Transforming neglected natural areas, one step at a time.

Recent volunteering:

Above: In April, energetic students from UC Berkeley's citywide Berkeley Project volunteer effort removed invasive pepperweed on the Berkeley waterfront.

Below: Sixth graders from Black Pine Cirlce day school cleared weeds from the butterfly and hummingbird garden at Dreamland for Kids playground in Aquatic Park.

Interns pulled weeds at 9th Street Meadow on Codornices Creek

Above and below: F5C's college interns pulled out choking weedy vines, "unveiling" natives beneath.

Interns "unveiled" natives at 9th Street Meadow on Codornices Creek

Weed Warrior Anne Ogonowski and tree-sized broom in Tilden Regional Park

Above: Weed Warriors worked in many spots, including pulling out fire-prone French broom in Tilden Regional Park.

Helping Nature in the East Bay – Hands On

All-volunteer Friends of Five Creeks has worked hands-on for 27 years for clean water, healthy watersheds, and natural areas that welcome both wildlife and people. We work from Berkeley to Richmond on the urbanized east side of San Francisco Bay.

Learn more about our work: Subscribe to our e-news, to keep up with what our volunteers are doing, Bay Area environmental news, and a "feature of the month.". (We don't share your information with anybody.) See maps, history, and slide shows of some of our projects.
Check out our list of events with others -- online here and now being updated through the month.

Codornices Bulletin: Work began May 7 to repair a dangerously leaning retaining wall on Codornices Creek at the Ohlone Greenway, between the observation railing and Masonic. Large flexible pipe will carry the creek water for about a month, while concrete cures. This long-needed work is being done legally, with proper permits and a fisheries biologist on hand. Many may rememeber that beginning in 1999, inspired by local architect Todd Jersey, Friends of Five Creeks built the observation railing Todd designed, regraded and built steps and seating, and planted natives on the north, Albany bank. Todd also was first to spot the rainbow trout/steelhead in the creek here, which contributed to millions of dollars in restoration efforts for this little creek. More history here.

Join us in May

Join us caring for the Bay shore at the mouth of Strawberry Creek 10 AM - noon Sat., May 18:

All welcome to help remove invasives near the mouth of Strawberry Creek, keeping the shoreline friendly to people and wildlife. We have easy light work for all ages -- and mucular challenges for those who want them. Over 25 years, we have transformed this shoreline, important in BErkeley's history. Now we are watching changes that echo climate trends. Learn about history and likely futures and bgbe a part of long-term caring for this land! Access is easy via AC Transit 51B or the Bay Trail or pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-80 from Aquatic Park. Dress in layers for changing weather, with sun protection, long pants, socks, a

Meet at 10 AM at the west edge of the Sea Breeze Deli parking lot, 598 University Ave., Berkeley. Access is easy via AC Transit 51B or the Bay Trail or pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-80 from Aquatic Park. Dress in layers for changing weather, with sun protection, long pants, socks, and closed-toed shoes. Bring a re-usable water bottle. Tools, gloves, and light snacks provided. Info, and groups over five please RSVP, to f5creeks@gmail.com. Otherwise, just show up!

Weed warriors and other opportunities continue:

Orange crowned warbler near Cerrito Creek Join our informal, friendly group maintaining varied natural areas: Our "Weekday Weed Warriors" gather Tuesday mornings 10 AM - noon. Email f5creeks@gmail.com for more information or to get weekly email notification of locations.

F5C would love to find a creative, tech-savvy volunteers to help in several ways. Email f5creeks@gmail.com if you are interested.

F5C recent and current-interest handouts, slide shows, and reports

New! See our flyer on how to de-clutter the environmental way.
New! See our native-plant signs, linking species to their roles in history and the environment. Free to all to download, modify, and use!
Click here to see our slide show: Codornices Creek, Chapters in an Unfinished History
Do-it-yourself Nature Treasure Hunt for families with young children. Print out these two sheets back-to-back for fun aimed to engage young children in nature -- along with queries designed to intrigue and challenge adults. This hunt focuses on Codornices Creek, but is easily adapted to other places. You can even use it on a cell phone!

F5C letters to agencies

El Cerrito has a grant to write a plan for fire safety and conservation in the Hillside Natural Area, 100 acres surrounded by city, rich in nature but highly flammable. Its existing plan is 30 years old. Friends of Five Creeks' January input on what this plan should include is here. A short slide show is here. An earlier handout is here.
Importance of Berkeley's new plan for urban runoff, including need to deal with a changing climate. Read F5C's July 2023 letter.
Need for toileting and RV sewage pumpout for unhoused in Berkeley: Read F5C's June 2023 letter on the need for portable toilets and sewage pumpout for the unhoused, for human dignity, public health, and pollution prevention.
Considering likely effects of climate change in Berkeley's plans for development in its Marina area: Read F5C's May 2023 letter on the draft Waterfront Specific Plan.
Protecting Codornices Creek as part of re-paving the Hopkins-Gilman corridor in Berkeley: Read F5C's February 2023 letters on the importance of including green amenities, pollution reduction, and protection for Codornices Creek in a "complete streets" project for Hopkins Avenue, which follows the creek a half block away.
Codornices Creek west of San Pablo Avenue: Read F5C's Oct. 3, 2023 report to Albany, Berkeley, and UC Berkeley on challenges at Codornices Creek near 8th Street. Read F5C's Nov. 2, 2022, email on the need to keep often-impaired homeless people out of flood-prone creek areas as climate change brings stronger storms. Read F5C's Mar. 27, 2023, letter to the Albany City Council re strategic needs for Codornices Creek.
Read F5C's April 24, 2022, letter to the state's groundwater authorities on why the "sustainability" plan drafted by EBMUD does not take into account the environmental importance of the shallow groundwater from Oakland to Richmond and F5C's March 12, 2023, letter to EBMUD on why this plan cannot be called "sustainable" unless it considers rising groundwater, salt intrusion, and possible pollution from buried toxics as a result of sea-level rise.