The goal of this project is to convert eight houses (which are inside the city limits of Martinez) from septic systems to connections to the sewer system. The project would be funded with a combination of low-interest financing, volunteer work, and grant money for payment of the connection fee.
Most of the houses along Alhambra Creek in the Martinez City Limits are connected to the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) sewer system. A small pocket of houses on septic systems remains along the eastward reach of Walnut Avenue. This pocket consists of eight (8) houses. They are small homes on small lots and were built more than 50 years ago. The old septic systems on the small lots are near the creek. The exact location of some of these systems is not precisely known. Near the houses, Alhambra Creek shows signs of contamination.
The cost of connecting these tanks to the Central San system is estimated to be approximately $11,000. Outlay of this magnitude would be a significant financial hardship for the residents. Many of the residents/owners of these small houses are elderly, on modest fixed incomes.
Goal 3 of the Plan is to "protect and improve water quality". Sub-objective 3.1.2 under this goal is to minimize contamination from septic systems. Since many existing septic systems in the watershed are approaching the end of their lifespan, property owners and the community must prepare either to replace the old systems with modern systems or to connect to sewers. One of the four action items for sub-objective 3.1.2 is to assist in identifying financial aid for residents who need to connect to sewers.
This project would develop new small detention/retention basins for flood control, agricultural water supply, and possibly for wildlife habitat. The basins would be on ranch land in Upper Franklin Canyon. The owner of the property is participating in this project. Currently the stream passes through a culvert under the Highway 4 embankment. Installing a standpipe at the inlet to the culvert would cause water to pond during storm events. A standpipe is a simple, low-cost way to impound water but it would require permission from the Department of Transportation and the adjacent landowner. Other options include excavating the basin site so that adjacent properties will not be affected, or developing an alternative site on the rancher's property.
Goal 1 of the Plan is to "reduce flood damage and conserve stormwater". Objective 1.2 is to reduce the flow rate and volume of runoff by several methods, including small farm ponds and simple retention basins. The Brenkle Ranch project will provide some flood management benefits by reducing the peak runoff and can serve as an example of the use of farm ponds and small basins to manage floods.
Joshua Bradt of the Urban Creeks Council is writing a formal proposal to be presented to the Martinez Unified School District school board. It will present preliminary plans and cost estimates for bank stabilization work to be done at the Martinez Adult School.
The work proposed is the removal of gabion walls on the west bank of the creek near the center of the school, approximately opposite 3410 Brookside Dr. Once the walls are gone, the bank is to be graded back gradually and replanted with appropriate native species. This should reduce the velocity of flows directly downstream, thus reducing erosion. This site was chosen for the work because there is a sufficient distance from buildings to allow bank grading. The goal is to begin work by late next summer.
The participants hope that the Brookside/Adult School project will become a demonstration "environmental studies" project for other school properties adjacent to the creek.
Goal 2 of the Plan is to prevent excessive erosion and conserve soil resources. More specifically, objective 2.3 under Goal 2 is to promote and implement erosion and sediment reduction methods and projects, and to use the projects to provide information to the public about erosion and sediment reduction. The Brookside/Adult School project would reduce erosion by widening the creek channel and slowing flows. It would also increase the area of stream-side vegetation and riparian habitat. The project has educational benefits because both Martinez Adult School students and residents of the Brookside neighborhood will be involved in planning and implementation.
This project proposes new planning guidelines within Alhambra Creek Watershed. It addresses three commonly used planning concepts and practices. The first concept is planning by political jurisdiction. The watershed is a more logical planning boundary for creek-related issues than a city boundary. The second practice is using the creek as a property boundary, which pits the property owner against the natural process of creek "meander". Although it is not practical to change existing property lines, it may be possible to prevent new property lines from being established in that way. The third practice is in-fill and densification in existing floodplains, which can exacerbate flood damage. Proposed development should take into account the new development's impact on flooding.
This project would establish an "overlay planning zone" for all land near Alhambra Creek. The overlay zone would include land within the planning jurisdiction of the City of Martinez as well as land outside the city subject to Contra Costa County planning rules.
Goal 5 of the Watershed Plan is to encourage coordination of City and County General and Specific Plans with each other using the watershed as a planning unit.
There are many kinds of illegal dumping. Fast-food wrappers mar scenic hillsides. Yard waste dumped in the creek depletes oxygen essential for aquatic life. Concrete rubble in the creek exacerbates flooding and burdens downstream property owners with the expense of removal.
The Alhambra Watershed group has reviewed and updated the list of agency contacts published in the Watershed Plan. Citizens can call these phone numbers to report illegal dumping. The group has also developed a postcard-sized summary of the phone numbers. With funding for printing and postage, the card could be mailed to residences in within the watershed.
The group's Education Committee is considering additional ways to educate the public about these issues.
Goal 3.2 of the Plan is to reduce illegal dumping. Action items include supporting existing educational programs in schools and the community, providing citizens with phone numbers to report illegal dumping, assessing the condition of the creek, and seeking ways to reduce economic obstacles to proper disposal.
There is currently a project underway to provide flood protection for the Strentzel Lane area in the upper Alhambra Creek watershed. The sub-watershed that drains to Alhambra Creek down Strentzel Lane is known as the Mount Wanda watershed and is about 200 acres in size. This collaborative project is a partnership between the Friends of Alhambra Creek, the National Park Service, the County, the City of Martinez, the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, the Alhambra Creek Watershed Planning Group, and the Urban Creeks Council. During heavy storms, stormwater from the Mount Wanda watershed floods across Alhambra Valley Road carrying sediment down through Strentzel Lane on its way to Alhambra Creek. The stormwaters flood the neighborhood and after the flows subside, silt and mud covers the properties in the area.
This project will provide flood protection infrastructure through the Strentzel Lane neighborhood from the Park Service property in the upper Mount Wanda watershed to Alhambra Creek. There will also be improvements on Park Service property in the Mount Wanda watershed to eliminate the source of sediment and improve water quality. The outfall of the storm drain system is downstream of the John Muir gravesite, which this project will also protect from flooding.
The second phase of the project is to design a restoration project for this section of Alhambra Creek. The restoration project will help to mitigate any impact from the outfall of the storm drainpipe from the Phase I project and help to stabilize the creek bank near the John Muir gravesite, an important historical landmark.
This project helps implement one of the primary goals of the watershed plan, which is to prevent flooding. The project also improves water quality and reduces sediment in the stormwater entering Alhambra Creek, which satisfies two other primary goals of the plan.
The goal of this project is to reduce excessive erosion in the less-densely developed upper watershed and protect the creek from unnaturally high sediment loads. The initial project will be a workshop on maintenance of backcountry roads, sponsored by the Alhambra Watershed Group and Contra Costa Resource Conservation District with funding from U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Vegetation removal and earth moving associated with unpaved roads and firebreaks increases erosion. However, with proper planning and grading techniques, soil loss can be minimized. In addition to environmental benefits, maintenance costs are reduced when roads are constructed correctly.
Goal 2 of the Plan is to prevent excessive erosion and conserve soil resources. Objective 2.5 is to minimize soil loss from orchards, vinyards and ranches. Objective 2.5's list of actions to be taken includes workshops for rural road construction, management, and maintenance.