Introduction
Below is a list of curated resources by UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County CoComgmedia@ucanr.edu
General Resources
Bernalillo County, New Mexico – Field Guide for Passive Rainwater Harvesting
https://www.bernco.gov/public-works/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2023/05/Passive-Rainwater-Harvesting-Guide_webLR.pdf
City of Santa Barbara Graywater and Rainwater systems
https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/pw/resources/conservation/landscaping/graywater.asp
U.S. Drought Monitor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Maps/MapArchive.aspx
Greywater Reuse and Rainwater Harvesting Education
https://greywateraction.org/
Watershed Approach to Landscape Design
http://apldca.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/G3-APLD-CA-Watershed-Approach.pdf
Low-Water Plant Lists and Photos provided by Contra Costa Water District
https://www.contracosta.watersavingplants.com/
Lawn-to-Garden – How to Convert Your Lawn to a Beautiful Low-Water Garden (sheet mulching the lawn)
http://lawntogarden.org/
Dry Demonstration Gardens
Richmond Low-Water Demonstration Garden (Contra Costa County Master Gardeners)
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/richmond-low-water-demo-garden
Water Conservation Garden – (Contra Costa County MasterGardeners)
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/water-conservation-garden
Managing Landscapes in Drought
Webinar: The Magic of Mulch: Water Conservation at its Best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W28fWlgypwY
Irrigation Scheduling
WaterWonk How Much Water App
https://puddle-stompers.com/waterwonk/how-much/
Valley Water Irrigation Scheduling App
https://www.valleywaterscheduler.com/
EBMUD Lawn and Landscape Watering Schedule (PDF)
https://www.ebmud.com/application/files/4915/6642/6964/Lawn__Landscape_Watering_Schedule.pdf
Information on Climate Change
Climate Toolbox by UC Merced
https://climatetoolbox.org/
What is Climate Change? Crash Course Geography #14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMwFNMfjFuU
California Climate, Climate Change, and Atmospheric Rivers (California Department of Water Resources)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlB2BG-kXmI
Firewise Landscaping
Lessons Learned from the Los Angeles Fires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-VG12URQrc
Wildfire Preparedness
https://ucanr.edu/statewide-program/uc-anr-fire-network/wildfire-preparedness
Early Insights from Field Observations (of the Los Angeles wildfires)
https://ibhs.org/lawildfires/
Firewise Demo Garden coming soon to Richmond
Richmond Fire Station #63, 5201 Valley View, Richmond (El Sobrante Valley)
Zone 0 defensible space explained (newsletter article)
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/article/understanding-defensible-space-zone-0
Zone 1 defensible space explained (newsletter article)
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/article/understanding-defensible-space-zone-1
Zone 2 defensible space explained (newsletter article)
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/article/landscaping-fire-safety-zone-2
Climate Change and Your Garden Checklist
Preparedness actions when there is too little water.
- Convert lawn to low-water plants
- Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch to all planted areas
- Add compost to all planted areas
- Water all planted areas as low water
- Space out watering days gradually to drive roots down deeper
- Use web application to create accurate irrigation schedule:
https://www.valleywaterscheduler.com/ - Upgrade to a smart controller
- Change out inefficient sprinkler nozzles for efficient ones
- Find areas of the garden to hand water with recovered water from the house
- Use How Much Water web app to determine how much
water the plants need https://waterwonk.us/how-much/ - Purchase hose-end flow meter to monitor amount of water being used
- Harvest rainwater – see checklist for too much water
- Water plants with water recovered from the house
- Set up a greywater system. Laundry-to-landscape is the easiest and doesn’t require a permit
- Order of water-source preference for irrigation: 1. Rainwater;
2. Greywater; 3. Potable water
Preparedness actions when there is too much water.
- Note where water flowed and collected during winter storms
- Direct downspouts away from the foundation and into the garden
- Build a rain garden
- Sculpt the garden into berms and swales
- Build a dry creek bed
- Install French drains where needed (consult with a professional)
- Install a dry well (at least 12 feet from foundation of house)
- Install cisterns, tanks, or barrels to collect rainwater
- Remove weed fabric (or don’t install it in the first place)
- Look for areas to convert hardscaping to permeable materials
- Implement erosion control measures on slopes
- Hire arborist to prune trees to make them lighter and with open spaces for wind to pass through
*Non-endorsement disclosure: “No endorsement of these products/companies is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products/companies that are not included.” UC Cooperative Extension
Produced by UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520
Web: https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county