Creekwatch

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FOC Board members braved the wet to take these photos of the flow in dowtown San Pablo Creek on December 13th, 2021.  Orinda received a whopping 3.91 inches of precipitation that day (according to the gauge at Orinda Fire Station 43) and a total of 6.42 inches in less than a week.

After October's heavy rains FOC board member Brian Waters alerted EBMUD to the fact that the opening in the SP201 dam on San Pablo Creek near Bear Creek Rd was yet again blocked with debris.  Brian received the WIlliam Penn Mott Jr Environmental Award in 2017 for his diligence in making sure this opening was kept clear, allowing for trout passage for the first time in many years.

We are pleased that EBMUD has now cleared the debris.   On the right is the debris behind the opening before it was removed and below are pictures after the removal.

Geologist Tom Mackinnon, longtime Orinda resident and active FOC Board affiliate, used our recently established access trail in Orinda Village to document the San Pablo Creek's high watermark after more than 8 inches of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours.

FOC Board Secretary and certified hydrologist Bruce McGurk captured this video of the flow of San Pablo Creek as it passes into the culvert behind Safeway.  The video was taken on October 25th at 11:15 AM, just after a 24 hour period with more than 8 inches of rain.

This culvert is at the northern (downstream) end of the portion of San Pablo creek that FOC is working to restore.  Ultimately the goal is to replace the degraded concrete channel with a more natural creek bed and meander, providing better flood control, fish habitat, and a trail through the riparian area for the public to enjoy.  Learn more about our recent progress, including the creation of an access trail, $125K in state funding to advance future creek restoration and trail construction, and the beginning of final design work on a restoration of short section of the creek by clicking  here.

Longtime FOC board member and retired fisheries biologist Brian Waters braved the mud to check on the flow in San Pablo Creek, both in the village and at the SP201 Dam located just south of Bear Creek Rd.  Brian received the William Penn Mott, Jr. Environmental Award for his continued diligence in making sure this dam's opening was kept clear which allowed for the return of rainbow trout into upper San Pablo Creek in 2016  for the first time in over 50 years (pictured at right.)

The SP201 dam is pictured below, first on October 23rd before the main storm hit and then on October 25th after a whopping inches 8.10 inches fell in just 24 hours (as registered by the rain gauge at the Orinda Village Fire Department.)  As you can see the dam's sluice opening is now partially blocked by debris and Brian is following up with EBMUD to make sure this is remedied. On the far right is the culvert behind Safeway on October 25th.  Notice the plant debris on the concrete wall above the graffitti -- an indication of the peak water level that occurred during the storm. 

FOC Board Member Brian Waters braved the damp to take these photos of our (very full) creeks on March 1st around noon. 

Below from left to right:   

Lauterwasser Creek Culvert on Miner Road from the South 

Lauterwasser Creek Culvert on Miner Road -- sideview from North

San Pablo Creek's SP201 Dam near Bear Creek Rd.