Cornbleet said the neighbors had been presented plans for the creek before the highway was completed, which included trees and natural-looking rocks.

"The creek had to be dredged and changed when the highway was put in," she said. "By the time the bulldozers got finished, only one tree was left--a cedar behind our house. The neighbors petitioned to have new native trees planted, which was done. But the tree trimming has not been professionally done."

Cornbleet said trucks and workers from a host of different agencies, such as the Santa Clara Valley Water District, PG&E and Caltrans, are often seen by neighbors doing work along the creek.

In December, when she looked out her window and saw heavy machinery and workmen from the Santa Clara Valley Water District grading the dirt road that runs along the creek, she became concerned and contacted her neighbors.

"I don't want a ditch behind my house," she said. "We want to make it look like a creek as much as possible and don't want a road by the creek except where it's absolutely necessary."

Richard D'Sa, who also lives by the creek, said there are several issues neighbors are concerned about. "They destroyed most of the trees and vegetation when they put the highway in," he said. "The water district said they would repair the area, but it never happened."

D'Sa said there was a culvert that runs under Highway 85 where teenagers hang out and drink and use drugs, which neighbors are concerned about.

D'Sa said that finding out which agencies have jurisdiction over the creek is confusing. He called Beau Goldie at the Santa Clara Valley Water District to get some answers. He asked that the water district consult with the neighborhood about any work being done.

"We're trying to do a little research on what has been committed to and what has not," Goldie said. He said the water district needed to have the ability to get equipment and a crane to the creek in order to keep it clear and remove fallen trees. The road had ruts and was muddy, which could cause access problems, he said. "Our focus is to make sure the channels flow and that we can remove debris in the case of a storm to prevent flooding."

Goldie said a tractor would be used to grade the road and lay down some gravel, but the big storms in late December had put work along the creek on hold.

"In response to the citizens, we moved our operation downstream," Goldie said. "We moved the operation to begin at the confluence of Calabazas and Rodeo. We will work upstream and stop at Prospect until we have the opportunity to sit down and talk with the residents to let them know what we're doing and listen to their concerns. We're going to contact the residents and set a meeting."

Goldie said the water district attempts to balance flood prevention with minimizing impacts on vegetation and disruption to the community.

"I want to make sure that the residents out there understand what we are doing," Goldie said. "If there is something we're not doing that we're supposed to be doing, we want to fix that."