How Can I Help Creeks and Wetlands?

Volunteer with Friends of Five Creeks helping to weed and re-plant native vegetation on Codornices Creek, Berkeley (photograph courtesy of Friends of Five Creeks)

Don't Dump Pollutants! Motor oil, garbage, and pesticides find their way from streets and lawns into the creeks, where they degrade water quality for fish and birds, and kill the insects they eat.

Be Careful Where You Wash Your Car. Detergent and water on the street flow into the storm drains, which empty directly into creeks. Use a car wash (they filter their water), or use biodegradable soap and wash your car where the water will drain onto your lawn.

Protect Streamside Vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and ground cover. Trees and vegetation prevent erosion and provide essential shade that keeps water cool for fish and wildlife. Plant native and wildlife-attracting plants whenever possible, to restore natural habitat while you restore creek vegetation.

Restore Creeks and Wetlands. Loss of habitat has put steelhead and other wildlife in danger. Restoring and "daylighting" creeks, and restoring wetlands, give more habitat for birds and fish to live in, and for people to enjoy.

Fight for Better Local, State, and Federal Laws that protect creeks and trees, and make your local governments and agencies enforce them. Cities sometimes feel political pressure to relax creek protections. Push back by speaking up!

Keep your dog on the leash except in designated areas, and don't take it to delicate creek and wetland areas at all. Dogs are great, but even a friendly, well-trained dog can scare birds away from their nests and dig into nests and burrows.

Join your local creek group! These groups hold "work parties" to replace non-native vegetation with native plants, repair eroded areas, and clean up trash. Work parties are fun.