Strawberry Creek is a major landscape feature of the University of California, Berkeley, and was one of the primary reasons the site was chosen in 1860 as the location for the campus. More than 3,000 university students, and many elementary and high school students from surrounding communities, use Strawberry Creek each year as a resource for education and research.

Strawberry Creek is home to a growing number of native animals and plants due to a restoration project started in 1987. Fish, newts, egrets, banana slugs, crayfish, and small creatures such as mayflies, water striders, and snails are now common.

This Strawberry Creek website serves as the principal and current source for environmental news and monitoring data for the creek on the Berkeley campus and is a repository of electronic files of historic reports. It is intended to serve as a resource for teaching and research and for the general public's appreciation of this historic natural resource.

We hope that the information on this site helps you discover the diverse sights and sounds of the Creek, and enhances your next visit to the campus.

STANLEY HALL DIESEL SPILL INFORMATION

On December 10, 2011 approximately 1,650 gallons of diesel fuel used to power an emergency generator spilled into the basement of Stanley Hall located on the eastern edge of the Central Campus Park. While much of the fuel was contained in building and cleaned up, a portion of the spill entered a storm drain leading to Strawberry Creek by the Wickson Bridge. The fuel was then transported by the creek through the City of Berkeley to the outfall in the San Francisco Bay. Cleanup efforts have been underway since December 10 with oversight by federal, state and local authorities including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and State of California Department of Fish and Game. Since the intial spill, much work has been performed, and conditions have improved markedly. Nevertheless, the University and agencies are continuing to closely monitor conditions along the creek and will take additional actions as needed.

For more information, including monitoring data, go to the Strawberry Creek Stanley Hall Diesel Spill page.

 

Restoration Activities

Want to help Strawberry Creek? Arrange for a service activity for your student group!

Email: calcreeks@gmail.com

OR ATTEND AN OPEN RESTORATION EVENT

Spring 2012 Dates
All Fridays, from 3:00- 5:00 PM:
February 3
March 2
March 23
April 20

Meet at the Rugby Statue near the SW corner of VLSB.

OR HELP AT THE NATIVE PLANT NURSERY ON CENTRAL CAMPUS: Open Nursery Hours at the native plant nursery at Gianninni Hall (Wellman Courtyard): Check back for Spring schedule at the start of the semester.

For more information on Strawberry Creek Restoration activities, go to the Restoration Activities Page of this website or go to the Strawberry Creek blogspot at http://www.calcreeks.blogspot.com/