Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) Date: August 19, 2015 Time: 3:00 P.M

Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) Date: August 19, 2015 Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: County Public Works Department Road Maintenance Division lunch room (squad room) 2475 Waterbird Way, Martinez CA 94553 (Map is attached.)

AGENDA

3:00 p.m. Convene meeting.

1) Introductions.

2) Review/Approve minutes from the July 15, 2015 meeting.

3) Public comment. Includes public comment on topics on the agenda and items not listed on the agenda. The FWC shall also accept public comment on agenda items at the time they are discussed.

4) Updates and announcements from staff and FWC members. Includes discussion on implementation of actions authorized previously, on correspondence received, and on upcoming meetings of interest to the FWC.

5) Review letter of thanks and appreciation from:

• Save Mount Diablo for their 2014 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant award for the “Marsh Creek – Morgan Territory Habitat Restoration” project.

• Lindsay Wildlife Experience for their 2014 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant award for the “Protecting California’s Wildlife Through Treatment & Rehabilitation” project.

• Mt. View Sanitary District for their 2015 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant awards for the “Wetlands Field Trip Program for Contra Costa County Schools” and “Equipment Shed for Ongoing Moorhen Marsh Western Pond Turtle Study” projects.

6) Review and consider the request from SPAWNERS for an extension of time to complete their “Teaching Volunteers to Monitor the Aquatic Invertebrates Present in San Pablo Creeks as an Indicator of Stream Health” project.

7) Review and accept the final report from the Regional Parks Foundation on their 2013 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant for the “Kids Healthy Outdoor Challenge – Field Trips” project; and review and consider approving their request for an extension of time to complete their 2014 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant for the “Kids Healthy Outdoor Challenge – Field Trips” project.

8) Review and accept the final report from Worth a Dam on their 2015 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant for their K.E.Y.S.T.O.N.E. (Kids Explore – Youth Science Training on Natural Ecosystems) project.

9) Review and consider finalizing the draft 2015 Fish and Wildlife Committee Fall Forum agenda and discuss the budget, outreach and members’ tasks.

10) Continue to review and consider approving the draft Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2016 grant cycle.

11) Review and discuss the draft 2015 work plan and annual report to the Board of Supervisors.

12) Continue to discuss the Wildlife in Your Backyard brochure.

13) Determine the agenda for the next meeting. The next regular meeting date is October 21, 2015. A field trip to Big Break Visitor Center in Oakley is planned. Possible agenda items for other upcoming meetings include:

• Finalize Annual Report – November • Update on Chelsea Wetlands Project - November • Consider developing recommendations and/or a white paper on rodenticide use in the County • Presentation on problem weeds

Adjourn

The Committee Chair may alter the order of agenda items at the meeting. Please contact Maureen Parkes at 925-674-7831 / [email protected] (or Abigail Fateman at 925-674-7820 / [email protected]) at the CCC Department of Conservation and Development if you have questions about the Fish & Wildlife Committee or desire materials related to this agenda. The FWC will provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities planning to participate in this meeting who contact staff at least 72 hours before the meeting. County Public Works Department Road Maintenance Division lunchroom (squad room)

From Hwy 680: 1. Merge onto CA-4W 2. Continue with the directions from Hwy 4.

From Hwy 4: 1. Take the Pacheco Blvd exit. 2. Merge onto Pacheco Blvd. 3. Turn onto Blum Road (North past Police Department). 4. Turn right onto Imhoff Drive (a cemetery is at the corner of Blum and Imhoff). 5. Turn left onto Waterbird. (There is a Top Soil / Clean Dirt sign at the corner). 6. Turn left onto the Public Works Maintenance building after you pass County’s gas pumping station. Once you are in the parking lot, pass the building on your right. Park your car near the side entrance (not the front entrance). Enter through the side entrance.

Our meeting room is on your left once you enter the building. Please ask the receptionist to direct you if you have trouble finding the meeting room.

Draft Meeting Minutes of the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee on July 15, 2015

1) Introductions. Martha Berthelsen, Clark Dawson, Roni Gehlke, Susan Heckly, Derek Jansen, Kathleen Jennings, Daniel Pellegrini and Jeff Skinner attended the meeting. Brett Morris and Scott Stephan provided advance notice that they would be absent. Lisa Chow and (Office of Supervisor District IV) and Jill Ray (Office of Supervisor District II) attended the meeting. Maureen Parkes (CCC Department of Conservation and Development) attended as staff.

2) Review/Approve minutes from the June 17, 2015 meeting. The meeting minutes were approved as written.

Vote: 5-0 AYES: Berthelsen, Dawson, Gehlke, Heckly, Pellegrini NOES: None ABSENT: Jansen, Morris and Stephan ABSTAIN: Jennings and Skinner

3) Public comment. There were no public comments.

Maureen Parkes informed the Committee that: • Brett Morris and Scott Stephan provided advance notice that they would not be able to attend the meeting today. • Maureen Toms was promoted to Deputy Director in the Department of Conservation and Development and oversees the Policy Planning Division.

