Adopt-A-Creek

Due to service level reductions in our volunteer programs, there has been a temporary hold on accepting new Adopt-A-Creek applications for 2008. If you wish to be placed on a wating list, please contact Kate Slama at 408-265-2607, ext. 2739.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District established the Adopt-A-Creek program in 1994 to encourage residents of Santa Clara County to take an active role in helping to preserve the health and beauty of our local creeks. Who's involved? More than 100 groups around the county are involved in the program, but with more than 800 miles of local waterways throughout Santa Clara Valley, many areas have yet to be adopted.

Santa Clara Valley waterways flow into the San Francisco and Monterey bays, taking all the pollutants, debris and trash accumulated upstream with them. This poses a great threat to vegetation, wildlife and humans. In addition, more than five decades of growing urbanization means more runoff — bringing with it even more trash and debris — into local storm drains, many of which empty into our creeks and eventually into the bay.

Think about this: during Coastal Cleanup Day, volunteers picked up more than 45,610 pounds of trash and 10,520 pounds of recyclables in just three hours at 20 creek sites around Santa Clara Valley. That's the equivalent weight of half a Boeing 757 airliner!

With the help of individuals and groups, we can minimize the impact urbanization is making on waterways and keep them from becoming overwhelmed by pollution. The Adopt-A-Creek program is helping the future health of our waterways by ensuring that it remains clean and healthy for California residents.

If you want to adopt a creek, getting started is easy.

Current Adopt-A-Creek participants can find valuable information here. Our bi-annual newsletter, Creekside Chronicle, is available on-line.

See our frequently asked questions page or contact our program staff for more information:

Kate Slama
(408) 265-2607, ext. 2739