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Creeks in El Cerrito

To date, the City has restored portions of Baxter Creek at Poinsett and Baxter Creek Gateway Parks and at Cerrito Creek at the City's southern boundary.

Baxter Creek at Poinsett Park was daylighted (brought above ground) a few years ago when the City Engineer determined that restoring a natural creek would be the most cost and resource effective response to a failing culvert. After the successful daylighting of Baxter Creek at Poinsett Park, the City has been pursuing creek restoration projects to beautify the landscape; promote and demonstrate a commitment to clean water and environmental stewardship; and respond to citizen interest and regional goals for a preserved, enhanced and restored natural ecosystem within the urban environment.

Baxter Creek at Gateway Park: This segment of creek was restored in 2005 after citizens formed a group-Friends of Baxter Creek-to advocate for the purchase of the land from the Santa Fe Railroad, and its restoration.

Cerrito Creek at the El Cerrito Plaza was restored a few years ago. The all-volunteer Friends of Five Creeks coordinates education and maintenance activities at the creek at the Plaza and west of San Pablo Avenue from Adams to Creekside Park.

Check back here in the future for photos and links to a variety of reports about these creek restoration project. Check back soon for information about other ways to get involved in stewardship and maintenance activities at Gateway Park.

Get Involved!

Come join neighbors in planting and weeding and stewarding El Cerrito’s newest creek restoration project, Baxter Creek! The City is currently hosting work parties each month from 9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.

  • November 15th (new date!)
  • December 13th (new date!)
    Download the Nov/Dec Work Party flyer (PDF, 222Kb)

    Meet at Gateway Park, which is located along San Pablo Avenue at the end of the Ohlone Greenway (A quarter mile past the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station; between Key Blvd. and San Pablo Ave. near MacDonald Ave.). Wear work clothes and boots. Bring your own lunch, snacks, and water.

    Please call Ocean Halbert at (510) 717-3114 or the Department of Public Works at (510) 215-4339 for more information.

    Friends of Five Creeks Monthly Work Parties

    Friends of Five Creeks holds monthly work parties, 10 am – 12:30 pm on varying Saturdays at various creeks, including Cerrito Creek. All ages welcome. Visit www.fivecreeks.org or email f5creeks@aol.com to receive announcements.

    Tuesday Weekday Weed Warriors
    A small group meets at varying restoration sites at 10 am Tuesdays for a couple of hours’ fun work followed by coffee and chat. Email f5creeks@aol.com to get on the list for announcements. No obligation – just come when you have time.


    Creek Maintenance

    With the community, the City created a Maintenance and Management Guide (link to PDF guide) for the Baxter Creek Gateway Park that also provides overall guidance for the maintenance of city-owned creeks citywide. With the assistance of the Urban Creeks Council, the city has also completed an inventory (link to inventory) of all city-owned creeks that provides a description of each creek and outlines current maintenance practices and needs as well as identifies future restoration opportunities.

    Privately Owned Creeks: Most of the city's creeks are located on private property. Their maintenance is the responsibility of the private property owner. With City support through the Contra Costa Clean Water Program, the Urban Creeks Council's Streamside Management for Private Landowners ("SMPPL") program provides assistance to landowners with creeks.

    photo

    If you own property along a creek in Contra Costa County, SMPPL is available to you at no charge. Services include:

    • Site visit and consultation: Urban Creeks Council staff will visit your property and provide free advice on how to address issues such as failing banks, erosion, and flooding.
    • Neighborhood workshops: Your actions can influence the shape of your creek both upstream and downstream from your property. Working with your creekside neighbors is important to ensure a comprehensive restoration effort that works for everyone!
    • Technical advice on urban stream restoration: Not sure how to begin? Urban Creeks Council staff can provide information on restoration techniques you can implement and direct you to qualified local engineers, landscape architects, and contractors.
    • Restoration project permitting: Even restoration projects must meet federal, state and local agency regulations, including securing permits for certain types of work. Urban Creeks Council staff can help guide you through this process.

    Resources

    • The Oakland Museum of California Creek and Watershed Information Source provides a Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks including an interactive Graphic Creek and Watershed Finder

    • Coming soon! Map of creeks in El Cerrito
    • County Watershed Atlas
      Provides information on how to purchase the Contra Costa County Watershed Atlas. The Atlas is a large format, full color, 150-page book of maps, statistics and text about the 28 major watersheds in the County.

    • For more information about creeks in El Cerrito, please contact Melanie Mintz in the Public Works Department at (510) 215-4339 or mmintz@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.