Theft, vandalism hinder creek work
SAN PABLO: Police investigate a fire that destroyed an excavating machine at the site, the latest of two incidents

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Saturday, November 4, 2006

A group rehabilitating a stretch of Wildcat Creek hopes to finish its task this month despite losing thousands of dollars' worth of equipment to thieves and vandals at its San Pablo work site.

The problem came to a head about 5:15 a.m. Monday, when a large excavator parked beside a storage container burst into flames before workers arrived to start the day.

The fire destroyed the vehicle, which belonged to a contractor working with the nonprofit Urban Creeks Council near the corner of Rumrill Boulevard and Folsom Avenue to prevent erosion and develop habitat in the nearby creek bed.

Given that thieves used an acetylene torch to cut the lock on the storage container and steal about $3,700 worth of pumps, levels, chainsaws and hand tools two weeks ago, project workers acknowledge they've had a rough time doing good for the community of late.

"We're going to keep going," said Joshua Bradt, restoration director for the group. "But it is depressing."

UCC began working on a parcel west of Rumrill in September, using part of a $750,000 grant from the CALFED Bay-Delta Authority to fund the project.

The Berkeley-based group works to keep creeks and streams in the region clean and in their natural alignments and conditions, arguing that straight, steep, cement-lined creeks hurt the environment, are ugly and in many cases are less effective at draining storm water.

The project, one of several planned by the group in and around San Pablo, involved turning a straight, erosion-prone stretch of the creek into an S-shaped section lined with poplar trees that workers say will slow storm-water discharge and anchor habitat for wildlife.

Surrounding habitat, a tough neighborhood, has not cooperated much.

While homeless people who camp in thickets near the work site have been cooperative, even offering what little they saw of Monday's fire, Bradt said the damage has set back work. He had hoped to finish the project by the end of October, but now just hopes to finish before seasonal rains begin in earnest.

Police investigated both incidents but have no leads. Monday's fire is considered suspicious, San Pablo police Sgt. Tom Hughes said, but investigators have not yet determined whether it was arson.

"The message we want to send is that we're trying to improve San Pablo for all of its citizens," Bradt said. "We're not the enemy here."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.