Creeks & Livestock: Climate Smart Restoration in Alameda County
2021-06-29 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
The Alameda County Resource Conservation District invites you to a discussion of Climate Smart Restoration solutions with Point Blue Conservation Science’s STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) program and Copper Moon Ranch. We will discuss restoration in the context of Carbon Farming, the importance of planning for future conditions, and student engagement in hands-on restoration of working lands.
This event is made possible by the California Department of Food & Agriculture and the State Coastal Conservancy , which have both awarded grant funds to the ACRCD through the California Climate Investments to plan, implement, and monitor carbon farming projects.
The event will be held on Zoom. Details will be sent upon registration.
Click here for more information and here to register.

Negotiation Skills for Womxn-led Farms: Exploring the intersections of land tenure, conservation, and farm viability on urban farms
2021-07-06 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Have you struggled to navigate the complex web of government programs available for small and urban farms? Do you struggle to negotiate the best deal or most secure land tenure arrangement for your farm? Just want to meet some peers in agriculture in your area? This Learning Circle can help!
WHAT: Negotiation Skills for Womxn-led Farms: Exploring the intersections of land tenure, conservation, and farm viability on urban farms
WHEN: 2 Sessions – July 6th and 8th, 2-4 pm Pacific
WHERE: Zoom (link to be sent, upon registration)
Urban and peri-urban farmers play a vital role in feeding communities and providing access to nature for city-dwellers, and many are led by innovative, gritty womxn producers who often face complex barriers. Negotiation skills are critical to navigating these challenges and can help producers lay the foundation to access more conservation programs for on-farm resilience and viability.
We’re partnering with local agricultural resource providers to offer this peer-to-peer learning opportunity for womxn-producers in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Mateo Counties.
Co-conveners:
Caitlin Joseph, Women for the Land Program & Policy Manger, American Farmland Trust
Alyson Aquino, District Conservationist, Alameda County – USDA-NRCS
Clarimer Vargas-Hernandez, District Conservationist, Contra Costa County – USDA-NRCS
Colleen Hotchkiss, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, Alameda County Resource Conservation District
Adria Arko, Agriculture & Climate Programs Manager & Agricultural Ombudsman
San Mateo Resource Conservation District
Andrea Levy, Senior Associate, Land Access & Farm Business Education – California Farmlink
Description:
Learning Circles apply a peer-to-peer model, focused on participants as experts of their own experience, providing a supportive environment from which to learn collectively. American Farmland Trust has been utilizing this model across the country to engage women farmers and landowners to support their increased access to on-farm conservation support and farm viability resources. At this womxn-centered learning circle, you will be able to:

Learn tips for successfully negotiating in a variety of farm-related scenarios.
Dialogue about challenges you are facing & build relationships with fellow farmers in your area.
Meet local service providers who are poised to support your conservation and farm viability goals.
Hear from fellow urban farmers about innovative ways they have navigated the systems of support that exist, including (but not limited to) USDA, local agricultural extension and non-profit partners.

*Womxn includes women, transfeminine, and non-binary people, and anyone marginalized by misogyny or impacted by women-related issues.

Negotiation Skills for Womxn-led Farms: Exploring the intersections of land tenure, conservation, and farm viability on urban farms
2021-07-08 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom

July Board Meeting
2021-07-26 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States

Bay Area Womxn Farmer Field Day
2021-07-29 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sunol Ag Park, 505 Paloma Way, Sunol, 94586, United States
We’re excited to announce that we’ve scheduled the follow-up field day from the recent Bay Area Learning Circle and we hope you can join! A flyer is attached and the event info is below. Feel free to invite a farmer friend! Please reach out to me with any questions you may have.

WHAT: Bay Area Womxn Farmer Field Day
WHEN: Thursday, 7/29, 2-5 PM
WHERE: Sunol Ag Park, 505 Paloma Way, Sunol, CA 94586
DESCRIPTION:
As a follow-up to the virtual learning circle on July 6th and 8th, this event will provide womxn farmers and agricultural stewards with a chance to see on-farm water conservation in action, as well as discuss unique dynamics associated with land leases on public and private lands.
At the event, participants will:

Hear from conservation service providers about grant funding & technical assistance for small and urban farms;
See conservation in action on small farms, including best-practices for irrigation and soil health;
Learn about creative land access strategies at a unique publicly-owned agricultural park that hosts working farms;
Receive resources on conservation technical assistance, as well as template lease agreements, and more.

