Informational DVDs Available on...

Healthy Horses, Healthy Land, Healthy Watersheds - searchable DVD

Need help managing your manure, muddy paddock, or eroding pasture? Horsekeeping facilities both large and small, can benefit from this searchable 5 hour DVD of a workshop on management of pastures, paddocks, drainage, mud and manure. Search the index of slides to jump to exactly the part you wish to see and hear. It also includes a talk on plants that are toxic to horses and local invasivev weeds. Tons of information plus a library of documents you can print out all for $20. To order the DVD contact Mary Grim

Identification and Management of Rangeland Weeds - searchable DVD

Learn at your own convenience! With this DVD you can improve your ability to ID and manage rangeland weeds. Great photos to aid with identification. If your computer has Microsoft Internet Explorer, this format allows you to jump to exactly the information you want to hear rather than playing a long program or fast forwarding hoping to find what you want. For only $15 you can order this DVD which covers:

  • The importance of detecting small infestations
  • ID of priority weeds (with great photos!)
  • Best practices for preventing the spread of weeds
  • Control options for thistles and selected grasses (including medusahead)
  • Using managed grazing to improve your rangeland

Contact Mary Grim to order. (925-672-6522 x113)

Recent News on Water Pollution and Pollution Prevention

Read the latest news on water pollution issues affecting our county, and measures that some communitites are taking to protect our waters. Visit the Contra Costa Clean Water Program news page at: http://www.cccleanwater.org/clean-water-news.html.


Rodeo Creek Watershed Vision Plan
A Vision Plan for for protecting and improving Rodeo Creek Watershed has been produced through collaborative planning process led by the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the Restoration Design Group. Project sponsors include Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency, Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Contra Costa County Public Works and the Muir Heritage Land Trust. For details contact Heidi Petty at the RCD at 925- 672-6522 x115 or heidi.petty@ca.nacdnet.net.


Erosion Problems? Check out the Stream Bioengineering Handbook available from the Urban Creeks Council (UCC). With the rainy season underway, creekside property can be eroded by high water flows. This UCC handbook gives landowners useful information on how to protect their streambanks from erosion.

Pavon Creeks Sediment Source Assessment
The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) worked with the Contra Costa RCD, NRCS, and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) during the 2005-2006 wet season to complete an assessment of the Pavon Creeks sub-basin, a tributary to Pinole Creek to determine the causes of erosion in this sub-basin. As the single largest point source of sediment in the watershed, this assessment will allow stakeholders and land managers to make more informed decisions regarding management of this area. The final report is now available online in PDF format at
http://www.sfei.org/sfeireports.htm#WS

Mount Diablo Creek Watershed Inventory now available.

The Data from the Creeks (2006)
The Contra Costa County Community Development Department has published highlights of data gathered by creek volunteers over the past year. This includes GPS mapping data, water quality data and results of aquatic invertebrate monitoring. Click the heading above to view or download data.

Podcasts about Watersheds!
The San Francisco Bay Joint Venture has a new website called www.yourwetlands.org with podcasts about local watersheds.

View issues of Cross Currents - A newsletter by and for Contra Costa watershed stewards.
Click above to print or read about new projects in several Central Contra Costa watersheds.) See also the prior issues:

Cross Currents - Jan. 2006

Cross Currents - July 2006

Information for Horse Owners
The Contra Costa Clean Water Program has posted all the San Francisco Bay RC&D's horsekeeping materials on their website at http://www.cccleanwater.org/resources/materials/index.php.

Mount Diablo Watershed Assessment
The Mount Diablo Creek Watershed Assessment, a colorful summary of watershed history, current conditions and management activities, is now available.

Alhambra Watershed Activities:
Strentzel Meadow Restoration Days`
(1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month, 9 am-12 noon)

Watershed Meetings:

The Pinole Creek Watershed Sediment Source Analysis and Baseline Water Quality Study - The final report is now available online in PDF format. Contact Carol Arnold at carol_arnold@nacdnet.org for more information on this study.

Awards for the Contra Costa RCD
2004 Outstanding District in California

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