B4: Support Volunteer Cleanup Efforts*

Status

Active

Location

Countywide

Schedule

Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($5.2 million); Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund

This project provides funding for Valley Water’s creek stewardship program to support volunteer cleanup activities, such as National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Litter Pick Up, Adopt-A-Creek and the Creek Connections Action Group; along with creekwise education and regional coordination efforts.

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

Volunteer cleanup events

Adopt-A-Creek (Year Round) – Valley Water established the Adopt-A-Creek (AAC) program in 1992 to encourage residents of Santa Clara County to take an active role in helping preserve the health and beauty of our local creeks. Currently, 75 program partners have adopted more than 60 miles of creeks and rivers within the county and removed approximately 7,931 pounds of litter from local waterways since July 1, 2025. This amount includes their contributions to the California Coastal Cleanup Day event on Saturday, September 20, 2025. AAC partners receive a permit along with all necessary cleanup materials and pledge to hold a minimum of two creek cleanup days per year for their adopted creek area. To learn more about the program, please visit www.valleywater.org/adopt-a-creek.
Great American Litter Pickup – The City of San José will host the next Great American Litter Pickup on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Valley Water will post the event registration on the cleanacreek.org website and encourage community members to participate in this exciting annual event.
National River Cleanup Day – Valley Water, in partnership with the Creek Connections Action Group, hosted National River Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, May 17, 2025. A total of 778 volunteers removed approximately 17,499 pounds of debris from local waterways during this annual event. The next National River Cleanup Day will be Saturday, May 16, 2026. To learn more visit www.cleanacreek.org.
Coastal Cleanup Day – Valley Water, in partnership with the California Coastal Commission and the Creek Connections Action Group, coordinated Coastal Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Volunteers registered for organized cleanup sites throughout the county and received information on safety guidelines, recycling and hazardous waste disposal. This year, 1,911 volunteers removed 30,885 pounds of litter from 56 cleanup sites that covered 76 miles of waterways and natural spaces in Santa Clara County. The next California Coastal Cleanup Day will be Saturday, September 19, 2026. To learn more about Coastal Cleanup Day and to sign up for future cleanups, please visit www.cleanacreek.org.

For more information:

Safe Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Interactive Map

Volunteers picking up trash along the banks of Coyote Creek in Milpitas, California, during the 2025 Coastal Cleanup Day.

Volunteer cleanup events

Adopt-A-Creek (Year Round) – Valley Water established the Adopt-A-Creek (AAC) program in 1992 to encourage residents of Santa Clara County to take an active role in helping preserve the health and beauty of our local creeks. Currently, 75 program partners have adopted more than 60 miles of creeks and rivers within the county and removed approximately 7,931 pounds of litter from local waterways since July 1, 2025. This amount includes their contributions to the California Coastal Cleanup Day event on Saturday, September 20, 2025. AAC partners receive a permit along with all necessary cleanup materials and pledge to hold a minimum of two creek cleanup days per year for their adopted creek area. To learn more about the program, please visit www.valleywater.org/adopt-a-creek.
Great American Litter Pickup – The City of San José will host the next Great American Litter Pickup on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Valley Water will post the event registration on the cleanacreek.org website and encourage community members to participate in this exciting annual event.
National River Cleanup Day – Valley Water, in partnership with the Creek Connections Action Group, hosted National River Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, May 17, 2025. A total of 778 volunteers removed approximately 17,499 pounds of debris from local waterways during this annual event. The next National River Cleanup Day will be Saturday, May 16, 2026. To learn more visit www.cleanacreek.org.
Coastal Cleanup Day – Valley Water, in partnership with the California Coastal Commission and the Creek Connections Action Group, coordinated Coastal Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Volunteers registered for organized cleanup sites throughout the county and received information on safety guidelines, recycling and hazardous waste disposal. This year, 1,911 volunteers removed 30,885 pounds of litter from 56 cleanup sites that covered 76 miles of waterways and natural spaces in Santa Clara County. The next California Coastal Cleanup Day will be Saturday, September 19, 2026. To learn more about Coastal Cleanup Day and to sign up for future cleanups, please visit www.cleanacreek.org.

For more information:

No current documents

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water program

Fund Valley Water’s creek stewardship program to support volunteer cleanup activities, such as annual National River Cleanup Day, California Coastal Cleanup Day, the Great American Litter Pick Up, and the Adopt-A-Creek Program.

Benefits

Reduces contaminants entering our waterways and groundwater
Engages and educates the community, and supports watershed stewardship
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 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

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. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.