Minutes
Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
Minutes Outline
(Click on the links below to jump to the
listed item.)
2)
Attendees
3)
Introductions
a) Changes or additions to the agenda
b) Changes or additions to October
minutes?
c) Introductions
and what’s happening in the watershed?
4)
Featured Presentation –The
a) Presenter, Sarah Puckett, Senior Restoration Ecologist, Natural Heritage Institute
b) Introduction
c)
d) Bay Point Waterfront
e) Dow Chemical
f) Big Break
g)
h) Questions
5)
Administrative
Updates and Subcommittee Reports
a) Administrative
Updates
b) Development
Subcommittee Report
c) Fundraising
Subcommittee Report
d) Monitoring
Subcommittee Report
e) Planting
Subcommittee Report
FOMCW Minutes Details –
1) Location
1. Presenter, Sarah Puckett, NHI
2.
John Alcorn, resident of
3. Diane Burgis, new FOMCW coordinator
4.
5.
Anne Littlejohn,
outgoing FOMCW coordinator
6.
Pat Sotelo, resident of
7.
Richard Vrmeer,
8.
Maxine Vrmeer, resident of
9.
Mike Fry, resident of
10.
Spencer Holmes, resident of
11. Ashley Ciaglo, resident of Oakley
12. Michael Ciaglo, resident of Oakley
13.
Bob Watt, resident of
14.
Jim Richards, resident of
15.
Josette Brennan, resident of
16.
Dale Smith, resident of
17.
Sylvia Smith, resident of
18.
Barry Margesson, resident of
19.
Barbara Bonnickson, resident of
20.
Joan Douglas, resident of
Minutes
The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW) is a community run group to protect and improve the Marsh Creek Watershed.
3) Introductions
a) Changes or additions to the agenda
– Sarah asked to put the FOMCW update in to the introductions so that she could
introduce Diane Burgis as the new FOMCW Coordinator. Diane lives in Oakley and
has a lot of experience within the nonprofit industry. She also worked with
110° Magazine as well.
b) Changes or additions to October
11th minutes – No changes or additions to the minutes.
c) Introductions and what’s
happening in the watershed?
Mary Grim had a few updates:
She
updated the group on the fish kill in Marsh Creek
on September 5th. A representative of the Central
Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) told her that the
CVRWQCB conducted 2 field investigations after the incident. They learned
that the East Contra Costa Irrigation District (ECCID) had recently treated the
canals with Magnacide (a substance applied regularly to control algae in the
canals). ECCID's normal procedure is to close the canal gates to prevent this
treated water from reaching Marsh Creek. However, one of the gates leading to
Marsh Creek reportedly was not completely shut, allowing the chemically treated
water to flow into the creek. The results from water samples taken
several days after the fish-kill did not detect the suspected aquatic herbicide
since Marsh Creek is flowing and Magnacide is highly volatile. However,
using the information gathered from interviews and field investigations, staff
at the CVRWQCB thinks that the chemical acrolein (the active ingredient in
Magnicide may have caused the fish kill. The ECCID told the CVRWQCB that
it is taking steps with its customer to prevent any future discharges of
treated water to Marsh Creek.
The
East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) has 3 spots open for
conservation groups on their new public advisory committee. They may prefer
appointees from
Mary
recently completed a creek-walk for a scout troop that taught them about the
riparian ecosystem. She is available to
do this for other groups and invited FOCMW members who are interested to come
along and learn how to lead these walks.
Contact Mary at mary.grim@ca.nacdnet.net.
The
RCD will host a workshop on pollinators in January or February. This workshop will discuss the critical drop
in pollinating insects (both natives and also the introduced honey bee) and
steps that can be taken to provide habitat to sustain these insects. It will have information for both urban dwellers
and the farmers/ranchers. More details
will be provided at the December meeting.
Next steps: FOMCW members should
contact Diane or Mary if you are willing to represent FOMCW at the HCP’s
Advisory Council initial meeting on Thursday, December 6, 2007 from 1 PM to 3
PM at the City of Pittsburg Council Chambers, 65 Civic Dr (3rd
Floor). (info@fomcw.org). Mary will bring more information to the
next meeting on the Pollinator Workshop.
a) Presenter – Sarah Puckett, National Heritage Institute
b)
Introduction – Sarah discussed the 1992
Delta Protection Act and then showed that she would review five local areas for wetland restoration: the
Concord Naval Weapons Station, Bay Point Waterfront, Dow Chemical, Big Break/
c)
d) Bay Point Waterfront- This area is both publicly and privately owned. The areas surrounding are tidal marsh land. There is a full scaled marina proposed by the Contra Costa Redevelopment Agency. It is intended to have 570 births, a ferry terminal and 450 residential units built in the surrounding area. This area will have access to the Delta Trail. There are many endangered animal and plant species in this area. PG&E bought 838 acres from Shell Oil in this area including Shell Pond. Upon this acquisition PG&E took responsibility for cleaning the area. Shell Pond was originally used for wastewater treatment. In the same area there is a very contaminated area called the Carbon Black area that is causing airborne contaminant issues. Willow Creek runs through the Mirant Delta Site. They use Delta water to cool generators and discharge the water back into the Delta after letting it cool. Fish and Game monitors the screens on the intake.
e)
Dow Chemical – This is the largest west coast
Dow site that produces herbicides, pesticides and latex. In 1989 the Dow Wetland Preserve was
established. This is a very successful partnership of chemists and
preservationists working together to preserve and restore the wetlands.
f)
Big Break – This area consists of Ironhouse
Sanitary District, Big Break, Dutch Slough, Marsh Creek and
g)
h)
Questions – Sarah asked the FOMCW who
else they thought should hear this presentation. She
suggested the Delta Chapter of Sierra Club and Greenbelt Alliance. Mary suggested the Delta Protection
Commission. Dick Vrmeer indicated that in the next few years there will be
millions of dollars for Delta redevelopment (from Proposition 84) and that they
should look for funding for those sites.
Next steps: Please contact Sarah if you have suggestions for other groups who could benefit from hearing her presentation. (spuckett@n-h-i.org). Please contact Mary if you are interested in learning to give guided creek walks. (mary.grim@ca.nacdnet.net)
5) Administrative Updates and Subcommittee Reports
a)
Administrative
Updates Contra Costa Watershed
Forum Symposium coming up
.
b)
Development
Subcommittee Report – Joan indicated that the city of
c)
Fundraising
Subcommittee Report John Alcorn reported that the Antioch Home &
Garden Show started slow but that it got busier as the weekend went by.
Volunteers were able to get 25-30
Next steps: John Alcorn will continue evaluating fiscal sponsorship & 501C3 options.
d)
Monitoring
Subcommittee Update – – Pat Sotelo gave a review of the recent
GPS monitoring, which went well. Volunteers found a car and a dead deer. This
year they covered the Headwaters in
Sarah Puckett reported that 17
people showed up on November 3 for the Salmon Monitoring Training Walk. She indicated
that there are enough people to cover public tours every weekend through
January. She said that they saw a lot of
small Black Bass in the creek but no Salmon, so far. She will be on KPFA 94.1
Radio talking about the Salmon on Friday, November 9 at
Next steps: Sarah will
prepare a Salmon Monitoring Kit for leaders of salmon walks, and finish filling
in leaders for all monitoring walks through the end of January.
e)
Planting
Subcommittee Update – Barry Margesson reported that they would be
meeting on Sunday November 11 to work on the irrigation at the
Next steps: The FOMCW will have two planting workdays on Nov. 11 and 18th. More will be scheduled and the group will be notified.
NEXT STEPS
Next Meeting
Date:
a) Adjournment: – Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm