PUBLIC EDUCATION & INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH



PUBLIC EDUCATION & INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH

PUBLIC EDUCATION & INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH

QUALITATIVE RESULTS

Municipality: Contra Costa County (Unincorporated) Permit Year: 2008/2009

Introduction:

During Permit Year (PY) 2008/09 the Contra Costa County Public Works Department’s County Watershed Program (CWP) continued to spearhead efforts to educate County citizens and stakeholders about preventing stormwater pollution. CWP staff has been busy continuing to implement many of the successful outreach projects that CWP has become known for, such as the Annual Watershed Calendar, Community Watershed Stewardship Grant Program, our Storm Drain Marker Program, and the “Keep the Delta Clean” (KDC) Program.

In addition, staff has been formulating new and creative outreach pieces to enrich our existing comprehensive pollution prevention education programs. Examples of these include:

• Living with Creeks intended to educate property owners abutting creeks of their responsibility for proper creek maintenance and care.

• Oil Spill Notification Postcard in response to numerous late reports of oil spills in and around Discovery Bay.

• Street Sweeping Brochure Translated to Spanish at the request of our West County Supervisor Gioia’s office.

• Thank You Notes to show our appreciation to our public and stakeholders for the fine work that they do.

• Keeping it All in Tune Brochure with updated oil recycling information.

• Pool & Restaurant BMPs for Plan Check for Environmental Health to disseminate to permit applicants building or remodeling swimming pools and food service facilities.

During PY 2008/09 Contra Costa County (County) launched a new website. CWP staff worked to ensure that all CWP information is accurate and easy to read. Staff included relevant photos and attachments in order to educate the public, both about the CWP and how everyone can help protect stormwater. Topics addressed in the CWP portion of the website include CWP’s Regulatory Requirements; Street Sweeping and Storm Drain Cleaning; Pollution Prevention; New Development and Construction Controls; and Public Education and Outreach.

We continue to work closely with our contracted graphic design company, Finger Art and Design, at completing the 2009 Watershed Calendar and in developing a new smaller and vertical format for the 2010 version.

We also continue to participate in the Public Education and Industrial Outreach (PEIO) committee of the Contra Costa Clean Water Program (CCCWP). In PY 2008/09 this committee selected a new marketing firm; conducted a focus group of County residents to determine their views about clean water issues; produced advertisements and commercials for our trash campaign; and purchased and disseminated promotional items, including California poppy seeds, mood pencils, reusable bags, magnetic clips, and rechargeable flashlights.

The CWP remains committed to outreach and education as the strategy with the most potential to prevent stormwater pollution by inspiring immediate and sustained behavior change. CWP works hard to educate and motivate everyone residing or working in the County to help us meet our stormwater pollution prevention goals as we strive to protect and improve the water quality of our County’s watersheds.

Contact Charmaine Bernard at (925) 313-2236 or by e-mail at cbern@county.us, or Dan Jordan at (925) 313-2023 or djord@county.us, for more information about the PEIO section of the CWP’s 2008/09 Annual Report.

Implementation & Evaluation:

Analysis of Stated PY 2007/08 Annual Report PEIO Goals for PY 2008/09

1. Continue watershed awareness programs through contracts that establish partnerships with other stakeholder agencies.

This goal is ongoing; meeting this goal is manifested through the CWP’s commitment to the Community Watershed Stewardship Grant and the CWP’s involvement with the Contra Costa Watershed Forum, which brings various stakeholders together to share information about local watershed issues, restoration efforts, and other projects/accomplishments.

Additionally, through the KDC Program, CWP facilitates the Delta chapter of the California Clean Boating Network (CCBN) in partnership with the Department of Boating and Waterways and the California Coastal Commission. The CCBN consists of a collaboration of government, environmental, business, boating, and academic organizations working to increase and improve clean boating education efforts in California. Through the exchange of information and consideration of new trends in clean boating practices, CCBN members increase their ability to educate the boating public about clean boating practices. There are currently three CCBN chapters; each meets quarterly to network and consider new topics in clean boating education and technologies.

2. Continue to pursue grant opportunities that will support and sustain CWP programs to reduce nonpoint source pollution and promote watershed stewardship.

The CWP continues to partner with the Watershed Project (nonprofit creek education and restoration advisory organization). PY 2008/09 marks the fifth year of this annual grant distribution program, which has distributed over $500,000 to small nonprofit community-based creek groups as well as local agencies for waterway restoration and education projects.

During PY 2008/09 CWP applied for an Estuary 2100 Phase 2 grant from San Francisco Estuary Partnership to conduct water quality monitoring and a feasibility study at the North Richmond pump station with the ultimate goal being the diversion of low flows from the pump station to the West County Wastewater District for treatment.

3. Distribute educational materials at community events within unincorporated Contra Costa County through Earth Day events and other environmentally oriented functions, as well as events sponsored by the KDC Program.

This year through the KDC Program, CWP distributed boater kits to several thousand boaters throughout eastern Contra Costa County.

CWP staff also participated in the Public Works’ week held this year on May 18-24, 2009, by supplying and restocking tables of public information pieces and promo items at the front office as well as the downtown Administration Building.

4. Complete our Living with Creeks brochure prior to the onset of the rainy season and disseminate it to all property owners along waterways in unincorporated areas of the County.

This was successfully completed. 10,000 copies were produced with 6,409 mailed to creek side property owners in unincorporated Contra Costa County.

5. Complete the 2009 Watershed Calendar on time and within budget. Depict the County in a manner that inspires our residents to do their part to safeguard water quality.

During PY 2008/09, CWP completed the 2009 Watershed Calendar on time and within budget. As with previous versions, assistance in producing the calendar was provided by Finger Art and Design. Photographs that had been donated by both professional and amateur photographers were used. CWP and Finger Art and Design worked to ensure that all regions of Contra Costa County were represented in the calendar based on feedback from previous years. Photos were selected for their quality, lighting, and dramatization of the diversity and beauty of the County’s watersheds.

Positive feedback from County residents encourages the CWP to continue this worthwhile project, not only due to the community involvement it encourages, but also because it constitutes an opportunity to disseminate water quality protection tips to a wide audience.

6. Develop a brochure about the CWP functions and accomplishments in order to educate the public, our stakeholder and agency partners about the work we do to protect our watersheds.

While pursuing this goal, it was brought to our attention this Permit Year that the Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District produced a “Who We Are” brochure several years ago and included a section about the CWP and its functions. We may, however, wish to continue pursuing a dedicated publication about the CWP. We have included it as a line item in the Service Plan with our graphic design firm and may follow through with this effort upon enactment of the Municipal Regional Permit (MRP).

7. Disseminate additional Best Management Practices (BMPs) Car Kits to inspectors in other divisions and County departments in order to increase awareness that compliance with the municipal stormwater discharge NPDES permit is everyone’s responsibility and that compliance requires participation of numerous County agencies and departments.

This is completed. All BMP Car Kits have been disseminated to Contra Costa County inspectors. These inspectors’ job duties take them to various field locations where they sometimes observe stormwater violations. Providing them with BMP Car Kits is an effective way to utilize existing County staff to further the goal of improved stormwater quality through education.

8. Continue implementing the Service Plan with the Health Services Department’s Hazardous Materials Division in updating, reprinting, and distributing Painters Brochures to local paint stores.

This is ongoing by HazMat as part of our pollution prevention outreach campaign. This year we sent out 4250 paint brochures to paint retailers and hardware supply stores throughout the County. Click here to view the distribution list of businesses we outreached to.

9. Continue implementing Service Plan with the Health Services Department’s Hazardous Materials Division to make stormwater pollution prevention presentations at Industry Associations and Schools; Outreach regarding fundraiser car washes and use of BMPs, including the CWP’s car wash kits.