There is no charge to attend this event and light food, AFT tote bags, and resources from our agencies will be provided.
A $100 gift card to Pollinate Farm & Garden in Oakland will be raffled off at the event!
REGISTER HERE

*Womxn includes women, transfeminine, and non-binary people, and anyone marginalized by misogyny or impacted by women-related issues.

August Board Meeting
2021-08-23 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
August 21 Board Agenda

Carlos Bee Park Clean Up & Beautification
2021-09-11 09:45 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Carlos Bee Park, 1905 Grove Way, Hayward, CA, 94541, United States
Join the Clean Water Volunteers and Hayward Area Recreation & Park District (H.A.R.D.) Volunteers In Parks (V.I.P.) for a litter removal and park beautification day and water testing demonstration!
Register to volunteer HERE https://forms.gle/LZBEyD1Qq9nuw1G56

Castro Valley Creek & Trail Clean Up
2021-09-18 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Castro Valley Creek Trail, 3625 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, United States
Join with Clean Water Volunteers for a cleanup of the Castro Valley Creek Trail from Castro Valley Blvd. to the Castro Valley Library. Help Beautify Your Local Creek!
Register here: https://coastalcleanupcvcreek.eventbrite.com/

September Board Meeting
2021-09-27 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
Download September Board Meeting’s agenda here

Central Coast Rangeland Coalition Fall 2021 Meeting
2021-10-21 08:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
Join us, alongside the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition, for a day of conversations about compost application to degraded rangelands. We will describe the Healthy Soils Demonstration project examining the effects of compost on steep (15-30%) slopes. Preliminary field data will be shared, as well as diverse perspectives on grassland and soil responses to compost, costs, benefits, logistics, and potential problems. After lunch, participants will tour the field site and engage in stations focused on vegetation, soils, and compost quality.

Click here to register

Carlos Bee Park Cleanup & Beautification
2021-12-04 09:30 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Carlos Bee Park, 1905 Grove Way, Hayward, CA, 94541, United States

The Alameda Creek Watershed Forum announces a Photo Contest! Submissions are due on April 1, 2022.
2022-04-01

Watershed cleanups start at your doors!
2022-04-22
Volunteers Wanted!
The Earth Day clean-up is an annual event hosted by the Alameda County Flood Control & Water Conservation District’s Clean Water Program, to help keep our waterways free of harmful trash by cleaning up in your neighborhoods and local natural areas.
Watershed cleanups start at your doors! Trash travels through storm drains into creeks, and rivers to become harmful pollution.
Cleanups can be on Earth Day, April 22nd, or any day throughout the month of April and will be self-guided and close to home. Local streets, sidewalks, parks, and other natural areas are good choices. Trash within our neighborhoods becomes the trash polluting the coast once they are washed into the storm drains and waterways.
Register today to have your efforts counted!
https://accleanwater_earthday2022.eventbrite.com

Earth Day Cleanup of the Castro Valley Creek Trail
2022-04-23 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Castro Valley Creek Trail, 3625 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, United States
Volunteers Wanted!
The Alameda County Unincorporated Area’s Clean Water Program is hosting an Earth Day cleanup of the Castro Valley Creek Trail in collaboration with the Castro Valley Sanitary District and the Friends of San Lorenzo Creek
Space is limited, so register today!
www.cvsan.org/ED

38th Annual Range and Natural Resources Camp
2022-05-01
Don’t miss out on the 38th Annual Range and Natural Resources Camp!
Range Camp is an opportunity for high school students to engage with the professional world of plant, animal, and landscape management. Students will learn about wildlife, forestry, rangeland, and plants from university and cooperative extension staff, as well as other professionals.
Range Camp is organized by the California-Pacific chapter of the Society for Range Management (CalPac SRM). Follow these links for an application and more information. Applications are due May 1st, 2022.
Thinking of becoming a sponsor? Follow this link to the Sponsor Guide.