5) Review and accept the final report from Greens at Work for the grant awarded to Berkeley Partners for Parks for the Point Isabel/Hoffman Marsh Habitat Restoration (Richmond, CA) project. The Committee reviewed and accepted the final report.

Vote: 8-0 AYES: Berthelsen, Dawson, Gehlke, Jennings, Heckly, Jansen, Pellegrini and Skinner NOES: None ABSENT: Morris and Stephan ABSTAIN: None

6) Review the letter from Mt. Diablo Audubon Society regarding the “We Love Cats! and Birds, too!” brochure; and consider approving a plan regarding the retrieval of the remaining brochures. The Committee reviewed the letter from the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society. Maureen Parkes informed the Committee that the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society had delivered approximately 1,500 brochures to the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD). The Committee approved a plan to retrieve the remaining brochures that were distributed to County Departments and to recycle all of the brochures that are returned to DCD.

Vote: 8-0 AYES: Berthelsen, Dawson, Gehlke, Jennings, Heckly, Jansen, Pellegrini and Skinner NOES: None ABSENT: Morris and Stephan ABSTAIN: None

7) Discuss the 2015 Fall Forum and consider plans and potential speakers. The Committee finalized plans to have Nicole Kozicki, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Warden speak at the Fall Forum. She’ll provide an overview of what the CDFW wardens do and how their job generates money for the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund.

8) Review and consider approving the draft Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2016 grant cycle. The Committee reviewed the draft RFP and requested that staff check into modifying the instructions to include a statement that the FWC wishes to be acknowledged for their financial support of the project.

9) Continue to discuss the Wildlife in Your Backyard brochure. Roni Gehlke provided a draft Wildlife in Your Backyard brochure. The FWC members reviewed the draft brochure and offered helpful suggestions. Roni will incorporate the suggestions and return with an updated draft brochure for the Committee’s review at the August meeting. Maureen Parkes will look into reproduction costs.

10) Discuss potential field trip to Big Break Visitor Center in Oakley. The Committee discussed the logistics of the field trip. Roni Gehlke said that there is a shaded picnic area for lunch and informed the Committee that Mike Moran, Supervising Naturalist, East Bay Regional Park District will give a tour of the shoreline.

11) Discuss potential speakers for upcoming meetings. The Committee discussed potential speakers and decided that they would like to invite speakers that could inform them about the effects of the drought on wildlife.

12) Continue to discuss and consider action on the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) comments and requests at their December 1, 2014 meeting listed below:

• Suggest three top priorities for the upcoming Board of Supervisors Discussion Item. • The IOC expressed a need for multilingual signage and better collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and education surrounding fish and wildlife practices of people of different cultures that may be in violation of local fish and game laws.

Maureen Parkes informed the FWC that it is no longer necessary to prepare a Board of Supervisors Discussion item. The Supervisors are comfortable with the FWC accomplishing their requests by including their three top priorities in their annual report; and adding a new paragraph in the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) stating that the FWC wishes to fund projects that increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and education surrounding fish and wildlife practices of people of different cultures that may be unaware of local fish and game laws; and encourages projects that provide multilingual signage and educational materials.

13) Determine the agenda for the next meeting. The next regular meeting date is August 19, 2015. Possible agenda items for upcoming meetings include:

• Draft Annual Report • Draft Fall Forum agenda • Consider developing recommendations and/or a white paper on rodenticide use in the County • Presentation on problem weeds

San Pablo Watershed Neighbors’ Education and Restoration Society www.spawners.org

July 23, 2015

Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development 30 Muir Rd. Martinez, CA 94553

Dear members of the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee, On August 15, 2014, the Contra Costa County (CCC) Fish and Wildlife Committee generously awarded SPAWNERS $5,602 to begin a benthic macroinvertebrate survey program at all four of our creek sites. Unfortunately there was a six month delay in receiving the Scientific Collection Permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This permit is necessary to conduct the events, and therefore we were not able to begin the program until February 28, 2015. We request that the final report for this project be extended until February 28, 2016. The SPAWNERS staff and steering committee thank the CCC Fish and Wildlife Committee for your continued support. We are very appreciative to obtain funding for this project, which has allowed us to begin a new water quality testing program and provide environmental education opportunities to volunteers of all ages.

Sincerely, Helen Dickson Program Coordinator SPAWNERS

1327 South 46th Street, 155 Richmond Field Station, Richmond, CA 94804. Phone: (510) 665-3538

July 27th, 2015

Ms. Maureen Parkes Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee 30 Muir Road Martinez, CA 94553

Email: [email protected]

Ms. Parkes,

Attached, with appreciation for the Committee’s generous and consistent support, is a second combined Final Report on the 2013 and 2nd Interim Report on the 2014 grant awards from the Propagation Fund, both in-support of transportation costs related to the Kids Healthy Outdoors Challenge (KHOC) Program. We say, ‘Interim Report’ on the 2014 award because we still retain a portion of them.

