This project provides funding for Valley Water’s creek stewardship program to support volunteer cleanup activities, such as National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Litter Pick Up, Adopt-A-Creek and the Creek Connections Action Group; along with creekwise education and regional coordination efforts.
Volunteer cleanup events
- Adopt-A-Creek (Year Round) - Valley Water established the Adopt-A-Creek (AAC) program in 1992 to encourage residents of Santa Clara County to take an active role in helping preserve the health and beauty of our local creeks. Currently, 85 program partners have adopted a section of creek within the county, with a total of 87 adopted sites. AAC partners receive a permit along with all necessary cleanup materials and pledge to hold a minimum of two creek cleanup days per year for their respective adopted creek area. To learn more about the program, please visit www.valleywater.org/adopt-a-creek.
- Great American Litter Pickup – The City of San José will host the Great American Litter Pickup on April 19, 2025. Valley Water will work with the City of San José to assist with outreach and encourage volunteers to participate in the event.
- Coastal Cleanup Day - Valley Water, in partnership with the California Coastal Commission and the Creek Connections Action Group (CCAG), coordinated Coastal Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Volunteers registered for organized cleanup sites throughout the county and received information on safety guidelines, recycling and hazardous waste disposal. This year, 953 volunteers removed 32,874 pounds of litter, including 4,876 pounds of recyclable materials, from 49 cleanup sites that covered 56 miles of waterways and natural spaces in Santa Clara County. To learn more about Coastal Cleanup Day and to sign up for future cleanups, please visit www.cleanacreek.org.
- National River Cleanup Day - Valley Water, in partnership with the Creek Connections Action Group (CCAG), will host National River Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Last year, 690 volunteers removed approximately 17,255 pounds of debris from local waterways during this annual event. To learn more and sign up for future cleanups, please visit www.cleanacreek.org.
November 2024
For more information:
No current documents
FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water program
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Fund Valley Water’s creek stewardship program to support volunteer cleanup activities, such as annual National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Litter Pick Up, and the Adopt-A-Creek Program.
Benefits
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Reduces contaminants entering our waterways and groundwater
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Engages and educates the community, and supports watershed stewardship
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Leverages volunteer community resources for efficient use of funds
Geographic Area of Benefit
Countywide
About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program
In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.
While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:
- Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
- Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
- Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
- Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
- Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
- Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community
Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.
To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.
In addition, the program requires three independent audits.