Large urban populations usually mean trouble for small creeks like Strawberry Creek. The increase in urban growth in just 100 years has caused changes in hydrologic conditions from increased impervious paved and roofed areas along with changes in landscaping, such as removal of natural riparian vegetation and invasion by non-native species. This has altered the state of Strawberry Creek and most other urban creeks from pre-development conditions. Normally meandering creeks and rivers became channelized and culverted to move water as quickly as possible to the Bay and to prevent bank erosion and instability. This results in loss of riparian habitat, compounded by pollutant concentration, which degrades water quality and threatens fish and wildlife.

Beneficial uses of Strawberry Creek, such as wildlife habitat, aesthetic enjoyment and education, are inexorably tied to historic and future land use. This page provides links to reports and planning documents pertaining to land use in the Strawberry Creek watershed.