UCSC College Student Writes about Coyote Creek
by Deb Kramer
In early November, I was contacted by University of California Santa Cruz student Adrian Apostol about an essay he was writing for a class on environmental issues in his hometown. Being from San Jose, Coyote Creek jumped to mind for him. He especially was interested in the pollution that affected the ecosystem.
After an interview with me and another source, he conducted additional research to write his essay titled "The Jungle" of San Jose. I invite you to read it and comment on his perspective here.
Investigative Essay: "The Jungle" of San Jose by Adrian Apostol, UCSC Student.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Stories about the Story Road Encampment
Closure of "The Jungle" Captured by the Media
By Deb Kramer
On Thursday, December 4th, the City of San Jose began the cleanup of the Story Road Encampment aka "The Jungle", which had housed up to 300 homeless individuals. Below are select stories from various media sources.
By Deb Kramer
On Thursday, December 4th, the City of San Jose began the cleanup of the Story Road Encampment aka "The Jungle", which had housed up to 300 homeless individuals. Below are select stories from various media sources.
- On 12/3/14, KQED Forum hosted a show with the story and interviews related to The Jungle's closure. http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201412030900
- Take a look at this video from KQED Forum. It let's you see what The Jungle looked like before the rain and exodus last week.http://bcove.me/2z4gmd18
- The San Jose Mercury News ran a story on 12/4, with photos and video.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_27066589/jungle-san-jose-shuts-down-notorious-homeless-encampment - On 12/5/14, the San Jose Mercury News ran a followup story about the continued cleanup.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_27077914/cleanup-jungle-encampment-continues-after-eviction-homeless - NBC Bay Area had a news story on 12/1 about the posting to evict homeless residents of the encampment.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Jose-Taking-Final-Steps-in-Shutting-Down-The-Jungle-Homeless-Encampment-284274701.html - The National Journal contributed a video and article about the people who live in the encampment.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-america/population-2043/how-silicon-valley-created-america-s-largest-homeless-camp-20141125
Friday, December 12, 2014
Last Cleanup of the 2014
Commitment to Cleanup Coyote Creek Shines at Last Cleanup of 2014
By Deb Kramer
On yet another rainy Saturday morning (par for the season), over 150 people came out to cleanup a quarter-mile stretch of Coyote Creek. This wild and wacky bunch collected quite the feast of materials for the compactor:
The total weight from the compactor was 3.96, but when adding in additional items, like tires, we topped the 4 ton mark, again! Of note, volunteers had to walk the trash up to one-quarter mile to the road since the ground was too wet for the compactor to com in. Extra bonus points to everyone! Congratulations to all who participated.
Some of the unusual items volunteers reported that we collected include:
Our Action Crew (learn more about them here) was ready for the 162 volunteers who came out this time. We had three photographers, extra help with our sign in process, and five cleanup team leaders to manage our crews. We also had the support of two SJ rangers. The Action Crew are instrumental to the success of our combined efforts.
Our volunteers came from many different groups and schools, including San Jose State, Lincoln High School, neighbors, Yerba Buena High School, Sierra Club, Independence High School, Evergreen Valley High School, and AileenQ group. Several students were affiliated with a specific club, including Key Club, California Scholarship Federation, Interact Club, United Clubs, and National Honors Society. Without all these people, the creek wouldn't be as clean as it is.
By Deb Kramer
On yet another rainy Saturday morning (par for the season), over 150 people came out to cleanup a quarter-mile stretch of Coyote Creek. This wild and wacky bunch collected quite the feast of materials for the compactor:
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| Unloading the Compactor Photos by Spiros Kolomvotos |
- 206 bags of trash
- 20 tires
- 10 gallons of some unknown fluid!?
- 5 gallons of batteries
- 3 shopping carts
The total weight from the compactor was 3.96, but when adding in additional items, like tires, we topped the 4 ton mark, again! Of note, volunteers had to walk the trash up to one-quarter mile to the road since the ground was too wet for the compactor to com in. Extra bonus points to everyone! Congratulations to all who participated.
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| Having fun at the cleanup and some of the tires Photo by Tito Burbano |
- Slab of granite
- Lighter fluid
- Doors
- Backpacks
- Christmas lights
- Laptop
- Working Garmin GPS system
- Poker table
- Storage bins
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| Action Crew, photo by Mary Yan |
Our Action Crew (learn more about them here) was ready for the 162 volunteers who came out this time. We had three photographers, extra help with our sign in process, and five cleanup team leaders to manage our crews. We also had the support of two SJ rangers. The Action Crew are instrumental to the success of our combined efforts.
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| Students from Silver Creek's CSF club photo by Mary Yan |
Monday, December 8, 2014
Meet Our Cleanup Onsite Team Members
Meet the Coyote Creek Action Crew
by Deb Kramer
Each cleanup event, we get better at running them. After our last cleanup, we asked for people who would like to be part of our Action Crew, which consists of photographers, onsite registration, and team leaders. We had a great response.
