top of page

WALKABLE WATERSHED

Sausal Creek was once a defining natural feature of the Fruitvale landscape. The Walkable Watershed Program seeks to reinvigorate the role of the creek in the lives of local residents.

The Friends of Sausal Creek is an environmental organization focused on connecting people to their local creek. In making that connection, we also connect people with other people in their community. Our local natural environment can inspire and recharge us amidst our busy urban lives. But because it is an urban creek, it also needs our help. Visiting the creek and volunteering to help the creek can be good for our minds, bodies, and souls.

 

The Walkable Watershed Program is a long-term strategy for adding creek access and green infrastructure in the Fruitvale corridor—a two-mile section of the Sausal Creek Watershed that stretches from I-580 to the creek’s mouth at the Oakland estuary. The program is rooted in the idea that natural flowing water can be a revitalizing force that connects urban neighborhoods and promotes healthy living. Potential infrastructure and community-building projects include:

​

  • new and improved creek access

  • additional trees on streets

  • native plant gardens

  • rain gardens

  • rain barrels

  • park and trail improvements

  • creek-based urban artwork 

​

Read the Sausal Creek Walkable Watershed Concept Plan in English or Spanish.​ We welcome your ideas on additional projects.

PROJECT IDEAS:

​RAIN GARDENS AND EDUCATIONAL SIGNS

PROTECTED STREETS FOR WALKING, BIKING, AND SAFE ACCESS TO SCHOOLS

PUBLIC ARTWORK TO CREATE WATERSHED AND STORMWATER AWARENESS

SIDEWALK ART TO CONNECT WATERSHED AND CREEK

IMPROVED CREEK ACCESS

STORMWATER PLANTERS WITH NATIVE PLANTS

WATER STORAGE TANKS TO COLLECT ROOF WATER

The Walkable Watershed is a concept devised by Skeo Solutions, an environmental consulting firm to whom we are very grateful for their help in creating the plan. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program has also been a key player in community engagement and developing the concept plan, and we are grateful for their ongoing assistance with this program. Thank you to the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment for a Watershed Protection Fund grant to support the ongoing community engagement process, moving toward the first pilot projects in 2017.

We would also like to thank our other partners and collaborators: Barry Place adopters, Brothers on the Rise, the City of Oakland, Cohen Bray House, Friends of Wood Park, Fruitvale Bridge Park adopters, Jingletown Arts and Business Community, Keep Oakland Beautiful, Nomadic Press, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Pollinate Farm and Garden, local students (Manzanita SEED, Oakland High School, Skyline High School, Urban Promise Academy), Unity Council, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland … and you!

Want to get involved? Questions?
Contact lisa@sausalcreek.org or (510) 501-3672.

bottom of page