Portion of Castro Valley Creek to Be Daylighted
Friends of San Lorenzo Creek


Portion of Castro Valley Creek to Be Daylighted


AUGUST 2, 2007
OAKLAND

Starting next spring a 900-foot section of Castro Valley Creek between Norbridge Avenue and Castro Valley Boulevard will be transformed. About 300 feet of concrete culvert will be removed. Nonnative plants will be replaced with a creek bank, terracing, a footbridge, and trees, including alders, sycamores, oaks, maples and willows.

The project, which could cost the city of Union City up to $500,000, will help to showcase the new Castro Valley Library when it opens in 2009.

Why is Union City enhancing creek-side development eight miles northeast of its city limits? The plan was approved Tuesday by Alameda County supervisors as part of a two-way deal between Union City and the county's flood control and water conservation district.

Union City wants to construct an underground concrete flood- control channel over 700 linear feet of wetlands southeast of the BART station. Office and high-density housing development is under way in the area.

The county agreed to allow the city to cover the channel if it would "mitigate" the impact by doing a creek restoration project. That's why Union City will pay to enhance the open space around the future library site and to restore the Castro Valley Creek.

Source: Oakland Tribune