August 1, 2009 Don Freitas Contra Costa County Clean Water Program 255 Glacier Drive Martinez, CA 94553-4825 Re: SMPL FY 2008-09 Year End Report Dear Mr. Freitas: This report summarizes our SMPL activities for the year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. History of SMPL The Urban Creeks Council (UCC) is a non-profit organization working to preserve, protect, and restore urban streams and their riparian habitat. We act as advocates on behalf of creeks in urban and other areas, and offer support and technical advice to grassroots organizations. The Streamside Management Program for Landowners (SMPL) was started with the Contra Costa Clean Water Program in 2001. Activities FY 2008-09 Summary The following table summarizes the type and geographical location of phone consultations, visits, and community workshops/presentations performed this year. Location Phone Consultations & Site Visits Concentrated Assistance Follow-up & Evaluation Unincorporated County 2 6 2 Antioch Brentwood 1 Clayton Concord Danville El Cerrito Hercules Kensington 2 Lafayette 2 2 Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 1 / 13
Location Phone Consultations & Site Visits Concentrated Assistance Follow-up & Evaluation Martinez 3 2 Moraga 1 1 Oakley Orinda 11 2 2 Pinole 1 Pittsburg Pleasant Hill 1 Richmond 2 1 San Pablo San Ramon Walnut Creek 3 2 Totals: 28 12 9 I. Clearing House & Referral System UCC conducted 28 phone and on-site consultations, prepared written recommendations, provided residents site-specific resources and reference materials, information on County regulations, and contact information for Bay Area consultants. UCC catalogued resident contact and interaction and provided documentation on its activities through its quarterly reports. Phone Consultations UCC provides phone consultations for landowners when they prefer not to receive a site visit, such as for a permit or regulation question or when they need a referral to a design/construction firm or creek group. Many landowners simply need information, which UCC can provide via email or regular mail. UCC fields well over a dozen of these types of calls from Contra Costa residents every year. Occasionally the original phone consultation will result in an on-site consultation. Site Visits This year, the Urban Creeks Council conducted 25 site visits through the SMPL program. Site visits generally consist of a preliminary phone call, an on-site assessment (usually 1 to 2 hours), and a follow-up letter summarizing recommendations. On rare occasions, UCC determines a follow-up letter unnecessary. UCC promotes various geotechnical approaches. To address bank erosion, UCC generally recommends soil bioengineering techniques over traditional engineering solutions. UCC supports a variety of ecologically sensitive creek care practices, including the use of native species to replace invasive plants, integrated pest management, and the reduction of impervious surfaces. UCC also provides SMPL program participants situation-specific reference materials, such as guidance on how to use live willow cuttings, riparian plant lists, consultant lists, and agency permitting information. Attached please find photo documentation of problems identified while conducting site visits. The last pages of the report document the 25 visits completed this year. 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 2 / 13
II. Concentrated Assistance During the course of the year, UCC identified multiple areas that share stream-related problems, analyzed specific conditions, and provided coordinated assistance to multiple property owners through two targeted landowner situations, local group meeting participation, and community workshops and presentations. Concentrated Assistance: UCC provided assistance to an Orinda landowner and residents in the larger area. UCC provided assistance to a Moraga landowner and residents in the larger area. UCC participated in an Upper Alhambra Creek restoration project. Community Group Meetings, Workshops, and Presentations: UCC regularly attended Contra Costa Watershed Forum meetings. UCC attended a full-day meeting at request of City of Richmond s stormwater manager to help the City prioritize their efforts along waterways. UCC, working closely with Friends of Orinda Creeks, gave a Creeks 101 workshop to approximately 20 residents of Orinda. UCC attended meetings and continued to support the Alhambra Watershed Council (AWC) and the Alhambra Valley Creek Coalition (AVCC). III. Follow Up & Evaluation Over the course of the year, UCC conducted follow-up meetings with nine county landowners. Attached please find photographs documenting UCC-conducted follow-up visits to the landowners listed below. The purpose of these site visits was to monitor the success of projects that have been implemented during recent years, and to photo-document the ongoing rehabilitation of each site. - 4194 Appian Way, El Sobrante - 20 Orchard, Orinda - 875 Santa Maria Way, Lafayette IV. Program Administration During the 2008-2009 timeframe, UCC provided quarterly reports including financial summaries detailing SMPL expenditures, a table of UCC-conducted activities, and a summary of workshop activities. Considerations for the Future Urban Creeks Council is very pleased with the success of the SMPL program. The scope of work that was recently approved for Fiscal Year 09-10 will allow UCC to continue providing comprehensive services to homeowners, communities, and municipal agencies. 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 3 / 13
