Friends of Los Gatos Creek Begin Effort To Restore Waterway

Written by Sheila Sanchez 

A new volunteer group called "Friends of Los Gatos Creek" spent the morning of Saturday, May 25 cleaning the local waterway of debris in a section that traverses through Campbell Park.

According to head organizer and founder Steve Holmes, a San Jose resident, 28 volunteers donated their time working in and around the creek, from San Tomas Expressway to the 17/880 highway overpass. 

"This is the start of a community led effort," Holmes said in an email to friends and supporters reporting his progress with the cleanup. "It will be ongoing, setting a new higher standard. To say that I was shocked by the sheer volume of junk we pulled from this creek would be an understatement."

Holmes, a semi-retired salesman and small business owner, said he's saddened by the creek's condition. "Somewhere along the line we, the community, allowed this resource to decline," he noted in his email.

"Friends of Los Gatos Creek will be stepping into this void to give our creek a voice," he said.

Holmes is hoping to recruit more volunteers for the next cleanup effort slated for July 13.

Eventually, he would like a volunteer network from residents who live along the span of the creek, from Lexington Reservoir to the confluence with the Guadalupe River.

"We will be focused on bringing the youth back to this creek," he said, explaining the group will also concentrate on creek habitat restoration and "the eventual return of a once vibrant salmon and steelhead population."

This past Saturday, Holmes and the volunteers were supported by the Campbell Recreation and Community Services Department, the Campbell Police Department, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and donations from local businesses.

The volunteers are calling themselves "Team 222," which stands for the two hours of volunteering, every second month, on the second Saturday that will be donated to clean Los Gatos Creek, Holmes said.

If you would like to volunteer for the next cleanup effort, or help Holmes with his cause, please email him at friendslgcreek@yahoo.com. 

Holmes is also planning to recruit volunteers in Los Gatos 8-11 a.m. Sunday, June 2 at the entrance of the Los Gatos Creek Trail on Main Street.