OAKLAND'S WATERSHED HAS fifteen main creeks with over thirty tributaries - over 40 miles of open creeks. Because of this unique and precious resource, the City of Oakland, by implementing the Watershed Improvement Program has made environmental protection of creeks a priority.
Creek to Bay Day 2008
September 20, 2008
Coastal Cleanup Day the Oakland Way
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 FIRE Abatement - helpful documents about Fire Prevention and appropriate vegetation management on environmentally sensitive parcels is on the "creekside living" page |
Program Elements
The Watershed Improvement Program is part of the City's Public Works Agency, Environmental Services Division, and is funded by a combination of county, state and federal grants including those from the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the State Water Quality Control Board.
Contact the Watershed Improvement program by email or mail , or phone the Clean Water and Creeks Hotline at (510) 238-6600. 
To report illegal dumping in progress call 911.
Learn more Facts About Oakland's Infrastructure (pdf format).
Watershed Awareness Programs
The City of Oakland partners with the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (ACFCWCD) to implement Watershed Awareness Programs. The goal of these programs is to establish long term community stewardship and leadership in a specific watershed. Current Watershed Awareness Programs include the Friends of Sausal Creek; a program for Arroyo Viejo Creek is under development.
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Collaborative Creek Improvement Program
The City and the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (ACFCWCD) have partnered to create the Collaborative Creek Improvement Program (CCIP) to restore, preserve, and improve Oakland's creeks. The CCIP includes: implementation and training for alternative flood control, soil bioengineering training, riparian restoration, illegal dumping mitigation, water quality improvement, and community outreach and involvement. All projects promote project sustainability and are selected with community input and to comply with he implementation of the OSCAR element of the General Plan and the new Creek Protection Ordinance .
- Creek Restoration/Improvement The City may undertake restoration and improvement projects at targeted creek sites. Activities may include: creek bank stabilization, riparian habitat restoration, hydrology restoration, public education displays, erosion control, and introduction of native wildlife.
- Oakland Creek Crews Creek Crews is a youth summer employment program that focuses on creek preservation. Creek Crew youth receive training in creek ecology and restoration techniques, and perform neighborhood outreach/education, creek cleanup, and hands-on restoration work.
- Public Involvement and Outreach Community involvement and outreach, which may include public meetings, media outreach, door-to-door contacts, event tabling, and watershed festivals, is conducted for each creek project area.
- Technical Training Public workshops and technical trainings on subjects such a soil bioengineering, riparian restoration, habitat preservation, creek bank stabilization, and native plant propagation are conducted for various segments of the public including creekside property owners, landscape architects, property developers, and real estate professionals. Trainings are also provided to City and County staff.
- Debris Removal/Cleanup City and County staff identify locations where the County picks up debris either weekly, monthly, or an as-needed basis.
- Illegal Dumping Mitigation Trash racks, fences, vegetation, bollards, berms, and other barriers are installed to prevent illegal dumping at creek locations. Locations are determined using community input.
- Private Property Hotspots ESD staff work with City Code Compliance and Clean Water Program staff to negotiate with private property owners to clean up and mitigate future dumping at targeted debris and illegal dumping hotspots.
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