This project provides grants and partnerships for cleanup, education, outreach and watershed stewardship activities. Funding also allows Valley Water to continue supporting volunteer cleanup activities such as National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Pick Up, and Adopt-A-Creek, as well as Creek Connections Action Group and creekwise education.
Grants and partnerships
Grants
The FY2019 Support Volunteer Cleanup Efforts and Education grant cycle opened on Nov. 13, 2018 and closed on Feb. 15, 2019. On April 23, 2019, the Board awarded a total of $96,112 for three (3) projects. Of the five (5) applications received during the November 13, 2018 to Feb. 15, 2019 application period, the three (3) projects recommended and awarded funding were:
- Gilroy Compassion Center-South County Creeks Team Project ($30,000)
- Grassroots Ecology- Young Watershed Stewards Project ($44,301)
- The Tech Museum of Innovation- Down the Drain Project ($21,811)
To receive notifications for all of Valley Water’s upcoming grant cycles, please sign up to our listserv.
Partnerships
FY2019 is not a partnership year for B7 Support Volunteer Cleanup Efforts & Education.
Volunteer cleanup events
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National River Cleanup Day (May 18, 2019): 1,060 volunteers cleaned 62.3 miles of creeks and shoreline, removing approximately 44,024 pounds of trash and 2,556 pounds of recyclables.
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Coastal Cleanup Day (Sept. 15, 2018): 1,931 volunteers picked up more than 56,808 pounds of trash including 8,542 pounds of recyclables along 75.25 miles of creeks in Santa Clara Valley.
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Great American Litter Pickup (April 13, 2019): Valley Water supports this annual event by promoting the focus of picking up litter from city streets parks and public areas.
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Adopt-A-Creek (Year Round): This program continues to be highly popular with many neighborhood and civic groups. Participation in this program is currently 51 adopted sites with groups committing to host a minimum of 2 cleanup events per year.
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To become an Adopt-A-Creek partner or for more information, visit https://www.valleywater.org/learning-center/adopt-a-creek.
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Updated August 2019
For more information:
Grant opportunity
Grants and partnerships
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Sherilyn Tran, (408) 630-2772
Volunteer cleanup events
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Ricardo Barajas, (408) 630-2239
Grant Projects
The following projects received grant funding from Project B7.
| Grantee | Project Name | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acterra Stewardship | Acterra Lower Peninsula Healthy Creeks Project | Complete | Final Report |
| Clean Water Fund | ReThink Disposable: Preventing Riparian Trash at the Source | Complete | |
| Save the Bay | Clean Bay Project | Complete | Final Report |
| Girl Scouts of Northern California | Girl Scouts Go Green in SC County | Complete | |
| City of Sunnyvale | Schools Goin' Green | Complete | |
| Environmental Volunteers | Education for Clean Water | Complete | |
| San Jose Parks Foundation | Trash Free Coyote Creek education and Outreach Project |
Complete |
|
|
Guadalupe River Park Conservancy |
Guadalupe Watershed Education Campaign |
New |
|
|
Breathe California of the Bay Area |
Youth for a Cool Earth (Y4CE) |
New |
|
|
Gilroy Compassion Center |
South County Creeks Team |
New |
|
|
City of Campbell |
Los Gatos Creek Trail Interpretive Signage and Receptacle Expansion |
New |
|
|
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition |
Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed North Coyote Creek Stewardship Project |
New |
|
|
Girl Scouts of Northern California |
Girls Scouts Go Green in Santa Clara County |
New |
|
|
Grassroots Ecology |
Stevens Creek Monitoring & Education Project |
New |
|
|
Save the Bay |
Zero Trash Campaign |
New |
|
|
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition |
Los Gatos Creek TEAM 222 |
New |
Updated May 2018
Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program
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Provide 7 grant cycles and 3 partnerships that follow pre-established competitive criteria related to cleanups, education and outreach, and stewardship activities.
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Fund Valley Water support of annual National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Pick Up, and fund the Adopt-A-Creek Program.
Benefits
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Reduces contaminants entering our waterways and groundwater
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Engages community and supports watershed stewardship
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Leverages volunteer community resources for efficient use of funds
Geographic Area of Benefit
Countywide
About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program
In November 2012 the voters of Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure B, the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, as a countywide special parcel tax for 15 years with a sunset date of June 30, 2028. This Program replaced the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, which voters approved in November 2000.
The Safe, Clean Water Program was developed with input from more than 16,000 residents and stakeholders and was created to match the community’s needs and values. The voters of Santa Clara County identified five priorities:
Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply from Earthquakes and Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools and Highways
Other: Six projects from the Clean, Safe, Creeks Plan have been carried forward into the Safe, Clean Water Program.
Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these Program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.
To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the Program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board.
In addition, the Program requires three independent audits, the first of which was conducted in FY 2017.