Our photographers take about 100 photos each! That means we have lots of great pictures to choose from that represent a range of topics:
To see our photos, visit our Facebook page (no account necessary to view the photos).
The onsite staff help with registration of our volunteers, making sure they have all the tools they need, including vests, gloves, and a litter stick (all provided by the City of San Jose). We also give a welcome and safety talk to make sure everyone understands what we are here to do and how to do it safely. The City of San Jose rangers work with us to ensure our safety.
Finally, the team leaders have the responsibility to oversee each group of 25-30 volunteers in the field. They have a backpack (donated by the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter) that has Tecnu for poison oak contact, first aid kit, and extra bags along with their own water bottles and snacks. The team leader ensures that all the tools (loaned by the San Jose Conservation Corp) are taken care of and returned, bags are counted, unusual items documented, and everyone stays safe.
Without this team of people, these cleanups would not be as successful. Thanks to all our Cleanup Action Crew.
by Deb Kramer
Each cleanup event, we get better at running them. After our last cleanup, we asked for people who would like to be part of our Action Crew, which consists of photographers, onsite registration, and team leaders. We had a great response.
Our photographers take about 100 photos each! That means we have lots of great pictures to choose from that represent a range of topics:
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| Our Team Photographers |
- I AM photos, where someone writes their name or organization to indicate support of restoring Coyote Creek
- Team photos of the group at the end of the cleanup
- Action shots of volunteers in action
- Loading and unloading the compactor of all our trash
- And, more
To see our photos, visit our Facebook page (no account necessary to view the photos).
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| Some of our Onsite Staff and Team Leaders with the City of San Jose Rangers |
Finally, the team leaders have the responsibility to oversee each group of 25-30 volunteers in the field. They have a backpack (donated by the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter) that has Tecnu for poison oak contact, first aid kit, and extra bags along with their own water bottles and snacks. The team leader ensures that all the tools (loaned by the San Jose Conservation Corp) are taken care of and returned, bags are counted, unusual items documented, and everyone stays safe.
Without this team of people, these cleanups would not be as successful. Thanks to all our Cleanup Action Crew.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
And the Cleanups Continue
November Coyote Creek Cleanup Another Success
By Deb Kramer
On a clear, balmy Saturday morning, we set up our tables, laid out our tools, and waited for them to come. And come they did!
We partnered with the Santa Clara County Parks to host a cleanup in Hellyer Park's Cottonwood Lake area and with the Sierra Club to host the Yerba Buena Road site. All together, we had 153 volunteers remove 5.3 tons of trash. What a great job everyone did. You can see a lot of our photos on our Facebook page.
One volunteer from the Evergreen High School Interact Club said she liked "finding new old objects with mysterious stories." Here are a few of the interesting items we collected:
The San Jose Conservation Corp provided us with some tools to dig up and remove items while the City of San Jose provided us with vests, gloves, litter sticks, and loads of bags to contain our smaller items.
Over 200 bags of trash were collected, and that doesn't even count the large items, like chairs, futons, and tents. As volunteers brought trash up, some couldn't believe the amount of trash in the creek. One commented that "the trash is nasty, and people shouldn't put trash in water because it makes the fish die."
As one SJSU student put it, the most rewarding part was "Seeing the Change! Before and After shots!" Many of our volunteers indicated they "enjoyed meeting new people"
Some of the groups that came out include:
Without all these volunteers, we wouldn't be able to make as big an impact on the creek as we do. Thanks again for a job well done.
Rain or shine, we'll be out again in December. Please join us!
By Deb Kramer
On a clear, balmy Saturday morning, we set up our tables, laid out our tools, and waited for them to come. And come they did!
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| Just some of the trash collected at Yerba Buena |
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| Old typewriter from the Creek |
- BBQ
- 13 tires
- 9 shopping carts
- Typewriter
- Oven door
- Lots of rugs
- Lots of clothing
- Braided rug
- Bike frame
- A baby doll
- ID card
- Pictures of an old lady
The San Jose Conservation Corp provided us with some tools to dig up and remove items while the City of San Jose provided us with vests, gloves, litter sticks, and loads of bags to contain our smaller items.
Over 200 bags of trash were collected, and that doesn't even count the large items, like chairs, futons, and tents. As volunteers brought trash up, some couldn't believe the amount of trash in the creek. One commented that "the trash is nasty, and people shouldn't put trash in water because it makes the fish die."
