from http.://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/FWC/.
13103. Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any
county may be made only for the following purposes:
(a) Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife
conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a
planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video
recordings,training models, and nature study facilities.
(b) Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife.
(c) Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence.
(d) Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife which are to be released
upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or
into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the
public.
(e) Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but.not limited to, construction
of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements;
gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water
distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other
vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and
wildlife.
(f) Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities.
(g) Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the department's
ownership and use or the department's use in the normal performance of the
department's responsibilities.
(h) Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in
writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a
particular wildlife species.
(i) Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning,
qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department.
(j) Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section
13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife
commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of
this subdivision, "reasonable cost" means an amount which does not exceed 3
percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year
period, or three thousand dollars ($3,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding
any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(k) Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement
of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code.
(1) Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and
prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the
department.
(m) Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting,
conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.
Appropriation from Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund
October 27, 1998
Page 2 of 2
The Board approved these recommendations on May 18, 1998. However, to avoid
unnecessary inflexibility in the grant process while maintaining the basic competitive review
structure, on May 21, 1997 the FWC approved the following criteria for reviewing grant
requests outside the normal grant review cycle:
The majority of projects will be reviewed simultaneously once per year. Projects can be
reviewed individually,outside the annual review cycle if:
• the project is a FWC-initiated project
• delaying review of the project until the annual review cycle would cause
substantial harm to the fish and wildlife resources of the County
• the project cannot be performed at all unless funding is received from the Fish
and Wildlife Propagation Fund sooner than would be possible under the annual
/ review cycle �
• the project has substantial matching funds which will expire unless funding is \ f
received from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund sooner than would be
possible under the annual review cycle
On September 16, 1998, the Fish .and Wildlife Committee reviewed a funding request
submitted by the Golden West Women Flyfisher Foundation for$1400 to purchase equipment
to sustain steelhead eggs rescued from unsuitable waters. Historically, steelhead lived and
spawned in many creeks in the County, but migration barriers and disturbance of natural
channels now force steelhead to lay eggs in inhospitable sections of these creeks where
successful reproduction is extremely unlikely. The Golden West organization proposed to
rescue such eggs, store them in one of two newly acquired chiller units, place these units-in
the care of two middle school classrooms,and release the juvenile.fish back to County creeks.
The FWC unanimously found that the project met the criteria for consideration outside the
normal review schedule because if review were-delayed until January 1, no opportunity would
exist to provide funds in time to rescue steelhead during the 98/99 rainy season. The FWC
unanimously approved the following recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding
this grant application:
1) Appropriate $1400 to the Golden West Women Flyfisher Foundation to support the
steelhead rescue project (check payable to: Golden West Women Flyfisher Foundation,
3949 Edenvale Place, Oakland, CA 94553, attn:Annette M.Thompson).
2) Require that the Golden West Women Flyfisher Foundation release all rescued fish within
Contra Costa County and that the two chiller units be maintained in separate classrooms
in Contra Costa County
3) Require the following three general commitments from the applicant which have been
required in the past of other grant recipients: a) return funds if the project is not
performed; b) provide documentation and/or accounting for how funds were spent;and
c) provide an annual or summary report on the progress or results of the project.
ATTACHMENTS: .
• Criteria established by state law for expenditures from the Fish and Wildlife
Propagation Fund
• Grant application from Golden West Women Flyfisher Foundation
j:\\jkopc\f&wbo$.o98
Contra Costa County office use only:
2005/2006 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund
Application Cover Page
. -i., il D:
Project title: Sustaining the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's Volunteer Creek'Monitoring Program
Organization/Individual applying: Contra Costa Watershed Forum/CCC Community Development
(organization type: please circle one— governme non-profit, for-profit, they)
Address: 651Pine Street,4th Floor,NW
Martinez, CA 94553
Telephone:_(925) 335-1272 Fax: _(925) 335-1299
E-mail: afate@cd.cccounty.us
Name and title of contact person: _Abigail Fateman, Conservation Planner
One sentence summary of proposal: _Sustain the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's Volunteer Creek
Monitoring Program by providing funds for important equipment purchases including: 3 new
GPS units and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling supplies.
Requested grant: $ 17,625
Proposal prepared by (name &title): Abigail Fateman, Conservation Planner
Signature: ! ate: 6/15/06
L
CCC Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request
June 15,2006
Section 1: Description of the project for which funding is requested.
a. How this project will benefit the fish and wildlife of Contra Costa County
The Contra Costa Watershed Forum(CCWF)and the Contra Costa County Community Development Department
are applying for$17,625 from the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund to support Contra Costa
Watershed Forum's Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program. The funds could be earmarked for equipment purchase
which would include: new GPS units(one time purchase—life of GPS unit is approximately 5 years)'and benthic
macroinvertebrate sampling supplies.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program has two primary components: GPS (Global Positioning System) surveys
of physical features of creeks and Bioassessment surveys using benthic macroinvertebrates(BMIs). The GPS
surveys were initiated first in 2001, and use GPS units to provide accurate, map-based information on attributes such
as creek substrate, shade cover,bank composition,bank slope,vegetation, and invasive plants. The volunteer
bioassessment program was initiated in 2005 and complements professional bioassessment monitoring efforts
initiated in 2001 by the Contra Costa Clean Water Program. Bioassessments rely on BMIs as indicators to assess
what water quality sampling often cannot: overall long-term health of the biological and chemical health of the
watershed.
Monitoring programs educate and train community members while also providing important data(that would
otherwise be unavailable)to resource managers. As water quality, in-stream communities and riparian habitat are
tracked—resource managers can better prioritize the expenditure of limited restoration funds. Such actions can
maximize the benefits to water quality as well as habitats for sensitive species. By instituting a countywide
monitoring system and protocols,the Program ensures compatible, consistent and reliable monitoring data.
Summary data from collected between 2001 and 2005 was presented at the CCWF Regional Symposia in early
2006, and is available(print and electronically) in a publication called Data From the Creeks: An Overview of the
Contra Costa County Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program.
b.How this project meets the requirements of the Section 13103 of the Fish & Game Code which defines the
eligibility requirements for projects requesting funding from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation fund.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program meets the requirements for Section 13103 (a).
Section 2: Project Schedule
July 2006—November 2006: Hire new Volunteer Coordinator, acquire new GPS units, train volunteers in GPS
Creek and Habitat Mapping Protocol,train new Volunteer Creek Monitoring Coordinator,map creeks with
volunteers.
November 2006—February 2007: Analyze BMI data collected in Spring 2006,Process and review GPS data
collected in Fall/Winter 2006. Presentation of data results to community groups,volunteers,resources
managers and other interested stakeholders
March 2007—June 2007: Acquire Bioassessment supplies,train volunteers in the California Rapid Bioassessment
Protocol to collect benthic macroinvertebrates, Collect BMI samples at over 40 sites.
Section 3: Project Budget
The annual budget for the overall program and secured contributions are indicated in the table below. A more
detailed description of Monitoring Equipment costs(for which we are requesting funding from the FWC) is included
in the smaller table below.
The GPS units originally purchased for the Program in 2001 need to be replaced (GPS Surveys involve 3 teams
working simultaneously; each team needs its own unit). They have been repeated repaired and 1 unit has completely
ceased to function. The technology is now outdated and it is not possible to buy a replacement(5 years is the
expected life of the GPS units and the entire set is due for replacement)
Page] of 3
CCC Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request
June 15,2006
The 5 pairs of waders that the program provides for volunteers to use have experienced heavy use over the past two
years(they are used with both the GPS and Bioassessment surveys), and though they have been repeatedly patched,
are no longer providing the protection that is intended.
Additional supplies and maintenance of equipment are annual costs incurred through bioassessment surveys.
Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program Annual Budget (06-07)
Funding Sources
Remainder Total
Estimated in Prop 13 CDD CCCWP CCCWP Committed Funding
_ De_scription of Activity__ _— Costs rant In-Kind $ In-Kind Funds Ga
New Volunteer coordinator(11
months FT _$61,000 --$11,000_..------—$50,000 '...:..........._..._....----......_$61,000-' $0....
t__—..—.___�_._..—_—.----.--.---.._..__..__..__..__.
Outgoing Volunteer coordinator(4 I
mos PTS $15,000 $15,000 — $15,000
_..B_....M........I.....l..a.-b--.c....o.....s.....t_.s_...._............_........................._. _._.._$9,000 —. _..._............._..._.........._.__._.._._..__._........,. — $5,000 $4,000
._... ..................—...._.. !---..........................._..............-T-_._..__ ._............
......
_.._
BMI collection Permits $500 $500
-------------------------------- -- — — — — — ----- ; -- — --- -- — —= -- — ---=- — — —
j Monitoring Equipment(3 new I j
_GPS units and BMI supplies) __ $17,625 _ _ _ __ __ $17,625
------------ ------------------ ------ —
Oversight, management, -'
coordination $65,000 _._.__.—..._..__--$50,000 1...._—..__...-._--. ..$15,000 ;..__......__$65,000 $0......
_ —._
GIS Spp
u ort —
_— —_ i .... $5,000 — $5,000
$10,000
j Computers, office space, i
accounting_�— $10,000 $10,000
_- —--- ------- — ._ _........
Reports/analysis $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000 $0
TOTAL $190,125 $26,000 $51,000 $55,000 $21,000 $153,000 $37,125
More detail on Monitoring
Equipment Costs
Monitoring Unit Total Section 4: Annual Budget of Applying Organization
Equipment Price Cost
Waders 5 $70 $350 The Contra Costa Watershed Forum is an open committee of
$55 (for some 50+organizations. The CCWF does not have a dedicated
Ethanol 5 operating budget. Contra Costa County Community
gallons) gallons) $275
(2255le ars $300 $300 Development contributes approximately$85,000 annually in
sampGPS units 3 $5,500 $16,500 staff time to the Forum.
Professional
Calibration of
Water Quality
Meter $200 $200
Notal .�: ,�
Section 5: Statement describing the applying organization,listing the Board of Directors and officers of the
organization,and listing all affiliated organizations.
Contra Costa Watershed Forum (CCWF) is an open committee of some fifty individuals and organizations large and
small including federal and state agencies, local agencies, professional watershed research organizations and
consultants,the "Friends" of various creeks, and community education organizations. The Board of Supervisors
officially recognized the Forum in 2000 as an important coordinating body, educational organization,and
community outreach program. The Board authorized CCC Community Department to provide staff support. The
Watershed Forum has continued to grow and support a number of programs including: the volunteer creek
monitoring program, a creek restoration projects database,the revision of the county's GIS creek data,publication of
the Watershed Atlas, and a quadrennial countywide symposium. The full Watershed Forum meets every-other
Page 2 of 3
CCC Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request
June 15,2006
month and various committees also meet throughout the year. The Forum maintains a website at
www.cocowaterweb.org.
Executive Committee Participants:
Carol Arnold-CCRCD Kae Ono-CCC-Com.Dev.Dept.
Mitch Avalon-CCC Flood Control District Igor Skaredoff-Friends of Alhambra Creek
Lisa Hockholt-USDA/NRCS Wendy Strickland-The Watershed Project
Art Jensen-CCRCD-Board Mike Vukman—Urban Creeks Council
John Kopchik-CCC-Com.Dev.Dept.
Section 6: Qualifications of sponsoring organization and participating individuals for completing the
project.
Contra Costa Watershed Forum (CCWF)
The Forum has an established track record of completing successful and innovative projects that benefit creeks and
watershed in Contra Costa County. CCWF has worked with the diverse stakeholder groups in the county to
organize conferences, produce an award-winning Watershed Atlas and spearhead a volunteer creek monitoring and
mapping program. The CCWF is staffed by members of the Contra Costa County Community Development
Department.
John Kopchik-Principal Planner,CCC Community Development
John Kopchik is a Principal Planner for the Contra Costa County Community Development Department, working in
the Conservation Programs Division. John coordinates a variety of natural resource conservation programs. John
has worked for the County for nearly a decade and has a B.A. degree from University of California, Berkeley in
Environmental Science.
Abigail Fateman- Conservation Programs Planner,CCC Community Development
Abby Fateman is a Planner for the Contra Costa County Community Development Department, working in the
Conservation Programs Division. She first joined the department in 2001 to work with the Contra Costa Watershed
Forum (CCWF)to develop and implement the Creek GPS Data Collection program. She has a B.A. from Wesleyan
University and a M.S. from the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan.
Section 7: List of individuals responsible for performing project and of individuals responsible for overseeing
the project
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program is a collaborative effort of CCWF volunteers and Contra Costa County
staff. Specific individuals who are responsible for overseeing and completing the project are:
Contra Costa County Community Development Staff
Abby Fateman Conservation Planner, CCC-CD
John Kopchik Principal Planner, CCC-CD
Aspen Madrone Volunteer Creek Monitoring Coordinator(outgoing)
Volunteer Creek Monitoring Advisory Committee:
Lisa Anich Friends of Mount Diablo Creek Jessica Hamburger CC Resource Conservation District
Carol Arnold CC Resource Conservation District Leslie Hunt Friends of the Creeks
Mitch Avalon CCC Flood Control&Water Cons.District Elaine Jackson California Native Plant Society
Carolina Balazs Natural Heritage Institute Carla Koop CC Resource Conservation District
Josh Berstrom East Bay Watershed Center/Merritt College Bert Mulchaey East Bay Municipal Utility District
Martha Berthelsen The Watershed Project Elizabeth O'Shea SPAWNERS
Josh Bradt Urban Creeks Council Tonya Redfield CCC Watershed Program
Joe DiDonato East Bay Regional Park District Igor Skaredoff Friends of Alhambra Creek Watershed
Carrie Dovzak CCC Public Works Department Bill Voigt Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed
Don Freitas Contra Costa Clean Water Program Nancy Voisey City of Pinole
Mary Grim CC Resource Conservation District Rich Walkling Natural Heritage Institute
Section 8: Statement describing the status of permit approvals necessary to perform project(if applicable)
Bioassessment surveys(benthic macroinvertebrates): A"Scientific Collecting Permit"from the California
Department of Fish and Game is required for sampling of benthic.macroinvertebrates. The permit allows for take of
BMIs from predetermined locations for two years. The permit application is submitted in January or February every-
other year.
Page 3 of 3
Letters of Support
1) Rich Walkling, Natural Heritage Institute
2) Carol Arnold, Contra Costa Resource Conservation District
3) Elaine Jackson, Friends of Alhambra Creek
4) Elizabeth O'Shea, SPAWNERS
5) Anne Littlejohn, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
6) Mary Grim, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
7) Lisa Anich, Friend s of Mount Diablo Creek
�Co6lyl�il5 CoS� 100 Pine Street,Suite 1550
SAN FRANCISCO,CA 94111
o o TEL:(415)693-3000/FAX:(415)693-3178
� lS
Moe WEBSITE:www.n-h-i.org
EMAIL:nhi@n-h-i.org
LSLSLS��LS l`,�l' C� Non-Profit Law and Science for Global Resource Solutions
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish &Wildlife Committee
c/o'Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street, N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
June 16, 2006
Dear Chairman Pellegrini:
I am writing this letter in support of Contra Costa Watershed Forum's Volunteer Creek Monitoring
Program. The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program is the best run and most important creek
program in Contra Costa County.
