The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a $6.1 million grant for the Wildcat Creek restoration and enhancement project, according to the San Franciso Estuary Partnership. The grant will augment a matching $6.1 million contribution from West County Wastewater for the four-year project in North Richmond and San Pablo.
Restoration projects will aim to reduce flooding, improve habitat, and increase access to recreational resources across the full 13-mile length of Wildcat Creek, extending beyond San Pablo.
The project includes restoring a mile of Wildcat Creek and 10 acres of adjacent habitat, improving fish passage, and removing 50,000 cubic yards of sediment to decrease flooding risk in the low-elevation community of North Richmond, according to officials.
The Estuary Partnership will lead the project and will work in partnership with local organizations and public agencies to support restoration of the creek, trail design and future construction of the North Richmond Living Levee.
“This funding offers the opportunity to not only restore and safeguard green spaces for future generations, but to continue to collaborate with regional partners including the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, to create spaces that expand nature access and lower the impact of climate change for our vulnerable communities now,” said Juliana Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Watershed Project.
To learn more about the Wildcat Creek project, visit Wildcat Creek Trail Visioning Project and Wildcat-San Pablo Creeks Watershed Council.