As one SJSU student put it, the most rewarding part was "Seeing the Change! Before and After shots!" Many of our volunteers indicated they "enjoyed meeting new people"
Some of the groups that came out include:
- San Jose State students
- Sierra Club members
- Silver Creek, Evergreen, Piedmont Hills, Yerba Buena, Andrew Hill, and University Prep Academy high schools
- Clubs included SCAMS club, DZAM, Interact, and Key
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| Just some of the 150 volunteers at the November cleanup |
Without all these volunteers, we wouldn't be able to make as big an impact on the creek as we do. Thanks again for a job well done.
Rain or shine, we'll be out again in December. Please join us!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Regional Water Board Poised to Act on Creekside Pollution of Creeks
Regional Water Board Poised to Act on Creekside Pollution of Creeks
By Richard McMurtry
On November 12, 2014, homeless activists from San Jose spoke out at a meeting of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board in Oakland, the state agency responsible for protecting our streams from pollution. They stood up for basic human services (sanitation, wash, trash pickup) at existing homeless encampments to prevent pollution of the creeks. They advocated for the creation of managed homeless villages with proper sanitation, wash facilities, trash pickup and shelter from the elements and with opportunities for the homeless to be stewards of the creek by keeping it clean.
They also called on the Regional Board to issue enforcement orders to the owners of creekside properties – Santa Clara Valley Water District, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, CALTRANS – to pick up the trash in the creek and along its banks and provide sanitary facilities to prevent discharge of human waste to the creek.
Mr. James McGrath, vice-chair of the Board, said, "I can’t imagine this would not be a high priority for this board. I have walked several miles of creek and seen mountains of trash in the creeks and along its banks on public agency and private land. This is not just a City of San Jose problem. There must be a better way to address human waste collection other than provision of dry bags."
The Board indicated their desire to have this issue put on an agenda for a future meeting of the Board and to create a subcommittee of the Board to focus on this issue. Perhaps the current impasse around addressing homeless-related creek pollution is about to make a major shift!
By Richard McMurtry
On November 12, 2014, homeless activists from San Jose spoke out at a meeting of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board in Oakland, the state agency responsible for protecting our streams from pollution. They stood up for basic human services (sanitation, wash, trash pickup) at existing homeless encampments to prevent pollution of the creeks. They advocated for the creation of managed homeless villages with proper sanitation, wash facilities, trash pickup and shelter from the elements and with opportunities for the homeless to be stewards of the creek by keeping it clean.
They also called on the Regional Board to issue enforcement orders to the owners of creekside properties – Santa Clara Valley Water District, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, CALTRANS – to pick up the trash in the creek and along its banks and provide sanitary facilities to prevent discharge of human waste to the creek.
Mr. James McGrath, vice-chair of the Board, said, "I can’t imagine this would not be a high priority for this board. I have walked several miles of creek and seen mountains of trash in the creeks and along its banks on public agency and private land. This is not just a City of San Jose problem. There must be a better way to address human waste collection other than provision of dry bags."
The Board indicated their desire to have this issue put on an agenda for a future meeting of the Board and to create a subcommittee of the Board to focus on this issue. Perhaps the current impasse around addressing homeless-related creek pollution is about to make a major shift!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Rainy Day Cleanup...Who Knew?
Coyote Creek Cleanup Continues Despite First Major Rains
by Deb Kramer
Woke up at 6 AM to a downpour of rain. "Great," I thought. "We'd be lucky to have 30 people show up for our scheduled October cleanup."
Just the day before, we had 91 people registered to participate in our creek cleanup. My soggy self hoped for some relief, especially since my poor Subaru was packed to the gills with supplies from the City of San Jose's Anti-Litter Program.
In the pouring rain, we setup. SJSU Alpha Phi Omega provided support with signups and team leadership. Sierra Club Loma Prieta was out to help coordinate the site staging area. The San Jose Ranger was waiting in the wings. Would they come?
What a surprise when 94 people came to show their support to clean Coyote Creek. We were split into three major groups working from Tully Ball Fields and Capitol Expressway. Together, we pulled out just over four tons of trash, the equivalent of four Fiat 500s. That's a lot of trash!
As we worked through the drizzle which turned into sunshine, smiling faces showed me that the effort to host these cleanups is so rewarding for the participants.
As one participant commented, "You never know what you might find." Toilets, carpet, sleeping bags, shopping carts, cinder blocks, bricks, mounds of plastic wire coverings, a Republic of Poland ID card, rolling pin, office chairs, bras, concrete...all examples of items we pulled out this time.
When asked, people commented that they learned:
Of course, some of the most amazing things that people noticed was the sheer volume of trash they were able to pull out of the creek.
Go team! I am so grateful to our volunteers who come out even in the pouring rain to clean up Coyote Creek. See more photos on our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you at our next cleanup on November 15 at Yerba Buena Road.
by Deb Kramer
Woke up at 6 AM to a downpour of rain. "Great," I thought. "We'd be lucky to have 30 people show up for our scheduled October cleanup."