Conclusion The SMPL program continues to grow and improve each year. We feel that together with the Clean Water Program, we are effectively bridging the gap between homeowners and various governments and municipalities. As a non-profit organization, we are perceived as an impartial entity and landowners seem to feel comfortable discussing their concerns with us. Regulatory agencies, such as the CA Department of Fish and Game, and various city officials continue to refer residents within Contra Costa County to SMPL. As always, we appreciate the Clean Water Program s commitment to its residents and creeks through the SMPL program. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the program further, please call me at 510-540-6669. Sincerely, Phil Stevens Executive Director 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 4 / 13
SMPL Contra Costa County Site Visits 2008-09 Sorensen, 875 Santa Maria, Lafayette (Q4) 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante (Q4) 20 Orchard, Orinda (Q4) Appendix 1: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 5 / 13
2008-09 Photo Documentation of Problems Found on Site Visits 2 Great Oak Circle, Orinda (Q2) 17 Calvin Court, Walnut Creek (Q2) Appendix 1: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 6 / 13
2008-09 Photo Documentation of Problems Found on Site Visits Appendix 1: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 7 / 13
2008-09 Contra Costa County Site Visits QUARTER 1: Total visits: 7 Locations: Martinez (3), Moraga (2), Pleasant Hill (1), Walnut Creek (1), Unincorp (1) Martinez (Alhambra Creek) @ 1458 Euclid Drive: o UCC received an initial phone call from a subcontractor who was working on a piece of land adjacent to Alhambra Creek. The subcontractor wanted advice and guidance related to his client s eroding creek bank. After receiving digital photos of the eroding creek bank, UCC provided the subcontracting construction firm with digital literature that described various ecologically based bank stabilization options that could be employed. In an effort to efficiently allocate SMPL s resources, a site visit letter was determined to be unnecessary. Martinez (Alhambra Creek) through downtown Martinez: o Due to concerns about how the implementation of a sheet pile wall along a lower reach of Alhambra Creek was going to affect an existing beaver community, UCC received a request from a local community group for a site visit. After seeing the site and meeting with this particular group, UCC provided the group with some reasonable reassurances surrounding this project. Martinez (Alhambra Creek) @ 700 Flora Street: o A landowner contacted UCC as a result of a previous site visit that we conducted on their neighbor s property. After already taking SMPL s advice in the hiring of a consultant who implemented a small erosion control project along this respective creek bank, this landowner was very aware that his previous attempt to reduce the rate of erosion occurring along his outside bend only provided a modicum of short-term protection. Mostly due to the severity of the situation that this landowner finds himself in related to the degree of vertical and lateral adjustments that Alhambra Creek has already made, this reach needs a much more comprehensive solution, one that would be probably be cost prohibitive for a single landowner to bear directly, given the current state of affairs of our local and federal financial issues. UCC provided the landowner with a list of current public funding sources that would be applicable towards this sort of effort. Moraga (Upper San Leandro Creek) @ 1218 Rimer Road: o A contractor, working for a previously visited SMPL client, called with questions and concerns surrounding the client s existing retaining wall along their respective right bank. Worried about the structural integrity of this wall, the contractor wanted advice on the realm of options that could be employed throughout this site. UCC provided the contractor with permitting information, geotechnical erosion control suggestions, and various engineering consultant referrals. In an effort to efficiently allocate SMPL s resources, a site visit letter was determined to be unnecessary. Pleasant Hill ( Bell Ditch ) @ 104 Daphne Court: o A homeowner along a waterway called Bell Ditch was concerned about the perceived rate of noticeable erosion that was occurring along his respective right bank. After persuading that landowner not to remove a large willow tree from the edge of the left bank, UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and geotechnical erosion control suggestions, including measures that could be accomplished on their own. Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 8 / 13
