Report Creek Violations
Hope this post finds you well. For reasons that do not need explaining, the editor at SPCWC has been distracted for the last 8 months or so. We apologize and promise that we have in place a better means to have emails read by a larger number of SPCWC board members to improve the dialogue and distribution of information.
Getting caught up on the correspondence, the sad theme has been the number of people that have reported illegal dumping and habitat destruction in and around the creek. Each event described represents a violation of numerous laws and untold damage to our creek and wildlife and the ocean into which our creek flows.
Dumping of anything into the creek is illegal.
Altering the streambed in any way without a Local, State and Federal permit is illegal.
Fishing of any type is illegal.
Above (REPORT VIOLATION (CLICK HERE) ) there is a link to a .pdf of contact numbers that can be printed out for your use to report any violations related to the Creek and its Watershed. As described in the pages of this site, do not let the modest appearance of our 3-mile creek cause one to minimize our creek’s importance as a most critical piece to a healthy ecosystem on land, in the creek and in the ocean.
And because the potential seriousness of these violations, we would encourage you to cast a broad net and contact a number of the listed agencies as it is unclear which agencies will be the most receptive to the specific circumstances of your issue. If you would like, please copy the SPCWCPacifica@gmail email as a member of the Board of Directors should be able to help with follow-up on the issues with the agencies.
Here is a summary of the Agencies with jurisdiction of issues related to San Pedro Creek:
State Law Enforcement
We believe the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) should be your first call for any and all issues related to the Creek. Sworn officers of the CDFW have jurisdiction in spill response, streambed alterations, watershed enforcement and wildlife management and are some of the most friendly and dedicated law enforcement around. You may have seen their black pick-up trucks patrolling the coast, so they are often close by.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip#:~:text=If%20you%20witness%20a%20poaching,tips%20to%20CDFW%20using%20tip411
1-888-334-CalTIP (888-334-2258)
Our local warden is James Ober james.Ober@wildlife.ca.gov
Local Law Enforcement
The City of Pacifica Police Department’s non-emergency number should also be called for illegal dumping or if any homeless encampments are encountered along the creek. Encampments have proven to be a significant source of pollution in the creek and our local Police should be able to rapidly respond and stop illegal dumping and help the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in investigations.
650 738 7314
police@pacificapolice.org
Local Government
The Pacifica Department of Public Works has knowledge of the Creek, the City Creek Infrastructure and is equipped to remove debris from the Creek.
Pacifica Public Works Dept
650-738-3003
dpwassistance@ci.pacifica.ca.us
Lisa Petersen
Director PW
petersenl@ci.pacifica.ca.us
Sam Bautista, Deputy Dir PW
650-738-3767
BautistaS@ci.pacifica.ca.us
Paul Lavorini, Supervisor in charge of Creek
lavorinip@ci.pacifica.ca.us
The Pacifica Wastewater Treatment Department should be notified of any evidence of sewage in the creek.
Louis Sun
Director of Wastewater
650 -738-4660
sunl@ci.pacifica.ca.us
The Pacific Planning Department can be called to check or inquire about permitted work on or along the creek.
650-738-73
State Government
The California Water Code established the Water Boards as the primary State agencies for protecting the quality of waters. The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board should be notified for any and all activity that may affect the quality of San Pedro Creek or the Pacific Ocean.
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/board_decisions/enforcement.html
510-622-2369
The California Office of Emergency Services also has a 24-hour Spill Line that can be used to mobilize crews to minimize and clean-up toxic spills.
(800) 852-7550
The California Environmental Protection Agency also has a complaint page:
https://calepacomplaints.secure.force.com/complaints/Complaint
The California Coastal Commission is tasked with upholding the requirements of the California Coastal Act and that Act's mandate to protect coastal resources, including coastal habitats, coastal public access and recreation, and other coastal resources. Their local enforcement hotline is:
(415) 904-5269
Federal Law Enforcement
As discussed in these pages, the distinct population of Central California Steelhead found in San Pedro Creek was listed by NOAA on January 5, 2006 as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With this dubious distinction, special Federal protections are granted. The ESA provides a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species. It is illegal to “take” a listed species without a permit, where the definition of “take” is broadly defined to include any actions that harm the species, including “habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavior patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering”.
So any potential actions that may impair essential behavior of our steelhead (dumping, pollution, stream modification, tree removal,etc.) should be reported to the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife
(650) 876-907
Federal Government
The Clean Water Act protects from the discharge of pollution into the territorial seas and traditional navigable waters and perennial and intermittent tributaries to those waters (of which San Pedro Creek qualifies). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces this law and any pollution may be a violation of this law and can be reported here: