Creeks and Drainage ditches are cleared of excessive weed growth and debris prior to the wet- weather season with ongoing maintenance throughout the year as the need is identified. Debris and trash removal of Natividad Creek and the Natividad Creek detention basin are maintained jointly by the City of Salinas with assistance from the Return of Natives environmental group.  

• Santa Rita Creek is an improved concrete channel from Van Buren Street to Highway 101.  Silt removal is periodically performed with weed control and debris removal occurring as the need is identified throughout the year.  This improved channel is cleared of silt prior to October 1st each year that has been deposited by agricultural runoff during the dry-weather season. The channel between Russell road and Van Buren Street is inspected monthly and maintenance performed such as weed control, bank mitigation and restoration, road repair, and fence repair.
   
• Natividad Creek and the E. Laurel Drive (Natividad) storm water detention basin receive maintenance throughout the year in a joint effort of the Return to Natives Environmental group, volunteer cleanup sponsored by the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority with support from City Staff.  City Staff inspects Natividad Creek and detention basin on a monthly basis and performs trash and debris removal as needed. 
   
• Gabilan Creek is visually monitored for silt accumulation annually.  Trash, debris and weed control is accomplished by contract  through a assessment district contract.
   
• Reclamation Ditch 1665 is the maintenance responsibility of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA). The City will periodically coordinate trash and debris cleanups at specific locations as a collaborative effort with the MCWRA
   
• Four storm water flood control detention basins are included in Public Park facilities at North Gate Park, Cesar Chavez Park, Eldorado Park and McKinnon Park.  All Park detention facilities are maintained by Parks Division personnel.  
   
• An additional flood control detention facility exists adjacent to the former site of Treatment Plant #1, at 156 Hitchcock Road, that is inspected monthly and maintained by Wastewater Division Personnel.  
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• One flood control detention basin has been constructed in the Monte Bella subdivision at the corner of Monte Bella Blvd. and Sconeberg Pkwy.  Maintenance is provided by the Monte Bella Assessment District.
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• There are two siltation basins in the Monte Bella subdivision. One basin is constructed at the corner of Williams Road and Freedom Blvd.  The other siltation basin is constructed adjacent to Sconeberg Parkway near the intersection of Monte Bella Blvd.  Both siltation basins accept water from agricultural runoff where silt settles out before entering the City’s storm system.  These are maintained by Wastewater Division Personnel as part of the Assessment District agreement. The basins are inspected monthly and silt removal is performed from both basins prior to October 1st each year.

Inspections and Maintenance of Creeks and drainage ditches: The following facilities are inspected monthly for litter and debris removal. The schedules below include additional maintenance activities.

•    Trash, debris or vegetation removal is typically accomplished by a combination of City staff, community volunteers, and environmental organizations or by contract.  Easily accessible debris is generally removed manually.  Larger heavier debris is removed with mechanical assistance from vehicles equipped with cables or winches.  The City maintains backhoes, skip loaders and mowing equipment for channel clearing or maintenance where accessible.  The City also maintains two hydro/vacuum trucks and a vac-all catch basin cleaner for maintenance and debris removal from the storm system.  

•    Inspection forms and maintenance records are maintained for all storm water facility inspection and maintenance activities. The records are kept and available for viewing in the office of the Wastewater Crew Supervisor.  

•    May and June - Clean and remove silt and debris from the drainage ditch adjacent to Expo Park.

•    March, April, June, July - Conducted weed control activity of approximately 1,600 feet of Noice Drainage Ditch. This activity is repeated annually.

•    March, April, June and July – Inspect and conduct weed control activity of approximately 1,500 feet of Bernal Drainage Ditch.  

•    March, April, May, October – Conduct weed control and debris cleanup activities of approximately 800 ft. of Carpenter Hall Ditch.

•    August/September– Inspect and Clean and remove silt, debris or weeds from Meadow Drive Ditch as needed.

•    Monthly Inspection – Clean Salinas Storm Water Pump Station at 156 Hitchcock Road at least once annually or as routine maintenance inspections require.

•    Monthly (minimum) Routine Maintenance Inspections – Weed abatement and trash and Debris cleanup of the Laurel Drive (Natividad Creek Storm water Detention Basin).

•    March/April and August/September – Inspect and conduct silt removal, weed control and trash removal activities as needed lower Santa Rita Creek from Van Buren to Highway 101.

•    Ongoing Routine Inspections – Inspect and remove weeds, trash and debris from the Salinas storm water outfall at the Salinas River.

•    April/May – Inspect and remove weeds and debris from the Salinas storm water overflow basin at 156 Hitchcock Road outfall at the Salinas River.  Weed control is generally conducted by the adjacent farm owner and is disked annually.

•    March, April, June, July, October - Inspect and remove trash and debris from Natividad Creek from Las Casitas Street to the Laurel Detention Basin Detention Basin.

•    August/September – Inspect and remove debris and accumulated silt from the two storm water detention basins at the Monte Bella subdivision located at the intersection of Williams Road and Freedom Boulevard and at Sconeburg Parkway and Montebella Blvd. 

•    August/September – Inspect and remove debris and perform weed control as needed at the detention basin at the corner of Monte Bella Blvd. and Sconeberg Parkway (Assessment District Maintenance Contractor).  The basin is in addition of the two noted above. 

The City has 154 storm water outfall locations that drain to local creeks, waterways and drainage ditches.  Outfalls are inspected twice yearly for condition assessment, trash and debris cleanup and remove any vegetation overgrowth or obstructions. Maintenance is recorded in an electronic database linked to a GIS Map of the Storm System.