About South bay clean creeks coalition
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition: Reclaiming, Restoring and Revitalizing Santa Clara County Creeks
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the reclamation, restoration and revitalization of creeks in Santa Clara County. The organization was founded in 2005 with the aim of improving the health and vitality of local creeks by engaging communities, businesses, government agencies and other stakeholders.
The South Bay region has a rich network of creeks that are home to diverse wildlife species such as steelhead trout, Chinook salmon, California red-legged frog and western pond turtle. However, these waterways have been subjected to various forms of pollution over the years including urban runoff from streets and parking lots, industrial discharges from factories and construction sites as well as sewage spills.
The South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition works tirelessly to address these challenges through a range of programs that focus on education, advocacy and restoration. The organization's mission is to create healthy creek ecosystems that support thriving communities.
Education Programs
One of the key strategies employed by South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition is education. The organization believes that educating people about the importance of clean creeks is critical in achieving its goals. To this end, it runs several educational programs aimed at raising awareness about creek pollution issues among different groups including school children.
The Creek Stewardship Program provides hands-on learning opportunities for students from elementary schools all through high schools. Through this program students learn about creek ecology while participating in activities such as planting native vegetation along creek banks or removing invasive species.
Advocacy Programs
Another important aspect of South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition's work involves advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policy makers to take action on issues related to creek health. The organization works closely with local governments such as cities or counties to ensure they adopt policies that promote clean waterways.
For instance, it advocates for stronger regulations on stormwater runoff from construction sites and industrial facilities. It also lobbies for increased funding for creek restoration projects.
Restoration Programs
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition's restoration programs are aimed at improving the physical and ecological health of creeks in Santa Clara County. The organization works with volunteers to remove trash, debris and invasive species from creek beds. It also plants native vegetation along creek banks to stabilize soil, reduce erosion and provide habitat for wildlife.
The organization has several ongoing restoration projects including the Guadalupe River Park Restoration Project which aims to restore a 2-mile stretch of the river that runs through downtown San Jose. The project involves removing concrete channels that were built in the 1950s to control flooding and replacing them with naturalized stream channels.
Conclusion
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition is a vital organization that plays an important role in protecting Santa Clara County's creeks from pollution while restoring their ecological health. Through its education, advocacy and restoration programs, it has made significant strides towards achieving its mission of creating healthy creek ecosystems that support thriving communities.
If you're interested in supporting South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition's work or learning more about how you can get involved, visit their website today!