Stemple Creek​ Cleanup Slated This Week In West Marin

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Discarded vehicles, home appliances, household furniture and more than 100 tires will be removed from an unnamed tributary of Stemple Creek in west Marin County this week.

The Marin Resource Conservation District and Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program are spearheading the Aug. 13-16 cleanup of the 1,584-foot-long stretch of the tributary.

Stemple Creek was found to be a significant site of illegal dumping in West Marin, according to the county. It will be stabilized and restored after the cleanup.

The Marin Resource Conservation District secured a $40,000 state grant from CalRecycle's Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program to help pay for the cleanup.

"Our goal is to prevent stormwater pollution, as well as protect and enhance water quality in creeks and wetlands," said Rob Carson, administrator of the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program in the Department of Public Works.

"Dumping material off the side of the road, often into our local creeks, has terrible ecological consequences and seriously impacts Marin's natural beauty for future generations."

The two agencies are working with private landowners on surveillance monitoring of the tributary and possibly other locations in the county to prevent future dumping. The Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program is also coordinating with the Marin County Sheriff's Office and the Marin County District Attorney's Office on enforcement against individuals found responsible of illegal dumping.

"While this multiagency effort is a significant accomplishment, it is important for people to understand the severity of illegal dumping and do their part to stop it from happening in the first place," said Sarah Phillips, urban streams manager of Marin Resource Conservation District.

Bay City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.