In excess of 290 tons of trash removed from San Jos礣8217;s Coyote Creek watershed since 2008
San Jos纯font>, California - San Jos矍ayor Chuck Reed and E.P.A. Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld today launched the Clean Creeks, Healthy Communities pilot plan at a press conference in San Jos窠California, to highlight a significant pollution problem impacting San Francisco Bay.
The Clean Creeks, Healthy Communities pilot plan will be aimed at reducing pollution and improving water quality along a three-mile stretch of Coyote Creek. The plan will employ and assist the homeless, deter dumping and litter, and engage neighbors as creek stewards along San Jos礣8217;s Coyote Creek.
"This pilot plan uses an innovative and collaborative approach to restore the health of Coyote Creek," Mayor Chuck Reed said. "I'd like to thank the E.P.A. and our other local partners for providing the bulk of the backing necessary to help foster the long-term stewardship of our local waterways."
"Trash pollutes the environment, and it spoils our enjoyment of San Francisco Bay," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "EPA is pleased to augment state and local efforts to enhance water quality, providing support for a plan that will eliminate a major source of trash reaching the Bay."
The event was held at Santa Clara Valley Water District's Coyote Creek outdoor classroom where the E.P.A. announced details of a four-year competitive grant to the city of San Jos矩n the form of $680,000 in federal backing from the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund. Since 2008, Congress has appropriated $22 million to E.P.A. for a competitive grant program, which now supports 31 projects, leverages In excess of $13 million, and strengthens partnerships with 40 organizations to protect and restore San Francisco Bay watersheds.
Local matching funds for the grant are being provided by the Santa Clara Valley Water District ($130,000) and the eBay Foundation ($20,000) to support creek cleanup, community engagement, and social service aspects of the project. The City of San Jose's contribution of $113,000 is allocated to support cleanup efforts and is being paid out of the Integrated Waste Management Fund and Storm Sewer Operating Fund.
Trash, toxic household products, and human waste along Coyote Creek between Tully Road and East William Street have severely compromised water quality in Coyote Creek.
In the last 3 years, the water district and the city have pulled approximately 300 tons of trash from homeless encampments and trash accumulations in Coyote Creek; of this, approximately 150 tons were from the plan area.
"Trash not only impacts the fish and wildlife in the creek, much of it ends up in the Bay," said Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Chair Don Gage. "It's always best to stop pollution at the source. If this plan succeeds, it be could a model for long-term pollution prevention."
The Clean Creeks, Healthy Communities plan looks for to:
- Engage with targeted communities to expand their role as stewards of Coyote Creek.
- Work with community organizations to implement effective, innovative methods to engage the homeless in removing trash from Coyote Creek by supplying incentives, training, and a path out of homelessness for up to 50 individuals.
- Implement a project to prevent illegal dumping.
This plan is made possible with the active participation of various agencies including the city of San Jos窠Santa Clara Valley Water District, Downtown Streets Team, Destination: Home and San Jos矓tate University.
The success of the pilot plan will be measured by its ability to deter trash-generating behaviors through active creek stewardship. The plan will start July 2011 with expected completion by June 2015.
For more information and download photos please visit the E-media kit on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/region9/mediacenter/cleancreeks/