Just the day before, we had 91 people registered to participate in our creek cleanup. My soggy self hoped for some relief, especially since my poor Subaru was packed to the gills with supplies from the City of San Jose's Anti-Litter Program.
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| SJSU Alpha Phi Omega volunteers |
What a surprise when 94 people came to show their support to clean Coyote Creek. We were split into three major groups working from Tully Ball Fields and Capitol Expressway. Together, we pulled out just over four tons of trash, the equivalent of four Fiat 500s. That's a lot of trash!
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| Bellarmine College Prep boys haul up a safe... already cracked open. |
As one participant commented, "You never know what you might find." Toilets, carpet, sleeping bags, shopping carts, cinder blocks, bricks, mounds of plastic wire coverings, a Republic of Poland ID card, rolling pin, office chairs, bras, concrete...all examples of items we pulled out this time.
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| Some of the Girl Scouts hauled out a huge suitcase. |
"I was amazed at the disregard towards the ecosystem of the creek.""Just by taking a few hours out of your day, you can do a lot.""There is trash EVERYWHERE and in the most obscure places."Most people found that the most rewarding part of the effort was to "see the difference that we make together" to clean the creek. Others commented that it was "neat to see people come together" towards a common cause. Yet others enjoyed "making new friends" and "working on a project with my fellow Bells."
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| Cleanup day trash unloaded from compactor truck |
Go team! I am so grateful to our volunteers who come out even in the pouring rain to clean up Coyote Creek. See more photos on our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you at our next cleanup on November 15 at Yerba Buena Road.
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| About 50 volunteers and half the trash collected at this spot. Great job all! |
Friday, October 24, 2014
Shady Oaks Park Master Plan Community Meeting
Shady Oaks Park Master Plan Community Meeting
by Deb Kramer
Ballfields? Lights? Walking trails? Cricket field? Heritage walnut trees? What are the best ideas for the use of a 60 acre park?
The neighbors of the Shady Oaks Park along Coyote Creek have been working on a Master Plan for this park with the guidance of the City of San Jose's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services since June, 2014. Over the past three meetings, the ideas for the park have raised many concerns from neighbors about too much development, but there are residents in the city who believe additional developed uses, such as sports fields and courts.
As an observer and interested party to this master plan on behalf of Coyote Creek, I've seen the diverse interests of the San Jose community in action. Coming together as a neighborhood, the residents to the neighborhood park desperately wanted to keep the park as natural as possible. Currently, the park has a large grove of walnut trees that provide a place for many animals and birds to live. Since this park is adjacent to Coyote Creek, there is ready access to recreation, including the Coyote Creek Trail, used by many for walking, biking, and running. Across the creek is the Silver Creek Sportsplex, a private facility offering a huge range of activities, including field sports and indoor sports.
The neighbors worked together with the Parks Department and Public Works to develop and refine a proposed Master Plan for this park through a deliberate process. At the second meeting, a map of the park was overlaid with tracing paper for about 8 groups, and nearly all the groups had a similar vision: keep the walnut grove; add a path along the creek; include interpretive signs; add some sort of courts (tennis, basketball, or sand volleyball); add and repair park benches.
At the last meeting on October 22, the combined ideas were laid out, and 30 participants were invited to rank their choices from 1-4. Overwhelmingly, the trail next to the creek and cultural/restoration of the walnut grove area were most popular. The financials were also discussed to inform the residents about the budgetary constraints, including Neighborhood funds compared to Community funds.
Next step: Approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission and CEQA reviews. I look forward to seeing the natural parts of this park preserved and improved for the benefit of nature and people. This process has been wonderful to follow as I was able to see how it evolved in a civil manner.
by Deb Kramer
Ballfields? Lights? Walking trails? Cricket field? Heritage walnut trees? What are the best ideas for the use of a 60 acre park?
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| Shady Oaks Park from Google Maps |
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| Shady Oaks Master Plan drawing |
As an observer and interested party to this master plan on behalf of Coyote Creek, I've seen the diverse interests of the San Jose community in action. Coming together as a neighborhood, the residents to the neighborhood park desperately wanted to keep the park as natural as possible. Currently, the park has a large grove of walnut trees that provide a place for many animals and birds to live. Since this park is adjacent to Coyote Creek, there is ready access to recreation, including the Coyote Creek Trail, used by many for walking, biking, and running. Across the creek is the Silver Creek Sportsplex, a private facility offering a huge range of activities, including field sports and indoor sports.
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| Element Priorities by Participants |
Next step: Approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission and CEQA reviews. I look forward to seeing the natural parts of this park preserved and improved for the benefit of nature and people. This process has been wonderful to follow as I was able to see how it evolved in a civil manner.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The Coyote Creek Homeless Stream Stewards
The Coyote Creek Homeless Stream Stewards
By Richard McMurtry
When you look into the eyes of a homeless person on the creek and genuinely are interested in who they are, it is hard not to fall in love with them. "Love" in the sense of caring about them: wanting the best for them; seeing their humanity and their goodness – warts and all. And, wanting to empower them to be the stewards of the creek, rather than the trashers of the creek.
