The Marsh Creek watershed drains 128 square miles of rangeland, farmland, and urban land on the north side of Mt. Diablo and includes the cities of Oakley, Brentwood, and part of Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County, California. Marsh Creek flows for approximately thirty river miles from its headwaters on the eastern flank of Mt. Diablo to its mouth at Big Break in the western Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It serves as an important ecological link between the Delta and the Diablo Range.
In the past fifteen years, over 30,000 people have moved into the watershed. This rapid urbanization has the potential to negatively impact water quality in the western Delta and limit future restoration opportunities in the watershed.
NHI works with city and county agencies, planning commissions and city councils in all aspects of watershed planning in the Marsh Creek watershed including efforts to restore Marsh Creek and its tributaries, improve water quality, benefit salmon fisheries, and create educational and recreational opportunities for local citizens.
NHI manages a fish passage project that will eventually return fall-run chinook to the City of Brentwood. We spearheaded efforts to purchase and restore 1200 acres of freshwater tidal marsh at the mouth of the watershed on land that would have otherwise been developed. We helped found the organization Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed to involve local stakeholders in restoration activities. We review creek-side development and advocate for modifications to improve creek function.
For more information, please see our publications: Marsh Creek Report, Marsh Creek Corridor Width Report, and Greening Brentwood's Creeks.
Contact: Sarah Beamish Puckett