Based on the positive results of evaluation surveys, and the large number of targeted 3rd grade public school classes participating since KHOC’s inception in 2012, the Program is achieving its function of raising awareness of the county’s wildlife and habitat resources among our largely urbanized and low-income young people. Some 924 Contra Costa County children have completed the program, and we expect that close to this same number will have again by the end of School Year 2015-2016.

While there was a temporary bottleneck in terms of the field trips portion of the Program for which the Propagation Fund monies were contributed (see our Interim Report dated 02/11/15), the Park District and Foundation have successfully addressed the situation. Retention of the original pilot program’s Coordinator to organize transportation and recruit interpretive staff which support the field trips has made all the difference since. The accompanying Report has more details.

With all 2013 funds expended, let this report serve as the final for that year. We request the Propagation Fund Committee’s further indulgence in the form of an extension until 6 weeks after the end of School Year 2015-2016 (bus charter invoices can take up to a month to reach us) on the 2014 final report.

Once again, allow us to express our gratitude for the Committee’s support of this major effort to impart locally-focused environmental education to our county’s kids.

Sincerely,

Carol Johnson Executive Director /ebf

2nd Combined Interim Report on 2013 & 2014 CCCF&WC awards from Regional Parks Fndtn. 5pp 07/27/15 1 Regional Parks Foundation Combined Report (Final for 2013 and 2nd Interim for 2014) to The Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Propagation Fund For Kids Healthy Outdoor Challenge – Field Trips – 2013 and 2014 Awards July 27th 2015

Grant Funding Dates: July 30th 2013 and June 3rd 2014 Amounts: $10,000 each award, $20,000 total.

Project Description: The Regional Parks Foundation’s Board of Directors expresses their deep appreciation for continuing support from the Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Propagation Fund.

As was stated in both the 2013 and 2014 grant applications, 100% of this funding is dedicated to bus transportation funding for low-income Contra Costa County third grade students as part of the East Bay Regional Park District’s Kids Healthy Outdoors Challenge (KHOC). This educational program helps teachers to engage students in learning about nature and exploring the outdoors through a 10- lesson, classroom-based, environmental education curriculum culminating in a field trip to one of the Regional Parks. The field trips are designed to take place after teachers have completed the in-class portion, which supports State Standards for third grade learning. We estimated that 1,000 kids would have their field trips made possible between the two years’ awards – 600 for 2013-2014 and 400 for 2014-2015.

Through KHOC, underserved children learn about and directly experience the county’s open-space and wildlife resources, setting in-motion an attitude of caring and awareness that will grow into citizen stewardship of the county’s wildlife and their habitats, as these kids grow up and take their place as adults in our community.

Since the submittal of the original application to the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund in 2013, bus transportation costs have increased. Today’s fees average $575 for one round-trip field trip. Yet the Program Coordinator has also been able to keep transportation costs down by working with school district bus services or operators which charge less. With just $11,282 of the Propagation Fund’s combined 2013 and 2014 awards of $20,000, the Regional Parks Foundation has already provided sufficient funding for bus service for 924 of Contra Costa County low-income public school children and their teachers. Put another way, that’s 16% more than we had anticipated, and fully 31 class sections (see table on page 4).

Project Activities to Date:

Even during the pilot phase of KHOC during School Year 2012-2013, nearly double the predicted number (600) of Contra Costa (and Alameda) County 3rd graders, or close to 1,000, had their appreciation and awareness of local habitat and wildlife raised through KHOC (and kindly see our January 2014 report). At that time, the program had a Coordinator who provided vital support for classroom teachers by helping to schedule bus transportation and to line up Parks District interpretive naturalists to guide classrooms through their field trips. Accordingly, classrooms got

2nd Combined Interim Report on 2013 & 2014 CCCF&WC awards from Regional Parks Fndtn. 5pp 07/27/15 1 out on their field excursions regularly and, judging from our evaluations, with high levels of teacher and student satisfaction.

At the close of the pilot phase in late 2013, the Program Coordinator ended her contract as- scheduled, given that dozens of 3rd grade classes had signed on and were completing their in-class lesson blocs. The KHOC post pilot-phase educator training workshops and general instructions were also clear about putting classroom teachers in charge of: a) Transportation scheduling. b) Independently leading their class groups through the in-parks field activities once they arrived.

In-practice however, what transpired is that a logjam in the culminating field trips developed. Most teachers demurred on lining up the bus transportation, and those who did were asking for the support of a Park District interpretive naturalist or similar representative when they arrived. This condition prevailed throughout 2014. Given that the school groups were to be acting independently with respect to the field trips, it was only as the small number of invoices for transportation submitted over time became apparent that both the Regional Parks District and the Regional Parks Foundation became fully-aware of the situation.

The significance of the key support role played by the original pilot Project Coordinator in facilitating participating classes’ field trips during the project’s initial period wasn’t however lost on us. At the end of last year the Regional Parks Foundation allocated funding which allowed the Parks District to re-hire this person back. Since then the Project Coordinator worked with the Park District to a) help to schedule the field trips transportation, and b) ensure that a naturalist either is or will be scheduled to accompany each visiting class.

