BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:Title
Adopt a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to National River Cleanup Day Volunteers in Santa Clara County.
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RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO NATIONAL RIVER CLEANUP DAY VOLUNTEERS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
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SUMMARY:
Trash in and along creeks and waterways has a significant impact on stream water quality and contributes to potential flood risks in Santa Clara County. Consequently, each year a consortium of public agencies known as the Creek Connections Action Group (CCAG), of which Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is a member, undertakes efforts to educate the community about these impacts, and encourage agencies and volunteers alike to remove trash from the creeks with the goal of protecting Santa Clara County’s waterways. This year, the CCAG’s efforts resulted in the removal of thousands of pounds of trash from the waterways in Santa Clara County.
Since 1995, Valley Water has been working with the CCAG to coordinate the annual National River Cleanup Day event in in Santa Clara County to keep creeks and rivers clean. In addition to Valley Water, members of CCAG include the cities of San Jose, Milpitas, Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Cupertino, as well as Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation and the West Valley Clean Water Program Authority. Valley Water’s role in the CCAG is to serve as Chair and provide countywide coordination, outreach and supplies for volunteers, such as gloves, trash bags and litter sticks.
National River Cleanup Day continues to serve as an opportunity to partner with cities, non-profits and various community groups to raise pollution prevention awareness and organize volunteers to help remove trash from the county’s waterways. This year, Valley Water and the CCAG hosted a National River Cleanup event on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Volunteers were encouraged to participate in self-guided cleanups focused around their neighborhoods and their local natural areas. Cleanups sites were also available for those who wished to join a cleanup with large groups. Valley Water and its partners in the CCAG hosted various supply pick-ups at sites located throughout the county for volunteers who registered.
Staff recommends the Board of Directors adopt the resolution (attachment 1) to recognize volunteers for efforts on Saturday, May 21, 2022 for National River Cleanup Day in Santa Clara County.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
While the declaration does not constitute Environmental Justice impacts, creek clean up activities supported by Valley Water provide an opportunity for community volunteers to actively engage in the work to help keep our creeks clean and communities healthy.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$27,847 is available for services and supplies to support this event in the FY 2021-22 budget for the Support Volunteer Cleanup project #00061019. No additional funding is requested.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:Manager
Marta Lugo, 408-630-2237