The Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) partnered with The Restoration Trust, a non-profit organization in Oakland, to develop a volunteer native planting project. The Restoration Trust efforts were funded by a grant to study native plantings in creeks that would reduce the need for herbicide use. From this partnership, Giving the Natives a Chance (GNC) was established in 2013, and has become an annual event in Concord on the District’s Clayton Drain flood control channel. Plants historically found in this landscape were reintroduced and planted at varying densities to see which species and planting methods were most successful. The project focused on testing the use of native perennials to supplant non-native annuals. All planted material was planted as plugs, which are relatively small, inexpensive, and easy to plant, making them especially useful for volunteer plantings. Native plant species included Santa Barbara sedge (Carex barbarae), field sedge (Carex pregracilis), and creeping wild rye (Leymus triticoides). These plants are known for erosion control, fire suppression, and flood control vegetation management.  
  
The GNC restoration project showcases the benefits of re-establishing native plant communities along local streams. Existing conditions are dominated by non-native grasses, which are poorly-suited for dry conditions, and persist over most of urbanized California. Maintenance costs are higher with non-native plants since they require mowing, grazing, and herbicide application. Initiatives to increase funding for the District to properly maintain our channels have not been successful. This led the District to look for creative ways to lower maintenance costs without sacrificing service quality, while at the same time engaging the public to raise awareness of the need for adequate funding to support flood control facilities in the long term.  
  
In this partnership, The Restoration Trust initiated the study, selected the plants, and provided project oversight, plant delivery, supplies, and post-project monitoring. The District provided the location, prepared the site, purchased the plants, conducted volunteer outreach, and maintained the site after planting. Over the past four years, over 250 volunteers have contributed 800 hours of their time removing non-native plants and restoring native plants to the site. This resulted in 33,000 native grass plugs being planted and 1500 pounds of trash and debris being removed from the Clayton Valley Drain flood control channel.  
  
Boy Scout Troop 239 attended all four years of the GNC event. Typically the troop arrives with a group of 10 or more, and made up a fourth of the volunteer turn out in 2015 and 2016. Without the help of volunteers, like Boy Scout Troop 239, GNC would not be possible. The District looks forward to the GNC planting event each year, as it exemplifies what can happen when the County, a local non-profit, and the community work together to find a solution. This event has started a movement toward more environmentally responsible ways of maintaining our flood control channels and reducing maintenance costs while inspiring the next generation to get out and experience their local creeks.  
  
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors recognize The Restoration Trust and Boy Scout Troop 239 for their contributions to the annual Giving the Natives a Chance Planting Event, and adopt the attached resolution.

If this resolution is not adopted, The Restoration Trust and Boy Scout Troop 239 will not be recognized for their annual efforts and contributions to the Giving the Natives a Chance planting event.

The District will continue to outreach to schools and youth-based groups within the County to educate them about the benefits of native species in our creeks.