This is ongoing. Although our interdepartmental Agreement with HazMat has expired, we expect to resume our close working relationship with them in continuing stormwater industrial and commercial business inspection this fall. HazMat remains committed to educating stakeholders in pollution prevention and illicit discharge elimination, and even without funding from CWP, they continue to outreach to the regulated business community regarding stormwater protection.

10. Storm Drain Marker Program — Install new, custom storm drain markers throughout unincorporated Contra Costa County as needed and applicable.

Student Workers continued their third summer of inspecting, mapping, and applying our new storm drain markers on every public catch basin in the unincorporated areas of the County. In PY 2008/09, 2,368 storm drain markers were installed, bringing the total of storm drain markers applied to 4,845 markers. The storm drain markers educate residents about the importance of preventing sources of pollution from being dumped into storm drains. They also inform the public that storm drains are not treated and lead directly to local water bodies.

Public Education and Industrial Outreach Activities During PY 2008/09:

2009 Watershed Calendar

During PY 2008/09, the CWP published its 5th Annual Contra Costa County Watershed Calendar. The theme of this year’s calendar is “Water.” The 2009 Watershed Calendar was disseminated to 56,000 residents of unincorporated Contra Costa County. We selected outstanding photography to highlight water’s diverse and mystic expression throughout the County — from the Bay to the Delta. Each month also included a water quote that provided inspiration for the protection of this precious resource. As in previous years, each sidebar topic educated residents on pollution prevention issues with a call for action.

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As with previous versions, the 2009 Watershed Calendar couldn’t be possible without the expertise of our graphic design team of Finger Art and Design. John Finger, the principal of Finger Art and Design, worked with CWP staff to outreach to photographers, both professional and novice, for quality photographs that were representative of the County’s watersheds — creeks, perennial creeks, vernal pools, the Carquinez Strait, the Delta, Bay(s), stormwater, urban runoff, etc. All attempts were made to feature photos of water bodies located throughout the County. The inside cover also featured a map of the County to educate residents about the locations of the waterways depicted in the photographs.

In addition to taking and selecting the quality and dramatic photographs featured this year, John and his assistant, Terry Bynes, a notable figure in environmental education in our area, assisted CWP staff to draft concise and informative sidebar messages and public calls to action.

The goal of the annual watershed calendar is to appeal to County residents’ sense of pride in and responsibility for protecting the County’s prized watersheds. This year’s inside cover, “Learn How to Protect Contra Costa’s Water,” included a map of the County with corresponding locations of each month’s photo to demonstrate equal representation of the richness and diversity of the watersheds in the County.

Positive feedback from County residents encourages the CWP to continue this worthwhile project, not only due to the community involvement it inspires, but also because it is an opportunity to disseminate water quality protection tips to a wide audience. The Calendar allows residents to take ownership and pride in this collaborative outreach piece. In addition to the beautifully showcased photographs from local watersheds, each month contains a message intended to inspire action among residents as it informs them of how they can make a difference every day by following the sidebar tips:

January Less Trash = Cleaner Water

Take a look at your habits and make it a New Year’s resolution to generate less trash:

• Don’t buy more than you need, and reuse when possible.

• Print on both sides of paper and recycle it.

• Buy in bulk and use reusable shopping bags.

• Recycle plastic bags at the grocery store.

• Reduce bottled water usage.

• Pick up litter and keep dumpster lids closed.

February Properly Manage Waste

Improve water quality by minimizing use of products containing hazardous chemicals. Dispose of the following at an appropriate facility:

• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) — paints, cleaners, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides

• Universal Waste — aerosol cans, fluorescent lights, mercury-containing items, batteries

• Electronic Waste (e-waste)

March Make Spring Cleaning Green

• Use environmentally friendly alternatives to clean and maintain your home, car, and yard.

• Oversee your contractors to ensure they are practicing pollution prevention.

• Prevent discharges like irrigation runoff, and don’t hose down driveways.

• Move your car on street sweeping day.

April Reduce Pests & Pesticides

• Learn about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to prevent pests and use less toxic pest controls.

• Don’t plant invasive plants like ivy, vinca, and pampas grass.

• Hire green businesses, like EcoWise Certified pest management professionals, and Bay-Friendly certified landscapers.

• Control ants with IPM — don’t allow regular perimeter spraying.

May C Conserve Water — Always

• Our Mediterranean climate means six to eight months a year without rain.

• Years of drought and high water use stress our waterways.

• Set irrigation systems to water less. Water before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m., when less evaporation occurs.

• Replace lawn with drought tolerant plants.

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

June Healthy Aquatic Recreation

• Aquatic invasives like zebra mussels take over habitat and clog water intakes.

• Inspect and clean vessels and gear after each use to prevent the spread of invasive species.

• Be aware of the origin of fish you eat; follow consumption guidelines.

• Don’t dump live bait or aquarium plants into the water.

July Protect Clean Water with proper Pool & Spa Care

• Use sanitary sewer clean-outs to dispose of your pool or spa water. Notify your sanitary district 24 hours before draining.

• If discharging to the sanitary sewer is not feasible, drain dechlorinated pool water to landscaping or unpaved areas so contaminants in water can be filtered by the ground.

August Car Washing Matters

• Dirty cars are coated with petroleum, exhaust, and metal residues that can harm aquatic life if washed into the storm drain.

• Use a commercial car wash where wash water is cleaned and recycled.ar

• If washing at home, do so on an unpaved area (gravel or lawn); pour dirty water down a household drain.

• Borrow our car wash kit for your charity car wash to prevent the wash water from going into the storm drain.

September Reminders for Pet, Horse, and Livestock Owners

• Use BMPs to prevent illicit discharges from manure piles and paddocks.

• Prevent stream bank erosion by limiting livestock and horse access to creeks.

• Don’t allow animal wash water to flow into storm drains or waterways.

• Always pick up after your dog.

October Help Prevent Floods

• Keep drainage inlets near your property clear.

• Call Public Works Maintenance to report clogged drainage inlets.

• Pump excess water from your yard or basement to the sanitary sewer or onto landscaping.

• Control erosion by planting ground covers or using erosion control measures.

November Stormwater Treatment

• Our County’s municipal stormwater discharge permit requires developers to minimize impervious surfaces.

• Low Impact Development (LID) encourages stormwater treatment via permeable soils and plant roots.

• All residents can minimize runoff with rain cisterns, pervious pavers, rain gardens, and disconnected downspouts.

December Plant Trees: the Right Ones in the Right Place

• Planting trees can prevent erosion, retain water, lower energy costs, and clean the air.

• Plant the appropriate size and type of tree for your location.

• Trees planted in riparian zones along waterways keep creeks cool and provide habitat.

• Trees provide aesthetic value and an opportunity for observing seasonal change.

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This year’s back cover provided contact information for all our partner departments, agencies, and organizations that people can contact for more information about each of the monthly topics. Below please find the information contained on the back cover, Resources to Help You with the Recommendations Listed Each Month in this Calendar:

January — Trash

California Product Stewardship Council

– (916) 485-7753

CCC Dept. of Conservation &

Development, Solid Waste Division

– (800) 750-4096

CCC Health Services, Environ. Health

– (925) 692-2500

February — HHW

See panel to the far right

March — Consumer Responsibility/

Spring Cleaning

CC County Watershed Program

(street sweeping) co.contra-costa.ca.us

(925) 313-2030

County Green Business Program

greenbiz. – (925) 646-2286

April — Pesticide Reduction

Bay-Friendly (landscape IPM)

– (510) 891-6500

Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC)

– (510) 524-2567

California Invasive Plant Council

landscaping/dpp/index.php

(510) 843-3902

CCC General Services – Grounds

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 646-4150CCC Mosquito & Vector Control

mvcd.dst.ca.us/ – (925) 685-9301

EcoWise Certified (structural IPM)

– (866) 858-6386

May — Carwashing

CC County Watershed Program

(to borrow car wash kit in unincorporated

County) (925) 313-2030

Contra Costa Clean Water Program

(to borrow car wash kit within city limits)

