Preserve and Celebrate Our Downtown Creeks!

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We are fortunately to have creeks as an amenity in the downtown area. Sections of three major creeks run through downtown:

• The section of Lafayette Creek begins near Mount Diablo Boulevard and Village Center. It runs generally parallel with the south side of Mount Diablo Boulevard and north of Brook Street. After it crosses under Moraga Road, it runs to the south of Golden Gate Way until it meets Las Trampas Creek near the Gazebo.

• Las Trampas Creek runs east a short distance, and then drops south out of the planning area.

• Happy Valley Creek enters the planning area just east of the BART station, goes south through the Town Center project and under Mount Diablo Boulevard. It daylights in the Shield Block, is culverted under La Fiesta Square, and joins Lafayette Creek near Moraga Road.

Downtown Creeks Preservation, Restoration and Development Plan 

The City Council adopted the Downtown Creeks Preservation, Restoration and Development Plan on October 23, 2017.  The Plan was developed by a consultant team with expertise in landscape architecture, civil engineering and environmental restoration under the guidance of the City the Creeks Committee. 

The Plan can protect and enhance downtown creeks while also enticing more people to shop, dine and linger. The objectives of the Plan include:

• Identifying creek preservation and restoration opportunities;

• Clarifying creek setback requirements for the downtown;

• Preserving existing trees and riparian corridors;

• Developing standards for how development should relate to adjacent creeks;

• Producing strategies and methods for creek improvements and stewardship;

• Developing opportunities for public access and pathways;

• Preventing property damage by creek processes (flooding, erosion);

• Identifying public safety and environmental concerns. 

Downtown Creek Improvement Projects

First Street Rain Garden – completed in 2023

Proposed West Reach Catalyst Project – currently seeking funding; not started design phase

Background Information Documents

• Downtown Specific Plan (adopted 2012)
• Downtown Design Guidelines (adopted 2014)           
• Creek Setback Determination Document

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