Healthy Watershed, Healthy Martinez: Evaluating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Watershed Climate Resilience in the Alhambra Creek Watershed

Brief Description

Martinez, California lies within the Alhambra Creek watershed,  a waterway in the East Bay region of the ​San Francisco Bay Area. The watershed is historically affected by urban stream syndrome causing significant  incision of stream banks, leading to property damages and downstream sedimentation and flooding. With climate change, these issues become a larger threat to residents, wildlife, and the overall watershed. The Alhambra Watershed Council (AWC), Friends of Alhambra Creek (FOAC), and Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) are looking for an expert in hydrology or fluvial geomorphology with experience in nature-based solutions  to help  identify and prioritize nature based solutions using existing and collected data on runoff, erosion, and sediment. This analysis and mapping will provide scientific basis for implementation of these nature based solutions and assist the community organizations in prioritizing their restoration efforts.

Description

About the Community

Martinez is a city of 37,287 situated on the Carquinez Strait at the mouth of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It serves as the county seat of Contra Costa County and possesses a densely built historic downtown in the north, with more recent suburban development characterizing the city moving south. To the west of the city sit scenic hills of preserved wildlands. Much of the city lies in the watershed of Alhambra Creek, at the top of which is home to the John Muir National Historic Site. Celebrated naturalist John Muir is a major source of local pride. At the bottom of the watershed is a center of petroleum refining and related industries. This industry is of great importance to the local economy but its effects have raised watershed and marine health concerns.

The watershed has historically experienced urban stream syndrome, causing flashier stormwater flows that have caused extensive erosion and incision. Erosion of stream banks causes damages to streamside properties and infrastructure, increases sedimentation of its lower reaches, and heightens storm flows leading to increased flood risk to residents and wildlife. With climate change, these issues will be exacerbated by more frequent or intense downpours and increased stormwater runoff. 

The Alhambra Watershed Council (AWC) and Friends of Alhambra Creek (FOAC) are community groups that have collaborated on a number of projects designed to benefit watershed environmental health and prevent damage to infrastructure. These groups recognize the potential for climate change to accelerate the ecological and physical deterioration of the creek and watershed, and the need for a holistic planning effort to improve watershed climate resilience with Nature-based Solutions (NbS). With this project they hope to work proactively against the detrimental effects of climate change by evaluating the potential for mitigation by NbS projects.  

About the Project 

This project evolved from a concern among AWC and FOAC members about a decline in health of the Alhambra Creek Watershed from increased runoff, erosion, and potential disruption of sediment balance, as well as negative effects on the community from flooding, property damage, and ecological loss. The overarching project goal will be to analyze and evaluate the potential for NbS projects to improve watershed climate resilience, addressing some of the ill effects of urban stream syndrome, with specific focus on slowing and spreading runoff, preventing damaging erosion, and trapping sediment before it enters the creek. 

There will be two outputs. The first will be compiled data related to runoff, erosion, and sediment, collected by trained citizen scientists and synthesized from existing studies and data. Data collection could involve mapping issues with “traditional” infrastructure (e.g., undersized culverts), collecting sediment samples during storm flows, evaluating stream banks for signs of erosion, and analyzing hillslopes in the upper watershed for gullying.

The second output, informed by the collected data, will be a spatial analysis of the watershed, identifying and prioritizing effective sites for NbS projects for maximum beneficial impact. NBS project types to consider include green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), soil bioengineering of creek banks with live willow stakes and dead organic materials, gully stuffing, stream or channel restoration, constructed wetlands, and beaver dam analogs (BDAs). 

NbS projects could have a profound positive impact on runoff and erosion, along with improving wildlife habitat, providing demonstration and education for the public, increased groundwater supply, and preventing property damage.  An Alhambra Creek Watershed NbS plan would provide a scientific basis for implementation of these projects, assist FOAC and AWC in prioritizing their restoration efforts, and support the securing of grant funding. The resulting documents could inform future planning by local municipalities and government entities, including the City of Martinez, Contra Costa County, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control District. 

Timeline and Milestones

November 2025  to early January 2026: Scope finalization and publication of project webpage on TEX website

January to March 2026: Recruit, Interview, and Select scientist or expert and onboarding expert to project team

Spring to Summer 2026: Compile and collect data related to runoff, erosion, and sediment in the watershed region

Summer to Fall 2026: Create a spatial analysis of the watershed, identifying key factors for site for Nature-based solutions

Fall to Winter 2026: Identify and prioritize sites for NBS. 

End of project: Share project artifacts and  results on TEX’s blog and with local officials to help inform planning efforts.

