Faux Creek at Frog Park

Inside this first section of Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt in Frog Park, you’ll find the beginning of a faux creek which runs the length of the park. This constructed creek is unique in that it roughly follows the path of Temescal Creek which now runs underground. Water is pumped from the creek below to create a seasonal "reconstituted creek" above. Originally built in 1974, the faux creek consisted of just the small headwater area in Hardy Park (now Frog Park) before it was extended in 2001. Along most portions of the greenbelt, the faux creek is continually being restored with improved channels, native plants, and small boulders for creek crossing. Many people are unaware that this is not a true, seasonal creek.

In 1972 the Frog Park section of Temescal Creek was culverted by the Alameda County Flood Control District. They encountered resistance to culverting the creek from people in this neighborhood, so they decided to build the faux creek in an effort to appease the community. The faux creek, run by the ACFCD, pumps water from the culvert below up into the “reconstituted creek” above.

Originally the faux creek only ran during the summer because in the winter leaf debris would clog up the channel and the creek would start to flood. The creek is often "turned off" due to concerns with algae, blockages in lines causing flooding, and E. Coli outbreaks. The Friends of Frog Park Community group works with ACFCD and the City of Okland to coordinate creek clean ups.