Inland Empire Waterkeeper
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It is no secret that water and everything that it can carry runs downhill. Coastkeeper cannot effectively fulfill our mission of protecting coastal waters by focusing our efforts in Orange County alone. We must extend our work to include the entire watershed, which extends to Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. In 2005, Coastkeeper opened the Inland Empire Waterkeeper chapter to bring the same efforts into the upper Santa Ana River watershed.
The Inland Empire has been under tremendous development pressure and, as a result, the natural drainage patterns of the watershed have changed quite drastically during the past 250 years. It is the goal of Inland Empire Waterkeeper to spur altruism and stewardship on behalf of all Inland Empire residents while also creating a balance between development interests and environmental concerns. The result will be enhanced water quality for everyone that calls the Santa Ana River watershed home.
Key Programs
Removing debris from Chino Creek
Chino/Mill Creek Cleanup Project: Waterkeeper has been contracted by Inland Empire Utilities Agency to locate, remove and inventory debris within Mill and Chino Creeks in the Prado Basin. This project encompasses approximately 3 miles of polluted creeks in need of visual and water quality improvements.
In this highly urbanized area, trash collects in low-hanging trees and brush, with heavy items lying on the channel bed. Inventory and characterization of the debris will provide information to target upstream source control strategies. Click the links below to see how you can be a part of this critical effort.
River KATS (Kid Activism Together with Science): Created by Inland Empire Waterkeeper in 2006, River KATS introduces junior high and high school students to watershed and ecological concepts with in-class presentations and field trips. This program focuses on getting students into the field for handson experiences like water quality testing and habitat restoration. Waterkeeper exposes students to how science is applied in their community at sites such as the Prado Wetlands, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, wastewater treatment plants and water conservation gardens.
