On July 21, Coastkeeper joins the City of San Diego at the City's public stakeholder outreach meeting regarding its Master Storm Water System Maintenance Program.

While Coastkeeper supports having a plan to systematically address the City’s worst flooding problems, we strongly oppose the City’s request for 20-year pre-approval of all creek clearing projects.  Coastkeeper is asking that the City guarantee citizens a meaningful opportunity to review and comment on the detailed plans, impacts, alternatives and mitigation proposed for work in our neighborhood creeks as those plans are developed.  But the City has crafted an internal review process designed to exclude the public.

Coastkeeper attorney Jill Witkowski is fighting the plan, saying, “Preventing flooding is important, but these aren’t just ‘storm water facilities’—they are backyard creeks that people care about.  Instead of choosing a process that informs the public about creek-clearing details and seeks input from neighbors on how to make the projects better, the City designed this program to avoid public input and to prohibit neighbors from challenging projects that they feel are unnecessary or could be done in a less harmful manner.”

To learn more details about the plan and ask questions, join Coastkeeper and City representatives on Thursday, July 21 at 6 p.m. at Mission Trails Regional Park, Visitor's Center at 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119.

We encourage you to submit comments voicing your concerns to the City before the July 29 deadline via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please refer to "Project No. 42981" in the subject line.