2008-09 Contra Costa County Site Visits Walnut Creek (Lower Las Trampas Creek) @ 15 Calvin Court: o UCC continued to provide guidance to this particular landowner along the lower reach of Las Trampas Creek within Walnut Creek. Our continued assistance was needed due to the fact that the landowner was willing and able to follow through on several of the recommendations that we previously gave during a past site visit. After receiving our letter that outlined our suggestions, this respective landowner hired a consultant to reduce the erosion that was occurring from an improperly built outdoor deck by implementing a couple of geotechnical erosion control techniques. Unincorporated Contra Costa County (Eastern Branch of Green Valley Creek) through the Bryan Ranch HOA, Alamo: o An attorney, representing the Bryan Ranch Homeowner s Association, called UCC for advice related to her client s loss of land along the Eastern Branch of Green Valley Creek. After walking the site with several concerned landowners, UCC was able to provide the HOA with possible short and long-term solutions that can address this stream s instability in an ecologically sound manner. QUARTER 2: Total visits: 4 Locations: Orinda (2), Richmond (1), Walnut Creek (1) Orinda (Unnamed Tributary to Lake Cascade) @ 208 Camino Sobrante: o The landowners along this respective reach of an unnamed tributary to an urban water reservoir called Lake Cascade were concerned about the life cycle of their wooden retaining wall that runs parallel to this tributary. After explaining the costs that would be associated with the replacement of the wooden retaining wall with a more natural stream bank, these landowners decided to focus their energy on a very small point of erosion. UCC provided the landowners with digital literature that described various ecologically based bank stabilization options that could be employed along with contact information of several capable consultants. Orinda (Upper San Pablo Creek) @ 2 Great Oaks Circle: o A homeowner along Upper San Pablo Creek was concerned about the rate of noticeable erosion that was occurring along their respective left bank. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and geotechnical erosion control suggestions, including measures that could be accomplished on their own. Additionally, UCC staff noticed an area of severe erosion resulting from surface runoff. Consequently, the appropriate representatives within the City of Orinda were notified. Richmond (Lower San Pablo Creek) @ 21 Laurel Lane: o UCC met with individuals from the East Bay Conservation Corps and Eco Village (landowner) in an effort to identify methods that could be employed in an effort to reduce creek bank Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 9 / 13
2008-09 Contra Costa County Site Visits erosion. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and geotechnical erosion control suggestions. Walnut Creek (Las Trampas Creek) @ 17 Calvin Court: o Due to the landowner s concerns about the stability of their respective right bank, UCC provided the landowner with some overall guidance on how to properly manage and maintain their piece of property in an ecological manner. QUARTER 3 Total visits: 17 Locations: Brentwood (1), El Sobrante (1), Kensington (2), Lafayette (2), Orinda (9), Richmond (1), Walnut Creek (1) Brentwood (Kellogg Creek) @ 136 Walnut Boulevard: o The landowner along this reach of Kellogg Creek downstream of Los Vaqueros Reservoir was concerned about problems with significant erosion along their streambank. UCC provided the landowners with digital literature that described various ecologically based bank stabilization options that could be employed along with contact information of several capable consultants. El Sobrante (Indian Creek) @ 3837 Linden Lane: o The homeowner at Indian Creek was concerned about the noticeable erosion that was occurring along his streambank. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions, including measures that could be accomplished on their own. Kensington (Cerrito Creek) @ 16 Sunset Drive o The landowner was concerned with erosion of the streambank on her property. UCC provided her with suggestions of soil bioengineering techniques that could be used to manage this minor problem. Kensington ( Cerrito Creek) @ 18 Sunset Drive o In conjunction with the above visit, UCC was also able to assess the streambank of this property at the invitation of the landowner. We made similar recommendations to those given above. Lafayette (Old Jonas Creek) @ 3483 Monroe Boulevard: o UCC met with the property owners in an effort to identify methods that could be employed to reduce streambank erosion. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions. Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 10 / 13
