Friends of Willow Creek “Creek Restoration Potential” Update to Sausalito City Council January 15, 2013

Sausalito = little willow thicket Willow Thickets are located at Creeks & Springs, therefore, Sausalito = City of Little Creeks

“Creek Restoration Potential” Steps 1. Restore Creek Ecosystem at Willow Grove 2. Restore Creek Channel in other parts of Watershed – “Daylight” the Creek 3. Watershed improvements: reduce impervious surfaces, encourage rainwater retention, fix leaky sewers

Willow Creek at Willow Grove (near Nevada St. and Bridgeway)

Year-round Flow

Watershed, 1945

Watershed, 2011

Watershed – Creek Mostly Publicly Owned School Property Willow Grove Property Owned by HOA, for Public use

2010: Willow Grove is Overgrown, has Homeless Encampments

2013: Willow Grove Cleared and Planted by Volunteers, now Outdoor Classroom

Friends of Willow Creek 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization, formed 2011 – Parents, teachers, administrators, alumni families, neighbors of Willow Creek Academy Seven (7) community events to date at Willow Grove – 120 cubic yards (CY) of green waste offhauled – ~2,000 native plants planted – Over 800 volunteer-hours – About ½ acre reclaimed for natural open space Website –

Year-Round Creek in Underground Pipes Through School District Property Creek Drain Inlet Eucalyptus Grove Water Tower New K-1 Area Manhole

Urban Creek Restoration

A Vision of the Future* (*without the ivy) ULS Elementary School, UCLA, Stone Canyon Creek

What does a Creek do for a City? Brings life to neighborhoods (e.g., Wood Ducks in Orinda) A safe and fun place to play and learn, for all ages

Why/How Do We Bring Back the Creek? Creek Restoration Attracts Grant Money Creek Restoration Improves Runoff Water Quality Creek Restoration Benefits the Community Education, Research Open Space in Urban Areas Butterflies, Bees & Songbirds (Wood Ducks & Fish?) Higher Property Values We can restore a year-round creek from headwaters to the Bay. Who else can do that?

What’s Next?

What’s Next for this Little Creek? More Willow Grove Restoration and Use – Only half of parcel cleared, need to maintain – Sat. April 27 Global Youth Service Day Apply for Public and Private Grants – To Fund Creek Technical Designs Daylight Creek Channel through School? Move Corporation Yard and Restore Channel? Restore Creek Channel to Bay/Estuary?

For more information MARIN COUNTY CREEK EXHIBIT SAUSALITO BAY MODEL January 15-February 23, 2013 Technical Presentation Sat. Jan. 26, 12:30 pm for Friends event information and news to get monthly newsletter