South Bay Creeks Collaborative litter cleanup effort in San José wins top award

Sept. 21, 2015

Working with thousands of volunteers who helped to remove more than 100 tons of litter from South Bay waterways in the past year, the City of San José and eight partners in the South Bay Creeks Collaborative have significantly improved the health of creeks in Santa Clara Valley.

SAN JOSE, CA, Sept. 21, 2015 -- Working with thousands of volunteers who helped to remove more than 100 tons of litter from South Bay waterways just in the past year, the City of San José and eight other partners in the South Bay Creeks Collaborative have significantly improved the health of creeks in Santa Clara Valley.

In recognition for this achievement, the Collaborative received the Outstanding Environmental Project award on Friday, Sept. 18, at the 12th Biennial "State of the San Francisco Estuary" conference. A total of six projects were honored that showcased the value of partnerships in making remarkable contributions to the health and resilience of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.

The South Bay Creeks Collaborative includes the City of San José, CommUniverCity, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Friends of Los Gatos Creek, Friends of Guadalupe River, Downtown Streets Team, San José Conservation Corps, San José State University and Clean Creeks, Healthy Communities.

The South Bay Creeks Collaborative has engaged thousands of volunteers from neighborhoods, corporations, community groups, and schools to clean up South Bay creeks. More than 100 tons of trash have been removed from South Bay creeks in fiscal year 2014-2015.

During extensive creek cleanups, volunteers removed automobile batteries, litter, tires, shopping carts, clothing, and building materials. The removal of these items contributes to cleaner creeks and a healthier San Francisco Bay for South Bay residents and wildlife.

The Collaborative also organized the painting of the Coyote Creek mural at Olinder Community Center, as well as the creation of the watershed-themed Art Walk through Downtown San José that features five public utility boxes.

Major funding for the Collaborative came from the City of San José, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.