Knightsen Wetland Restoration Project

Project Overview

Overview

East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (ECCCHC) and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) purchased the former Cerri Ranch property in 2016 to protect it from development and restore Delta habitat. ECCCHC and partners are developing a habitat restoration project on a 645-acre property east of the Knightsen community. The project team is currently refining concept plans that will create and restore wetlands and other habitat, manage storm water flows, and improve Delta water quality.

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Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings at this time, but they will be posted here when scheduled. 

Location

Knightsen is located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Contra Costa County. The project site is located along the historic Delta shoreline.  Historically this site was a mosaic of tidal marsh, wetland, sand dune, grassland and oak savanna, Most of the property is farmed (irrigated agriculture) with a small portion that is seasonally grazed.

Map of Knightsen Wetland Restoration Project

Background

A history of flooding and poor stormwater quality prompted the Contra Costa County Public Works Department, in conjunction with the Knightsen Town Advisory Council, to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best approach to address drainage concerns in this region. This study, as well as other studies undertaken since then, identified the 645-acre project site as a good location to direct and store stormwater, where natural wetlands could clean and filter the water before discharge to the Delta.

The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy is leading the effort to develop a wetland restoration project that will create habitat to support species. Conceptual alternative designs were completed and 2019 and work to refine the project continues.

Project Partners

  1. Meetings
  2. On-Site Activity Updates

Meetings

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings at this time, but they will be posted here when scheduled. 

Past Meetings

Groundwater Report Community Meeting 

March 29, 2023
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Groundwater Report Community Meeting Notice (PDF)
Groundwater Report Community Meeting Presentation (PDF)
Groundwater Report Community Meeting Notes (PDF)
Watch Video of March 29, 2023 Groundwater Report Community Meeting

Online Community Zoom Meeting

March 30, 2022
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Online Community Meeting Flyer (PDF)
Online Community Meeting Materials (PDF)
Online Community Meeting Notes (PDF)
Watch Video of March 30, 2022 Online Community Meeting

Project Site Visit - Open House and Tour

December 4, 2021
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Knightsen Site Visit Flyer (PDF)
Meeting Material
Posters presented at Open House (PDF)

Drone footage was recorded on Wednesday December 1, 2021.  The video is broken into four segments. The descriptions and links are provided below.  Please note that the interface allows you to increase the speed of the playback on the bottom left.  The map on the right of the display tracks the path and direction of view.

Community Meeting (Remote)

November 9, 2021 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
November 2021 Meeting Flyer (PDF)
Meeting Materials
November 2021 Community Meeting Agenda (PDF)
November 2021 Community Meeting Presentation (PDF)
November 2021 Community Meeting Notes (PDF)

Public Meeting 2

Thursday, July 11, 2019
7 pm - 8:30 pm
July 11, 2019 Meeting Announcement (PDF)
July 11, 2019 Meeting Materials and Notes (PDF - 4.7 MB)

Public Meeting 1

Wednesday, May 2, 2018
7 pm - 8:30 pm  
May 2, 2018, Meeting Announcement (PDF)
May 2, 2018, Meeting Materials and Notes (PDF)

Funding for the various stages of this effort including acquisition, studies, assessments and design has been provided by: California Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Wildlife Conservation Board, Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, East Bay Regional Park District, East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, Knightsen Community Services District, Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.