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So many April work parties. Above, volunteers from Project Peace dug invasive perennial pepperweed on the Berkeley waterfront. 
Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers (above) and volunteers from UC Berkeley's Circle K (below)worked at lower Codornices Creek in April.  
On Earth Day, members of El Cerrito Trail Trekkers joined F5C pulling invasive, fire-prone French broom from El Cerrito's Hillside Natural Area. 
UC student members of Cal Rotaract removed invasive cape ivy on April 28. Click here for more on these and other projects. |
Helping nature in the East Bay – Hands On
Friends of Five Creeks is an all-volunteer group working hands-on for clean water and healthy watersheds. We protect and restore natural areas that welcome both wildlife and people on the urbanized east side of San Francisco Bay. See map and slide shows of some of our restoration projects.
Please join us in:
- Work parties restoring native vegetation and wildlife habitat, lessening erosion and flooding, providing trails and green corridors.
- Free guided walks and talks open to all.
- Tuesday morning "weekday weed warriors" in varied natural areas.
- Outreach and public education including signs, publications, web applications, appearances at festivals, and more.
- Advocating, participating in political processes, and partnering with agencies and other groups.
For information or to arrange a work party for your group, contact F5Creeks@aol.com or (510) 848-9358. Click here to subscribe to our e-newsletter. Click here to donate or join!
New and seasonal:
Evening walk in the upper Codornices watershed June 3; public meeting on restoration and creation of a mini-park on Codornices below Kains June 5. See our events calendar.
Enjoy wildflowers close to home: See our updated slide show on wildflowers of the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area, and use our map to discover them in person. Wildflowers also are blooming at our projects on Cerrito Creek, at the south edge of El Cerrito Plaza and from Adams to Pierce Streets, at the foot of Albany Hill. Climb Albany Hill for more!
Want to know more about "green infrastructure," the rain gardens and other features that can be built into landscaping to reduce pollution and flooding? See photos of these projects in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties on our web site, www.bluegreenbldg.org, including "green streets" projects of the kinds being talked about for Berkeley's Measure M.
Recent projections on Bay Area global warming and rising sea levels, what we can do, and links to more information: A handout for our February 9 King Tides walk, joint with Berkeley Path Wanderers Assn.
About Us
Friends of Five Creeks, founded in 1995, is a citizens group operating under the fiscal sponsorship of Berkeley Partners for Parks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Our decisions are governed by bylaws and made by a board drawn from our volunteers.
Meetings: Our meetings are open to all. Generally, we meet on first Mondays 7-9 PM at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin; board meetings alternate with public presentations. However, check the events calendar for details.
Mission: Friends of Five Creeks believes that the health of creeks and watersheds supports the health of urban environments.
Friends of Five Creeks mobilizes volunteers of all ages to restore, maintain, and enjoy the creeks and watersheds of the East Bay from North Berkeley to Richmond. In year-round work parties, we help revitalize creeks, improve habitat and water quality, eliminate invasive plant species, and increase public access and stewardship.
We prune, weed, dig, plant, and remove trash from creek sites and their watersheds. In collaboration with like-minded civic organizations, we assist and advocate for restoration projects, and build and maintain paths. To increase public understanding of environmental processes, we publish and post information, design and install interpretive signs, and host speakers and events.