In 2017, the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District created the Carquinez Watershed Council to support the many watersheds that flow into the Carquinez Strait. This active group of participants has begun meeting to help support one another in their shared goal of watershed and shoreline conservation.
The Carquinez Watershed Council Promotes the Stewardship of the Sub-watersheds that Flow into the Carquinez Strait by Providing a Forum for Education, Resources and Community Engagement Activities that Benefit the Health of the Watershed.
The Carquinez Strait (English: /kɑːrˈkiːnəs/) is a narrow tidal strait in northern California. It is part of the tidal estuary of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers as they drain into the San Francisco Bay. The strait is 8 miles (13 km) long and connects Suisun Bay, which receives the waters of the combined rivers, with San Pablo Bay, a northern extension of the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California.
In late 2017, the Carquinez Recover the Waterfront committee (CReW) formed to develop the Carquinez Waterfront from a waste area into a fully integrated community landscape and local habitat restoration. This waterfront will provide a common use space for activities such as picnics, relaxation, community gatherings, and recreation staging, as well as connections to preexisting infrastructure including open space, the Bay Trail route, the Carquinez Strait waterway, non-profit volunteer facilities, and under-bridge plantings. The CReW Committee is made up of community members, business owners and local organizations, and is being hosted by the CCRCD. You can contact CReW at: hpetty@ccrcd.org
A Community Based Vision for the Carquinez Waterfront Project led by the Carquinez Recover the Waterfront Committee.
The nonprofit Bull Valley Agricultural Center promotes land stewardship and preservation for agricultural, educational, and recreational uses that respect habitat, connect people with nature, and build community resources.
Deeply alarmed by the rapid decline of honeybee populations worldwide, Bull Valley Agricultural Center (BVAC) founder Earl Flewellen sought to establish a bee yard away from the impacts of pesticides and conventional agriculture, joining a worldwide effort to support sustainable beekeeping and farming practices. In 2011, the endeavor led him to Port Costa where his vision fell on receptive ears with a local property owner who offered up her nearby land. The two formed a lasting bond, embarking on a 5-year odyssey—a remarkable collaboration that drew townsfolk, partners, and friends to join in on what was to become a community restoration.
CREEC is a non-profit environmental group for adults and youth dedicated to habitat restoration, planting native trees, propagating native plants, and increasing native butterfly populations. CREEC youth projects include hands-on environmental education and community outreach and service. Interested community members are always welcome at our meetings. Come and share your ideas!
Skills: Watershed management and coordination, grant writing, fundraising, events.
Fun Fact: Owns a marina, small urban farm, and a Scottish Highlander cattle ranch in the Delta. Loves music and silly hats!
Heidi Petty has been with the CCRCD since 2007. Her current position is Watershed Program Manager and Fundraising Coordinator, focusing on the Contra Costa side of the Carquinez Strait shoreline. In 1999, Heidi started a small bonsai and custom saltwater reef tank business named ‘Through the Looking Glass: A Living Art Studio’ in Crockett, CA, where she got an in-depth understanding of saltwater filtration and hydrology. Heidi has held numerous community leadership positions in the Crockett, Port Costa, and Rodeo area, including President of the local Chamber of Commerce and Board Member on the Crockett Community Services District. Her entrepreneurialism and government service background makes her a valuable asset to the RCD as a special government district.
She now lives on the river in Oakley, CA, and owns a marina and small urban farm as well as a 28-acre Highlander Cattle Ranch in the SF Delta. She is excited to expand her work by partnering with the technology industry to create innovative ways to help the environment through long-term partnerships and connecting tech to her restoration work.
The Mission of the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District is to Facilitate Conservation and Stewardship of the Natural Resources in Contra Costa County.
