Creek Care

Overview

While the health of our creeks is very much influenced by human activities in the uplands of our watershed, creeks have their own dynamics that directly affect their immediate human neighbors. Thanks to the local tradition that property boundaries generally run down the center of the creek, waterways are usually not bridged over or otherwise developed beyond what is necessary to protect real estate (or to accommodate public roads). The result is that creek corridors are—or have the potential to be—nature reserves and fish and wildlife migration corridors in the heart of the heavily developed valley floor.  

There are many ways that the creeks’ natural resources and ecosystem functions can be protected, enhanced or restored. The most effective way to avoid impacts is to keep development out of and away from a creek. Yet in a developed watershed like ours, there are many options to enhance the creeks’ resources, if not restore them.