Rheem Creek needs protection

Parkway Commerce Center would undermine creek restoration

At just 2.8 square miles, the Rheem Creek watershed is the smallest in Contra Costa County. Rheem runs for a quick 3.4 miles down from the Rolling Hills Cemetery in Richmond, through the city of San Pablo and the Contra Costa College Campus, through hundreds of backyards in unincorporated areas, past the Richmond Country Club, through undeveloped land in Richmond, and finally into the Bay at Breuner Marsh, between Point Pinole Regional Park and the Richmond Rod and Gun Club.

Flowing through mostly urban land, Rheem Creek has been impacted by human development. Part of it has been channelized, and some of its tributaries have been cut off and directed into storm drains. Rheem Creek is also affected by polluted runoff from streets and roofs, and by yard and garden chemicals. And sometimes, when rains are heavy, Rheem Creek floods basements and backyards in San Pablo. In short, Rheem Creek in its present state is small, dirty, and slightly naughty - like a five-year-old in a creek.

But like any kid, Rheem Creek has a lot of potential. It was once a fine creek, with trout and steelhead, turtles, and frogs. Unlike many urban creeks, it still flows aboveground for most of its length. Despite development, its watershed provides habitat for three threatened species - the salt-marsh harvest mouse, the California clapper rail, and the California black rail. The creek is visible from many backyards, at the country club, and on the college campus. Restoration of a lower part of this rough little gem is already funded, and further restoration projects are contemplated.

In Richmond a development project is now threatening to undermine efforts to restore Rheem Creek. The project, called the Parkway Commerce Center, is located in the flatlands of Richmond, near Giant Highway, about half a mile from where the creek flows into the Bay. There a developer has proposed a light-industrial park to straddle the creek.

The developer has prepared an Environmental Impact Report on the project - after a protracted citizen suit led the courts to require one. This February the Richmond Planning Commission approved that EIR despite its inadequate provisions for protecting the creek. The Sierra Club and a number of other community groups have appealed that approval, and the City Council will hear our appeal this September.

The main problem with the EIR is that it leaves open the methods by which polluted runoff from a large, industrial parking lot will be filtered before being directed into Rheem Creek, and it doesn't set specific limits on pollution into the creek.

The project applicant needs to specify methods for treating stormwater on-site and avoiding any discharge of pollutants into the creek. Detention ponds, swales, and permeable surfaces to treat stormwater are typically preferred methods for treatment.

Development projects can sometimes benefit creeks and natural areas by bringing attention and resources to formerly neglected land. The Parkway Commerce Center site is full of invasive weeds and lacks riparian vegetation. The developer has an opportunity to improve the water quality and natural values of the creek by planting natives, replacing the existing box culvert with an open span, and increasing project setbacks from the creek. The city of Richmond should seek more considerations for the creek.

Federal and local permitting agencies will require the project applicant to develop treatment methods before they issue permits. If the current project design is incompatible with these changes, then project revisions may be required - and should be identified before the EIR is certified. The city should not certify the EIR while such important plan elements are unresolved, and as the lead agency, the city should be involved in any process that may lead to significant revisions of the project.

The fact that Rheem Creek has already been impacted by development is a reason to carefully scrutinize development that would further harm this formerly fine creek - not a reason to disregard additional impacts. The city of Richmond needs to stand up for its creeks.

WhatYouCanDo

Write to the Richmond City Council at:
Mayor Irma Anderson and Richmond City Council Members
1401 Marina Way South
Richmond, CA 94804

Urge them to require more protections for Rheem Creek before they approve the Parkway Commerce Center EIR.

Jonna Papaefthimiou, Chapter conservation manager