Creek Maintenance Fact Sheet
Creeks In Your Yard
Natural creeks flow throughout our community, adding beauty, tranquility, and economic value to neighboring properties. They serve as refuges and avenues of travel for wildlife, as well as an area for storm water drainage. If your property is bordered by a creek, this natural resource can be a wonderful amenity- however there are additional responsibilities and things to be aware of when you live next to a creek. This fact sheet has been prepared to provide information and resources to creekside property owners in response to many inquiries concerning creek maintenance. These facts and resources relate to bank repair projects and routine maintenance activities within the creek or on the creek bank.
Geographic Overview
The San Anselmo Creek is the largest stream the Corte Madera Creek watershed, which encompasses 28 square miles of central Marin County and drains the Ross Valley. San Anselmo Creek originates in Cascade Canyon, in Fairfax. Upstream of the Town of San Anselmo, it is joined by Fairfax Creek, Sleepy Hollow Creek, and Sorich Creek. Downstream of the Town of San Anselmo it merges with Ross Creek, at which point its name changes to Corte Madera Creek. The creek enters the San Francisco Bay near the College of Marin.
Ownership and Easements
Most of the land bordering our creeks is privately owned, with property lines typically extending to the centerline or the banks of the creek. In either situation, this means the primary responsibility for creek bank repair and maintenance falls to the property owner. The Town has some easements on private property, however the type of easement vary from property to property and typically do not assign responsibility for regular routine maintenance of the creek. Easements most often provide access to areas or allow for the construction and maintenance of specific facilities. Property owners can find out about these easements in the title reports for their properties.
Permits for Creek Bank Repair and Maintenance Work
The water flowing through private property and the unique habitat represented by the creek are protected by State and Federal laws, therefore several government agencies have jurisdiction over activities within local creeks. The following provides a brief summary of the primary applicable regulations:
Federal: Since the creeks are considered “waters of the United States,” the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the authority under the Clean Water Act (Section 404) for activities that involve the placement of fill (including rip rap) within the stream channel. The National Marine Fisheries and Fish and Wildlife Service also regulate habitat in the creek and adjacent vegetation. Properties in flood prone areas have additional requirements to meet through the
National Flood Insurance Program, which is administered by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
State: The State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and the State Department offish and Wildlife (CADFW) have the authority over work in stream channels for both water quality and habitat issues.
Local Requirements
Work on creek banks is also subject to Town and County regulations depending on the type of work proposed. Construction of any structure adjacent to the creek is subject to local building permits and these projects should begin with a visit to the Town of Fairfax Building Department. The Town’s ordinance requires facilities to be set 15 feet back from the top of the creek bank.
Routine Creek Maintenance by Property Owners
The creek channel is not a static environment and erosion is a natural part of the creek system. Properties in close proximity of the creek create a situation where significant bank erosion is undesirable, requiring ongoing maintenance to keep erosion in check. As previously stated, required maintenance of creek banks is the responsibility of the property owner and in many cases requires permits. Property owners should seek advice before they attempt creek bank maintenance activities. Some activities can be more harmful than helpful. For example, many property owners believe the creek should be devoid of any debris, including woody materials, and that vegetation should be removed to prevent flooding. However, vegetation is vital to prevent erosion and both vegetation and woody materials are essential to a healthy creek environment. One of the easiest things property owners can do is keep the creek bank as open and free of structures or stored materials as possible. Decks and structures placed too close to the creek bank tend to destabilize the bank and create problems during flood events. Another important activity is routine maintenance of large trees. Fallen trees or large limbs can plug drainage systems and cause flooding during a storm.
Activities that DO NOT Require Permits: