Funding deadline approaching for Conservation Stewardship Program!
2023-03-17 | CA
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) | CA
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 | CA
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 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
March 27th, 2023 Board Meeting
View the Agenda Here

Poster Contest!
2023-04-03 | CA
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 | CA
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.

2023-04-20 20:00 - 22:00 | CA
Virtual Question-and-Answer Session on USDA’s Disaster Assistance to Help California Farmers and Agriculture Communities Recover
Was your California farming operation impacted by a natural disaster? Or do you live in a California agricultural community that was impacted? Join us for a virtual question-and-answer session to learn more about programs and resources that may be available to you.
What: Question-and-answer session with USDA and California Department of Food and Agriculture about Disaster Assistance in California
When: Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 8 a.m. PT
Where: Virtual via Microsoft Teams. Click here to join.
This session builds on the California disaster assistance webinar hosted last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) that covered programs that can help farmers and agricultural communities impacted by current disasters.
In this session, you’ll be able to submit questions to USDA’s Farm Production and
Conservation Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montaño Greene and CDFA’s Undersecretary Christine Birdsong.
If you weren’t able to attend the webinar, you can watch the recording here.
Additional Resources
Other resources are available to producers, including the online Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool. For rural communities, there are USDA Rural Development (RD) programs and services that can help rural residents, businesses and communities impacted by disasters and support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Please visit the Resource Guides that are available in English and Spanish.
For more information on resources to recover and rebuild, visit your local USDA service center.

April 2023 Board Meeting
2023-04-24 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
April 24th, 2023 Board Meeting
View the Agenda Here

Earth Day “Help Keep Good Bugs in the Garden” Poster Contest Winners
2023-04-28 - 2023-05-09 | CA
Earth Day “Help Keep Good Bugs in the Garden” Poster Contest Winners to Be Displayed at Castro Valley Library 4/28–5/29, 2023.
Four elementary school students from Unincorporated Alameda County won prizes for their outstanding entries in the “Help Keep Good Bugs in the Garden” Earth Day poster contest. The contest was open to all 3rd and 4th graders in Unincorporated Alameda County and sponsored by the Alameda County Unincorporated Area Clean Water Program.
The top four prize-winning posters, two each from 3rd and 4th grades, will be displayed at the Castro Valley Library at 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546 from April 28th–May 29th.
To enter the contest, participating teachers held a brief classroom lesson on using less toxic ways to deal with weeds and pests and keeping good bugs in the garden. They also showed a video starring Clean Water Program mascots Fred Frog and Izzy Egret. Titled “Fred’s Healthy Garden Getaway” the video spot is available for viewing on YouTube. Students then creatively expressed what they learned in their artwork.
“Pesticides are one of several ways the health of our local waterways, such as Castro Valley and San Lorenzo creeks, is threatened,” says Allison Rodacker, the Clean Water Program representative for Unincorporated Alameda County. “Helping kids understand the connection between their neighborhoods and local water and wildlife can help reduce pesticide use that can harm helpful garden bugs and pollute the waterways.”
The contest received over 100 creative entries prompting the organizers to include more prize winners. Instead of only one winner per grade, they awarded the top two entries in 3rd and 4th grades with prizes, and the top 10 entries received certificates. Winners received a Hydroflask reusable water bottle and a spiral notebook with the student’s artwork printed on the cover.
Six classrooms submitted entries from every student and were entered into a raffle. Two classrooms were awarded a $100 Amazon gift card each. All winning posters will be displayed at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Avenue, Castro Valley, CA 94546 from April 28th – May 29th.
Classroom Amazon Gift Card Raffle Winners
Erin Kundert, 3rd grade teacher, Marshall Elementary School
Kim Fisher Hayes, 3rd grade teacher, Dayton Elementary School
When people use pesticides in the garden, those chemicals can wash into gutters and storm drains with water from garden hoses, sprinklers, and rainfall. From there, the polluted water flows untreated into local creeks, and the San Francisco Bay, where it harms fish and other wildlife. Each spring, the Alameda County Unincorporated Clean Water Program reminds residents how important it is to use non-toxic methods to control unwanted pests. “Keep Good Bugs in the Garden,” to do that job for you!
For more information, visit www.cleanwaterprogram.org

