City officials in Orange are taking the first step towards cleaning up and preserving Santiago Creek after years of delays.
It comes as residents in South Orange County have been raising concerns about herbicide use in local waterways that feed into Doheny State Beach up the coastline in Dana Point.
Criticism has grown to the point that it prompted county officials to pause the chemical’s use in San Juan and Trabuco Creeks.
[Read: Santana: Herbicide Spraying of South OC Waterways Halted, For Now]
In Orange, city council members unanimously approved a new strategic plan for Santiago Creek during their meeting in late February.
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The proposal was brought to the council by the Santiago Creek Commission, an advisory body working toward implementing public projects in and along the creek.
The plan comes after years of stalled proposals and is highly anticipated by residents and officials. Mayor Dan Slater stated that seven plans have been developed since 1973, and the city has been awaiting the current plan for two and a half years.
“I hope this is the time where we finally say we are going to adopt a plan and we are going to implement it,” Slater said at the meeting.
The plan outlines a series of improvements along the creek, focusing on preservation, expanding amenities and increasing public access.
The commission divided the creek into multiple sections, each with its own set of priorities. During the Feb. 24 meeting, Deputy City Manager Jack Morgan reviewed each section.
The plan for the first segment — spanning East Orange to Villa Park Road — centers on preserving historical sites while expanding and extending existing trails. Potential projects include regular trail maintenance, building bridges and pathways from natural materials and conducting a biological assessment to identify habitats of endangered species.
Plans for the second segment — from Villa Park Road to the 55 Freeway — emphasize the creek’s beauty and add amenities and improvements to enhance pedestrian and e-bike safety. This includes projects such as providing educational opportunities for historic sites and improving trail signage.
The third segment, stretching from the 55 Freeway to Hart Park, is meant to prioritize increased public access. The plan outlines projects like adding recreational trails along the creek and evaluating opportunities for community gardens.
Pamela Galera, the vice chair of the creek commission, said many of these projects are ready to move forward.
“I want to congratulate this council for understanding the gem that we have in our city,” Galera said at the meeting. “Many many cities would love to have a creek such that we have.”
Councilmembers expressed enthusiasm for the plan’s thoroughness and thanked the Santiago Creek Commission for their attention to detail.
Councilmember Ana Gutierrez expressed appreciation that the plan was easy to digest.
She also said she enjoyed the plan’s historical and ecological aspects, especially an acknowledgement at the beginning of the document that recognizes Native American tribes were the first ones on the land.
“I really appreciate the land acknowledgment,” she said. “To start with, that page is just powerful.”
Councilmember Jon Dumitru said he loves what the commission has put forward, stating that the presentation and information were great.
Residents of Orange also expressed strong community support for the plan.
Adrienne Gladson, who lives near the second segment of the creek, explained that her neighborhood was involved in drafting the potential projects and urged the council to take the time to fully understand each project.
“It will be implemented because the community will be behind it,” Gladson said.
The council voted unanimously to approve and adopt the commission’s plan, setting the stage for preservation, restoration, recreation and safety improvements to Santiago Creek.
Additionally, council members voted to continue the Santiago Creek Commission’s operations.
Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks contributed to this report.