The program provides structure and technical support to help Contra Costa citizens understand and
manage their creeks. In the past year and a half, the program provided at least 10-15 days of
assistance to citizen groups we work with in Rheem Creek(Richmond) and Marsh Creek
(Brentwood). This assistance came in the form of classroom training, field training, coordination,
equipment maintenance, and assistance and oversight during monitoring days. They also provided
thousands of dollars of equipment that any given watershed group could not afford to purchase.
I strongly support the program's application to the Contra Costa County Fish &Wildlife Committee
and urge you to provide funds to this critical program. Without it, many of the citizen-driven
watershed groups will suffer.
Thank you for you consideration of their application.
Sincerely,
Rich Walkling
Senior Restoration Planner
Contra Costa Resource Conservation District
5552 Clayton Rd. Concord, CA 94521
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street,N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
June 19, 2006
Dear Mr. Pellegrini,
I am writing on behalf of the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District(CCRCD)to
request that the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee contribute funds for
new equipment and maintenance of old equipment for the Contra Costa County
Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program has contributed to CCRCD's work by
enhancing our educational efforts. Community members in the four watersheds where
we work—Alhambra,Kirker, Marsh, and Mount Diablo Creek Watersheds—have all
benefited from the opportunity to get involved in hands-on exploration of their local
creeks. We have also used data collected by the program in our analytical reports. For
example, GPS survey results were included in the Mount Diablo Creek Watershed
Assessment.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program is a valuable resource for our watershed
groups. The program not only generates useful data, but it gives community members
first-hand experience in evaluating the health of fish and wildlife habitat, increasing their
knowledge and enhancing their commitment to watershed stewardship.
Sincerely,
Carol Arnold
District Manager
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June 16, 2006
Danny Pellegini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish& Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
65.1 Pine Street,N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
RE: VOLUNTEER CREEK MONITORING, CONTRA COSTA
Dear Danny Pellegini,
I have had the pleasure of working with the scientist and other volunteers for the past
couple of years in our Contra Costa Watersheds and I have been impressed with their
dedication to science and giving recognition to the many vounteers that are involved in
this critical project of mapping and bioassessing our creeks. It's a great way to reach out
to the neighbors of the creeks and let them experience the thrill of discovering the habitat
of their creeks. I don't care how much money is spent on publishing books, informative
papers, manuals,newspaper articles etc.,nothing can compare to hands on education, and
believe me we are learning.Not a meeting goes by that we don't discuss the subject of
creek restoration, invasive plants, how to stabilize banks using native flora, how to keep
the natural habitat of our creeks clean and safe for all of us and future generations to
enjoy.
This program is not a luxury, it is a necessary component to keeping our waters clean.
I urge you to grant this funding request for equipment so that we can continue to map our
creeks with the utmost accuracy possible.
Thank you,
FRIENDS OF AL/HAMBRA CREEK
Elaine P. Jackson
Strentzel Meadow Activities Director
".400-I-E NSPAWNERS
San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education and Restoration Society
IWO? Protecting San Pablo Creek
June 19, 2006
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish &Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street, N.Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Pellegrini,
I am writing in support of the Contra Costa Watershed Forum's request for an out-of-cycle grant review.
The Forum is requesting a grant to pay for new equipment and maintenance of existing equipment used
by the Forum's Volunteer Monitoring Program.
The Volunteer Monitoring Program is available to all the creek groups in Contra Costa County. The
Benthic Macroinvertebrate monitoring program provides high quality and easily understood data about
the health of the creeks. The GPS program collects data on elements such as the exact location of the
creek channel, bank structure,vegetation, presence of habitat, and manmade structures.
These programs have brought hundreds of volunteers into the creek where they learn about the impacts
of human actions on the creeks. Some are surprised that the creeks still flow in their neighborhood and
some are horrified to see the degraded condition of some waterways. The volunteers I have worked with
in these programs are inspired to change their actions to protect the creeks and the wildlife that depend
on them. The programs are an ideal way to enlist the active support of local residents for stewardship of
our natural resources.
