FISH FRIENDLY BACKYARDS

As Codornices Creek flows through many private backyards one goal of the Codornices Creek Watershed Restoration Action Plan is to work with creekside residents to improve the habitat value of their "backyard" (or front or side yard) for wildlife.

Through onsite consultations to creekside residents, community workshops, and small-scale bioengineering projects on private property, UCC and community members are creating fish-friendly environs along Codornices Creek.

To make your backyard fish-friendly and improve the health of your creek and watershed, refer to the information below. Still have questions contact us!

Vegetation
Vegetation provides many benefits to a creek. The roots act to hold the soil. They intercept rain and decrease overland flow. They act to filter out pollutants. They add roughness to the channel which acts to slow velocities that can be erosive to the bank. With all that said, native riparian vegetation is important to stream health. Additionally non-native invasive species can be damaging.

• UCC's native riparian species list for the Bay Area
• California Native Plant Society website - good general resource on all native plants
• Great list of native plant nurseries throughout California
  
• The Weedworkers' Handbook: A Guide to Techniques for Removing Bay Area Invasive Plants - A great resource with information on identification and characteristics of common invasives in the Bay Area and techniques for their removal.
• Don't plant a pest! - Provides native alternatives for non-native plants commonly used in landscaping. The alternatives are better suited for the Bay Area climate and will not take over your yard.

Landscaping
Landscaping practices have a large impact on the land and our watersheds. The type of plants used, watering practices, irrigation types, composting, fertilizers, and pesticide use are all topics of concern.

Bay Friendly Gardening - A great resource for sustainable practices by Stop Waste.Org. Specific information for residents, governments, landscape professionals, and schools. Covers all the essentials and more!!!

Soil Bioengineering
Soil bioengineering is often an ecological, efficient, and cost effective way to address bank erosion capitalizing on the stability and roughness that vegetation provides. Additionally it increases habitat value for aquatic and terrestrial life.

• Stream Bioengineering Handbook produced by UCC, Codornices Creek Watershed Council, and Waterways Restoration Institute. Contains an overview of soil bioengineering and detailed information for implementation of the most common techniques.
• A Soil Bioengineering Guide for Streambank and Lakeshore Stabilization produced by US Department of Agriculture Forest Service. In depth guide to planning and implementing a successful project.

 

 

Onsite Consultations
UCC has provided onsite consultation to numerous creekside properties and discussed how to ecologically address erosion, non-native vegetation, and drainage concerns. Information on best management practices for landscaping and native riparian species was provided. If you would like a free onsite consultation, please contact us. (top)

Soil Bioengineering Workshops
A soil bioengineering workshop was held by UCC, Waterways Restoration Institute, and the Codornices Creek Watershed Council March 2006 along Codornices Creek at 5th Street. Participants, ranging from agencies, local governments, environmental consultants, highschool ecology clubs, creekside residents, and interested citizens learned about the benefits and limitations of soil bioengineering and various techniques. Additionally they implemented the learned techniques to help improve the habitat condition of the 2004 restoration site. Good work! (top)

Backyard Projects
Soil bioengineering is often an ecological, efficient, and cost effective way to address bank erosion capitalizing on the stability and roughness that vegetation provides. Additionally it increases habitat value for aquatic and terrestrial life. UCC has led and organized small-scale bioengineering projects with private property owners and their neighbors. (top)