Join Us to Restore Woodland Canyon Creek
Did you know there's a creek on Mount Sutro? Even in cities, creeks flow! As cities are built, historic waterways get filled in, drained or piped underground. On Mount Sutro, we have a seasonal creek that has been buried from view under himalayan blackberry, cape ivy and a thick and dying Eucalyptus canopy for far too long! Woodland Canyon Creek begins at the summit of Mount Sutro with two tributaries that eventually converge in Woodland Canyon. Since 2022 we have been removing invasive species, exposing creekbed vistas, and planting native plants. By restoring the creek with native riparian species grown in our nursery, the canyon serves as a biodiversity hotspot within Mount Sutro.​​
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Since the Summer of 2022 we have:​
Partnerships
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We've formed a collaborative partnership with the landowners, UCSF, SFRPD and private residents.
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Invited Golden Gate Bird Alliance, California Native Plant Society, Nature in the City, SF Urban Riders and Livable City to partner on the vision and implementation of the project.
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Restoration
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Hosted 1840 volunteer hours of stewarding Woodland canyon
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Removed 52,425 square feet of invasive weeds
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Planted 3,942 plants in the upper and lower watershed
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Collected thousands of native seed for dispersal in the canyon
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Installed a Healing Garden for respite and rejuvenation at the mouth of the upper watershed
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Installed an artist rendering of the restoration project inspiring and educating visitors about our work
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Worked with UCSF to remove invasive eucalyptus and Himalayan blackberry in the upper watershed and plant over 200 trees native to California and thousands of native plants
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Worked with SF Rec and Park to remove hazard trees near Stanyan street and plant native trees and shrubs in their place
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Promotion
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Media coverage includes The San Francisco Examiner and the Frisc.com
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Created this Fundraising video
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Held 6 watershed walks to the local community
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Outreach at the Inner Sunset Farmers Market for D7 Participatory Budgeting to fund tree removal in woodland canyon
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Offered watershed lessons to local high school students during our Summer High School Program, and Fall Youth Naturalist program
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Planning and Design
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Convened a collaborative vision workshop with 30 participants including members of UCSF, SFRPD, private landowners where the creek culverts, Golden Gate Bird Alliance, California Native Plant Society, Nature in the City, SF Urban Riders, Livable City, the Presidio Trust, SF Environment Department and Sutro Stewards core volunteers.
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Continued to foster a productive partnership between landowners, UCSF, SF Recreation and Parks Department.
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Offered watershed lessons to local high school students during our Summer High School Program, and Fall Youth Naturalist program
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Held an education walk of the watershed for the public in March of 2025
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Promoted the project on our website, in our newsletter and on social media channels
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We're getting ready to do a lot more!
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We're working with SFPUC and SFRPD on repairs from the watermain break on the Edgewood trail that caused a landslide into the canyon
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Plant over 600 native plants in the canyon - sign up for our next volunteer program to be a part of this!
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Continue to fundraise for a comprehensive design with a full hydrological analysis
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Launch a capital campaign to raise funding for full implementation
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Get Involved!
We hold regular stewardship events in the canyon to clear the invasive species that prevent native plants from thriving and suck up soil water.
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Sign up below for our next volunteer event!​
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Please fill out the waivers below!
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Donate to support this urban watershed!
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We are actively building this campaign and are seeking help with:
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Communications and PR
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Graphic illustration
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Web design and social media
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Grant research and fundraising
Contact Ildiko(at)sutrostewards.org to get involved.
Where Does the Creek Flow?
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Woodland Canyon Creek begins at the summit of Mount Sutro in two tributaries that converge in Woodland Canyon. The creek flows from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), property through San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD) land and disappears into a pipe near Stanyan street. The seasonal creek can be heard after a heavy rain, but the creek is never seen because it is hidden under so much overgrowth.
Restoration of the canyon would result in a clear view of the creek, could result in increased water flow due to removal of the dense vegetation which sucks up water, and by planting native riparian species grown in the Sutro Stewards Nursery, would serve as a biodiversity hotspot within Mount Sutro and San Francisco. Restoring this creek represents an opportunity to build community, enhance habitat for birds and butterflies and increase local resilience to drought and climate change.
We are excited to be working in collaboration with UCSF and SFRPD, neighbors and Mount Sutro enthusiasts, to enhance biodiversity within Woodland Canyon Creek, open vistas and maintain long-term sustainable stewardship of the creek and watershed into perpetuity.
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