Codornices Creek Restoration

Cities of Albany and Berkeley

Responding to a development proposal to locate a parking lot over a culverted section of Cordornices Creek, the cities of Albany and Berkeley retained WMA to study the feasibility of restoring the stream. The community embraced design alternatives to transform the culvert to a year-round, flowing stream following the historical meander. Restoration efforts included bank stabilization with riparian plantings, a fescue slope for picnicking that also serves as the high water flood plain in the winter, a trail and a wood fence forming the edge of the park where native shrubs and fruit trees are planted to provide shade and enclosure. The project serves as a model for interagency collaboration between a variety of entities: two cities, the University of California, three non-profit organizations, a developer, the East Bay Conservation Corps, more than 300 additional hands-on volunteers, PG&E, a daycare center and Berkeley High School.

Restored Codornices Creek

Culverted Creek

During Construction