The Watershed Project Events

Alameda County Community Stewardship Grants

DATE: Applications due by 12:00pm on Friday, April 24th

MORE: The Community Stewardship Grant Program encourages and facilitates grassroots community actions that prevent stormwater pollution and enhance the health of local watersheds, creeks, and the San Francisco Bay.  The Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program will provide grants in the range of $1,000 - $4,000 during this 2009-2010 grant cycle.

Please read the grant application packet carefully for full grant guidelines. The complete grant packet may be downloaded at www.cleanwaterprogram.org, or at www.thewatershedproject.org. 

For more information please contact: Juliana Gonzalez at (510) 665-3597 or juliana@thewatershedproject.org.

Bay-Friendly Basics Gardening Class

DATE: Saturday, April 4th

TIME: 10:00am - 1:00pm

LOCATION: West Contra Costa Adult Education: Serra Adult Campus, 6028 Ralston Ave., Richmond

MORE: Bay-Friendly gardening offers an approach to landscaping that makes it easy to have a garden you can enjoy while reducing waste, conserving water, and protecting the watersheds of San Francisco Bay. Grow a beautiful and sustainable garden that works with our climate and your site conditions. Learn planning, design, and maintenance tips to help you save time and resources. Low registration fee of $10.00 for the series, or $5.00 for one class. Free guidebook included.  Register through West Contra Costa Adult Education: Serra Adult Campus 6028 Ralston Ave., Richmond (510) 215-4666, www.wccae.info

Albany Beach Earth Day Celebration

DATE: Sunday, April 19th

TIME: 10:00am - 1:00pm

LOCATION: Albany Waterfront, foot of Buchanan Street

MORE: Celebrate this Earth Day by exploring Albany's shoreline:

• Discover the diversity of creatures -- plant, animal, and other -- that live along the edge of the bay
• Search the beach for trash and treasures
• Create art with found objects
• Thank the earth by cleaning it up as we enjoy these fun activities!

Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and bring your own water bottle and gloves if you have them. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, contact Martha Berthelsen at (510) 665-3689 or martha@thewatershedproject.org

West Contra Costa County Earth Day Creeks & Shoreline Challenge

DATE: Saturday, April 25th

TIME: 9:00am - 12:00pm

LOCATION: Multiple creeks in West Contra Costa County

MORE: Take the challenge this Earth Day! Come out with your family, friends and neighbors to join a major countywide cleanup effort. Together, we can make our environment a healthier place for plants, animals and people.

Join a Creeks and Shoreline Challenge Team at one of the following sites:

• Wildcat Creek: 23rd St and Brookside Ave, San Pablo
• Wildcat Creek: Verde Elementary, 2000 Giaramita St, Richmond
• Wildcat Creek: 1865 Rumrill Blvd, San Pablo
• Baxter Creek: Taco Bell parking lot at 11965 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito (Just north of Home Depot)
• Rheem Creek: Contra Costa College, 2600 Mission Bell Drive, San Pablo
• San Pablo Creek: El Sobrante Boys and Girls Club, 4660 Appian Way, El Sobrante, CA
• San Pablo Creek: Via Verde street, Richmond

Please wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and bring your own water bottle and gloves if you have them. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Snacks provided.

For more information, contact Juliana Gonzalez at (510) 665-3597 or juliana@thewatershedproject.org.

Kids in Creeks Teacher Workshop

DATE: Saturday, May 2nd

TIME: 9:30am - 4:00pm

LOCATION: Wildcat Community Free School, Richmond

MORE: Explore the world of wetlands and gather the tools needed to integrate the rich diversity of creek ecology into your curriculum. This one-day workshop for educators will introduce creek ecology and provide many student-friendly activities that range from kindergarten to high school. In this course you will map your local watersheds, learn to sample water quality using seven different parameters, and identify aquatic insects and plants. You will receive: a fast-paced day of hands-on training; a curriculum binder that meets California Content Standards; academic credit through Cal State East Bay; and a helpful guide complete with both tips for creating simple water sampling equipment and information about your local creek. Cost is $35, Free to educators from West Contra Costa County

For more information, contact Kari Rodenkirchen at (510) 665-3643 or kari@thewatershedproject.org

More events hosted by our friends and partners
Public Meeting and Speaker: Make Your Garden Drought-Tolerant!

DATE: Wednesday, April 1st

TIME: 7:00pm

LOCATION: El Sobrante Library, 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante

MORE: Drought-tolerant native plants can be a great addition to your landscape. Learn to grow your own from an expert! Diana Benner, co-owner of The Watershed Nursery, will show us the entire process-- from collecting seed to raising healthy young plants, and installing them in your garden. Come to the meeting room at the El Sobrante Library to learn more. Free refreshments and great door prizes included!

For more information about this event, contact Femke Oldham at:

(510) 665-3538 or email femke@thewatershedproject.org

Fish Surveys in Alameda Creek

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission biologists have started this year's surveys of the landlocked steelhead trout populations in and above Calaveras and San Antonio Reservoirs. They need volunteers to help with monitoring their fish traps and recording data about fish.

This is a great opportunity to see the remote and beautiful streams that drain into the reservoirs and to handle some gorgeous rainbow/steelhead trout while gathering important data for fish restoration purposes. It is a half-day commitment to go out in the field with the biologists, and volunteers can sign up for multiple days. They need volunteers right away, especially on weekdays.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Aaron Brinkerhoff of the SFPUC at abrinkerhoff@sfwater.org.

Rivers of a Lost Coast Movie Screening

DATE: April 21st and 22nd
TIME: 4:30pm and 7:00pm

LOCATION: Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, Berkeley

MORE: Rivers of a Lost Coast is a documentary that tells the story of the human-made changes to California's north coast ecology through the lens of fly fishing. It is a well-crafted and engaging story that includes historical footage that gives a strong sense of what has been lost over time.

Directors Justin Coupe and Palmer Taylor will be available for a Q & A after the screening on both evenings.

See http://www.rialtocinemas.com/index.php?location=elmwood&film=2009_river for more information.