– (925) 313-2360

June — Healthy Aquatic Recreation

CA Dept. of Fish & Game

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 335-1230

Keep the Delta Clean

– (925) 313-2023

San Francisco Estuary Institute

– (510) 746-7334

July — Pool/Spa

Contra Costa Central Sanitary District

– (925) 228-9500

East Bay Municipal Utility District

– (866) 403-2683

Delta Diablo Sanitation District

– (925) 756-1990

West County Wastewater District

index.htm – (510) 222-6700

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 646-4150

August — Water Conservation

Contra Costa Water District

– (925) 688-8044

EBMUD conserving_&_

recycling/residential/ – (866) 403-2683

CA Dept. of Water Resources

water.drought/

September — Horse/Pet Owners

CCC Fish and Wildlife Committee

county.us – (925) 335-1230

CC Resource Conservation District

– (925) 672-6522 x107

October — Flood Control

CCC Public Works Flood Control

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 313-2000

CCC Public Works Maintenance

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 313-7000

CA Dept. of Water Resources

water.floodsafe/ – (800) 952-5530

November — Stormwater Treatment

Contra Costa Clean Water Program

– (925) 313-2360

Low Impact Development Center (LID)



(301) 982-5559

Rain Garden Network

– (773) 774-5333

Smart Growth

(202) 962-3623

December — Trees

Contra Costa Master Gardeners

ccmg.ucdavis.edu – (866) 858-6386

Urban Creeks Council (Administers Stream

Management Program for Landowners [SMPL] and

provides free consultations for stream related problems.)

– (510) 540-6669

For Additional information

CC County Watershed Program

co.contra-costa.ca.us – (925) 313-2030

Contra Costa Watershed Forum

– (925) 335-1230

East Bay Regional Park District

– (888) 327-2757

the Watershed Project (Administers Community

Watershed Stewardship Grant funded by CWP, and

provides creek restoration assistance.)



(510) 665-3546

During PY 2008/09 the CWP printed and distributed 56,000 copies of the 2009 Watershed Calendar. Of these, 49,007 calendars were mailed to all single-family residents in the unincorporated areas of the County and 2,735 were sent to Post Masters in the communities of Diablo, Bethel Island, Port Costa and Knightsen for P.O. Box Holders. The balance of 4,258 calendars was made available at the Contra Costa County Public Works Department (PWD), Department of Conservation and Development’s Building Inspection and Community Development Divisions, and at other venues within the County, as well as being mailed individually by request.

2010 Watershed Calendar

Plans for the updated 2010 Watershed Calendar currently include a narrow strip of information at the bottom of each page that includes a quote by a PWD representative (and our County’s IPM Coordinator) about a topic they would like to relay to the public how they can help us do our jobs more effectively and a boxed message of similar encouragement about how the public can help their watershed. With the help of Finger Art and Design and advertising through Craig’s List, we are once again outreaching to various novice and professional photographers for their quality contributions. The following is the current status, still in draft form, of next year’s calendar development:

January Prevent Erosion

The No. 1 water pollutant in the Delta, Bay, and our local creeks is dirt! Sediment wreaks havoc on our aquatic ecosystems; it smothers organisms and limits sunlight to plants.

“It is never a good idea to pile soil or anything else in the gutter, close to the curb, or near a drainage inlet. Debris, sediment and pollutants can wash into stormdrains and creeks to contaminate the water and obstruct its flow.” — Larry Cornelius, Inspector

Construction Division

February Allow Waterways to Flow

If you have a private drainage ditch or roadside culvert along your property, please keep it clear to function properly. Control erosion by reseeding slopes, planting groundcovers, or using straw wattles.

“Older roads were designed to get water off the road quickly without considering the impact of it washing down into creeks. We now build new, and reconstruct existing, roads to address pollution and erosion issues.” — Jerry Fahy, Senior Civil Engineer, Transportation Engineering Division

March Urban Runoff Picks up Pollutants

Minimize runoff to improve water quality. Connect downspouts to cisterns for rainwater harvesting and create rain gardens for the soil to filter out pollutants.

“New development projects are required to design landscaping to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff. There are easy and attractive ways that property owners can ‘retrofit’ their existing landscaping to also improve water quality.” — David Swartz

New Development and Construction Controls, County Watershed Program

April Minimize Mercury Exposure

Check where your fish comes from and follow consumption guidelines. Properly dispose of fluorescent lights, e-waste, thermometers, and mercury-containing devices at your local Household Hazardous Waste facility.

“Mercury naturally occurs in rock formations in our County, but in certain forms it poses a health risk. We are restoring and enhancing our waterways while reducing mercury’s hazards to keep people and fish safe.” — Paul Detjens

Senior Civil Engineer, Flood Control Division

May “Keep the Delta Clean”

The County partners with many agencies to protect the Delta. We provide education and pollution prevention services like used oil recycling and oil absorbent exchange centers.

“The Delta is a fun place for boating, but it is also a source of drinking water for two thirds of Californians. Boaters can help keep the Delta clean by using sewer pump-outs and properly disposing their trash and hazardous waste.” — Dan Jordan

Keep the Delta Clean Program, County Watershed Program

June Pesticides Pollute Water

The County’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator works

with County departments to find ways to minimize pests and pesticide use.

“Perimeter spraying for ants pollutes waterways. Use integrated pest management practices for your ant, and other pest, control needs to minimize pollutants that can wash off your property. For a listing of IPM certified professionals, see .” — Tanya Drlik

County Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator

July Cost of Littering and Dumping

The County spends over $1 million each year cleaning up along 650 miles of roadway. This money could be better spent improving roads, fixing potholes, cleaning drainages, adding bike lanes, and beautifying our neighborhoods.

“As a kid I marveled at the wildlife in our creeks. Today, even with increased population and pollution, nature survives. Let’s clean up our waterways so that our children can enjoy the wildlife and be proud of our natural areas.” — Dave Harper

Central Roads Supervisor, Maintenance Division

August Trash Pollutes Our Waterways

Properly dispose of trash. Secure your load. Help us by picking up litter around your neighborhood and participating in local creek cleanup events. “Don’t Trash California.”

“In 2008, we removed over 200 cubic yards of debris from flood control channels, detention basins and dams—mostly trash dumped by the public. Things thrown into a creek don’t just “go away.” They cause erosion, flooding and impact wildlife and the beauty of our area.” — Tony Medina

Flood Control Supervisor, Maintenance Division

September Only “Rain Down the Drain”

Clean stormwater is a precious resource that recharges creek levels, flushes out sediments in waterways and sustains aquatic life. Please protect it from pollution!

“We spend a lot of County resources on illicit discharges to the storm drain system from automotive fluid spills, illegal pipe connections and pool drainings, abandoned containers, wash wastewater, and even yardwaste — all of which could be prevented.” — Charmaine Bernard

Illicit Discharge Stormwater Compliance, County Watershed Program

October Keep Debris off Streets

Help us by keeping the storm drains around your property clear of litter and leaves. When leaves fall, rake them up and put them in your green waste bin. Report clogged drains to Public Works.

“We annually inspect and clean over 10,000 drainage inlets, catch basins and culverts to keep our storm drain system working. Removing sediment, leaves, and trash minimizes localized flooding and protects water quality.” — Pat Giles

Field Operations Manager, Maintenance Division

November Be a good steward

Keep waterways clear of debris that could cause flooding and erosion. Participate in creek restoration events, and keep creeks along your property vegetated and undisturbed.

“We’re committed to preserving, maintaining, and restoring wetlands which are critical to our community: they retain water during flooding, remove pollutants, and are habitat for many plants and animals.” — Cece Sellgren

Environmental Planner, Flood Control Division

December Floodplains are Green Reservoirs

Public Works is actively working to preserve our County’s remaining floodplains. We’re designing flood control projects with a watershed-wide approach for improved water quality and better flood protection.

“Flooding in floodplains is natural. All creeks and rivers have natural floodplains that provide beneficial functions like floodwater storage, pollutant removal and habitat, as well as groundwater recharge.” — Rich Lierly

County Floodplain Manager, County Watershed Program

Look for more detail about the 2010 Watershed Calendar in the PY 2009/10 Annual Report.

Contra Costa Community Watershed Stewardship Grant Program

The CWP once again partnered with the Watershed Project (tWP) to administer the annual Contra Costa Community Watershed Stewardship Grant Program (CWSG). The grants support community-based watershed stewardship efforts in unincorporated Contra Costa County. PY 2008/09 marks the fifth year of the grant program (launched in PY 2004/05). To date, over $500,000 has been disseminated to grassroots groups and watershed organizations for restoration, education, and pollution prevention.

Following a request from management to tighten purse strings, CWP worked with Watershed Project CWSG staff to trim some of their overhead. Because they are in the fourth or fifth year of administering the program, most of the details have been worked out.  We have since learned that they play an integral role in providing community support advice and direction to often fledgling watershed groups. Our current annual funding of their program administration directly supports their community stewardship work especially in West County for local creek cleanups, classroom education, and creek groups’ organizational development.  The Watershed Project is the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Pinole Creek and SPAWNERS and organizes many of their own creek cleanup and restoration events, including the following organized by them this PY 2008/09: Earth Day Creek Cleanup Challenge, Coastal Cleanup, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Caesar Chavez Day.

Here is some background information about the CWSG Program and its alignment with our permit requirements:

• CWSG Program annually distributes up to eight one-year grants of $5K–$20K for watershed stewardship, restoration, education, and water quality enhancement.  It also enables the County to support local watershed groups.

• The remaining $22K goes to the Watershed Project for administering the Program, including outreach, preparation of application summaries and evaluations, mid-term and final reporting, and grantee disbursement. 

• The Watershed Project is a nonprofit environmental organization that also offers workshops, resources, and grants for Bay Area educators and grass-root creek groups.

• The annual $100K for the CWSG is a relatively small portion of the County’s $2.3M balance in SUA fees, and the majority of this $100k directly benefits watersheds.

This year’s funded recipients, award amounts, and project description follow. Please click on the Watershed Project Mid-term Summary Report and each individual project below to view their mid-term reports:

|Contra Costa County Community Watershed Stewardship Grant | |

| | | |

|Distribution Budget FY 2008-2009 | |$78,411 |

| | | |

|Applicant |Project | Award Amount |

|Natural Heritage Institute |Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed |$13,911 |

|Contra Costa Resource Conservation District |Friends of Rodeo Creek Watershed |$18,000 |

|SPAWNERS |SPAWNERS |$12,500 |

|Earth Team |San Pablo Eco-Stewards |$6,000 |

|Contra Costa Resource Conservation District |Alhambra Watershed Council |$15,000 |

|Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center |Stewardship and Native Plant Propagation |$13,000 |

|(CREEC) | | |

| | |  |

|Total Requests | |$78,411 |

Because of issues with extending our former contract with the Watershed Project to allow some of the PY 2007/08 projects to be completed, we found ourselves off schedule with our permit year, but more in line with creek groups seasonal restoration work. In particular 1) The Contra Costa Resource Conservation District requested an extension on their project, and 2) Earth Team has unexpectedly received more in-kind supplies donations than they counted on, leaving them with a bit of a funds surplus. They would like to know if they can use their remaining funds to pay for expenses on other watershed stewardship projects during this coming fiscal year.

In order to accommodate these requests and work out a simultaneous contract extension and renewal with the Watershed, this year we followed the proposed reporting schedule below:

Grant Term Starts: Upon execution of contract (realistically around January 15, 2009). Grant Term Ends: November 30, 2009

Progress Report Due: June 15, 2009

Final Report Due: November 15, 2009

TWP’s contract with the County officially ends Nov 30, 2009. To encourage groups to follow through with their project commitment, 50% of the funds were disseminated up-front upon project reward; 25% will be disbursed at the turn-in of their mid-term reports and the remaining 25% with the final report submittal.

Since this year’s grant cycle has been delayed and grant recipients weren’t awarded until late in 2008, at the time of this report writing, the mid-term reports have been completed. Projects will be completed before the end of 2009 and will be reported on in the PY 2009/10 Annual Report.

Rodeo Creek Vision Planning

Although this is one grant recipient of six, CWP would like to take the opportunity to provide a brief update about the activities going on in this important watershed, the majority of which is located in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Work has been underway over the past few years to develop a vision for the creek. We are fortunate to have Heidi Petty from the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District leading the efforts in organizing partners and stakeholders since early 2008 with a kick-off meeting for an invited 3,300 property owners within the watershed. Later efforts included historical presentations of the past and present geomorphology of the creek and a call to citizens to continue their involvement in making Rodeo Creek more accessible and a highlight of the community through various Earth Day and CA Coastal Cleanup Day events.

Wildcat San Pablo Creek Watershed Council

Participated in several meeting and tours this year with this active and influential creek group represented by numerous environmental consultants, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board staff, East Bay Regional Park Department wardens, Contra Costa Flood Control District staff and facilitator, the Watershed Project and Urban Creeks Council, among others. Last fall, we enjoyed a tour of the Rheem Creek watershed, which included stops along the creek in Rollingwood, at the Contra Costa Community College restoration site, Wanlass Park, Bayview Elementary School and the Panatonni development site at the Richmond headlands and Bruenner Marsh.

Fish and Wildlife Committee Annual BBQ

CWP staff participated in the 9th Annual BBQ held on September 18, 2008, at the Sportsmen’s Club in Martinez to celebrate the Committee’s outreach efforts in Contra Costa County. The event, as usual, was well attended by a broad array of administrators from County Departments that are concerned with fish, game, and environmental issues, including Public Works/Flood Control District, Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices and Conservation and Development/Contra Costa Watershed Forum as well as outside agencies like East Bay Regional Park District, Save Mount Diablo and CA Dept. of Fish and Game. The evening allowed networking and dialogue exchange about cooperatively improving fish and wildlife regulatory processes between our organizations. The happy hour mixer was also a hit as were the home-cooked BBQ ribs!

Mt. View Sanitary District Appreciation Luncheon

CWP also enjoyed another networking opportunity with Mountain View Sanitary District (MVSD), Lindsey Wildlife Museum educators, and supporters like Shell and Valero Refineries, during its annual appreciation lunch at the MVSD Interpretive Center, which celebrated its 13th year of its Wetlands Field Trip Program. The award winning and State standardized science field trip experience teaches predominantly 3rd–5th graders about wastewater treatment, water quality, pollution prevention, and wetlands conservation. Here are some attendance statistics for this PY 2008-09 educational program:

• 80 classes

• 1,673 students

• 61 days of programs

• 479 participating adults – chaperones and teachers

• 23 public schools

• 12 school districts

• 5 private schools

• 17 Martinez-area classes

• 59 Contra Costa County (non-Martinez) classes

• 4 Solano County classes

Students and teachers continue to rave about the pond dip netting, nature walk, bird identification using ID guides, water chemistry analysis, plant tour, and identification of pollutants to the storm drain system and local marshes like the surrounding Peyton Slough. Economic realities, including the high cost of bus transportation, challenged many schools this year and decreased attendance from previous years’ levels, but the program continues to outreach to a sizeable and attentive audience, sharing its state of the art facility and the first constructed wetlands on the West Coast to use reclaimed wastewater.

Street Sweeping Brochure Translated to Spanish

At the request of our West County Supervisor’s Office, CWP undertook efforts to translate our popular and fun street sweeping brochure into Spanish and reprint it for dissemination to our Spanish speaking residents. The brochure was designed to educate residents along the County’s street sweeping routes about the County’s street sweeping program. CWP staff worked with a professional translation service, Intergraphics, billed through our County’s Print and Mail Center. The translation service and printing of 1500 copies was done at the cost effective rate of $792.

The Street Sweeping brochure provides tips and general information about how residents can help the street sweeping program be most effective by knowing their sweeping schedule and remembering to remove their cars and other obstacles from the street on their sweeping day. The brochure was well-received by the community and CWP staff are modifying the remaining balance of English brochures with labels for Delta Diablo Sanitation contact information for a future mailing to all Bay Point residents.

Car Wash Kit Outreach

After participating in a car wash campaign through the Contra Costa Clean Water Program, CWP staff purchased two car wash kits. These kits are to be used by charitable organizations holding car wash fundraisers in the unincorporated portion of the County. Charity car wash events are a potentially serious source of water pollution. Encouraging use of the Car Wash Kits offers an alternative to disallowing such events that will allow this means of fund-raising, while protecting the storm drain system.

The Car Wash Kits are comprised of several components, including a mat to block off the nearest storm drain and a pump to divert dirty wash water to the sanitary sewer or onto vegetation or unpaved areas to be filtered. The kits are available for schools, churches, and other nonprofit and charitable organizations located in unincorporated areas of the County to use free of charge.

Outreach for the kits included a mail-out in PY 2007/08 to over 50 schools and school organizations with an informational letter, car wash kit brochure, and an article explaining the need to protect stormwater systems from the pollutants introduced by fund-raising car washes. The outreach also introduced the Car Wash Kits and the process for borrowing them, as well as recommending partnerships with commercial car washing facilities that conserve and recycle water as an alternative fundraiser, recommending other BMPs that should be used in combination with the kits, and requesting dissemination of copies of the enclosed car wash brochure to relevant parties.

The CWP is looking forward to cooperating with schools and other nonprofit/charitable fund-raising groups in order to reduce receiving waterway impacts, encourage environmental stewardship, remain in compliance with the NPDES permit, and protect the waterways in the County. The CWP is also investigating the potential for amendments to the County Code that would effectively require use of a Car Wash Kit (or equivalent) for car wash events.

Living with Creeks Brochure

CWP staff is happy to report the completion of the informational brochure entitled Living with Creeks. The publication was designed as a resource for property owners whose property is adjacent to a creek. The goal of the brochure is to educate these property owners about how they can be responsible stewards of healthy waterways.  The brochure was developed to make property owners aware of their responsibilities for maintenance and care of their waterways. In California, waterways running through private property are considered privately maintained drainage systems for which the owners are responsible. We completed the brochure at the start of the Permit Year.

This effort was commenced in the beginning of the PY 2007/08 in response to a high number of illicit discharge notifications and complaints that have required the involvement of the CWP. Issues often begin with property owners piling up dirt and green waste on or near creek banks; disagreements over whose responsibility it is to remove dead trees and downed vegetation; creek bank alterations without permits; draining swimming pools and spas to waterways; and efforts to minimize erosion by dumping construction debris and riprap along creek banks.

CWP staff recognized that an informational brochure may help property owners better understand what they need to do, what they can’t do, what they need a permit to do, and who to call for assistance in dealing with issues involving their adjacent waterway. In fall of 2008, plans were made to order 7,500 brochures, which included over 6,000 for mailing, leaving the remaining 1500 to be disseminated by CWP at functions and events. However, for the small additional cost of $144, we were able to have 10,000 copies of the Living with Creeks brochure printed by California Lithography via an outsource agreement with the County’s Print and Mail Center at a cost of $3,746.70. The printer was able to deliver a very high quality impactful brochure.

CWP worked closely with the Information Technology, GIS Division of PWD to come up with an address list for all of the parcels under filtered use codes (i.e., residential and commercial) that bordered major, minor, and perennial tributaries running through unincorporated County. Criteria was set and altered as necessary for the amount of buffer to allow along sides of waterways to account for much of the publically owned land along many of the County’s flood control facilities and drainages. The resultant query was 250 foot channels with 100 foot buffers on each side that yielded 6,409 addresses. The query was completed in August.

In October, as the final review was being completed by management, CWP staff ran into some issues regarding the use of terminology, such as “setback,” which staff had used to describe a recommended 10-foot buffer. Since, from planners’ point of view, this term has a legal definition that could only be defined on a “case-by-case” basis; CWP staff addressed their concerns by removing the term and replacing it with “buffer.” In mid-October, staff from the County Application and Permit Center expressed further concern with not including creek structure setback language from our Engineering Services Division and information about their Title 9, which mentions a buffer of a minimum of 30-feet from the top of bank for unimproved earthen channels. Their point being that in some locations the 10-foot recommended buffer may not be sufficient. We addressed this concern by including Engineering Services’ contact info and regulation as a “Resource.”

We also struggled with providing accurate permitting information to stakeholders, but allowing for common sense as to the intent of the Drainage/Flood Control permit regulation. We wanted to relay that permits will be required for stream bank alterations and creek side projects but may be waived for routine maintenance, restorations and trash collection activities. The brochures were mailed to “Current Resident(s)” in November at the bulk mail rate of $0.10-$0.15 each.

Stacks of brochures were also mailed for distribution to our partners at UCC, Building inspection Code Enforcement, CA Dept. of Fish and Game area wardens, Contra Costa Central Sanitary District, County Application and Permit Center, Public Works Maintenance Flood Control and Vegetation management Divisions, the Watershed Project, Bethel island Municipal Improvement District, Contra Costa Watershed Forum, Resource Conservation District, HazMat, and Friends of Alhambra Creek.

Website Revisions

One of the most important tools that the CWP has for reaching the public is the internet. We spent a considerable amount of time this spring making revisions to CWP’s pages on the County’s new website in order for the public to have an easier time finding the answers to their questions. CWP staff downloaded smaller photos that load faster, added captions to photos, corrected dead links, uploaded new publications, refreshed cut-outs with more recent versions, and continued to work at dealing with the CivicPlus website authoring program. In addition, we provided a link to our County’s Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance 1014 and provided information about how to borrow one of the County’s car wash kits for future community fundraiser events.

We believe that the revised website format is now organized in a way that is useful and easy for the public to understand according to the following topics:

• County Watershed Program Overview

• Regulatory Requirements

• Street Sweeping and Storm Drain Cleaning

• Pollution Prevention

o Discharge Cleanup

• New Development and Construction Controls

• Public Education and Outreach

o Help Protect Your Watershed

o Resources    

The website includes many links, including many of the topics and publications discussed in this portion of the Annual Report. The website will serve as another useful tool in our stormwater public education and outreach efforts. The CWP looks forward to continuing to develop this resource with additional materials as they are developed and downloaded to our website’s Document Center.

Bringing Back the Native Gardens

CWP directly supported this annual well-received native landscape and gardening event/garden tour via the Contra Costa Clean Water Program. Further detail regarding this year’s successful Native Garden Tour can be found in the Bringing Back the Native Gardens Tour 2009 Annual Report, which should be included with CCCWP Annual Report. CWP did our part to ensure the advertisement flyer for the event was disseminated at the front desk of the PWD and on our employee Bulletin Board.

Public Works Awareness Week

Celebrated annually each May, this year’s event held the week of May 18-24, 2009, included a table at the entrance of the PWD front desk as well as one at the County Administrative Building in downtown Martinez. CWP stocked both locations with numerous promo items and outreach publications related to stormwater pollution prevention and IPM.

Because Tuesday, May 18, 2009, was a special election and the PWD was a County polling place, a lot of information was disseminated. The tables received a lot of foot traffic and handouts were replenished throughout the week including:

• Water-wise Gardening in Contra Costa County (CD)

• Soil Matters (excerpt from Bay Nature Magazine)

• Gardens for Life (back issues of Life Garden Publication)

• Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants

• Mr. Funnel Head Calendar

• Keep the Delta Clean Maps, Tide Books, and Coloring Books

• Living with Creeks

• County’s Street Sweeping Program

• Keeping it in Tune Brochure

• Mobile Surface Cleaners

• Flash Lights

• Magnetic Clips

• Poppy Seed Packets

• And More!

Oil Spill Notification Postcards

Following several incidents that involved voicemails left on the CCCWP’s 1-800-No-Dumping hotline, CWP worked with the CCCWP to come up with a public outreach campaign that would educate property owners about proper oil spill reporting. Both incidents involved oil sheens in the vicinity of Discovery Bay. Both calls were left over the weekend and so several days had passed before CCCWP retrieved the messages and forwarded them to CWP.

Because of the harmful impacts of oil spills to water, especially oil’s toxicity and persistence, prevention is the priority in eliminating the natural resource damages from spills. However, because the County’s jurisdiction includes parts of the Delta, one of the State’s largest aquatic recreation areas, oil spills to water do sometimes occur. The goal is to educate residents about recognizing spills and encouraging them to make timely notifications to both the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) and the National Response Center.

The Oil Spill Notification postcard was a creative way to broadcast this notification information to all property owners living adjacent to navigable waterways. CWP staff worked with our graphic design firm to come up with a playful image of many of the on-water activities that could result in incidental releases of petroleum fluids to the water, including boating, jet skiing, and improper disposal of used oil. The postcard option was chosen because it allows for ease of use for future reference and mailing it did not require an envelope. CWP mailed out a total of 9,856 cards – 5,059 to site addresses of parcels located along outer waterways like the Delta, San Pablo Bay, and Carquinez Straits, and 4,797 to notification addresses for these unincorporated property owners. Examples of neighborhoods outreached to include Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, North Concord, Crockett, and Montalvin Manor/Montara Bay. CWP printed 15,000 cards, the 5,000 or so balance will be included in the Keep the Delta Clean Boater Kits that will be distributed this year.

Thank You Notes

Because CWP could not do our job without the assistance of other Divisions, Departments, Municipalities, and various stakeholders, including the general public, CWP staff felt a need for expressing appreciation to others. Staff felt like a form letter on PWD letterhead is often too formal of a “Thank You” for many of the types of good deeds we wanted to point out to others. Staff worked with a contracted graphic design firm to come up with a beautiful photograph of Donner Creek on Mount Diablo, which was placed on the front of a simple “Thank you” note card.

Keeping it All in Tune

Following numerous calls about illicit discharges of petroleum products during auto repair activities by private citizens along County roadways, CWP felt the need to update a former outreach piece titled “Keeping it All in Tune – Car Repair and Pollution Prevention.” Due to the current economic downturn, more residents are performing their own auto repairs. Field visits confirmed that many of these vehicle activities do not include proper storm drain protection and appropriate automotive waste disposal. One of the primary goals of this project was to broadcast pollution prevention BMPs to communities with a higher incidence of auto repair activities and illicit discharge complaints. Staff also wanted to utilize an existing poster/brochure that was produced years ago by the CCCWP, but to edit the “test” format of the existing piece (e.g., staff removed academic terminology like “Help the Bay Get an A!” and panels of information titled: “Multiple Choice,” “True or False” and “Essay Question”).

Since the target audience is generally lower, socioeconomic residents of unincorporated communities, such as North Richmond and El Sobrante and Rodeo, CWP staff wanted to relay most of the stormwater pollution prevention practices in the former brochure in a more user-friendly, less school-oriented manner. General edits included changing the title to “Keeping it All in Tune – Preventing Stormwater Pollution During Auto Repair” and replacing the “test” format inside the brochure with topics such as: “Vehicle Trivia,” “Car Facts,” and “Seven Ways to help Stop Pollution from Vehicles.” Staff also refreshed the inside panels information about “Oil Recycling” to include the Contra Costa Recycling Hotline and website information, locations of the three Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities in the County and the neighborhoods they serve, and Illicit Discharge Reporting for Unincorporated Contra Costa County and the general 1-800-No-Dumping line for other municipalities.

One challenge we experienced was developing an address list from 25,000 intended recipients to a more manageable and cost effective mailing. 8,770 were mailed with the assistance of the County Print and Mail Center to the following communities in June 2009:

|EL SOBRANTE |4124 |

|PACHECO |818 |

|RICHMOND |812 |

|RODEO |2407 |

|SAN PABLO |3 |

|CONCORD |352 |

|CLYDE |254 |

|Totals |8770 |

CWP was very pleased with the outcome of the piece especially the vibrant watercolor graphics that were custom printed by California Lithography. CWP disseminated the stacks of the brochure to partner departments notably the Application and Permit Center and the Department of Conservation & Development, Solid Waste Division, which handles the County’s solid waste mandatory subscription program, funding for abandoned waste, North Richmond mitigation funds, used oil recycling block grants and the recycling hotline and website. They noticed an error in the contact information supplied for the Delta Diablo Sanitation Districts’ (DDSD’s) HHW facilities website and phone number. Fortunately no brochures were mailed to East County communities served by DDSD. CWP staff was able to collect all stacks of the brochure that were handed out to partner agencies. Staff then edited the brochures with a sticker of correct contact info for DDSD:

     (925) 756-1990

Serving Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood,

Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.

This mistake taught was a reminder of the importance of not only paying attention to details like color and format, but that without conveying the proper information, these details are secondary. We have been reminded of the value of multiple cross checks and final review right up to the proof check.

CCCWP Brochure Mail-outs

The CCCWP produced two outreach pieces this PY 2008/09, one targeting Autobody Shops and the other a Trash Brochure for Businesses. CWP mailed out both publications as part of two separate mailings to autobody shops listed in CWP’s Industrial and Commercial Inspection Database. CWP mailed out brochures to 62 autobody service and repair shops and trash brochures to 175 Restaurants and 550 businesses. Both publications detail BMPs that businesses and industry can follow to protect storm drains, including proper management and site design of waste collection, recycling, washing, and hazardous waste storage areas.

Storm Drain Marking Program

This summer our student worker program has been suspended, but we are fortunate to still have Amanda Olds and another student working in the Real Property Division, Jennifer Paulson, available on a part-time basis to dedicate their mornings to continuing the storm drain marking program. This spring, Amanda and Jennifer made the trip to Discovery Bay each morning for over a month to completely mark this water-based neighborhood. They also finished up marking the incomplete community of Pacheco and have plans over the next few weeks to wrap-up partially completed areas in Concord/Clayton and Walnut Creek/Alamo.

A complete inventory of Storm Drain Marking Status was done to assist in future work planning for existing communities whose catch basins still need to be inspected and marked mostly in the West County and East County areas like Vasco Road and Bethel Island. See the Illicit Discharge Control (IDCA) and Municipal Maintenance (MUNI) sections of this Annual Report for more detail about the progress of the Storm Dain Marking Program.

Watershed Signs “Ours to Protect”

CWP began this Permit Year with plans for making a master list of all the locations of the “Ours to Protect” Watershed Signs that were installed several years ago as part of a grant through the Contra Costa Watershed Forum. To date, CWP has located, verified, and installed signs in the watersheds of Alhambra, Pinole, Wildcat, San Pablo, Rheem, Rodeo, Carquinez, Grayson, Las Trampas, Walnut Creek, and Marsh Creek.

Our efforts include using GIS maps and installation location documents to find the signs, confirm they are still intact, remove graffiti with spray solvent as necessary, and document their location by taking a GPS reading for future mapping purposes.

