Resources and How to Get Involved
How to Get Involved
“Tactical” Green infrastructure installation by The Watershed Project volunteers along the Richmond Greenway on Martin Luther King Day, 2019 (photo by Paula White)
Volunteer Opportunities and Options to Support County Projects
The natural beauty of our County’s flora, fauna, and natural areas make living in Contra Costa County special. Below is a list of organizations that you can join and participate in, along with their websites for more information.
Urban Tilth | |
Watershed Project | |
Contra Costa Resource Conservation District | |
Contra Costa Watershed Forum | |
Contra Costa Clean Water Program | |
| Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW) is a community organization focused on protecting, conserving, and restoring Marsh Creek and its tributaries. FOMCW offers a cycle of involvement opportunities that range from programs, events, and activities. Check out the link to get involved with FOMCW. - https://sites.google.com/view/friendsofmarshcreekwatershed |
Homeowners
Best Projects for Getting Started
Stormwater is generated from rain and is commonly referred to as stormwater runoff. We are not accustomed to thinking about stormwater runoff until an issue arises such as local flooding or water entering our basement. However, the quality of water in stormwater runoff is critical as it can affect the quality of the drinking water supply, the health of local streams used for fishing or recreation, pollinator habitat and other important environmental factors.
Simple maintenance projects for managing stormwater on your property include clearing blocked drainage structures, spraying, weeding, stabilization of eroded areas, planting native species, clearing debris, and regular mowing. The objective of homeowner stormwater mitigation includes slowing runoff, reducing concentrated flows by directing runoff to multiple pervious surfaces, and allowing runoff to sink into the ground.
Homeowner stormwater mitigation example. Photo source: Seattle Public Utilities.
Resources
| Contra Costa Clean Water Program The Contra Costa Clean Water Program (CCWP) was established in 1991 in response to the federal stormwater regulations. The CCWP is committed to complying with the San Francisco Bay Water Board Order. CCWP municipalities (Cities of Antioch, Clayton, Concord, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, San Ramon and Walnut Creek, and the towns of Danville and Moraga) stretch available money and resources to provide municipal services. - www.cccleanwater.org | |
| The Watershed Project Since 1997, The Watershed Project’s mission has been to inspire Bay Area communities to understand, appreciate, and protect local watersheds. They are working to restore and preserve the unique ecosystems that make up the San Francisco Bay, bringing a watershed perspective to the urban environment, promoting green design, and supporting natural cycles. - www.thewatershedproject.org | |
| SF Green Benefit District Contra Costa County is examining San Francisco’s Green Benefit District (GBD) as one of several innovative ways to fund GI projects. In this case it is an option for residents to directly invest in the beautification and greening of their neighborhood. A new type of neighborhood-based property assessment district, a GBD is voted into existence by the property owners within the proposed district. This special assessment district, authorized by state and local law, allows individual property owners to vote to assess their own property in exchange for control over how the assessment revenues are spent within their neighborhood. - www.dnwph-gbd.org |