WATERWAYS ACROSS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY are increasingly threatened by invasive plant species that engulf canals and drains, decreasing biodiversity and reducing safe habitats for wildlife.
In an effort to address and restore the environment, the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is working to reverse that trend. The district hosted its 12th annual Giving Natives a Chance event on Dec. 6 at the Clayton Valley Drain near Hillcrest Community Park in Concord, inviting volunteers from across the county to plant native species around waterways and drains.
So far, efforts have been placed on Clayton Valley Drain, which connects drains to the Walnut Creek Watershed, Carquinez Strait and eventually, the Pacific Ocean. Each type of native plant species provides different environmental benefits. For example, native grass species can provide erosion control and fire prevention while working well with the flood control management goals.
ResoLisa Damerel, a watershed conservation manager with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, said planting native grass and plant species are crucial to the environment.
“Some of the insects that live in our area actually need these plants to be able to go through their cycles,” Damerel said. “If they don’t have those plants, they can’t do that. It’s a very complex relationship.”
Rooting out weeds, clearing waterways
Since the project began in 2013, the Contra Costa County Flood District has planted more than 50,000 creeping wild rye grass plugs and valley sedge, pulled invasive weeds, and cleaned up creeks in the county every December.
Volunteers spent the crisp Saturday planting creeping wild rye grass, removing invasive plant species, and educating new participants. Due to volunteer engagement, the Clayton Valley Drain was reported to be at a 100% native cover last year, significantly more than the 5% native cover from the beginning of the project 13 years ago.
(Maame-Abena Dwumfuoh/CCSpin)
A 2024 report, conducted by The Restoration Trust, a nonprofit that focuses primarily on native habitat restoration in Central and Northern California, confirmed this trend while noting a decrease in invasive plant species covering the Clayton Valley.
“Each creek is different, which makes it hard to keep track of new invasive species,” said Michelle Cordis, supervising civil engineer for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department. “If we don’t keep that in check, the problem can quickly get out of hand.”
Due to dedicated volunteers each year, visible changes can be seen being made in previous planting locations.
Monica Sudduth, a volunteer with San Francisco State University’s sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, agrees.
“It’s important that we as a community see ourselves as caregivers not only of each other, but the environment,” Sudduth said. “This event promotes that very work.”
Similarly, volunteer Max Shea, a recent life science graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, said the environmental community work in Contra Costa County is very important.
“We are part of a larger ecosystem,” Shea said. “Part of taking care of an ecosystem that feeds us is being that caregiver.”
Sowing the seeds of volunteerism
Although this event has gained more attention through social media, it struggled to attract volunteers when it first began.
John Zentner, the board president of The Restoration Trust, marveled at how far the event has come over the years.
“When we started this, it was tough to get 20 or 30 people,” Zentner said. “Getting more people involved and more people educated is an element I’m really excited we’re seeing here.”
“We are part of a larger ecosystem. Part of taking care of an ecosystem that feeds us is being that caregiver.”
Max Shea, volunteer
In recent years, Giving Natives a Chance has attracted hundreds of volunteers, allowing more native plants to grow in ecosystems that need them most.
As Giving Natives a Chance continues to flourish, both organizers and volunteers hope to expand to more waterways in Contra Costa County and fully repair the Clayton Valley Drain.
“The vision here is to restore the entire channel,” Zentner said. “I think if we do a little bit every year and we learn from that, ultimately we’re going to be successful. I don’t see any doubt about it.”
Maame-Abena Dwumfuoh is an 11th grader at Dozier Libbey Medical High School in Antioch, a staff member of the school’s paper, The Dose of Dozier-Libbey, and a CCYJ reporter.