Restaurant and Pools BMPs for Plan Check Documents

As part of CWP’s Interdepartmental Agreement with the County Health Services Department, Environmental Health Division, CWP included a public education component that Environmental Health staff decided could be best fulfilled by disseminating clean water requirements for applications with plan check documents for new and remodeled pools and food service facilities that are handled by their office. A rudimentary document was constructed by CWP that listed BMPs for NPDES Compliance for Pools and Restaurants, Environmental Health staff gave this document out to over 95 applications this PY 2008/09 from all jurisdictions throughout Contra Costa County because they lacked any other Clean Water handout and they were eager to include pollution prevention information with their permits.

This spring, work began to create two professional publications that separate the above document into booklets specific to NPDES Compliance for Pools and NPDES Compliance for Restaurants. Both list stormwater BMPs according to categories: General Operational and General Site Design, and Type-Specific (Pool or Restaurant) Operational and Type-Specific Site Design. Useful feedback for improving these draft versions has been received by Environmental Health staff and CWP management. Due to recent budget uncertainties, this project is on hold since future restaurant inspections may be performed in-house by CWP staff and CWP may suspend its contractual agreement with Heath Service Department for inspection services. CWP hopes to continue working at producing these useful publications in the near future as there is still a need for disseminating this information, whether it is done via Environmental Health or by CWP staff during inspections or mass mailings.

“Keep the Delta Clean” Marina and Recreational Boating Program

The KDC Program was created in response to the need to balance the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s many precious resources with growing urban and recreation populations in and around the region. Through successful partnerships with marina operators, boaters, other Delta municipalities, the California Coastal Commission, and the Department of Boating and Waterways, the KDC Program is working to reduce potential nonpoint source pollution that may be attributed to recreational boating by educating boaters about safe and environmentally friendly boating practices and improving access to pollution prevention services at marinas throughout the Delta.

In 2003, Contra Costa County was awarded a Proposition 13 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the California Bay-Delta Authority to implement the KDC program in partnership with the California Department of Boating and Waterways and the California Coastal Commission. The KDC was created to reduce the impact of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution and improve public access to marina-based environmental services, educating the growing recreational Delta population to protect and preserve California’s shared water resources, while expanding availability of environmental services. The KDC set up new environmental service facilities, recruited volunteer “Dockwalkers” to educate fellow boaters about environmentally friendly boating practices, and established five Clean Marina demonstration sites in the County to showcase the benefits of environmentally friendly marina operations.

The KDC's proven success, along with the interest shown by the other four main Delta counties and stakeholders, demonstrated the need for a regional pollution prevention program that would unify existing efforts and expand the program throughout the five participating Delta counties (Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo) and the City of Stockton. In September 2006, Contra Costa County applied for and was awarded a Proposition 40 Grant from the SWRCB to implement Phase II of the KDC Program and expand its positive effects to the entire Delta region. Phase II of the Program is based on the successes and lessons learned in Phase I of the KDC.

In December 2008, all projects receiving funding from Proposition 40 monies were frozen. The freeze is still in place as of this writing. CWP believes KDC is a very valuable program and so has continued to implement it, albeit at a reduced level. Focus has been on sending boater kits to volunteers for distribution to reduce staff time. Fortunately most work has been completed on the KDC Program, however reporting remains incomplete. Department of Boating and Waterways has agreed to fund the completion of a study based on the boater surveys received, but a report on water quality to be completed by San Francisco Estuary Institute remains on hold until the freeze has ended.

During Phase I of the KDC, Contra Costa County distributed 10,000 free Boater Kits to recreational boaters throughout the Delta. The KDC Program has now entered Phase II, which will involve distribution of an additional 15,000 kits in the Delta. The kits provide boaters with the information and resources they need to ensure that safe and clean boating is a part of their many fun days on the Delta.

The Boater Kits, contained inside a reusable canvas tote bag, include several items that promote 1-800-CLEANUP and as resources for boaters to easily find information about local and state-wide environmental services at marinas. The kits include valuable boater resources, such as the “Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Map for Recreational Boating” and an oil absorbent pillow to capture oil leaks and drips within a boat’s bilge. Upon receiving a Boater Kit, boaters are asked to complete a survey that provides valuable information about clean boating habits, and gauges boaters’ perceptions of environmental problems in the Delta and related information that allows the KDC staff to continue to improve and expand their education efforts in the Delta.

Free and publicly accessible pollution prevention services are integral to preserving the quality of the Delta’s drinking and irrigation water, recreational opportunities, and environmental health. In Phase I of the KDC, the County worked with five marinas in eastern Contra Costa County to test and evaluate various types of pollution prevention systems to determine how effective they are in protecting Delta water quality. Systems include fish-cleaning stations that grind fish waste and discharge it to the sewer system, leak-proof dock boxes, pet-waste stations, and a recycling program for marina visitors.

These marinas represent “Clean Marina” demonstration sites that practice environmentally responsible marina operations and actively educate their tenants, customers, and visitors about clean and safe boating. In Phase II, infrastructure will be installed at marinas in other Delta counties in addition to Contra Costa.

The KDC Program’s goal is to provide boaters with the knowledge and the tools they need to conduct their boating without posing unnecessary threats to water quality.

Below are just some of the agencies, local business, nonprofit groups and boating industry representatives that make up the KDC stakeholder group:

Bay Keeper Bethel Harbor Marina

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Discovery Bay Yacht Harbor

Boy Scouts of America Delta Blades

Brown and Caldwell Delta Keeper

California Clean Boating Network Delta Protection Commission

California Coastal Commission CA Dept. of Boating and Waterways

CA Dept. of Health Services, Environmental Golden Gate Ski Club

Health Investigations Branch Hal Sheil, Delta Skuttlebutt

Holland Riverside Marina Sugar Barge Marina

Lauritzen Yacht Harbor Lazy M Marina

Contra Costa County Health Services Dept., Many Other Marinas in the Delta Region

Environmental Health and HazMat Divs. Regional Water Quality Control Boards

Contra Costa County Sheriff, Marine Patrol Sacramento County

Contra Costa Times San Joaquin Marine Patrol

Contra Costa Water District San Joaquin County

Contra Costa County Watershed Forum Striped Bass Association of America

Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation The California Coastal Conservancy

KDC Program Objectives

The KDC program successfully implements actions that reduce the potential nonpoint service (NPS) impacts that may be associated with recreational boating and marina operations. The Program is establishing marina-based Pollution Prevention (P2) services and targeted P2 outreach (recreational boaters) that reduce the potential cumulative impacts of pathogens (overboard sewage discharge and pet waste), petroleum hydrocarbons (oil, fuel, contaminated bilge water, and solvents), as well as other liquid wastes (engine and hull maintenance products) and marine debris (trash and fishing gear) that may be generated during recreational boating and marina activities. These efforts are being conducted throughout the entire Delta region.

The KDC tasks and objectives address the following issues:

• Lack of convenient, publicly-accessible, and marina-based environmental services that prevent pollution at its source (sewage pump-outs, oil recycling centers, oil absorbent exchange centers, trash disposal/recycling, clean marina maintenance services, and fishing line recycling);

• Inadequate clean boating/marina operations information available to Delta boaters and marina operators;

• Disconnect between the many Delta stakeholders who are working to improve water quality due to the absence of a coordinating forum or entity;

• Lack of understanding about baseline information related to water quality and how it relates to high density recreational boating and the presence of environmental services;

• Absence of a measurement tool to understand effectiveness of P2 efforts in the region;

• Pollutant and navigational threats from the large numbers of derelict, abandoned, and sunken vessels, namely due to the lack of resources to apply for and administer grant funds from the Department of Boating and Waterways;

• Lack of clean and safe boating information in relation to an anticipated increase in Delta boaters in conjunction with the thousands of new homes being developed in Brentwood and Oakley (some of the fastest growing suburban areas in CA).

KDC Program Major Accomplishments

The KDC accomplishments and outcomes are explained within the context of each of the ten tasks below.

1. A qualitative reduction in NPS pollution attributed to the growing recreational boating population and marina industry in the Delta.

2. Working to establish marina-based environmental infrastructure at 25 marinas throughout the Delta. This infrastructure includes: used oil recycling centers (3), used oil absorbent exchange centers (10), recycling bins (50), pet waste stations (50), cigarette bins (30), fishing line recycling stations (13), and informational kiosks (10). All infrastructure has been procured and related signage has been created.

3. 15,000 boater kits were ordered, approximately 10,000 of which have been distributed as of the end of PY 08/09. Most of these kits were distributed at the following events:

|Event |Date(s) Attended |

|Lost Island Fourth of July |7/5/2008 |

|Brentwood Corn Fest |7/11-7/13/2008 |

|Taste of the Delta @ Tower Park |7/12/2008 |

|Slider Wakeboarding Competition |9/21/2008 |

|CSBA Rio Vista Striped Bass Fishing Derby |10/10-10/12/2008 |

|International Sportsmen’s Exposition |1/15-1/18/2009 |

These boater kits will increase the knowledge base of recreational boaters and marina operators regarding the importance of P2, boating safety, and providing education about the proper use of environmental services to protect the Delta’s beneficial uses.

4. Trained over 50 new volunteer Dockwalkers — stakeholders and interested citizens who work to educate fellow boaters about environmentally friendly boating within the Delta Region and provide continued education and outreach to boaters regarding clean and safe boating.

5. Strengthened voluntary compliance with clean water regulations to avoid more stringent regulations that may adversely impact Delta recreation.

6. Heightened protection of sensitive habitat through increased usage of environmental services, availability of clean boating information, and improved recreational boater awareness that their activities can harm wildlife.

7. Enhanced protection of local native species by providing information to boaters on how to prevent/reduce the spread of nonnative, invasive species. To this end, staff held a training event for marina operators on how to properly inspect boats for invasive species and what other precautions to take to prevent the spread of invasive species.

8. Improved understanding of how to quantify P2 and which environmental services are most successful through the preliminary development of a pilot-based P2 model measurement tool.

Modifications:

None.

Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Goals:

1. Develop a brochure to educate the public about pet waste and its impacts to local waterways.

2. Finalize Pools and Restaurants brochure for dissemination by Environmental Health during their Plan Check permitting process.

3. Brainstorm some fresh outreach ideas to address the upcoming MRP stormwater permit. Sections of the MRP to be addressed include: C.7 (Public Education); C.10 (Trash); C.9 (Pesticide Reduction); C.11 (Mercury); C.12 (PCBs); C.13 (Copper); C.14 (Legacy Pesticides and Selenium).

4. Continue efforts to remove graffiti from CWP watershed signs and install new ones at prominent locations.

5. Targeted outreach for residents living along waterways that have been 303(d) Listed and implications for their waterway being impaired for their beneficial uses:

• Kirker Creek —  pyrethroid & trash (upstream of E. Pittsburgh)

• Mt. Diablo —  toxicity (Clyde & North Concord)

• Grayson — trash (upstream of Pleasant Hill & Martinez), Pacheco & Vine Hill

• San Pablo — trash (North Richmond)

6. Begin planning in order to prepare for upcoming PEIO requirements in the MRP, including more public education campaigns, watershed stewardship, and outreach to school age children.

7. Continue to create and distribute the Watershed Calendar. Use information obtained through the comment cards that will be attached to this year’s calendar to make revisions as necessary to next year’s calendar.

Public Education & Industrial Outreach – quantitative results

| | |

|AMOUNT OF PEIO MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED BY YOUR AGENCY |TOTAL |

| | |

|Waste Disposal: | |

| | |

|“Clean It” Safer Housecleaning Methods that Really Work Guides | |

| |4250 |

|“Get Rid Of It” A Painter’s Guide to Storage, Disposal and Clean-Up of Paint Waste Brochures | |

| | |

|Used Oil Recycling Program: | |

| |50 |

|Mr. Funnelhead Coloring Books (English Version) | |

| |50 |

|“Used Oil” Funnels | |

| | |

|Certified Oil Collection Centers Information Sheets | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead School Education Brochures | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Public Education Brochures | |

| | |

|“Recycle Oil, It’s Right” Brochures (English Version) | |

| | |

|“Recycle Oil, It’s Right” Brochures (Spanish Version) | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Magnet | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Erasers | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Pencils | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Tattoos | |

| | |

|Mr. Funnelhead Carrying Bags | |

| | |

|Promotional Items: | |

| |371 |

|Flashlights | |

| |500 |

|Seed Packets | |

| |250 |

|Magnetic Refrigerator Clips | |

| |75 |

|Reusable Tote Bag | |

| | |

|Other: | |

| | |

|Other: | |

| | |

|General Information: | |

| |100 |

|“TIPS to Protect Our Restaurant & Keep Our Water Clean” Poster | |

| | |

|“TIPS to Protect Our Restaurant & Keep Our Water Clean” Brochures | |

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|Don’t Set a Table for Pests! Restaurant Brochures (English/Spanish Version) | |

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|Pest Management/Pesticide Use: | |

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|Controlling Ants in Your House – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Controlling Aphids | |

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|Controlling Snails and Slugs in Your Garden – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Controlling Yellowjackets Around Your Home – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Finding a Pest Control Company | |

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|How to Control Weeds | |

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|Keeping Cockroaches Out of Your House – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Keeping Fleas off Your Pets – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Keeping Mosquitoes Away | |

| |25 |

|Growing a Healthy Garden | |

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|Pesticides and Water Quality | |

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|Tips for a Healthy Beautiful Lawn – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Safe Use and Disposal of Pesticides – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Living with Spiders The Helpful Hunters – English and Spanish versions | |

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|Wonderful Roses | |

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|Media Outreach: Conducted through participation in Contra Costa Clean Water Program | |

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|Outdoor Billboards | |

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|BART Rail Boards | |

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|Bus Shelter Posters | |

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|Bus Boards | |

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|Theater Advertisements | |

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|Public Service Announcements (Radio): | |

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|Newspaper Advertisements: | |

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|Measurement/Research Activities: | |

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|Public Opinion Surveys – Conducted through participation in CCCWP | |

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|Focus Groups – Conducted through participation in CCCWP | |

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|Public Outreach: | |

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|1-800-No Dumping Telephone Calls | |

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|Public Speaking Engagements | |

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|Number of Storm Drain Inlets Stenciled or Stamped By: | |

| |60 |

|Volunteers | |

| |2,368 |

|Municipal Staff | |

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|Fish Door Hangers Distributed | |

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|Amount of Household Hazardous Wastes Collected: | |

| |6,841 |

|Motor Oil (gallons) | |

| |14,745 |

|Household Paint (gallons) | |

| |1,850 |

|Pesticides (gallons) | |

| |28,999 |

|Miscellaneous (gallons) (e.g., acids, antifreeze, batteries, etc.) | |

| |258 |

|Auto/boat batteries | |

| |960 |

|Used oil absorbents (lbs) | |

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|Transportation Management | |

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|Number of Public Agency Vehicles Using Non-Polluting Fuels | |

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|Number of Public Employees Using Public Transportation | |

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|Number of Education Materials Encouraging Public Transportation Use | |

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|Other | |

|Street Sweeping (English) |200 |

|Street Sweeping (Spanish) |800 |

|After the Storm |Continuous |

|Controlling Erosion |60 |

|Living with Creeks |6,409 |

|2009 Watershed Calendar |56,000 |

|Restaurant Tips Poster (Mandarin) |25 |

|Restaurant Tips Poster (Spanish) |150 |

|Thank You Notes |Continuous |

|SMPL |Continuous |

|Oil Spill Notification Postcards |10,000 |

|Keeping it in Tune |10,000 |

|2009 Clean Boating Tide Books |800 |

|Threats to the West |15 |

|Litterbug Coloring Book |8 |

|Keep the Delta Clean Delta Maps |1200 |

|We All Live in a Watershed |20 |

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