For 20 years the Contra Costa Watershed Symposium has connected people working to preserve their creeks and watersheds. Celebrating achievements and milestones, while providing a supportive network for members to learn and network.
This year’s Symposium will host a number of speakers exploring the themes of innovation, inclusion, and the legacy of the Symposium.
Keynote speakers:
Obi Kaufmann, author of California Field Atlas and the State of Water
Eben Schwartz, California Coastal Commission
Dr. Ana Alvarez, East Bay Regional Park District
Become a Symposium Sponsor!
The Symposium is an event that draws local groups, community members, & representatives from the public and private sectors interested in creek and watershed health together to share information, problem solve and network. The first Creek and Watershed Symposium in 1999 resulted in the creation of the Contra Costa Watershed Forum (CCWF). The CCWF is an open committee of some fifty organizations, including state and local agencies, local non-profit environmental and education organizations, community volunteer groups, and private citizens. The work of CCWF participants is premised on the notion that actions in a watershed are inter-related and, therefore, that broad participation and cooperation is needed to affect change. Members of the CCWF work together to find common approaches to making our water resources healthy, functional, attractive and safe community assets. We hope to see you at the 2019 Contra Costa County Watershed Symposium!
How to get Involved:
Award Nominations
The Symposium has always recognized the best and brightest projects and groups within Contra Costa County.
The Contra Costa Watershed Forum is pleased to announce that the Sixth Quadrennial Contra Costa Creek and Watershed Symposium (Symposium) will be held at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California on Thursday, December 5th, 2019. The Symposium is a daylong event that brings together local organizations, community members, and representatives from the public and private sectors who are interested in creek and watershed health to share information, problem solve, and network. The Symposium draws over 300 attendees, so it is an excellent opportunity to gain public awareness.
The 2019 Symposium will mark the 20th anniversary of the Contra Costa Watershed Forum’s formation. The theme of this year’s Symposium is “A Culture of Conservation,” and it is through this lens that we will explore the past 20 years of collaboration to manage, conserve, and restore watersheds in Contra Costa County. In addition to reflecting on the past 20 years of watershed work, the Symposium will also look ahead and consider plans and hopes for the next 20 years of watershed work in the county.
The Contra Costa Watershed Forum invites proposals for presentations, posters, artwork, and field trips that explore watershed work and our Symposium theme, “A Culture of Conservation.” In particular, we would like to highlight the roles of collaboration, art, and technology in watershed work.
We look forward to receiving your proposals for:
- Presentations – Speaking (individually or on a panel) about projects, research, or other activities related to creeks and/or watersheds
- Posters – Displaying/presenting information about projects, research, or other activities related to creeks and/or watersheds
- Artwork – Displaying/performing artwork (visual arts, poetry, music, etc.) focused on creeks and/or watersheds
In addition to the abovementioned opportunities to participate in the Symposium on December 5th, we also invite proposals for Field Trips to take place on Friday, December 6th, 2019. This is an opportunity for you (or your organization/group) to lead Symposium attendees on a field trip to a creek- or watershed-related project site in Contra Costa County. This is a great way to raise awareness about completed or in- progress projects.
Accepted proposals will be used to develop the Symposium program. If your proposal is accepted, you will be notified no later than October 4, 2019. To submit a proposal, please complete the Proposal Submission Form at the end of this document and send it as an email attachment to erobinson@ccrcd.org by 5 p.m. on 9/15/2019. Direct questions to Elissa Robinson at erobinson@ccrcd.org or 925-690-4150.