We’re happy and not a little relieved to report that previously-reluctant classroom teachers have responded at-scale. The upshot is that, by the recently-completed end of School Year 2014-2015, 8 Contra Costa County elementary schools serving low-income communities had sent 29 classes on 11 field trips to a variety of Regional Parks.

Contra Costa County Schools’ KHOC Field Trips – School Year 2014-2015 SCHOOL (ALL ARE ELEMENTARY) TRIP #STUDENTS $ FOR BUS DATE TRANSPO Ford (Richmond) 02/26/15; 05/06/15 131 $ 1,559 Garin (Brentwood) 12/04/14 137 549 Collins (Pinole) 03/23/15 86 1,185 Murphy (El Sobrante) 03/24/15 106 1,379 Kimball (Antioch) 04/23/15 105 1,576 Downer (San Pablo) 03/26/15; 05/12/15 140 2,260 Sheldon (Richmond) 05/07/15; 05/14/15 112 1,372

2nd Combined Interim Report on 2013 & 2014 CCCF&WC awards from Regional Parks Fndtn. 5pp 07/27/15 3

Shores Academy (Pittsburgh) 05/12/15 107 1,402 TOTAL: 8 SCHOOLS 11 TRIPS 924 $11,282

The school trips shown are in chronological order. The first (Ford thru Sheldon) had cumulative field trip transportation costs of very close to $10,000 and the CCCF&W 2013 $10,000 award was assigned to them. Shores Academy’s $1,402 travel expenditure for 4 class sections represents the initial expenditure assigned to your 2014 $10,000.

The gist of this is, KHOC in Contra Costa County has exceeded expectations in 2 ways:

1. By bringing relevant environmental education to 16% more Contra Costa County students than projected in our combined 2013 and 2014 applications, 2. By lowering the anticipated cost-per-student of the field trips transportation by close to 50%.

Including the Alameda County classes, just under 2,300 low-income youth have completed the entire KHOC curriculum (classroom learning + field trips) during School Year 2014-2015 which is close to double the program-wide projections.

With all 2013 funds expended, let this report serve as the final for that year. We request the Propagation Fund Committee’s further indulgence in the form of an extension until 6 weeks after the end of School Year 2015- 2016 (bus charter invoices can take up to a month to reach us) on the 2014 final report.

Future Direction of the KHOC Program: With the kinks seemingly ironed out of the full KHOC Project -- given restoration of the Project Coordinator and six months of full function in the books, we feel confident that the remaining $8,598 from the 2014 award will be expended on Contra Costa County school field trips by the end of Spring Semester, 2016. The reason for this is that the program tends to complete the classroom segment during the fall semester and schedule the majority of field trips during the spring.

The Committee’s patience and understanding will be much appreciated as together the Park District and the Regional Parks Foundation continue the KHOC Project during School Year 2015-2016. The Regional Parks Foundation will, with support from the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefits Program and other supporters, fund the District’s continued retention of the Program Coordinator to make sure that field trips continue, and that Regional Parks District staff are on-hand to support visiting KHOC classes. For 2016 and beyond, the District is seeking to develop a dedicated funding stream to hire additional onsite naturalists who can meet this need for the long-term.

Closing Summary: The Park District is greatly encouraged by participating teachers’ enthusiasm for the KHOC program to-date. There’s every indication that KHOC can continue providing a vital environmental education program for succeeding generations of Contra Costa County’s low-income 3rd grade students. The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund’s remaining $8,598 will help make it possible for yet more kids to have their culminating KHOC Regional Park

2nd Combined Interim Report on 2013 & 2014 CCCF&WC awards from Regional Parks Fndtn. 5pp 07/27/15 4 field trips. We look forward to presenting a closing report which documents all remaining funds expended by the end of June, 2016.

Thank you once again for partnering with us in this important educational program, and for your patience as we removed the logjam which had been preventing KHOC field trips during the latter half of the 2013-2014 School and the first half of the 2014-2015 one.

  

2nd Combined Interim Report on 2013 & 2014 CCCF&WC awards from Regional Parks Fndtn. 5pp 07/27/15 5

Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Commission

Thank you very much for your recent award of 950.00 for the Eighth Martinez Beaver Festival. Please find invoice attached.

Payment Invoice for Beaver Festival 2015 20 wildlife pins @ .25c each X 150 children = 750.00 60" Wide X 20 Yard Long Natural Burlap (for 150 tails) = 50.00 50 laminated cardstock copies of information = 135.00 1 pkg colored Sharpie pins = 15.00 950 Receipts attached Amount Awarded 950.00

Please make Check payable to Worth A Dam – ISI. Worth A Dam is a fiscally sponsored project of ISI, a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation with EIN: 94-2524840.

Inquiring Systems Inc 21885 Bonness Rd., Sonoma, CA, 95476

Thank you for your generous support of this widely beloved community event.

Heidi Perryman, Ph.D. President & Founder Worth A Dam www.martinezbeavers.org

A little bit about the day….

