Many sections of streams in our watershed have been altered, or channelized. Others have become victims of excessive sedimentation, erosive water flows, and dumped debris. While intact stream ecosystems continue to thrive in some places, few if any of California’s urban streams like Laguna Creek and Elk Grove Creek have survived in a pristine, natural state. Still, creeks are resilient. With care and stewardship, the health of a stream can rebound.
Stream channels are constantly being reshaped through natural processes. A stream’s health reflects what is happening on the surrounding land. All streams are important, whether they flow year-round (perennial), part of the year (intermittent), or just during storms (ephemeral). Even the small swales that look like ditches are important because they carry water, soil, and nutrients into larger streams and support populations of aquatic invertebrates who themselves are food for larger animals.
Stream characteristics vary depending upon where you live in the watershed. In the upper watershed upstream of Eagles Nest Rd., a healthy creek may be an intermittent stream that does not flow year-round. Water flow and characteristics of the creek banks, stream bed, vegetation and wildlife also vary naturally along the length of each creek. A thriving creek ecosystem is a diverse habitat where you will encounter a range of conditions. You need to understand how your stretch of the creek and your property fit into the overall ecosystem.
Although you can play a key role in creek care, a stream’s health is also affected by activities far beyond the boundary of your property. Within the watershed, as natural surfaces are paved and developed, less rainfall percolates into the ground and more water flows directly into the creek system from streets and storm drains. Storm drains generally receive no wastewater treatment. Almost always, this urban runoff carries debris and pollutants that pose significant dangers to creeks. While you may have little control over the entire watershed, your diligence and cooperation with other creekside neighbors can prevent and reduce activities which harm your creek.
SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CREEK
Historically the creeks in our watershed were dry much of the year except after rain storms and in scattered deep pools. Today, major sections of Laguna Creek and its tributary streams flow year-round due to agricultural and urban runoff during dry seasons and rainfall during wet seasons.What conditions are considered healthy for an urban valley floor stream today? Read more…
SYMPTOMS OF AN AILING CREEK
In more recent times, urban development has dramatically changed the landscape of our watershed, affecting the creeks and their habitat. Creeks were moved in some places to make room for roads and houses and native creekside trees and plants were removed. Pavement and roofs now prevent rain water from soaking naturally into the ground, sending more runoff quickly into storm drains and down to the creeks, taking pollution with it and eroding natural creek beds and banks. Do you see symptoms of an ailing creek? Read more…