Caring for Creeks on Your Property
Alameda County’s creeks are a valuable community resource that support water quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for plants and animals. If you have a creek on or near your property, you play an important role in helping keep it healthy.
Take a look at the tips below or view the regulations and permits page for more information.
Maintaining Your Creekside Property
The top priority for maintaining a healthy creek is preventing pollutants from entering the water or surrounding soil. The following guidance outlines practical steps property owners can take to protect creeks and comply with local requirements.
Minimize soil erosion and provide habitat for wildlife with vegetation:
- Preserve or establish a vegetated buffer zone between the creek and your yard, sheds, patios and other structures on your property. Unplanted, barren areas, even those that are not located next to the creek, can increase the amount of sediment washed into the creek (erosion).
- Replant barren slopes or creek banks on your property as quickly as possible. Use native plants on slopes and banks and when possible.
Avoid dumping:
Never dump, add fill or obstruct the flow of a creek. Dumping in creeks and gullies will not only increase the chance of flooding but can also increase erosion in other parts of the creek.
Repair streambank erosion:
Streambank erosion repair may be necessary if the erosion threatens property, structures or roads, or if it puts riparian habitat at risk. Be sure to consult with the Alameda County Planning Department (see Resources) before beginning any stream bank setback zone repair project.
Stabilizing creek banks requires knowledge of the flow patterns of the creek and history of the site. When considering repairs:
- Check your creek regularly. Learn to spot problems, especially during storm events. Some sediment and foam is natural. Excessive sediment or colored or oily foam indicate problems such as erosion or pollution upstream.
- Identify the cause of the trouble. If the source of a particular problem occurs upstream, your restoration efforts may be defeated unless that problem is addressed.
- Consider the least invasive options first. Creeks are resilient and may not need extensive (or expensive) restoration techniques.
- Use living materials. Use plants such as willows and other native vegetation. Hard structures such as rock and concrete-lined channels provide no fish or wildlife habitat and tend to increase flood risk.
- Avoid harmful materials. Never use tires, concrete rubble, or appliances to repair erosion problems. These items can be washed away by water and cause further damage. These items may also contain materials that are toxic to creek life.