Applications for the California Range & Natural Resources Camp Now Available
2023-05-01 | CA
Applications for the California Range & Natural Resources Camp Now Available
Range Camp is an environmental science & management camp for high school students from across California. The camp takes place at the University of California’s Elkus Youth Ranch in Half Moon Bay, CA, and is in person again for 2023.
Range Camp is a 6-day camp experience for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who have an interest in the science and conservation management of natural resources in California. Students get an introduction to ecological principles, including characteristics and interrelationships of plants and animals, fire ecology, hydrology, geology and soils, and management of grassland, brushland, forest, and stream and river ecosystems. Field activities include learning to read wildlife ‘sign’, learning outdoor navigation with compasses, maps and GPS, forest management, visits to working ranches and conservation projects, and a beach BBQ.
The camp is organized by the University of California Cooperative Extension, with support from a variety of institutions, including university faculty and students from the University of California and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and numerous other agriculture and conservation organizations. Sessions are taught by university faculty and staff from local, state and federal agencies, and private professional scientists and natural resource management specialists. All students compete for the opportunity to travel to Reno, NV in February 2024 as a representative of California to the national high school youth forum event which takes place at the annual scientific conference held by the Society for Range Management.
Range Camp runs from June 18-23. More information and applications are available at https://ucanr.edu/sites/rangecamp/. Cost is $750.00. Applications are due by May 1st but will be accepted until May 24th if spaces remain. Camp staff will try to assist students/families with financial need in finding scholarship support. Please indicate so on application. Click here to learn more about becoming a sponsor.
California Range Camp was first organized in 1984 by professional members of the California Pacific section of the Society for Range Management, and has been held annually every year since. View the Range Camp Newsletter here.
Media Inquiries:
Theresa Becchetti
Director
UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor
Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties
3800 Cornucopia Way
Modesto, CA 93538
209-525-6800
tabecchetti@ucanr.edu

Creek Cleanup at Arroyo Mocho at Robertson Park
2023-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | CA
Join us on May 13, 2023 from 9am – 12pm for a Creek Cleanup at Arroyo Mocho at Robertson Park
We will be removing trash from the Arroyo Mocho Creek! Parking can be found in the dirt parking lot at 3200 Robertson Park Road, just follow our signs to the check-in tables. Please print and bring a waiver with you. Waivers can be found at: http://livingarroyos.org/get-involved/.We will also have waivers available at the event. Volunteers under 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver. Children under 12 must be accompanied with an adult.
NOTE: If you have a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19, think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have a pending COVID-19 test, we ask that you refrain from attending the event. All activities will be held outdoors. Staff will have hand sanitizer available and will structure the event to encourage adequate spacing, but consider bringing/wearing a mask for times where there may be close contact with others who may not be fully vaccinated.
Please contact Joseph.Steelman@acrcd.org with questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Attend the next virtual Community Climate Action Plan Workshop
2023-06-15 18:00 - 20:00 | CA
Want to learn more about local climate issues and actions?
Attend the next virtual Community Climate Action Plan Workshop 6/15 at 6 p.m. to hear from your neighbors and share ideas for creating resilient, climate-smart unincorporated Alameda County communities: https://www.acgov.org/cda/planning/ccapse-engagement.htm
✔️ Register: bit.ly/3qitNJZ
💻 Zoom link: bit.ly/42ch8pc
☎️ Zoom call-in: +1 (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 812 9941 3310
Passcode: [REDACTED]
¿Desea saber más de los problemas climáticos y las medidas locales? Asista al próximo taller virtual del Plan de Acción Climática de la Comunidad el 6/15 a las 6 p.m. a fin de crear comunidades no incorporadas del Condado de Alameda climáticamente inteligentes: https://www.acgov.org/cda/planning/ccapse-engagement.htm
✔️ Regístrese: bit.ly/3qitNJZ
💻 Enlace de Zoom: bit.ly/42ch8pc
☎️ Llamada de Zoom: +1 (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 812 9941 3310
Passcode: [REDACTED]
想多了解更多關於本地氣候問題及行動嗎？請在 6 月 15 日晚上 6:00-7:30 出席下一次的網上社區氣候行動計劃研討會，聽取街坊的意見並分享想法，以建造有彈性、氣候智慧型的阿拉米達縣非建制社區。https://www.acgov.org/cda/planning/ccapse-engagement.htm 現場將提供西班牙語翻譯服務。若想要求粤语口譯服務，請於 6 月 12 日（星期一）下午 5:30 前發電郵至n.schmidt@circlepoint.com，或可致電 510.285.6738。
✔️ 報名：bit.ly/3qitNJZ
💻 Zoom 連結：bit.ly/42ch8pc
☎️ Zoom 撥號：+1 (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 812 9941 3310
Passcode: [REDACTED]

2022 Alameda County Fair
2023-06-17 - 2023-07-10 | Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA, 94566, United States
2022 Alameda County Fair

The Alameda County Fair runs June 17th to July 10th. Join us in Building Q to find resources on wildlife conservation, healthy soils, agriculture, and more!