2008-09 Contra Costa County Site Visits Lafayette (Las Trampas Creek) @ 3320 Moraga Boulevard: o Due to the landowner s concerns about the stability of their reach of streambank, UCC provided the landowner with some overall guidance on how to manage and maintain their piece of property in an ecological manner, including removal of non-native invasive ivy and bank stabilization techniques using a soil bioengineering approach. Orinda (unnamed tributary to upper San Pablo Creek) @ 22 Daryl Drive o The homeowner contacted UCC over concerns with erosion of the streambank. His property is located along a reach with a concrete substrate and that is just downstream of an undersized culvert. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions, including measures that could be accomplished on their own. Orinda (lower Moraga Creek) @ 25 Don Gabriel Way o UCC met with the property owners in an effort to identify methods that could be employed to reduce streambank erosion. Ivy had been removed from the streambanks, so UCC provided information on several soil bioengineering techniques for protecting the bank from erosion and with information on replanting with native plants. Orinda (unnamed tributary to upper San Leandro Creek) @ 30 Don Gabriel Way o UCC met with the property owners in an effort to identify methods that could be employed to reduce streambank erosion. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions. Orinda (upper San Leandro) @ 99 Donna Maria Way o The property owner along this reach of upper San Leandro Creek contacted UCC for assistance related to concerns with streambank erosion. The bank is well-vegetated and only shows signs of moderate erosion. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions. Orinda (Indian Creek) @ 100 Ivy Drive o This landowner s property is subject to significant erosion problems due to its location downstream of a concrete culvert outfall with no intervening channel features to slow the stream s flow. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions for a short-term management strategy along with the suggestion to contact an engineering professional for a longer-term solution to this problem. Orinda (upper San Leandro Creek) @ 104 Ivy Drive o This homeowner contacted UCC for assistance with slumping of one corner of her property, which she believes is related to a corrugated metal stormwater outfall that drains into the street by her house. We provided her with information on professional Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 11 / 13
2008-09 Contra Costa County Site Visits engineers for assessment of the problem and with contact information for the appropriate city officials. Orinda (unnamed tributary to Lake Cascade) @ 808 Ironbark Place o These property owners contacted UCC for an assessment of the streambank on their property. The visit revealed that erosion is minor since the bank is well-vegetated with primarily native plants. We provided information on the care of native riparian vegetation and appropriate soil bioengineering techniques for bank stabilization. Orinda (upper San Leandro Creek) @ 14 Lavenida Drive o This property is located on San Leandro Creek near where it is entered by a small, unnamed tributary. The owner was concerned with erosion of the streambank. Our assessment revealed that the erosion is minor. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions for managing this issue. Orinda (Overhill Creek) @ 37 Tara Road o This landowner was concerned about the structural stability of the streambank on his property. After the visit, we recommended that he contact a professional structural engineer to help develop a long-term solution. To address the short-term, we also provided information on biotechnical erosion control methods as an interim remedy. Richmond (Baxter Creek) @ 1327 Monterey o UCC met with the property owners in an effort to identify methods that could be employed to reduce streambank erosion. UCC provided the landowner with permitting information and biotechnical erosion control suggestions. Walnut Creek (Las Trampas Creek) @ 5 Calvin Court o This homeowner contacted UCC over concerns with the stability of the streambank. We provided information on professional engineers as well as on biotechnical erosion control methods that could be used as to reduce the rates of bank erosion. Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 12 / 13
SMPL Contra Costa County Site Visits 2001-09 Appendix 2: 2008-09 Year End Report Urban Creeks Council 13 / 13