Centennial Creek is a highly visible waterway that flows through Centennial Park in Paso Robles alongside a popular community greenbelt trail. As part of the Centennial Creek watershed, the creek provides important tributary flows to the Upper Salinas River, which ultimately drains to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Because of its location in a public park and residential area, Centennial Creek plays an important role in both local ecology and community life.

The Upper Salinas–Las Tablas Resource Conservation District (USLTRCD) began working at Centennial Creek in 2015, launching early restoration efforts to improve stream health and reduce erosion. During this initial phase, the RCD restored approximately 400 feet of streambank by recontouring and planting native vegetation, helping stabilize the channel, improve riparian habitat, and demonstrate effective stormwater management practices in an urban setting. Community members were also engaged through a rain barrel rebate program that encouraged water conservation and reduced runoff from nearby neighborhoods.

Building on this early success, the RCD later partnered with Caltrans and regulatory agencies to implement larger-scale restoration at Centennial Creek as part of mitigation for the State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project. These efforts focused on improving creek function and habitat by removing barriers, restoring natural channel features, and planting native riparian and wetland vegetation across more than four acres of the creek corridor.

Today, the project has moved into a long-term stewardship phase. Through 2035, the RCD will continue monitoring, maintenance, and adaptive management to ensure the creek remains stable, resilient, and healthy. This ongoing work reflects the RCD’s commitment to caring for local waterways while supporting both environmental restoration and the community’s connection to Centennial Creek.