July 14 Deadline to Apply for Pandemic and Natural Disaster Revenue Loss Programs
2023-07-14 | CA
USDA Reminds Agricultural Producers of July 14 Deadline to Apply for Pandemic and Natural Disaster Revenue Loss Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of the July 14 deadline to apply for both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). These revenue-based programs help offset revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here For More Information.

The Alameda County Livestock Pass Program
2023-07-27 09:00 - 13:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
The Alameda County Livestock Pass Program
The Alameda County Livestock Pass Program provides a uniform way of identifying commercial livestock producers, owner-operators and managers to firefighting personnel, law enforcement officers, and other emergency personnel. Possession of a Livestock Pass during a wildfire or a similar disaster may allow the rancher limited emergency access to restricted areas for the purposes of:

Feeding, watering, or caring for livestock sheltering in place
Evacuating livestock

A four-hour fire safety training is required to participate in the Livestock Pass Program. This training class will be provided by CAL FIRE. This training must be completed prior to receiving your Livestock Pass. If you have already attended the CAL FIRE training in another County, this requirement is met. Provide proof of training attendance along with the required Livestock Pass.
For more information or to RSVP for either training, please contact Keely Kirman at the Livermore Field Office: (925) 551-5420, Alameda.Ag@acgove.org. An application is available at this link.
Click here for more information.

Coastal Cleanup Day 2023
2023-09-23 09:00 - 12:00 | Castro Valley Creek Trail, 3625 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, United States
Volunteers Wanted!
We are excited to announce the Clean Water Volunteers will be back cleaning up the Castro Valley Creek Trail for the 39th annual Coastal Cleanup Day! This effort will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023 and is part of the statewide Coastal Cleanup Day. This event is made possible by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 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://2023castrovalleycoastalcleanup.eventbrite.com

MLK Jr. Day of Service
2024-01-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Don Castro Regional Recreation Area, 22400 Woodroe Ave, Hayward, CA, 94541
Volunteers Wanted!
We are excited to announce the Clean Water Volunteers will be back cleaning up along Alameda Creek for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service! This effort will take place on Monday, January 18, 2024. This event is made possible by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District in coordination with East Bay Regional Park District. Volunteers will participate in a litter pickup along the creek trail at Don Castro Regional Recreation Area.
Register to volunteer: https://alameda-county-unincorporated-area-cwp-volunteers.ticketleap.com/
Please contact Jennifer.Trevis@ACRCD.org with questions.

January Board of Directors Meeting
2024-01-22 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
January Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

February Board of Directors Meeting
2024-02-26 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
February Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

March Board of Directors Meeting
2024-03-25 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
March Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

April Board of Directors Meeting
2024-04-22 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
April Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

May Board of Directors Meeting
2024-05-20 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
May Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

Livermore Farmers Market Info Booth
2024-06-13 16:00 - 20:00 | Carnegie Park, 2155 3rd street, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
Visit our information booth at the Livermore Farmers Market.

Alameda County Fair Booth
2024-06-14 - 2024-07-07 | Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA, 94566, United States
Visit our information booth at the Alameda County Fair!
Located in air conditioned building Q.

Ashland FamFest
2024-06-22 10:00 - 18:00 | 163rd & 164th Avenues, San Leandro, CA, 163rd & 164th Avenues, San Leandro, CA, United States
Visit the Alameda County Unincorporated Area Clean Water Program‘s information booth. Learn about stormwater pollution prevention and take home helpful tools and tips.

June Board of Directors Meeting
2024-06-24 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
June Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

Celebrating Ponds Program
2024-06-25 | CA
If you have participated in the Ponds Program, please contact allison.rodacker@acrcd.org for more information. To learn more about wildlife friendly ponds click here.

Rural Roads Group Meeting
2024-07-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Martinelli Center, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States

July Board of Directors Meeting
2024-07-22 18:00 - 21:00 | ACRCD, 3585 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
July Board of Directors Meeting. View current and past agendas here.

You Can Do It: 10 Steps to Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden (Online)
2024-07-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Presented by the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
Presenter: Brian Dirking
Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Register for Brian’s talk here.
This interactive online workshop will explore gardening from a bird’s perspective and then delve into the ten elements that can transform your garden into a bird paradise.
Send your questions in advance through the registration page, or ask them during the talk!
