Summer Watershed Restoration Field Crew Update
MAY 2026
Learning at Wildcat Creek
Our Watershed Conservation Team welcomed students from DeJean Middle School for a hands-on day of restoration, environmental education, and caring for one of Richmond’s local waterways.
One recent day at Wildcat Creek, our Watershed Restoration team welcomed a group of energetic young people from DeJean Middle School for a hands-on day of caring for the creek and the life that depends on it.
Throughout the day, students watered native plants, learned how to transplant baby milkweed, picked up trash, and explored the ecosystem around them. As they gently moved the tiny milkweed starts into new containers, we talked about monarch butterflies and how these small plants will one day provide food and habitat for important pollinators at our restoration sites.
Later in the day, excitement quickly spread when the group spotted a garter snake weaving through the nearby grasses. For many students, it was a chance to see firsthand that Wildcat Creek is home to many living beings beyond ourselves.
Together, these moments turned lessons about ecology into something tangible that students could touch, care for, and connect with directly.
As the day went on, the shift became visible not just in the space itself, but in the way students interacted with it. What began as a field trip gradually grew into a sense of responsibility and curiosity for the creek and its inhabitants. Students who were hesitant at first became excited to water plants, carefully handle the milkweed, and point out wildlife to one another. Even small acts like removing trash and learning why we mow and weed restoration sites helped connect the dots between stewardship and ecosystem health.
Ultimately, these moments remind us that restoration is about far more than plants alone. Instead, it’s about growing relationships between people, land, and community. Together, we’re creating a future where communities feel connected to the ecosystems around them and empowered to protect them. In doing so, we’re nurturing spaces where both people and wildlife can flourish for generations to come.
JUNE 2026
Starting Work at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline
Our Watershed Restoration field crew expanded restoration efforts across Richmond this month. The team launched a new partnership at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline, planted native species, and provided hands-on learning opportunities for local youth.
This past month, our Watershed Restoration team began work at a new project site at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline. As a result, we took the first step toward what we hope will be a long and meaningful relationship with the park. The day felt especially significant because several people who have supported and inspired our work joined us.
Building New Partnerships
One of those people was Kristen Van Dam, whose advocacy within the East Bay Regional Park District has helped create opportunities for our crew. She has facilitated partnerships, connected us with park staff, and championed the value of community-based restoration. Being able to kick off work at a new site alongside her felt like a full-circle moment.
We were also honored to spend the day with Glen Schneider, a respected elder in the restoration community. He generously shared stories, knowledge, and encouragement with our crew throughout the day.
Planting, Restoring, and Learning Together
As we worked along the Richmond shoreline, surrounded by native habitat and views of the Bay, conversations naturally turned to restoration, stewardship, and the importance of protecting these often-overlooked landscapes for future generations.
That spirit of stewardship extended beyond Miller Knox throughout the month. Volunteers joined us to plant native species in the new Brookside Drive rain gardens. Together, we strengthened green stormwater infrastructure that filters runoff, supports pollinators, creates healthier habitat, and helps reduce pollution entering local waterways.
Our field crew also welcomed youth from the Shields-Reid Community Center to Wildcat Creek for after-school educational programming. Students explored the creek, learned about native ecosystems, and experienced firsthand what it means to care for the places where they live.
Passing Knowledge Forward
These interactions help strengthen relationships that have been years in the making while opening the door to new opportunities for restoration and community stewardship.
For newer crew members, working alongside experienced restoration practitioners like Glen offered a chance to learn from decades of knowledge and passion. At the same time, volunteers and local youth became active participants in caring for Richmond’s landscapes. Together, these experiences demonstrated that restoration is most impactful when community members of all ages can contribute and learn from one another.
Meanwhile, beginning work at Miller Knox reinforced that our restoration efforts are part of a larger network of people committed to caring for the land.
Looking to the Future
We are reminded that even in places shaped by industry and development, healthy ecosystems persist and deserve our attention. By restoring habitat along the Richmond shoreline, enhancing bioswales with native plants, and introducing young people to local creeks through hands-on learning, we’re helping ensure these landscapes continue to thrive. In turn, they remain accessible to the communities that call this place home.
Ultimately, this work reflects the future we’re working toward. We envision local residents, restoration practitioners, volunteers, youth, and public agencies coming together to care for the land through shared knowledge, trust, and long-term stewardship. As new generations step into this work and learn from those who have dedicated their lives to restoration, we strengthen our collective ability to heal ecosystems, deepen community connection, and build a more resilient Richmond.