Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) Date: July 16, 2014 Time: 3:00 P.M
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Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) Date: July 16, 2014 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 Introductions. 3:05 Review/Approve minutes from the June 18, 2014 meeting. 3:10 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. 3:15 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. 3:20 Review and accept the final report from the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District on their Interpretive Panels for Alhambra Creek Watershed project. 3:25 Review and accept the final report from the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District on their Water Quality Testing for Salmonid Survival in Alhambra Creek Watershed project. 3:30 Review and accept the final report from The Regents of the University of California – Contra Costa Master Gardener Association on their Contra Costa Master Gardeners Our Garden Sustainability Program. 3:35 Review update provided by the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District on the Pinole Creek Fish Passage Enhancement Project. 3:45 Review and consider finalizing the draft 2014 Fish and Wildlife Committee Fall Forum agenda and discuss the budget, outreach and members’ tasks (pending Board of Supervisors authorization to spend Fish and Wildlife Propagation funds to host the event). 4:00 Review and discuss the draft 2014 work plan and annual report to the Board of Supervisors. 4:25 Review and consider approving the draft Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2015 grant cycle. 4:45 Determine the agenda for the next meeting. The next regular meeting date is August 20, 2014 and will be a field trip to the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. Possible agenda items for upcoming meetings include: Consider developing recommendations and/or a white paper on rodenticide use in the County Presentation on problem weeds 5:00 Adjourn Times are approximate. Please contact Maureen Parkes at 925-674-7831 / [email protected] (or John Kopchik at 925-674- 7819 / [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 Maintenancce 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, passs 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 June 18, 2014 Introductions. Martha Berthelsen, Roni Gehlke, Susan Heckly, Kathleen Jennings, Webb Johnson, Kevin McIlvenna, Daniel Pellegrini, Jeff Skinner and Scott Stephan attended the meeting. Martha Berthelsen provided advance notice that she would not be able to attend the meeting. Brett Morris was absent. Matthew Graul (East Bay Regional Park District), Nancy Kaiser (East Bay Regional Park District), Jim Hale, Nicole Kozicki (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Nancy Wenninger (Mount Diablo Audubon Society) attended the meeting. Maureen Parkes (CCC Department of Conservation and Development) attended as staff. Review/Approve minutes from the May 21, 2014 meeting. The meeting minutes were approved as written. Vote: 7-0 AYES: Gehlke, Heckly, Jennings, Johnson, McIlvenna, Pellegrini and Skinner NOES: None ABSENT: Berthelsen and Morris Public comment. None. 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. Maureen Parkes updated the Committee on the following items: • Martha Berthelsen provided advance notice that she would not be able to attend the meeting today. • Louis Terrazas, Don Brubaker, Francesca Demgen, Matthew Bettelheim had confirmed they are available and will present at the Fall Forum. • The field trip to Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is confirmed for August 20, 2014 from 3-5 P.M. • Catherine Kutsuris, the Director of the Department of Conservation and Development announced her upcoming retirement. Presentation on Managing and Minimizing the Impacts of Dogs in Regional Parks. (Matthew Graul, Chief of Stewardship, East Bay Regional Park District) Matthew Graul gave an informative presentation. He sited EBRPD Ordinance 38 which lists the prohibited and leash required areas for dogs. He said that they had installed educational signs and split rail fences to curb disturbance by trail users and pets to fish, water quality, and the riparian corridor. He said studies indicate that numerous dog owners read the signs and ignore the directions. Creek bank erosion is still an issue. He discussed several recommendations to improve the situation: • Repair fences and replace compliance signs on Wildcat Creek where needed. • Conduct additional monitoring to determine problem areas and erosion control options. • Create public service announcements to educate public about sensitive resources and resource protection issues. • Enlist volunteers and dog walkers to educate the public regarding potential ecological impacts. • Designate Wildcat Creek and Rifle Range Creek as resource protection areas. The Committee suggested additional wording and QR codes on signage to include the amount of the fine for having a dog off leash and directions to trails/areas where dogs are allowed. The Committee thanked Mr. Graul for his presentation. Presentation on the Kids Healthy Outdoors Challenge – Field Trips project. (Nancy Kaiser, Interpretive Services Manager, East Bay Regional Park District) Nancy Kaiser gave an informative presentation. She explained that the Kids Healthy Outdoor Challenge is a customized outdoor curriculum based on the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, which has been adopted by 12 U.S. states. She explained that children and young adults have not had the outdoor experiences that current middle aged and older adults had in childhood and that this is a collaborative project to bring these life experiences to today’s children. Their program is focused on third grade students and they also had a successful all day field trip for Antioch High School. The Committee thanked Ms. Kaiser for her presentation. Review letter of thanks from the Regional Parks Foundation for 2014 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant award for the Kids Healthy Outdoor Challenge – Field Trips project. The Committee reviewed the letter. Review and consider approving the request from the City of Walnut Creek for an extension to complete their Leviathan Floating Island Project Extension and a reissuance of the grant award check. The Committee reviewed and approved the request for an extension of time to complete the project and the reissuance of the grant award check. Vote: 7-0 AYES: Gehlke, Heckly, Jennings, Johnson, McIlvenna, Pellegrini and Skinner NOES: None ABSENT: Berthelsen and Morris Determine the agenda for the next meeting. The next regular meeting date is July 16, 2014. Possible agenda items for upcoming meetings include: • Discuss the annual report/work plan (July) • Review RFP for 2015 Fish and Wildlife Propagation Grants (July) • Discuss the Fall Forum (July) • Field trip to Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (August) • Wildlife in Your Backyard Brochure • Consider developing recommendations and/or a white paper on rodenticide use in the County • Presentation on problem weeds Adjourn CONTRA COSTA DISTRICT NAME (925) 672-6522 | PHONE (925) 672-8064 | FAX 5552 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94521 June 30, 2014 Contra Costa Fish and Wildlife Committee Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development 30 Muir Rd. Martinez, CA 94553 FINAL REPORT Interpretive Panels for Alhambra Watershed / Watershed Education Program Dear Fish and Wildlife Committee Members: Contra Costa RCD received a generous grant for $2,650 from the Fish & Wildlife Committee in 2011, with an extension in 2012, to produce interpretive panels depicting Alhambra Watershed. The interpretive panels were installed in 2013 and a report was submitted to the CCF&W Committee in January 2014. The Committee gave the CCRCD permission to devote the $627.15 that remained after the completion of the interpretive panels to watershed education programs that incorporate the interpretive panels. This spring we collaborated with Alhambra High School to lead high school students