Field Tour Coordinator: Steve Brady, City of Santa Rosa

Participants joined the City of Santa Rosa’s (City) Storm Water & Creeks Team on a full-day tour to learn about urban creek challenges and tour a few of our past, present, and future creek restoration projects in Santa Rosa. Creeks are the lifeblood of Santa Rosa as over 100 miles of creek channels flow through the city limits, providing valuable wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities to our residents. Over 340 miles of storm drain lines connect City streets to these creeks which can present challenges in maintaining water quality and stream protection. The tour highlighted the City and Sonoma Water's Creek Stewardship Program, showcase low impact development (LID) features, and explored multiple creek restoration projects including: the Prince Memorial Greenway on Santa Rosa Creek (completed 2000-2005); the 1.3 mile-long Lower Colgan Creek Restoration (2015, 2022, planned 2025); and a blackberry removal and native plant revegetation project along Santa Rosa Creek (2018-2023). While traveling between sites, the City and participants discussed illegal camping impacts, invasive vegetation management, stewardship initiatives, volunteer activities, and small-scale restorations throughout the City.