Community groups active in Alhambra and Kirker Creek Watersheds

Alhambra Creek Watershed Groups – at a glance

AWC: Alhambra Watershed Council – watershed focus, implement plan

Friends of Alhambra Creek – watershed focus with an emphasis on Alhambra Creek

AVCC: The Alhambra Valley Creek Coalition – plan to restore one-mile stretch of creek from approx. Alhambra Valley Rd. to Alhambra Ave. Currently seeking grant

ACREEC: Alhambra Creek Environmental Education Collaborative – restoration of creek at Martinez Adult School (F St @ Alhambra Ave.); looking to extend program to John Swett Elementary.

AWC: Alhambra Watershed Council

AWC is a stakeholder group established in 1997 to produce the Alhambra Creek Watershed Management Plan (2001). The group’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the Alhambra Creek Watershed by educating the public about the watershed, acting as a community resource, and providing a forum for new ideas and projects. By representing diverse stakeholder interests and promoting healthy natural systems, AWC seeks the health and vitality of the entire watershed community. The County, Friends of Alhambra Creek, National Park Service, Muir Heritage Land Trust, residents, Martinez Planning Commission, and Alhambra Valley Improvement Association are all active participants. Recent projects include the Alhambra Creek Watershed Map and Festival, the Strentzel Lane Flood Reduction Project, and AVCC (see below). AWC receives coordinator support from the RCD.

The Alhambra Valley Creek Coalition (AVCC)

formed in August 2004 as a result of the Strentzel Lane project, a collaborative project to improve stormwater drainage and reduce local flooding. The project included restoration of Strentzel Creek upstream of Alhambra Valley Road. AVCC’s goal is to develop a collaborative project that will reduce erosion along the creek and enhance the natural function of the creek. AVCC is seeking the support of the 47 property owners along the segment of the creek from Alhambra Valley Rd. to Alhambra Ave (passes by both John Swett Elementary School and the John Muir Gravesite). To date, the group has:

• completed a volunteer GPS survey of the one-mile stretch of creek.
• was awarded a $2500 grant from the Watershed Project to carry out a resident survey. An evaluation of the survey and 3 steering committee meetings were facilitated by the WP grant. An action plan was also developed (4/05).
• obtained $65,000 to carry out a professional survey to characterize the creek corridor. Work is estimated to be complete by August 2006.
• plans to apply for a Calfed grant (12/06) to carry out an initial creek restoration project.

Groups and agencies including Friends of Alhambra Creek, the Alhambra Watershed Action Group, National Park Service, Contra Costa County, Muir Heritage Land Trust and Urban Creeks Council have offered their support and expertise to this effort.

ACREEC: Alhambra Creek Environmental Education Collaborative is a collaborative effort among theCity of Martinez , Urban Creeks Council , Martinez Adult and Continuing Education, Friends of Alhambra Creek, National Park Service, Contra Costa RCD and the Muir Heritage Land Trust. They received an initial grant from the Dept. of Water Resources to fund restoration of the creek behind the school and received additional funding from the Coastal Conservancy, City of Martinez, Martinez Unified School District, Shell Oil, CC Fish & Wildlife Committee and Friends of Alhambra Creek to fund an environmental education component. Students from the Briones Academy (ESA) have been involved in all phases of the project, including design, construction of a shade house, planting, installation of irrigation, weeding, and mulching. A trail and interpretive signs are planned for 2006. ESA students are currently working with students at John Swett Elementary on a new environmental education curriculum. ACREEC is currently applying for a Calfed grant to create swales to improve drainage and enhance environmental education opportunities. This project, if funded, will also serve as a kickoff project for AVCC which has the school at the lower end of its proposed restoration area. Students at the Briones Academy are also involved in a restoration project on the Muir Heritage Land Trust property in the upper watershed, Sky Ranch. The RCD obtained grants from the SF Estuary Project and Contra Costa Watershed Program to restore a sensitive seep area that has been fenced off to keep cattle out.

Established in 1991, Friends of Alhambra Creek is a volunteer group that brings people and Alhambra Creek together to protect the health of the creek and its surrounding community. They have collaborated with other people and agencies to participate in, and carry out, a wide range of projects:

• Alhambra Creek Enhancement Plan and Creek Ordinance (1991)
• Creek Care Guide (1994)
• “Saunter Along Alhambra Creek” walking tour of lower watershed (1993)
• Downtown and intermodal area creek restoration (1998-2000)
• Bi-annual creek cleanups
• Water quality monitoring
• GPS mapping
• Bioassessment pilot project
• Martinez Jr. High outdoor classroom & nursery
• Martinez Adult Education creek restoration & environmental education collaborative
• Strentzel Lane Flood Reduction and Strentzel Meadow Restoration
• Alhambra High track - native plant planting
• Invasive weed removal
• Creek health assessments

Members of FoAC also participate in AWC meetings and projects.

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Kirker Creek Watershed

Kirker Creek Watershed Advisory Group – implement watershed plan

Partners for the Watershed – implement environmental ed. and stewardship activities in watershed

Kirker Creek Watershed Advisory Group – an ad hoc group made up of members of the original planning group established in 2001 that completed the management plan in January 2004. They oversee implementation projects under the plan.

Partners for the Watershed was established as a spinoff of the original planning group. The mission of Partners for the Watershed is to achieve a healthy and sustainable watershed through collaborative, educational efforts that promote community and individual stewardship and responsibility. The Partners receive coordinator support from the RCD. Partners include:

City of Pittsburg

Contra Costa Water District

Delta-Diablo Sanitation District

Dow Chemical Company

East Bay Regional Park District

Lindsay Wildlife Museum

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg Unified School District

Praxair, Inc.

Rubicon Programs, Inc.

Supervisor Federal Glover

The Partners implement stewardship and environmental education activities under the guidance of the Plan, including:

· Habitat restoration at the Dow Wetlands

· Creek cleanups

· Watershed art and poetry contest

· Watershed training for teachers and community volunteers

· Los Medanos College water quality monitoring

· GPS mapping (LMC)

· Bioassessment