On September 25th, the Coyote Creek Homeless
Stream Stewards held its first trash cleanup at two encampments along Coyote Creek just north of Capitol Expressway. Despite city warnings that the homeless are "dangerous," we worked with four individuals living in that area to pick up about 15 bags of trash. Then we went to Round Table and had pizza to celebrate our work together. More cleanups are planned for October.
The mottos of the Coyote Creek Homeless Stream Stewards are:
With the help of the homeless, our community volunteer cleanups will make headway against the backlog of trash along the creek. No longer will we be picking up trash that was generated between cleanups.- Collecting creekside trash as fast as it’s generated
- Protecting Coyote Creek
- Serving the community
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| Stream area prior to cleanup |
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| Stream area following Stream Stewards cleanup |
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| Richard McMurtry (second from right) with three of the team members |
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| Stream Steward member looking regal |
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Living Along Coyote Creek
Every other week or so, I go out to Coyote Creek and monitor trash and take photos...lots of photos. Through these photos, I'd like to share some of the people, animals, plants, and other aspects of the creek that I find fascinating.
This week: "Lives Left Behind"
Recently, I went out with Richard McMurtry to evaluate the trash levels between Yerba Buena and Singleton Road. What a minefield of trash! We'll be hosting a cleanup along this section soon. The San Jose Park Rangers had recently cleared out the homeless people, and below are a few items I found left behind.
People need medications, and here are some prescription vials left behind. Hopefully, the user has their next supply of medication to stay healthy.
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| Who was the little baby who lost his/her socks? I hope he/she is safe. |
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| Small toy fire engine |
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Coastal Cleanup Day a Mighty Success!
What a turnout for Coastal Cleanup Day this year! Restore Coyote Creek and the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter hosted its first Coastal Cleanup Day, not knowing exactly how wildly successful it would be. We had 150 volunteers and the Conservation Corp who helped collect 5.7 tons of trash over a nearly 1 mile stretch of creek from Tully Road south to Capitol Expressway. To put that amount of trash into perspective, this is the equivalent of 4 Mini Coopers in weight.
Here is a sampling of what we collected:
Some of the most unusual items included:
We had people come representing so many different organizations: Sierra Club, Silver Creek High School, Yerba Buena High School, Andrew Hill High School, City Council District 7, McLaughlin Corridor Neighborhood Association, San Jose State University, and University Preparatory Academy. About 70 of the attendees were high school students. One of the adults "enjoyed working with the young people who are fantastic."
Many of the people were all smiles and commented on how much fun they had. One person said he was "interested to see how far the trash extends" into the creek. One group of students couldn't believe how many tires were in the creek..."tires, tires, tires!"
Sonya Herrera, journalist at the Spartan Daily, wrote an excellent piece about the cleanup event, and interviewed many of the participants. You can read her article for more insights.
Here is a sampling of what we collected:
- 600 bags of trash
- 100 articles of clothing
- 26 tires
- 12 shopping carts
- 10 bicycles
Some of the most unusual items included:
- Mop bucket and wringer
- 2 TVs
- Water cooler
- Darth Vader game controller
- Dart board
- Spanish Bible
We had people come representing so many different organizations: Sierra Club, Silver Creek High School, Yerba Buena High School, Andrew Hill High School, City Council District 7, McLaughlin Corridor Neighborhood Association, San Jose State University, and University Preparatory Academy. About 70 of the attendees were high school students. One of the adults "enjoyed working with the young people who are fantastic."
Many of the people were all smiles and commented on how much fun they had. One person said he was "interested to see how far the trash extends" into the creek. One group of students couldn't believe how many tires were in the creek..."tires, tires, tires!"
Sonya Herrera, journalist at the Spartan Daily, wrote an excellent piece about the cleanup event, and interviewed many of the participants. You can read her article for more insights.
Monday, September 15, 2014
SJSU Community Connections Day
Restore Coyote Creek Project has joined San Jose State University as a partner through the Center for Community Learning and Leadership (CCLL). Michael Fallon, the center's director, has generously linked our efforts with faculty in multiple disciplines. Through these dynamic and engaging faculty members, we have developed many activities that offer projects and community learning for SJSU students.
This Fall, some of the student projects that have gotten underway include a play, a photography database, journalism articles, and art from trash. Future projects include advertising, publicity campaigns, and climate action projects. And, over 30 students plan to participate in California Coastal Cleanup Day along Coyote Creek on Saturday, September 20th.