Save the Date for the Alameda Creek Watershed Forum
2022-05-05 | Shannon Center, Dublin, CA, 11600 Shannon Avenue, Dublin, CA, 94568, United States
To stay up to date with the Alameda Creek Watershed Forum, sign up for the newsletter here.

Volunteer for Coastal Cleanup on September 17th, 2022
2022-09-27 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Volunteer for Coastal Cleanup on September 17th, 2022

We are excited for you to join the Clean Water Volunteers for the 38th annual Coastal Cleanup Day at the Castro Valley Creek Trail! This effort is part of the statewide Coastal Cleanup Day and is made possible by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation Districts in coordination with Friends of San Lorenzo Creek.
Volunteers will participate in a litter pickup along the creek trail and beautify the trail starting from the Castro Valley Library to Castro Valley Creek Blvd.
To learn more and register visit: https://2022castrovalleycoastalcleanup.eventbrite.com.

Join the Clean Water Volunteers & H.A.R.D on October 8th, 2022
2022-10-08
Join the Clean Water Volunteers & H.A.R.D on October 8th, 2022

We are excited for you to join the Clean Water Volunteers and the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District’s Volunteers in Parks (V.I.P.) Program!
Come out to Meek Estate Park on Saturday, October 8th from 9:00am to 12:00pm for a litter removal and park beautification day.
Click here for the flyer and to learn more. Please register on the H.A.R.D. V.I.P website by following this link.

Welcome Living Arroyos
2022-11-15
Welcome Living Arroyos

We’re excited to announce that the Living Arroyos program has joined the Alameda County Resource Conservation District. Living Arroyos is a multi-agency partnership to enhance and maintain the urban streams and streamside habitats of the Livermore-Amador valley, while continuing to protect drinking water supplies and prevent flooding. The program relies on the support and participation of the community to create beautiful, safe, natural areas that serve the needs of people and other living things. Please join us at one of our community workdays as we rebuild our urban streams from the ground up!

January 2023 Board Meeting
2023-01-23 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
January 23, 2023 Board Meeting
View the Agenda Here

February 2023 Board Meeting
2023-02-27 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
February 27th, 2023 Board Meeting
View the Agenda Here

Newsom Takes Several Executive Actions in Response to Winter Storm Impacts
2023-03-10
Newsom Takes Several Executive Actions in Response to Winter Storm Impacts
On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Alameda, Marin, Modoc and Shasta counties resulting from a series of severe winter storms which have resulted in “significant storm-related impacts, including flooding, toppled trees, downed power lines and power outages, damage to commercial and residential structures, roads, and other critical infrastructure.”
States of emergency had previously been proclaimed for 43 other counties (the only counties not presently under a state of emergency are Colusa, Contra Costa, Lassen, Riverside, San Diego, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura and Yolo counties). The proclamations activate the California National Guard and tap “All agencies of the state government” to assist in disaster response and relief efforts in the counties designated as suffering a state of emergency.
Governor Newsom on Tuesday also issued a request to President Joe Biden for “a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the emergency response and recovery in the counties of Calaveras, Kern, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne,” according to a press release. Newsom’s letter also requests that “U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans and funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Loan Program” be made available within impacted counties.
As of press time, President Biden had yet to act on the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration request. While an Emergency Declaration was issued on March 10, assistance granted under an Emergency Declaration is narrower than that provided under a Major Disaster Declaration.
Finally, Governor Newsom on Friday issued an executive order to support Tulare Lake Basin flood response. The order suspends statutes relating to lake and streambed alteration and the California Environmental Quality Act within the Tulare Lake Basin “to expedite preparation and recovery efforts” and boosts emergency-response staffing, according to a press release.
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The article linked below contains details on the $42 million in USDA grant funding that was provided to United Ways of California and other non-governmental organizations through the Farm Workers Relief Grant Program.
This program was funded leveraging COVID-19 funds so there are some eligibility considerations.
https://www.unitedwaysca.org/press-releases/610-usda-farmerworker-grant
The funding is being disbursed through the following United Way locations:

United Way California Capital Region

United Way of Kern County

United Way of Nevada County

United Way of Santa Cruz County

United Way of San Joaquin County

United Way Monterey County

United Way of Stanislaus County

United Way of San Luis Obispo County

United Way of Merced County

Northern Santa Barbara County United Way

United Way Fresno and Madera Counties

United Way of Ventura County

United Way of Tulare County

Inland Empire United Way

2023-03-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
WEBINAR – March 13th, 2 PM
If you were unable to attend the briefing live due to high demand, the recording is available in English and Spanish on YouTube. The full presentation deck can be found here.
Especially while California grapples with extreme weather conditions, it is crucial to equip our communities for the potential effects of the upcoming storms. As trusted community messengers, we have a chance to assist our communities in staying well-informed throughout the disaster’s entire lifecycle, including preparing for it ahead of time, responding to it in real time, and recovering from it.
Additional resources are available now for you to use with your community:

Spring Weather Social Media Toolkit

Listos California Quick Guide to Safety Before, During and After Floods

Listos California First Aid Kit for Your Mind

Indigenous Language Outreach Recordings (includes videos covering flood safety as well as evacuations and evacuation warnings)

Disaster Recovery Resource Guide

Follow @CalOES and @ListosCalifornia on social media to share or amplify any additional content, such as weather updates from the National Weather Service, highlight key response efforts, and amplify other preparedness tips.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services:
Twitter: @Cal_OES
Instagram: @cal_oes
Facebook: facebook.com/CaliforniaOES
Website: Caloes.ca.gov
Listos California:
Twitter: @ListosCA
Instagram: @listoscalifornia
Facebook: facebook.com/ListosCalifornia
Website: ListosCalifornia.org
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As the next round of Spring storms approaches our state tomorrow, Cal OES along with the Health and Human Services Agency and Department of Social Services will be hosting a briefing for community-based organizations tomorrow Monday, March 13 at 2 p.m. to provide the latest information on the storm and tools we have available for partners.
In order to maximize reach of this event, we are hoping any of you who work closely with local community partners can forward this information to those who may benefit.
Briefing Registration Details:
Date: Monday, March 13, 2023
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pacific Time
Registration Link: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Interpretation: Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be available during the briefing.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and please feel free to reach out if you have questions. Together, we can help our communities be better prepared for this challenging event.

Guidance on applying for FEMA disaster assistance for storm damages
2023-03-16
Guidance on applying for FEMA disaster assistance for storm damages
Alameda County was added this week to the major disaster declaration for California’s severe storms and flooding, meaning residents who had damage or losses from the storms that began Dec. 27, 2022, may now apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The declaration allows FEMA to provide direct support to individuals and households in Alameda County and 12 other California counties.
The deadline for homeowners or renters to apply is March 16, 2023. Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.
More information can be located under our Flood Resources page.

Funding deadline approaching for Conservation Stewardship Program!
2023-03-17
Funding deadline approaching for Conservation Stewardship Program!
DAVIS, Calif – Beginning today, California’s agricultural-land stewards are set to benefit this year from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022, and the historic investments it will make towards expanding on-farm conservation. This year, more than $20 million will be invested towards climate-smart agriculture practices and forest resiliency in California – and hundreds of millions of dollars more will arrive over the next five years. The deadline to apply for this NRCS California IRA funding is March 17, 2023. Please visit your local NRCS service center to apply, which can be located by clicking here.
Click here for more information.

Volunteer at the Sunol Ag Park!
2023-03-18 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Saturday, March 18th, 2023 9am – 12pm
Join the Clean Water Program volunteers for a cleanup at the Sunol Agriculture Park. Trash has been left behind by recent storms and travels quickly with the rain. Come help keep it out of our local creeks and the Bay!
Students, community members, & youth groups welcome!
Questions? Contact Jennifer.Trevis@ACRCD.org.