120 Children completed the tail activity, and 60 finished all buttons and the post test. 98% of completed tests show they learned how beavers help other species and parents verbally reported they had a wonderful time doing it. All exhibitors completed the post test too and reports were very positive, with 98% reporting they learned something by doing it .

I’m attaching some photos of the children with their finished tails and taking the post test with their parents so you can see it was enjoyed!

Thank you again for your support of this wonderful day of learning!

Heidi Perryman, Ph.D. President & Founder Worth A Dam www.martinezbeavers.org

6”w x 12”h INSIDE OUTSIDE

fold fold

Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee Meeting ~ 15th Annual Fish and Wildlife Fall Forum in Contra Costa County ~

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015 Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Location: Martinez Sportsmen’s Club, 304 Embarcadero Street, Martinez, CA 94553

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by September 11 to Maureen Parkes at (925) 674-7831 or [email protected]. Please indicate your preference for baby back ribs, chicken or a vegetarian/vegan option.

(Please see reverse for detailed map and directions)

AGENDA

5:00 Reception/sign-in/refreshments

5:30 Welcome and overview (Danny Pellegrini, Chair, Fish and Wildlife Committee)

6:00 Fish and Wildlife Outreach (to be determined) • The purpose of the Fall Forum • Acknowledgement of the relationships created by Judicial process • Summary of the Fish and Wildlife Committee’s interest in the Fish and Game Codes • Opportunities to improve coordination • Recognition of the work of conservation partners who have previously received grants from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund.

6:15 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wardens: Who They Are and What They Do (Nicole Kozicki, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warden)

----Complementary rib/chicken/vegan dinner courtesy of Fish and Wildlife Committee chefs----

6:30 Comments/questions/suggestions (including public comment)

6:45 Dessert and open discussion/mixer

7:00 Adjourn

Times are approximate. Please contact Maureen Parkes at 925-674-7831 / [email protected] at the CCC Department of Conservation and Development if you have questions about the Fish & Wildlife Committee or desire materials related to this agenda. The FWC will provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities planning to participate in this meeting who contact staff at least 72 hours before the meeting.

From Richmond / Hercules on Hwy 4: Exit at Alhambra Avenue and turn left Continue on Alhambra Avenue Turn left at Marina Vista Ave Turn immediately right at Berrellesa Street and cross the train track Turn left onto Embarcadero Street (dirt road)

From Antioch/ Pittsburg on Hwy 4: Exit at Alhambra Avenue and turn right Continue on Alhambra Avenue Turn left at Marina Vista Ave Turn immediately right at Berrellesa Street and cross the train track Turn left onto Embarcadero Street (dirt road)

From Walnut Creek / San Ramon on Hwy 680: Exit at Marina Vista and turn left Continue on Marina Vista Turn right at Berrellesa Street and cross the train track Turn left onto Embarcadero Street (dirt road)

From Benicia / Vallejo on Hwy 680: Exit at Marina Vista (first exit after the Benicia Bridge) and turn left Continue on Marina Vista Turn right at Berrellesa Street and cross the train track Turn left onto Embarcadero Street (dirt road)

Department of John Kopchik Contra Director

Conservation and Aruna Bhat Development Costa Deputy Director

County Jason Crapo 30 Muir Road Deputy Director Martinez, CA 94553 Maureen Toms Phone: 1-855-323-2626 Deputy Director

Date

Dear Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Grant Applicants:

The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee is pleased to announce that completed funding applications are now being accepted for consideration for the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund (Fund). All application materials and guidelines are attached. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 (a postmark of January 6, 2016, does not satisfy the submission deadline). Proposals may be emailed or mailed. Any applications that are received after the due date or without a signature will not be considered. The recommendations of the Fish and Wildlife Committee will be forwarded to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, which maintains final decision-making authority for expenditures from the Fund.

The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund is entirely supported by fine revenues resulting from violations of the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations in Contra Costa County (County). Projects awarded from the Fund must benefit the fish and wildlife resources of the County and must meet the requirements of Section 13103 of the Fish and Game Code (attached). All applications that satisfy the requirements listed in the funding application directions will be considered.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee strongly encourages applications related to: • improving habitat • scientific research • public education

In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Committee wishes to fund one or more projects that increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and education focusing on communities that may be unaware of local fish and game laws. Projects that provide multilingual signage and educational materials are encouraged.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee generally does not recommend funding for operating costs and overhead, such as benefits or utilities. If an hourly rate is listed, costs need to be itemized separately (see grant guidelines for more details).

The Committee expects to recommend awards to several applicants. However, it is possible that a particularly excellent proposal will be recommended to receive a large portion of the total available funds. During the 2015 grant cycle a total of $61,155.02 was awarded to 11 projects. The awards ranged from $950 to $10,100. Successful applicants may anticipate receiving notification of funding awards by the late spring or summer of 2016.