Project Team

Community Leads

Suzy Hall-Whitney is a retired public school teacher and a long-time resident of Martinez, California. Since retiring, she has become a member of the Alhambra Creek Watershed Council, Friends of Alhambra Creek, and the California Native Plant Society. Once a week, she works as a volunteer and helps maintain native plant gardens throughout the city of Martinez. She also volunteers at the International Bird Rescue where injured aquatic birds are rescued and brought to IBR for a second chance. Suzy cares deeply about the environment, wildlife, and the interconnectedness of nature.

Evan Green is a Watershed Conservation Coordinator with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD). One of his current roles is supporting the Alhambra Watershed Council and Friends of Alhambra Creek in their work aimed at improving the health of the Alhambra Creek Watershed. He has professional experience in environmental education, ecological restoration, and California native plant horticulture. He is passionate about connecting communities with Nature and empowering them to develop and implement solutions to our most pressing environmental problems. 

Collaborator

Igor Skaredoff is a long-time member of Friends of Alhambra Creek and the Alhambra Creek Watershed Council and co-author of User’s Guide to the Alhambra Creek Watershed Management Plan.  He is also a retired Contra Costa County Hazmat Commissioner, Military Ocean Terminal (formerly Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station) Restoration Advisory Board member, East Bay Regional Park District Community Advisory Panel member, and Board President of the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District. He has a BS in Chemistry and a BA in Russian from San Jose State University. As a long-time participant in watershed stewardship and Nature-based Solutions work, he is happy to bring a historical perspective and a network of contacts to this endeavor, and to facilitate cooperation with others engaged in this effort.

Community Science Fellow

Waverly Lau is an environmental science professional with experience in program coordination, community engagement, and science communication. Their recent work includes developing and managing mentoring and career development programs serving a virtual community of earth and space scientists. She is interested in supporting adapting communities and creating accessible and sustainable spaces involving the interconnectedness of people and the environment.

Scientist Wanted

Scientist Role

The project seeks a volunteer scientist with expertise in hydrology or fluvial geomorphology, with experience and/or strong interest in nature-based solutions for watershed climate resilience. The volunteer scientist will assist the community in synthesizing existing data related to runoff and sediment balance in the Alhambra Creek Watershed, develop sampling methodologies, and train citizen scientists in data collection to evaluate erosion, runoff, and infrastructure issues. The scientist will also lead the effort to create a spatial analysis of the watershed, informed by the data collected by citizen scientists, to prioritize locations for NBS projects to improve climate resilience and curb ecological degradation. This is a remote engagement but the community would be more than willing to host the scientist for a site visit if they view it as helpful. 

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Expertise in fluvial geomorphology and/or hydrology
• Experience evaluating stream degradation and connecting this with ecological condition
• Preferred experience or interest in Nature-based Solutions and NbS planning related to watersheds and urban creeks
• Experience with runoff or stormwater analysis
• Expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• A desire to collaborate with volunteer community groups
• Experience and/or desire to participate in community education, outreach, and engagement
• Strong active listening and collaboration skills
• Remote engagement, but can accommodate site visits

Thriving Earth Exchange asks all scientific partners to work with the community to help define a project with concrete local impact to which they can contribute as pro-bono volunteers and collaborators. This work can also position the scientists and communities to seek additional funding, together, for the next stage. Unsure if you’re the right fit for this project? Reach out to us via email at [email protected] to learn more. 

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now!

Collaborating Organizations

Friends of Alhambra Creek is a volunteer group that brings people and Alhambra Creek together to protect the health of the creek and its surrounding community. Its primary goals are to:

• Preserve and enhance the creek’s natural habitat and processes.
• Provide resources and assistance to protect property from erosion and flooding.
• Provide education about the creek, its processes, services, and its natural role in the ecosystem.
• Highlight the creek’s role in enhancing the quality of life.

The Friends of Alhambra Creek emphasizes forming partnerships to accomplish our goals. Some of our partners are: Alhambra Valley Creek Coalition, Alhambra Watershed Council, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Native Plant Society, East Bay Chapter, City of Martinez, Contra Costa Flood Control, Contra Costa Resource Conservation District, Creekside property owners, East Bay Regional Park District, John Muir Land Trust, Mt. View Sanitary District, National Park Service.

The Alhambra Watershed Council (AWC) is a stakeholder group that was established in 1997 to produce the Alhambra Creek Watershed Management Plan (2001). The group’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the Alhambra Creek Watershed by educating the public about the watershed, providing a forum for new ideas and projects, and acting as a community resource. By representing diverse stakeholder interests and promoting healthy natural systems, the aims to support the health and vitality of the entire watershed community. Contra Costa Resources Resource Conservation District, Friends of Alhambra Creek, National Park Service, New Leaf Collaborative, Mt. View Sanitary District and residents are among the active participants.

The Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) facilitates the conservation and stewardship of natural resources in Contra Costa County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Their programs and work include watershed conservation, wildfire conservation and resilience, agriculture, monarch conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education.