I urge you to review the grant request and recommend the proposal to the Board of Supervisors.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth O'Shea
SPAWNERS coordinator
SPAWNERS C/O The Watershed Project,1327 South 46th Street,155 Richmond Field,Station Richmond,CA 94804
FRIENDS OF MARSH CREEK WATERSHED
June 21, 2006
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish& Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street,N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Pellegrini,
On behalf of the Friends of.Marsh Creek Watershed, we respectfully request that the Contra
Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee provide support and funding to maintain equipment
for the Contra Costa County Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program has been one of the most important ways that our
group members became concretely acquainted with Marsh Creek. Both the GPS mapping and
the BMI monitoring activities helped members become intimately involved with the creek as
well as learn to understand it scientifically. The "get-your-feet-wet" approach has galvanized
passionate support among our members and helped us all gain an appreciation for our creeks
Moreover,the data collected by the program has been used to verify that salmon spawning
habitat is available upstream on a fish barrier, and this data has aided the effort to obtain funds to
remove this barrier.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program is a valuable resource for our watershed group. We do
not yet have the skill or equipment to conduct monitoring on our own. The longer this program
continues, the more valuable the data becomes because we can track trends over the longer term.
We hope you will do what you can to support this valuable program for creek stewardship.
Sincerely,
Anne Littlejohn
Coordinator, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
FRIENDS OF MARSH CREEK WATERSHED
June 19, 2006
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street,N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Pellegrini,
On behalf of the Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, we respectfully request that the Contra
Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee provide support and funding to maintain equipment
for the Contra Costa County Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program has been one of the most important ways that our
group members became concretely acquainted with Marsh Creek. Both the GPS mapping and
the BMI monitoring activities helped members become intimately involved with the creek as
well as learn to understand it scientifically. The"get-your-feet-wet'approach has galvanized
passionate support among our members and helped us all gain an appreciation for our creeks
Moreover,the data collected by the program has been used to verify that salmon spawning
habitat is available upstream on a fish barrier, and this data has aided the effort to obtain funds to
remove this barrier.
The Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program is a valuable resource for our watershed group. We do
not yet have the skill or equipment to conduct monitoring on our own. The longer this program
continues,the more valuable the data becomes because we can track trends over the longer term.
We hope you will do what you can to support this valuable program for creek stewardship.
Sincerely,
Mary Grim
CCRCD Watershed Coordinator
Member, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
Friends of Mount Diablo Creek
4495 River Ash Court
Concord, CA 94521
Danny Pellegrini, Chair
Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee
c/o Kae Ono
CCC Community Development
651 Pine Street,N. Wing, 4th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
June 19, 2006
Dear Mr. Pellegrini,
On behalf of Friends of Mount Diablo Creek we respectfully request that the
Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee contribute funds for new equipment
and maintenance of old equipment for the volunteer creek monitoring program.
Without assistance from the County's volunteer monitoring program the Friends
of Mount Diablo Creek would not be able to train and equip volunteers to conduct GPS
survey and benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) sampling programs.
The GPS survey and BMI sampling programs have greatly expanded our
volunteer efforts and have enabled us to collect reliable, consistent data. The costs of
collecting data would be prohibitive if not for volunteers, and our volunteers would be
less effective without the support and expertise of the County's volunteer creek
monitoring staff.
The County's Volunteer Creek Monitoring programs have given a tremendous
boost to Friends of Mount Diablo Creek and other Contra Costa County watershed
groups. These programs generate more than data:they give citizens first-hand knowledge
of riparian habitats and an important role in protecting fish and wildlife.
Sincerely,
Friends of Mount Diablo Creek supporters:
Lisa Anich Hsun Hsueh
Polly Boissevain Mary Malko
Sylvia Chatagnier Andy Tullus
Thelma Dana