Page 1

The grant award funds will be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis.* (See next page for exceptions.) Within a year of grant funding approval, or within one month of project completion, whichever comes sooner, recipients must submit a final project report which includes invoices and receipts documenting how funds were spent and the results of the project. Fish and Wildlife Propagation fund grants will be disbursed after receipt and approval of the final project report. Details will be outlined in the grant packet to all successful applicants.

*Exception For Non-Profit Organizations That Can Demonstrate Financial Hardship: Private, non-profit entities that can demonstrate that providing Fish and Wildlife Propagation grant funding on a cost reimbursement basis will create a financial hardship and be detrimental to the operation of the program will be eligible to receive up to ½ of the grant amount after the grant is awarded. The remaining amount of the grant will be disbursed after the entity has submitted information including invoices and receipts documenting how the initial disbursement was spent. Within a year of initial notification of the grant funding award (i.e. spring or summer of 2017), or within one month of project completion, whichever comes sooner, the entity will be required to submit information including invoices and receipts documenting how the second disbursement was spent, and provide a final project report documenting the results of the project.

*Exception For Small Projects Under $1,000: Grant funding may be disbursed to private, non-profit entities prior to the beginning of the project if the award is under $1,000 and the entity has provided documentation that the project could only be initiated with advance funding. Within a year of grant funding, or within one month of project completion, whichever comes sooner, recipients must submit a final project report which includes invoices and receipts documenting how funds were spent and the results of the project.

The Committee appreciates your interest in this opportunity to improve the fish and wildlife resources in Contra Costa County. Should you have any questions about the Fish and Wildlife Committee or this funding program, please contact me at 925-674-7831 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Maureen Parkes Fish and Wildlife Committee Staff

Page 2

INSTRUCTIONS

What Must Be Included in Your Proposal (not to exceed 3 pages): 1) Signed Application Cover Page (see attached) 2) Description of the project for which funding is requested. Please include an explanation of: • how this project will benefit the fish and wildlife of Contra Costa County • how this project meets the requirements of Section 13103 of the Fish & Game Code (attached) which defines the eligibility requirements for projects requesting funding from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. Indicate which letter(s) of the Section 13103 is/are satisfied. • If your proposal is eligible under Section 13103 (d), (h), (i), or (m), send a copy of your draft proposal a minimum of 45 days prior to the final deadline to the attention of Scott Wilson, Regional Manager, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, 7329 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, to request a letter of support. (This letter does not count toward your page limit) *Please note that funding of grant applications does not indicate the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee’s endorsement of the content of written materials created with grant funds. Grant recipients must request permission from the Fish and Wildlife Committee to represent the views of the Committee or give credit to the Fish and Wildlife Committee in any written materials. *The Fish and Wildlife Committee wishes to be acknowledged for its financial support of the project. FWC or staff review may be required prior to printing any written materials that receive funding. Please refer to the guidelines listed below: • Grant recipients agree to obtain advance written approval from the FWC of any communication/written material that may reasonably be understood to represent the views of the FWC and to provide the FWC with reasonable opportunity to review, comment and approve the communication/written material in advance. Grant recipients may use the following standard language in making attributions for funding by the FWC: • Attribution for full Grant funding: “This (research, publication, project, Web site, report, etc.) was funded by the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee.” • Attribution for partial Grant funding: “This (research, publication, project, Web site, report, etc.) is funded in part by the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee.” 3) Project schedule - The project must be completed within a year from the date you receive notification of funding (by Spring/Summer 2017). 4) Project budget (itemized). The Fish and Wildlife Committee generally does not recommend funding for operating costs and overhead. Examples for these may include benefits such as health insurance, and operation costs such as electricity to run an office. If an hourly rate is listed, overhead costs need to be itemized separately. The Committee generally gives preferences to funding material expenses (e.g. purchase of equipment). 5) Annual budget for the applying organization (not itemized). 6) Statement describing the applying organization, listing the Board of Directors and officers of the organization, and listing all affiliated organizations. 7) Statement describing the qualifications of the sponsoring organization and participating individuals for completing the project. 8) List of individuals responsible for performing project and of individuals responsible for overseeing project. 9) Statement describing the status of permit approvals necessary to perform project (if applicable). 10) Request for an exception to the grant funding cost reimbursement requirement due to financial hardship or an exception for a small project under $1,000. (This request does not count toward your page limit and is only required if requesting an exception.)

Format: • Your proposal packet, including cover sheet and any attachments must not exceed four single-sided pages or two double-sided pages, 8.5 by 11 inches in size. Please use 11 point font or larger and ½ inch margins or larger on your pages. If you are including a letter from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife to demonstrate eligibility under Section 13103 (d), (h), (i) or (m) of the Fish and Game Code, this will not be counted as part of your page limit. Otherwise, if you submit more than 3 pages plus required cover sheet, your proposal may be disqualified without review. • Do not attach an additional cover letter, brochures, posters, publications, CDs, DVDs, large maps or yellow-sticky paper (e.g. Post-ItTM). • Your complete application packet including signature must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 (Pacific Standard Time) to be considered for funding. (Please note: A postmark of January 6, 2016 does not satisfy the submission deadline. If submitted after the deadline, your proposal will be disqualified).