As part of the CCLL's efforts to connect community partners with students, it offered a Community Connections Day on Wednesday, September 10th. At this event, we hosted a table at which over 50 students stopped by to learn how they can get involved with restoring Coyote Creek. Some students were interested in our community creek cleanups. Others were interested in participating in restoration activities. Yet, others were interested in biological studies. What a wealth of talent and diverse interests these young people offer. They were a joy to talk with. Neighboring tables included Downtown Streets Team, which offers homeless people volunteer activities that have ultimately lead to a job, and Neighborhood Housing Services, which works with low-income families to obtain and keep homes through community building. CCLL has a wide range of community partners, and we are happy to be one of them.
As a partner at SJSU, Restore Coyote Creek project is getting the boost it needs from younger minds and bodies. Before long, together we will restore this creek to a beautiful habitat for nature and people to engage in reclaiming their spirits through nature amidst an urban landscape. Now, if it would only rain!
This Fall, some of the student projects that have gotten underway include a play, a photography database, journalism articles, and art from trash. Future projects include advertising, publicity campaigns, and climate action projects. And, over 30 students plan to participate in California Coastal Cleanup Day along Coyote Creek on Saturday, September 20th.
As part of the CCLL's efforts to connect community partners with students, it offered a Community Connections Day on Wednesday, September 10th. At this event, we hosted a table at which over 50 students stopped by to learn how they can get involved with restoring Coyote Creek. Some students were interested in our community creek cleanups. Others were interested in participating in restoration activities. Yet, others were interested in biological studies. What a wealth of talent and diverse interests these young people offer. They were a joy to talk with. Neighboring tables included Downtown Streets Team, which offers homeless people volunteer activities that have ultimately lead to a job, and Neighborhood Housing Services, which works with low-income families to obtain and keep homes through community building. CCLL has a wide range of community partners, and we are happy to be one of them.
As a partner at SJSU, Restore Coyote Creek project is getting the boost it needs from younger minds and bodies. Before long, together we will restore this creek to a beautiful habitat for nature and people to engage in reclaiming their spirits through nature amidst an urban landscape. Now, if it would only rain!
Friday, September 12, 2014
The Links Between Homelessness and Coyote Creek
I recently read an op-ed article in the San Jose Mercury News [San Jose's Jungle: It will close, but homelessness will remain a huge problem] that commented on the ultimate closing of "the Jungle" and the lack of "shared community responsibility" towards homelessness. Many people live along Santa Clara County's creeks, including Coyote Creek, and for a variety of reasons. As this op-ed points out, once the Jungle is closed, the visceral, visible icon for homelessness will disappear, but the homeless will be dispersed, once again, amidst our cities. Some will find housing, but others will not.
One of the new plans to end homelessness is the Community Plan to End Homelessness, a final draft of which was unveiled on Thursday, September 11, that offers three main strategies with underlying goals, one of which includes the environmental community. As part of this Plan, the goal is to shelter the chronically homeless, veterans, and families, but also to identify and help households at risk for becoming homeless. By supporting and being a part of the implementation of this plan, communities can help keep our creeks and waterways from becoming a home away from home for homeless people, and allow environmental groups to focus on restoring these natural places rather than primarily focusing on keeping them free of trash.
To join in the implementation plan or to learn more, contact Destination: Home.
One of the new plans to end homelessness is the Community Plan to End Homelessness, a final draft of which was unveiled on Thursday, September 11, that offers three main strategies with underlying goals, one of which includes the environmental community. As part of this Plan, the goal is to shelter the chronically homeless, veterans, and families, but also to identify and help households at risk for becoming homeless. By supporting and being a part of the implementation of this plan, communities can help keep our creeks and waterways from becoming a home away from home for homeless people, and allow environmental groups to focus on restoring these natural places rather than primarily focusing on keeping them free of trash.
To join in the implementation plan or to learn more, contact Destination: Home.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Water District Board Rejects Citizen Advisory Committee Recommendations on Stream Ecology
Article by Richard McMurtry
The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board held a regular meeting on July 28th, and discussed efforts to restore the salmon and trout fisheries on Santa Clara County streams (see agenda packet, p 72). The end result was a step backwards from its commitments towards the salmonid restoration.
In a move with a short public notice (only 72 hours notice), Water District CEO Beau Goldie proposed to remove Chinook salmon from the fishery restoration strategy and replace it with native fish. Debate has raged in past years as to whether the Chinook salmon are native or not. So, in effect, the change replaced the previous strategy to “Restore the trout and salmon population” with an ambiguous “we won’t restore the salmon because we don’t know if they are native” or an even more ambiguous “maybe we will, maybe we won’t restore the salmon”. All the Board achieved is reigniting a controversy that had been thought settled in 2003.
