The Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) submitted a request to the Fish and Wildlife Committee for $2,000 to cover some of the costs associated with hosting the 4th Quadrennial Creek and Watershed Symposium. DCD serves as the fiscal agent for the Contra Costa Watershed Forum, the partnership organization that organizes the Watershed Symposium. The Fish and Wildlife Committee considered DCD's request on August 17, 2011 and unanimously approved a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to fully fund the request.
The 4th Quadrennial Creek and Watershed Symposium, "Contra Costa County Watersheds: Changing Landscapes, Evolving Perspectives" was held November 17, 2011 in Antioch. More than 300 people representing a wide variety of organizations and perspectives gathered to learn about timely and significant issues regarding the health of creeks and watersheds. Key topics including the past, present and future of the Delta, the need for and value of watershed stewardship, how the landscape and natural resource constraints have changed since western settlement, making optimal use of volunteers, and lessons learned from other counties in the Bay Area and beyond. A County-commissioned, grant-funded report on the Historical Ecological Conditions of Eastern Contra Costa County was unveiled at the event. The event was filmed by CCTV and is being shown on that network. The feedback from attendees was very positive.
The event was free to attend, though participants were asked to pay $5 for the cost of the provided lunch. Sponsorship contributions such as that recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Committee make free admission possible by covering the various costs incurred in hosting the event. Examples of these costs include facility rental, rental equipment (stage, sound system, linens, an audience response by text message service, etc.) light refreshments (e.g. muffins, juice and coffee), production of all printed materials, postage and a portion of the cost of an event coordinator (the remainder of the cost of a the event coordinator will be funded by a grant from the County Watershed Program).
The County led a successful effort to recruit Sponsors and Co-Sponsors for the event, raising more than $15,000 and substantial in-kind support from 20 Sponsors and 31 Co-Sponsors (this figure does not include the $2,000 recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Committee). This was the most successful sponsorship drive in the history of the event. Funds raised were more than sufficient to cover direct expenses and will cover a significant portion of the cost of the event coordinator, enabling County Watershed Program grant funds to be redirected to other worthy recipients.