BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Adopt a Resolution Recognizing September 19, 2026, as California Coastal Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 19, 2026, AS CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP DAY IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
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SUMMARY:
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) staff recommend that the Board adopt the attached Resolution declaring September 19, 2026 as Coastal Cleanup Day - a day for volunteers to not only clean up trash and debris along beaches but also in our County’s many beautiful creeks.
Trash in and along creeks and waterways significantly impacts stream water quality and contributes to potential flood risks in Santa Clara County. Valley Water’s Creek Stewardship Program allows community members to take an active role in protecting our local waterways through volunteerism. The Creek Stewardship Program provides cleanup opportunities through the year-round Adopt-A-Creek Program and single-day countywide creek cleanup events.
To implement the countywide creek cleanups, Valley Water participates in a consortium of Santa Clara County public agencies, known as the Creek Connections Action Group (CCAG), which was established in 1995. In addition to Valley Water, members of the CCAG include the cities of San Jose, Milpitas, Palo Alto, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara, as well as Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department and the West Valley Stormwater Program Authority. Valley Water serves as the Chair and provides countywide coordination, outreach, and supplies for volunteers, such as gloves, trash bags, and litter sticks. In 2025, the CCAG coordinated two (2) countywide cleanup events that leveraged nearly 8,000 total volunteer hours to remove more than 48,000 pounds of litter from over 120 miles of waterways and natural spaces in Santa Clara County.
The first California Coastal Cleanup Day was organized in 1985 by the California Coastal Commission, which continues to serve as the statewide coordinator for the event. Now in its 42nd year, California Coastal Cleanup Day serves as an opportunity to partner with the California Coastal Commission, local cities, nonprofits, and various community groups to raise pollution prevention awareness and organize volunteers to help remove litter from the County’s waterways. This year, Valley Water and the CCAG will encourage the community to participate in organized group cleanups throughout Santa Clara County, including one on Coastal Cleanup Day. Valley Water and the CCAG provide cleanup supplies at no cost to event participants and will host a training and supply pick-up for cleanup organizers.
The Creek Stewardship Program, including California Coastal Cleanup Day activities, is partially funded by the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program's Project B4, which supports Volunteer Cleanup Activities, approved by voters in November 2020.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
Adoption of this resolution declaring September 19 as California Coastal Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County is not subject to environmental justice analysis because it is unlikely to result in impacts to human health or the environment. However, California Coastal Cleanup Day addresses environmental stewardship by providing creek cleanups throughout Santa Clara County, including in disadvantaged communities. Community outreach efforts for California Coastal Cleanup Day are made in multiple languages to engage and include constituents with Limited English Proficiency. This included newspaper ads in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Creek Stewardship Project, Project No. 00061019, is included in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget. There are adequate funds in the Project’s budget to support this event; no additional funding is being requested.
CEQA:
The recommended action is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). Valley Water prepared a Notice of Exemption covering various creek clean-up activities within Valley Water right-of-way, filed with the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office on March 16, 2022.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Rachael Gibson, (408) 630-2884