A member of the Santa Clara Creeks Coalition implored them to not take the salmon out of the policy framework without first convening a science panel to consider the scientific data on whether the salmon were native or not. Despite this recommendation, the Board refused to reject the change proposed by the CEO and instead allowed the change to pass. However, the Board did express an interest in convening a science panel, but no member proposed a motion to do so. What is bizarre about this is that the Water Supply division has already agreed to develop a plan to restore the Chinook salmon population. The result is that the Board now has contradictory policies shaping its approach to salmon restoration – a contradiction that will generate ambivalence towards salmon restoration rather than the enthusiasm needed to develop innovative conservation measures for the salmon. Things at the Water District don’t bode well for the salmon.
Water District staff opposed all the recommendations of the Environmental and Water Resources Committee (EWRC) with respect to the Board recommitting to restoring the salmonid fishery within 15 years and preserving the fishery during drought. The Board mostly went along with staff recommendations. The only positive outcome was a watered-down version of the recommitment to the 15 year goal. In the Board-adopted version, staff would develop a strategy at some unknown point in the future. We will have to wait years for the CEO’s Master Planning process to reach completion with no independently facilitated technical input process. The best ideas will never even be presented to the Board.
The EWRC’s recommended drought policies sought to distinguish between “water needs” and “water preferences” – “needs” like health and safety and “preferences” like lawn watering. Staff opposed making this distinction, and the Board agreed. The EWRC recommended inserting an objective “Adequate quantity and quality of water will be delivered to the streams” to protect the fish and stream ecology. The Board refused to adopt this objective, instead referring it to the cities and water purveyors to see what those groups thought about the policy.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board held a regular meeting on July 28th, and discussed efforts to restore the salmon and trout fisheries on Santa Clara County streams (see agenda packet, p 72). The end result was a step backwards from its commitments towards the salmonid restoration.
In a move with a short public notice (only 72 hours notice), Water District CEO Beau Goldie proposed to remove Chinook salmon from the fishery restoration strategy and replace it with native fish. Debate has raged in past years as to whether the Chinook salmon are native or not. So, in effect, the change replaced the previous strategy to “Restore the trout and salmon population” with an ambiguous “we won’t restore the salmon because we don’t know if they are native” or an even more ambiguous “maybe we will, maybe we won’t restore the salmon”. All the Board achieved is reigniting a controversy that had been thought settled in 2003.
A member of the Santa Clara Creeks Coalition implored them to not take the salmon out of the policy framework without first convening a science panel to consider the scientific data on whether the salmon were native or not. Despite this recommendation, the Board refused to reject the change proposed by the CEO and instead allowed the change to pass. However, the Board did express an interest in convening a science panel, but no member proposed a motion to do so. What is bizarre about this is that the Water Supply division has already agreed to develop a plan to restore the Chinook salmon population. The result is that the Board now has contradictory policies shaping its approach to salmon restoration – a contradiction that will generate ambivalence towards salmon restoration rather than the enthusiasm needed to develop innovative conservation measures for the salmon. Things at the Water District don’t bode well for the salmon.
Water District staff opposed all the recommendations of the Environmental and Water Resources Committee (EWRC) with respect to the Board recommitting to restoring the salmonid fishery within 15 years and preserving the fishery during drought. The Board mostly went along with staff recommendations. The only positive outcome was a watered-down version of the recommitment to the 15 year goal. In the Board-adopted version, staff would develop a strategy at some unknown point in the future. We will have to wait years for the CEO’s Master Planning process to reach completion with no independently facilitated technical input process. The best ideas will never even be presented to the Board.
The EWRC’s recommended drought policies sought to distinguish between “water needs” and “water preferences” – “needs” like health and safety and “preferences” like lawn watering. Staff opposed making this distinction, and the Board agreed. The EWRC recommended inserting an objective “Adequate quantity and quality of water will be delivered to the streams” to protect the fish and stream ecology. The Board refused to adopt this objective, instead referring it to the cities and water purveyors to see what those groups thought about the policy.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Sign up for Coastal Cleanup Day
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| A bit of the trash to be collected |
Our partners, the Sierra Club - Loma Prieta Chapter, will be working closely with us to promote this event. So, please sign up to participate through the Eventbrite registration so we know who is coming.
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| Another collection of trash to be hauled out |
Stevens Creek Fishery: Restoration or Extirpation?
Article by Richard McMurtry
Stevens Creek was once one of our county’s streams with the best potential for restoration of a healthy abundant run of steelhead trout. Fishery biologists found adult steelhead as well as smolts (young fish headed to the sea). The Santa Clara Valley Water District had stated in 2003 a commitment to perform the necessary actions to create the habitats to restore the fish population to a healthy condition. Also as a result of a victorious pollution suit in 2013 against the Permanente Quarry in Cupertino, actions to improve habitat in upper Permanente Creek will be implemented in the next few years.
All this is well and good. But the Water District, facing a drought, decided to save water for lawn watering and other human needs by turning off the flow of water from the Stevens Creek pipeline into the creek. Any steelhead remaining in the creek were wiped out by the dryback and became food for raccoons and herons!
