Prince Memorial Greenway tour
The benefits and constraints of urban creek restoration
Thursday, March 8

In the late 1980’s a handful of citizens dreamed of restoring Santa Rosa Creek in the heart of downtown for public use and benefits including: a more natural creek environment, a bicycle and pedestrian path, maintaining flood control, and removing toxic materials along the creek.

Today, the dream is being realized as riparian vegetation provides shade and wildlife habitat. Deep pools and gravel riffles enhance juvenile rearing and adult migration for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon. Pathways provide recreation, a venue for public art, and alternative transportation routes as part of the 35 miles of creekside trails within the City. The dream continues as strong community support led to creation of the Santa Rosa Creek Master Plan and recently the Draft Citywide Creek Master Plan.

Numerous local, state, and federal funding sources contributed to the Prince Memorial Greenway becoming a model of urban creek restoration that addresses social as well as environmental and economic goals. This award-winning project has increased the public's awareness of the entire creek system in Santa Rosa.

On a walking tour, discover how citizens sparked the transformation of a concrete lined channel into an urban greenway that provides many benefits to the community. Discussion of contaminated soils, flood protection, limited right-of-way, funding, and other obstacles to creek restoration in the urban environment. Tour leaders: former Santa Rosa City Councilmember and one of the original creek dreamers Steve Rabinowitsh; Steven Chatham, Principal of Prunuske Chatham, Inc.; Supervising Engineer Dave Montague and Environmental Specialists Steve Brady and Alistair Bleifuss of the City of Santa Rosa Public Works Department. Limit of 30 participants.