How Healthy is Your Creek?
	Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Residents
	Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Businesses
	Use of Creek-Friendly Gardening and Landscaping Practices
	Protecting Creek Flow
	Preventing Erosion Problems
	Stabilizing Creek Banks
	Getting Help
	Map of Arlington Creek System

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Creek Care Guide for Residents and Businesses was adapted from a guide published by Susan Harris and Erika Campos of the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service

PRACTICAL CREEK CARE

As it enters the 21^st century, Arlington is blessed to have a quality of life that attracts businesses and residents to the city in growing numbers. Part of what makes Arlington a great place to live is the city’s natural environment, which includes an extensive city park system, along with seven creeks and the Trinity River. Maintaining Arlington’s reputation as a city with a high quality of life will involve, among many other activities, preserving Arlington’s creek system. Since much of Arlington’s creekside property is in private ownership, property owners along Arlington creeks will play a critical role in preserving Arlington’s creek system for future generations.

In addition to the principal motive of preserving the quality of life in Arlington, property owners along Arlington creeks have several additional motives for maintaining Arlington’s creek system that are in their self-interest. Through proper care of stream banks and riparian vegetation, homeowners and businesses along creeks can enhance their property, prevent erosion problems, avoid flood losses, and add to their enjoyment of their creekside property by preserving water quality and contributing to the survival of fish and wildlife.

This guide is designed to provide Arlington residents and businesses with suggestions for ways to care for and manage creeks adjacent to their property. The guide provides practical information about day-to-day activities which can help you make the most of your location next to a creek by keeping it healthy. The recommendations are organized as follows:

• How Healthy is Your Creek?
• Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Residents
• Keeping Your Creek Healthy for Businesses
• Use of Creek-Friendly Gardening and Landscaping Practices
• Protecting Creek Flow
• Preventing Erosion Problems
• Stabilizing Creek Banks
• Getting Help

A healthy creek can help you make the most of your property. If you and all your creekside neighbors do your part to preserve and improve the creek you share, the whole community will benefit!