CORDILLERAS AND REDWOOD CREEKS
The Creeks of Redwood City project focuses on restoring and preserving the health of the creeks that wind through our city. These waterways, including Redwood Creek and Cordilleras Creek, serve as vital habitat corridors for wildlife and essential flood management areas. Our current restoration efforts, led by Grassroots Ecology in collaboration with partners like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City of Redwood City, aim to enhance the natural resilience of these ecosystems through native plant reintroduction, erosion control, and community engagement.
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT REDWOOD CREEK
Community volunteer days are held throughout the year, allowing participants to contribute to the restoration efforts and learn about their local environment. Volunteers help with planting, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration along the creek corridors. It's a fantastic way to learn about the ecology of the area and make a positive impact on the local environment. Join us for one of our upcoming Community Volunteer Days to help restore and protect Redwood City's creeks. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome!
OUR RESTORATION EFFORTS
In partnership with government agencies and local communities, we are working on multiple creeks across Redwood City, implementing native plant restoration and invasive species removal projects to support wildlife, improve water quality, and prevent soil erosion.
Redwood Creek
Habitat restoration focused on enhancing riparian corridors by removing invasive plants, planting native shrubs and grasses, and picking up trash. Grassroots Ecology has been working on the southwest corner of Veterans Ave. and Main St. since 2018 and with support from the EPA, is now working on two more locations along the creek.
Cordilleras Creek
The stretch of creek Grassroots Ecology is working on passes through Redwood High School. The first phase of this project involves removing large eucalyptus trees, acacia trees, and a stand of giant reed. Removing these invasive trees, particularly the eucalyptus, reduces the amount of debris that is falling into the creek and possibly contributes to localized flooding. This work will also make way for native trees and plants, including coast live oak, valley oak, box elder, California wild rose, and blue elderberry to create diverse, wildlife-friendly habitats.
Eucalyptus and Acacia Trees at Redwood High School in Summer 2024
Live oaks planted in the same location November 2024
Arroyo Ojo de Agua
Arroyo Ojo de Agua is a stream in Redwood City that starts at Farm Hills near the Cañada Community College campus. Seeps additionally feed it as the stream flows through Stulsaft Park. Arroyo Ojo de Agua is a tributary to Redwood Creek at Red Morton Community Park. In Stulsaft Park we work on watershed health through our efforts in invasive species removal, trash clean up, and community education.
PAST RESTORATION WORK
Our first Redwood Creek restoration site is located in the heart of downtown Redwood City within an ecologically rich marsh-upland transition zone. Our work began in 2018 with the removal of 40 non-native palm trees from the banks. To replace the palm trees, our partner CityTrees planted native street trees along the creek including oaks, buckeyes, and big leaf maples. Volunteers, interns, and the San Jose Conservation Corps worked with us to remove stands of fennel and other invasive plants and install a variety of beneficial native riparian plants. With the help of community volunteers, we continue to provide care to the native plants and reduce trash during our creek cleanups. This segment of the creek provides multiple benefits to the watershed, the urban forest, and the surrounding community.
Palm trees at Redwood Creek in 2018
Native plants on the banks of Redwood Creek in 2021
The collaborative effort of this project has created a vibrant and biologically diverse landscape right in the heart of downtown Redwood City. Wildlife monitoring in 2021 found more than 120 species of birds, terrestrial arthropods, amphibians, fish, mammals, and pollinators within our restoration area.
EXPLORE CREEKS OF REDWOOD CITY
Redwood Creek Finds
By college intern Cheyenne Gil
VISIT THE CREEKS
The best locations to see the creeks are Stulsaft Park and Redwood Creek at Veterans Blvd. and Main St., where restored sections of the creeks are publicly accessible. The Cordilleras Creek project site at Redwood High School can be visited through one of our volunteer workdays.
OUR TEAM AT REDWOOD CREEK
Any questions about our work at Redwood Creek can be directed to Project Manager Laurel Wee.
