May 14: Community Celebration of Marsh Creek Watershed

The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed invite the public to come explore Marsh Creek and the Delta shoreline.  Residents will get a chance to visit the Dutch Slough site and learn about future plans for trails, a community park, restoration along Marsh Creek, and a 1,100 acre tidal marsh restoration at the mouth of Marsh Creek.

Everybody is invited to this Community Celebration of Marsh Creek Watershed!

This free, family-friendly watershed celebration will take place on Saturday, May 14, from 11:30 to 3 pm with an optional creek clean-up event at 9 am. For the first time in over 10 years, the Dutch Slough Wetland Restoration Project site in the City of Oakley will be open to the public for tours, as a part of the celebration there will also be a creek clean-up event, and a community celebration of the Marsh Creek Watershed.

The lunchtime celebration kicks off at 11:30 with a free lunch provided for volunteers that participate in the clean-up event.  Lunch can be reserved for $10 if you register for the event.

An information program will begin at 12:00 with invited speakers include Congressman Jerry McNerney, State Senator Steve Glazier, and Oakley City Mayor Kevin Romick.

Speakers will talk about the status of the Dutch Slough Wetland Restoration project, the future Oakley community park, and the successful implementation of creek restoration projects throughout the watershed.

Between 1:00 and 3:00 pm, the public is invited to walk around the Dutch Slough project site levee. There will be interpretive stations with information about the project, native plants and animals, cultural resources and local viticulture.  A van will be available to shuttle members of the public who may need assistance.

Many organizations will be there will table and exhibits including the Delta Science Center, Diablo Water District, Three Wine Company, American Rivers, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, Contra Costa County Flood Control District, Contra Costa County Clean Water Program, California Department of Water Resources, the City of Oakley, and East Bay Regional Park District.

Marsh Creek travels 30 miles from the eastern slopes of Mount Diablo through the communities of Brentwood and Oakley and into Big Break and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Marsh Creek is home to Chinook salmon, western pond turtles, river otters, beavers, herons and other fish and wildlife.

The clean-up event begins at 9:00 on Marsh Creek where it crosses under Cypress Road.

For more information about the event, please visit our Eventbrite for registration or find us on Facebook.

This event is sponsored by American Rivers, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, California Department of Water Resources, the City of Oakley, and East Bay Regional Park District.