Splash Off!
Friday April 20, 11am - noon.
In addition to Recognition of all who have made Creek Week possible, the annual Creek Steward Award will be presented by Jack Hiehle to the 6th grades of Gold River Discovery Center for preserving and protecting the American River Parkway through research, discovery, and acts of community service.

Keynote speaker will be Elissa Lynn, Senior Meteorologist with the Flood Operations Branch of the California Department of Water Resources. Elissa was Chief Meteorologist at News10 in Sacramento and ran a local weather column and education platform at the Sacramento Bee. She can be reached through the Public Affairs Office, or at elynn@water.ca.gov.

River-Friendly Landscaping Workshop
Saturday April 21, 10am - 1pm.
Dave Roberts, a local landscaping professional and chair of the EcoLandscaping Work Group, will provide practical tips on River Friendly Landscaping. This will include design and maintenance practices that reduce pesticides, green waste and water pollution, and conserve energy and water. Fair Oaks Horticultural Center (in Fair Oaks Park on Fair Oaks Blvd. just south of Madison Ave.) Free copies of River Friendly Landscaping Guidelines will be available to attendees. Pre-registration requested.

Contact Dave Tamayo at tamayod@saccounty.net or 916 874-8024 for additional information and to register.

Horseback Exploration of Dry Creek Waterways
Saturday April 21, 10 a.m. - noon
Equestrians are invited to bring their horses to Gibson Ranch to view the flora and fauna on a trail ride in the beautiful Dry Creek Parkway. Learn about the work local groups are doing to promote the health of our urban creeks. Gibson Ranch is located on Elverta Road one mile west of Watt Ave. Park fee of $8.00 can be paid at the entrance kiosk. Contact Barb Eggleston 916-834-6118 rocknbarb@hotmail.com

Bufferlands Birds and Blooms Tour
Saturday, April 21, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Thousands of waterfowl and other wetland birds winter at the Fishhead Lake wetlands, and many live year-round to nest and raise their young. California poppies, lupines, owl&s clover, and baby blue-eyes grow around the uplands and wetland edges. Come enjoy the birds and flowers. The meeting location is weather-dependant, so contact Roger Jones at (916)875-9174 or email jonesro@saccounty.net the week preceding the event for exact meeting location and directions.

Creek Watcher
Saturday, April 21, 1:30 p.m.
Creeks are ideal places for people to play, learn and explore. These important waterways are also vital habitats for a great variety of plants and wildlife. Take a walk along Carmichael Creek to discover and learn about this habitat. Please contact the Effie Yeaw Nature Center for further information or directions at 489-4918.

Mather Vernal Pool Flower Walk
Sunday April 22 - 10:00 and 1:00 p.m.
Join the Mather vernal pool docents of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Native Plant Society for a 2 hour tour to explore this magic carpet of flowers. These unique wildflowers bloom only for a brief period in the spring. Meet at the Splash Center at 4426 Excelsior Road. See www.sacvalleycnps.org for directions. For more information and to sign up, call (916)737-WILD. Reservations are required. The tour is provided free of charge by trained CNPS docents, however donations are greatly appreciated.

Local Fish Fauna
Wednesday, April 25, noon - 2 p.m.
What lurks in the murky depths of Sacramento&s urban creeks? Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) Bufferlands staff will demonstrate fish sampling techniques, help with hands-on fish identification, and discuss the natural history of California&s diverse fish communities. This tour includes a 1/2 mile walk and an opportunity to see some of the Bufferlands riparian and wetland habitat restoration projects within the Morrison Creek floodplain. The meeting location is weather dependent, so contact Steve Scott at (916) 875-9307 or email scotts@saccounty.net the week preceding the event for exact meeting location and directions.

Steelhead Creek Beaver Pond Walk
Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m.
Early evening is the best time to see beaver activity and lots of other local wildlife. Take a stroll with Mary Tappel along Steelhead Creek. Meet at the Ueda Parkway Staging area parking lot on Elkhorn Blvd. and Sorrento Rd. east of Steelhead Creek. Call 925-1933 or email mtappel@waterboards.ca.gov for further information or directions. NOTE: this event will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain.

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) Wetland Tour
Thursday, April 26th, 9 - 11 a.m.
Natural Resource Specialist Lizette Crosbie will lead a tour of Wolf Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, a 60 acre wetland created by SAFCA. The wetland is a major habitat feature of northern Sacramento and has a large diversity of viewable wildlife including waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and beaver. This tour includes a 1 mile walk and the opportunity to view features of SAFCA&s wetland and riparian restoration projects. Meet at the Ueda Parkway staging area at Elkhorn Blvd. and Sorrento Rd. just east of Steelhead Creek. Please call (916) 874-6451 or email crosbiel@saccounty.net to sign up or for further information.

Clean Up and Celebration
Saturday, April 28th, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Join the Celebration! The 17th Annual Creek Week ends on Saturday, April 28th with a county-wide creek clean up. Clean up teams gather at the Discovery Museum from 12:00 to 2:00pm for a barbecue, with live music, games and contests. Environmentally minded organizations and related city and county programs will have booths, free exhibits, and fun activities. Please bring your family, friends, teams, and clubs to Creek Week 2007. Be a part of this volunteer effort to celebrate and restore many of Sacramento County’s creeks.
Sign up and volunteer details at
http://www.creekweek.net/cw-splash.htm.