Join Us! ACRCD will be hosting two field days this month
2023-03-23 08:00 - 2023-03-25 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join Us! ACRCD will be hosting two field days this month:
Thursday 3/23 (8-11 am) and Saturday 3/25 (9-12 noon), to showcase the results of our CDFA Healthy Soils Demo Project started in 2019 – the effects of compost on steep sloped rangeland.
Come out and hear about our results, learn monitoring techniques, and discuss implications for compost on rangeland in Alameda County. ACRCD staff, rancher Joe Paulo, and our NRCS and StopWaste project partners will be there to talk compost, range, and carbon storage. Coffee and snacks will be provided!
Register for the events using the links below:
Rancher Field Morning. HSP-Demo_Field-Day_Ranchers
Compost Field Day. HSP-Demo_Field-Day_Compost

March 2023 Board Meeting
2023-03-27 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
March 27th, 2023 Board Meeting
View the Agenda Here

Poster Contest!
2023-04-03
Poster Contest!

Calling all 3rd & 4th graders in Unincorporated Alameda County to enter the 2023 Alameda County Unincorporated Area’s Clean Water Program POSTER CONTEST! Click HERE for more information and contest rules.
Deadline for submission is April 3, 2023

ACRCD Supports Ag Day in Livermore, CA
2023-04-18
ACRCD Supports Ag Day in Livermore, CA
The sun shined brightly on third grade students from across the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) who visited Livermore High School for Ag Day on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Since 2015, Ag Day’s partnership between LHS and several community partners has resulted in a lively and engaging experience to teach students about the importance of agriculture, its impact on everyday life, and its wide variety of career possibilities. “Ag Day not only offers our students a fun, hands-on learning experience, but also gives them an opportunity to interact and learn from older students who are showcasing the relevancy and importance of agriculture as a field of study,” expressed LVJUSD Superintendent Chris Van Schaack.
LHS Agriculture students led third grade student groups through 30 booths of interactive lessons that included a breadth of experiences from how to properly raise and care for livestock to how to feed yourself and your family using a Dutch oven. Students intently watched worms wriggle in their hands as they learned the importance of composting, used their creativity when designing their own cattle brands, and made fresh salsa after learning how vegetables and herbs are grown. Although each station covered a different concept, an overarching theme was recurrent: Agriculture is abundant in Livermore.
Organizing and hosting an event for over 1,000 third grade students required thoughtful collaboration. “The success of this event would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of more than 200 volunteers and Agriculture students. A special appreciation and thank you to Sheila Fagliano, Livermore Sanitation’s Community Relations Manager, for her leadership role in this event year after year,” shared Lori Porter, Livermore High agriculture teacher and FFA livestock judging coach. Fagliano and the LHS Agriculture Department, worked in partnership to secure the support and participation of the following community partners for this year’s event:

Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert
Alameda County Farm Bureau
Livermore Rodeo
Livermore Rotary
Contra Costa Alameda County Cattlemens
Junior Livestock Auction Boosters
Zone 7 Water
Crane Ridge 4-H
Alameda County Cattlewomen
Contra Costa County
Mosquitos.org
Fertile Groundworks
Fagundes Horseshoeing
Alameda County Resource Conservation District
Dairy Council of California
Valley Vista 4-H
Junction Avenue Ag Class
The Patterson Family
The Bach Family
The Maggy Family
The Fassett Family
The Bowles Family
The Whatley Family
Ryan Heal
Dianne Russell and the Del Valle Culinary Program
Brenda Morris
Denise Mueller

“What I’m most proud of is that almost all of the community volunteers are LHS Ag Department alumni, many of whom are still very involved in the agricultural and farming lifestyle. They believe in teaching the next generation how to best take care of our land and water, and to truly understand where our food comes from. All of this helps the students really appreciate our resources,” remarked Fagliano.
By emphasizing the relationship between people, animals, and the land, Ag Day continues to provide a visible connection for students who may not have fully appreciated the agricultural knowledge and skills required for their sustenance, shelter, and daily comforts. Through hands-on activities, each student caught a glimpse into LHS’s unique program and its commitment to advancing agricultural education for future generations.