Your complete application should be:

Emailed: [email protected] or Mailed: Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee c/o Contra Costa County Dept. of Conservation and Development 30 Muir Road Martinez, CA 94553-4601 Attn: Maureen Parkes

If you wish to hand deliver, contact Maureen by email or at 925-674-7831.

Final Checklist Before You Submit Your Proposal: Please note that your proposal will not be considered if you provide more materials than required below: • Signed Cover page (your proposal will be disqualified if it does not have your original signature on the cover page). • 3 pages or less on your project description (any extra attachments such as a map and an organization budget will be counted as one of the three page limit.) • Letter from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife only if your project is under Section 13103 (d), (h), (i), or (m) of the Fish and Game Code. (This is not a part of the page limit listed above). • Request for an exception to the grant funding cost reimbursement requirement due to financial hardship or an exception for a small project under $1,000. (This is not a part of the page limit listed above and is only required if requesting an exception).

If you have questions regarding the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant process, please contact Maureen Parkes: [email protected] / (925) 674-7831. California Fish and Game Code Section 13103. Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any county may be made only for the following purposes:

(a) Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video recordings, training models, and nature study facilities. (b) Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife. (c) Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence. (d) Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife which are to be released upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the public. (e) Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, construction of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements; gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and wildlife. (f) Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities. (g) Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the department's ownership and use or the department's use in the normal performance of the department's responsibilities. (h) Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a particular wildlife species. (i) Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning, qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department. (j) Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section 13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of this subdivision, "reasonable cost" means an amount which does not exceed 3 percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year period, or three thousand dollars ($3,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year. (k) Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code. (l) Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the department. (m) Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting, conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.

California Fish and Game Code Section 711.2. (a) "For purposes of this code, unless the context otherwise requires, "wildlife" means and includes all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability ..." Contra Costa County Office Use Only: 2016 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Application Cover Page

Project title:

Organization/Individual applying:

(Organization type: please check one – government, non-profit, for-profit, other (explain)

Address:

Telephone: Fax:

E-mail:

Name and title of contact person:

One sentence summary of proposal:

Requested grant:

Proposal prepared by (name & title):

Signature (Typing your name does not count as a signature. If this section is empty, your proposal will not be considered):

______Signed on ______

Advisory Body Name: Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee Advisory Body Meeting Time/Location: 3rd Wednesday of every month, 3 – 5 pm 2475 Waterbird Way County Public Works Department Road Maintenance Division lunch room Chair: Daniel Pellegrini Staff: Maureen Parkes and Abigail Fateman Reporting Period: January 2015 – December 2015 1. Activities and Accomplishments: The Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) met monthly to discuss matters related to fish and wildlife issues in Contra Costa County. The Committee is responsible for running a grant program that expends the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Funds (funds that are collected by the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife for code violations). The Committee also hosts an annual Fall Forum to raise awareness among people working in law enforcement, environmental restoration, education and outreach about fish and wildlife issues. Grant Program: The Committee received 15 proposals requesting Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant funds during the regular grant cycle. The Committee reviewed the proposals, interviewed applicants and selected 11 of the 15 proposals for full or partial funding totaling $61,155 to recommend to the Board of Supervisors. Grants ranged from $950 to $10,100. The Committee reviewed progress and final reports from previous grant cycles and extended invitations to grantees to give presentations. Outreach: The Committee hosted the annual Fall Forum on September 17th, which is open to the public and encourages people involved in fish and wildlife law enforcement issues in Contra Costa County to attend. Invited attendees included representatives of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, Superior Court, Public Defender’s Office, the East Bay Regional Park District Police, the Board of Supervisors and members of the public. Participants have indicated that the Fall Forums have been helpful in raising awareness and fostering cooperation on fish and wildlife issues and law enforcement. More than ___ people attended the event. Volunteer Activities: Several members volunteer in the community with other organizations that are interested in fish and wildlife issues. Martha Berthelsen - Steering Committee for SPAWNERS; Rhonda Gehlke – Aquarium in the Classroom Program; Susan Heckly - Lindsay Wildlife Museum and CCC Master Gardener; Kathleen Jennings - Mt. View Sanitary District’s Special Advisory Committee for the Peyton Slough Wetlands Advisory Committee; Danny Pellegrini - Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Trustees, East Bay Regional Park District Park Advisory Committee, Sheriff’s Posse of Contra Costa County (Barbeque Captain) and the Martinez Sportsmens Club. Brochure: The Committee updated the Wildlife in Your Backyard brochure. Committee members were regularly updated on activities related to fish and wildlife in Contra Costa County which included presentations by guest speakers and grant recipients as well as a field trip. The presentations and field trip are listed below: • Presentation on “The Mt. View Sanitary District Wetlands Programs: Celebrating Community in Contra Costa County through Environmental Education and Wildlife Conservation.” (Kelly Davidson, Mt. View Sanitary District) • Update on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (twin-tunnel project). (Ryan Hernandez, Department of Conservation and Development) • Update on the Temporary Emergency Drought Barrier in the Delta. (Ryan Hernandez, Department of Conservation and Development) • Four presentations regarding potential impacts of outdoor cats on wildlife by: Susan Heckly (FWC member),Stephanie Buzzard (No Kill Contra Costa County), Lisa Kirk (Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization [H.A.L.O]) and Julie Linford (Outcast Cat Help) • Presentation at the Fall Forum “California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wardens: Who They Are and What They Do” (Nicole Kozicki, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Warden) • Field trip to Big Break Visitor Center and Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley • Update on the Chelsea Wetlands project (Aaron Will, Ducks Unlimited, Inc.)

2. Attendance/Representation The Fish and Wildlife Committee is composed of ten members. Each Supervisor appoints a member and the Internal Operations Committee appoints four members and one alternate. The terms of the Committee members were converted from two-year terms to four-year terms, with four one-time three-year appointments to achieve staggered expiration dates. The Committee meets monthly. They met 11 times at which a quorum was always present. The members were: Martha Berthelsen (D-1), Susan Heckly (D-II), Clark Dawson (D-III), Brett Morris (D-IV), Daniel Pellegrini (D-V), Rhonda Gehlke (At-Large), Kathleen Jennings (At-Large), Jeff Skinner (At-Large), Scott Stephan (At-Large) and Derek Jansen (At- Large Alternate). 3. Training/Certification At monthly meetings Committee members were regularly updated on activities related to fish and wildlife in Contra Costa County and had nine presentations/updates and one field trip (see Activities/Accomplishments). All members have viewed the required videos “The Brown Act and Better Government Ordinance – What You Need to Know as a Commission, Board or Committee Member” and “Ethics Orientation for County Officials.” Certifications are on file for all of the members.

4. Proposed Work Plan/Objectives for Next Year

(1) Fish and Wildlife Committee Operations: • Develop and refine Work Plan (working document). • Maintain FWC membership by advertising vacancies and forwarding applications to the Internal Operations Committee. • Seek to coordinate with other Fish and Wildlife Committees on regional matters. • Coordinate with the Contra Costa Watershed Forum. (2) Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors via the Internal Operations Committee for the appropriation of funds from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund to support fish and wildlife projects in the community: • Conduct grant program to solicit proposals, evaluate their relative merits, and recommend funding for projects which will contribute most to the fish and wildlife resources of the County. • Develop and advertise FWC grant program by: 1) Reviewing past Request for Proposals (RFP), funding applications; and 2) Developing new RFP, funding application deadline, and funding priorities; and 3) posting to the County website, distributing these materials to the media, the FWC mailing list and RFP mailing list, and to anyone else who requests them. • Work with agencies, organizations, and individuals to help them plan and develop projects suitable for support from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. • Monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the grant disbursement process. • Review funding applications received. Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors via the Internal Operations Committee for the awarding of grants. • Follow-up on projects that receive funding to assure that projects proceed as proposed. One way the FWC will do this is to extend invitations to prior Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Grant recipients to future meetings to give status reports, outcomes and presentations regarding their projects. • Send out a letter to grant recipients requesting project status reports. (3) Fish and Wildlife Committee priorities for 2016: • Make recommendations to the Board to approve Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant applications for projects that increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and increase education focusing on communities that may be unaware of local fish and game laws. • • (4) Fish and Wildlife Committee projects (develop and prioritize a list of projects for potential FWC involvement; select projects for FWC involvement and provided appropriate support, including: initiation, planning, consultation, and/or funding): • Make recommendations to the Board on awarding Certificates of Appreciation for significant contributions to the fish and wildlife resources of the County. • Consider hosting a Wildlife Forum. (5) Improve enforcement of fish and game laws and regulations; increase flow of money into the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund: • Review status reports on Fish and Game Code enforcement in Contra Costa County. Consider advising the Board on trends. • Help assure that, when appropriate, a portion of fines from violations of laws designed to protect fish and wildlife resources is deposited in the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. Promote awareness of the harm caused by violation of fish and wildlife regulations and the value of enforcement. • Host a Fall Forum with law enforcement officials (CA Dpt. of Fish and Wildlife, Sheriff’s Dpt., District Attorney’s Office, Superior Court, Public Defender’s Office, the East Bay Regional Park District Police) to discuss fish and wildlife issues and enforcement. (6) Monitor and advise the Board on projects that may affect fish and wildlife resources in the county: • Attend field trips to see major restoration projects and prior Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Grant recipients’ projects in the County. • Consider tours of East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy properties, Marsh Creek Fish Ladder, Walnut Creek Drop Structure, Dow Wetlands and Chelsea Wetlands at Pinole. (7) Develop policy recommendations (“white papers”) on fish and wildlife issues: • Update FWC’s “Wildlife in Your Backyard” pamphlet. • Discuss rodenticide use in the County. • Discuss impacts of invasive species. • Discuss wildlife and human interaction / interface. • Discuss public education on reducing the impact of cats on wildlife. • Discuss the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and proposal for water conveyance tunnels under the Delta.