Stevens Creek was once one of our county’s streams with the best potential for restoration of a healthy abundant run of steelhead trout. Fishery biologists found adult steelhead as well as smolts (young fish headed to the sea). The Santa Clara Valley Water District had stated in 2003 a commitment to perform the necessary actions to create the habitats to restore the fish population to a healthy condition. Also as a result of a victorious pollution suit in 2013 against the Permanente Quarry in Cupertino, actions to improve habitat in upper Permanente Creek will be implemented in the next few years.
All these encouragements gave rise to the idea of finding ways that Stevens Creek steelhead could swim upstream and then get over to nearby Permanente Creek to spawn and rear their young. One option is to convert a flood water channel (that joins Permanente Creek to Stevens Creek) into a fish passage way to let fish go from Stevens Creek into spawning and rearing habitats in Permanente Creek.
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| Dead trout, minnows, crayfish in Stevens Creek |
There are two things that need to be done to protect and restore our steelhead.
- Remove the barriers to fish migrating from the Bay to the upper reaches of the stream to spawn and rear their young.
- Develop a fish rescue and relocation plan to move the steelhead to year-round reaches of the stream above the dam IF there is not enough water to keep the stream wet.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Silver Creek Parkway Cleanup Successes
On Saturday, August 2, 2014, 50 people came out to the Silver Creek Parkway in San Jose to help clean out the trash from Coyote Creek. This group was diverse, including several people from the Sierra Club, the Mormon Church, San Jose State students, Key Club students, and many others.
Ranger Ali Henry from Hellyer County Park ensured all the volunteers had the materials they needed, which came in the form of a trailer chock full of shovels, gloves, grabbers, and lots of plastic bags for the trash. Her team went through the cleanup area after the event to collect nearly 2 tons of trash!
Here is the list of materials we collected:
Thanks to our sponsors the Sierra Club - Loma Prieta Chapter, Santa Clara County Parks, and Coyote Creek Neighborhood Association. Without their efforts to get the word out and bring people to this event, it would not have been as successful. For more photos, see our Facebook page.
One of our young volunteers said that he'd "never had so much fun picking up trash!" He and others said they'd like to come again. So, get ready for Coastal Clean Day.
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| Part of the team in front of the Parks Trailer |
Here is the list of materials we collected:
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| Ranger trucks overloaded with trash |
67 bags of trash
27 Tires
3 Wood boxes
3 Pallets
3 Car Seats
4 Plywood sheets
5 Large pieces of metal
5 Shopping carts/pull behind carts
1 Bike frame
1 Propane tank
1 Fire extinguisher
One of our young volunteers said that he'd "never had so much fun picking up trash!" He and others said they'd like to come again. So, get ready for Coastal Clean Day.
City/County Plan to End Homelessness
The Environmental Community has been included in the conversation about ending homelessness in Santa Clara County. On July 30, homeless advocates, agencies, and environmental groups got together to discuss environmental impacts and considerations for a document called "Community Plan to End Homelessness in Santa Clara County." This high-level document brings many groups together to look at the problem of homelessness in the county and big goals to end homelessness by 2019. This effort is led by Destination: Home with input from over 50 partners.
Representatives from Audbon, Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed, Sustainable Silicon Valley 3D and others discussed the impacts that the homeless have on our environment and how providing homes will lighten that burden.
From the meeting, one interesting document was the statistics related to homeless individuals in Santa Clara County. Here are a few numbers:
Representatives from Audbon, Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed, Sustainable Silicon Valley 3D and others discussed the impacts that the homeless have on our environment and how providing homes will lighten that burden.
From the meeting, one interesting document was the statistics related to homeless individuals in Santa Clara County. Here are a few numbers:
- 7, 631 homeless individuals (2013)
- 67% are male
- 87% lived in Santa Clara County before becoming homeless
- 74% are unemployed
- 42% sleep outdoors or in encampments
Monday, June 30, 2014
Creeks Coalition Interns Launch Facebook Page and Website
Article by Richard McMurtry
The Creeks Coalition has entered the Social Media era!
Five student interns from San Jose State Business Department, Kath Nguyen, Arnold Chang, Mien Nguyen, Polina Kliudukhova and John Ontiveros, took our raw ideas and photos, taken by former San Jose State photography students Dylan Crutchfield, and turned them into a dramatic Facebook page and Website.
Take a look for yourself! On Facebook, see our page at Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed and be sure to “Like” us so you will receive notifications of events. We welcome your comments on the page.
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| Here we are at our closure meeting on May 4. It was great to have such enthusiastic talented young people working on our project! |
Then, check out our FriendsofCoyoteCreek Watershed.org website. View the Beauty tab to see our pictures, the Science tab to read about historical ecology, and the Homeless tab to see the proposal for getting the homeless off the creek into transitional housing and into community service.
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