About UCC

The mission of the Urban Creeks Council is to preserve, protect, and restore urban streams and their riparian habitats. UCC works with regional and local creek, watershed and conservation organizations, neighborhood groups, minority organizations, environmental restoration professionals, ecologists, agencies and officials to accomplish goals and implement projects related to the shared benefits of natural streams.

Our Staff

Phil Stevens
Executive Director
Email: phil-at-urbancreeks.org
(p) 510.356.0591 x 2

Kristen Van Dam
Restoration Coordinator
Email: kristen-at-urbancreeks.org
(p) 510.356.0591 x 3

Rodney Workman
Program Assistant
Email: rodney-at-urbancreeks.org
(p) 510.356.0591 x 1

All inquiries directed to staff-at-urbancreeks.org will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member. For quickest response time, email the intended staff person directly.

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HISTORY --------

The Urban Creeks Council was formed in 1982 by a group of grassroots activists who fought to stop the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from channelizing Wildcat Creek in Richmond and Sausal Creek in Oakland. UCC helped prevent these channelization projects, and on Wildcat Creek worked to develop an innovative alternative flood control plan that provided flood protection benefits as well as habitat and a public greenway alongside the creek. In the process, UCC helped develop one of the first watershed councils in the state, the Wildcat-San Pablo Creeks Watershed Council, a multi-stakeholder group that is still active today.
After six years of community organizing and negotiations with government agencies, UCC was successful in promoting an alternative Wildcat Creek flood control project which now serves as a national model for collaborative restoration and consensus planning. Since its inception, UCC has worked on dozens of restoration and preservation projects in collaboration with local grassroots groups and neighborhood organizations, for the benefit of the public.

FOUNDING PRINCIPLES --------

UCC encourages the principles of multi-objective land-use planning, alternative flood control design and stream stabilization methods, soil bioengineering solutions, and ecosystem restoration for wildlife habitat and urban aesthetics. Involvement and empowerment of urban and marginalized communities has always been a core principle of UCC’s work. Through our projects and programs, we seek to reverse the loss of natural riparian corridors, help landowners make informed decisions about creek management, and design and install projects that restore natural form and function to urban riparian ecosystems.

As a result of its long history and technical expertise, UCC is the only organization of its kind that provides these unique services to creeks groups, landowners and the public.

ACTIVITIES -------

The activities of the Urban Creeks Council include

• physical stream and ecosystem restoration projects;
• creek and watershed management and consulting;
• training and education programs for students, professionals, contractors, officials, and the general public on the value and restoration of natural streams;
• promoting the values of natural streams through community involvement; and
• collaboration with other groups on restoration projects, streamside greenways, urban parks, and public access to green space.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ------

Meredith Williams
Josh Stern
Mike Rea