Upper Penitencia Creek Project - Santa Clara Valley Water District

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages an
integrated water resources system that includes the
supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and
stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara
County’s 1.8 million residents. The district effectively
manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three
water treatment plants, a state-of-the-art water quality
laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge
ponds and more than 275 miles of streams.
Drains to
Alameda County
Lower
Peninsula
Watersheds
West
Valley
Watersheds
Guadalupe
Watershed
Uvas/Llagas
Watersheds
This project is in the Coyote Watershed. Sixteen
major creeks drain this 322-square-mile area.
The county’s largest watershed extends from the
urbanized valley floor upward to the vast natural
areas of the Diablo range. Coyote Creek, its main
waterway, is the longest creek in the county.
Natural Flood
Protection
Santa Clara Valley Water District is the primary
flood protection agency in Santa Clara County.
During the past 30 years, the water district has
removed more than 93,000 properties from
flood-prone areas, but another 73,000
still remain vulnerable to flooding.
We provide wholesale water and groundwater
management services to local municipalities and private
water retailers who deliver drinking water directly to
homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.
On the cover:
1. Flooding on King Road from Upper
Penitencia Creek, Jan., 1983.
2. Beryessa Creek, Los Coches Street to
Yosemite Drive
3. Dragon Fly (order Odonata)
4. California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
5. Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
6. Lower Penitencia Creek Trail downstream
of Capital Avenue.
Valley Water E - NEWS
Improving the quality of water in the county’s creeks
and bays is vital to Santa Clara County’s quality of
life. Over the past five years, the water district has
removed more than 30,000 cubic yards of trash
and debris from neighborhood creeks.
1
2
3
4
Clean, Safe Water
in Creeks and Bays
5
Healthy Creek and
Bay Ecosystems
6
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The health of a creek reflects the conditions
throughout a watershed, not just those along its
banks. In the past five years, the water district
has created nearly 300 acres of tidal wetlands
in South San Francisco Bay and plans to create
another 250 acres of wetlands. In addition, it
has removed nearly 60 acres of invasive plant
species along local waterways.
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© 2015 Santa Clara Valley Water District 0215 EM
CONTACT US
For more information, contact Judy Nam at
(408) 630-2747 or visit our website at valleywater.org
and use our Access Valley Water customer request and
information system. With three easy steps, you can use this
service to find out the latest information on district projects
or to submit questions, complaints or compliments
directly to a district staff person.
Trails, Parks
and Open Space
The water district works with cities and the
county to provide open space and recreational
opportunities. More than 30 new miles of
creekside trails have been constructed in the
past five years and an additional 40 miles
are planned.
Upper Penitencia Creek Project
No matter where
you are, you’re
in a watershed.
A watershed is
Coyote
the area of land
Watershed
that drains a common
waterway. In Santa Clara
County, our creeks catch rain
and runoff from storm drains
and carry the water north to San
Francisco Bay or south to Monterey Bay. Along the
way, some of the water is used to fill reservoirs for
drinking water, replenish the underground aquifer
and create better habitat for fish and wildlife.
inside:
More about us
Flood Risk Management Study
You’re in a watershed
Upper Penitencia Creek Project
Flood Risk Management Study
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About the project
Upper Penitencia Creek is a major tributary of Coyote
Creek and drains a portion of the city of San Jose.
The project encompasses approximately 4.2 miles
of Upper Penitencia Creek from Dorel Drive to the
Coyote Creek confluence.
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Flooding occured in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The 1982 flood caused between $1 to 2 million in
damages. The February 1998 flood impacted many
homes, businesses and local streets. Disruption to
businesses and transportation networks can result in
significant loss of productivity and revenue.
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One of the project’s goals is to avoid utility and
transportation shutdowns and prevent potential
damages from flooding. Because flooding is a major
problem in this area, the Santa Clara Valley Water
District requested the Army Corps of Engineers to
evaluate alternatives that would reduce flood risks
in an environmentally sensitive manner. As a result,
the Corps is conducting a feasibility study for Upper
Penitencia Creek.
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San Jose
Est. 100-year flood area
The Upper Penitencia Creek Project extends 4.2 miles through the city of
San Jose, from its confluence with Coyote Creek to Dorel Drive.
This project is part of the Safe, Clean Water and
Natural Flood Protection program, which was
approved by voters in November 2012. Developed
with input from more than 16,000 residents and
stakeholders, this 15-year program was created to
match the community’s needs and values.
The $41.9 million in local funding from Safe, Clean
Water would allow the water district to move ahead
with the planning, design and construction of the
project. Without local funding, work will not proceed
beyond the currently funded feasibility planning stage.
Project schedule
2014
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
planning
Feasibility study/
Environmental
Impact Statement
Periodic community
meetings and
project updates
design
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23
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Project objectives
Historic flooding
The primary objectives of the project are to:
• Reduce flood risk to 5,000 parcels
• Enhance native riparian and environmental
habitat
• Reduce sediment and maintenance requirement
• Improve water quality
• Provide increased opportunities for recreation in
cooperation with the city and county
Planning phase
The water district and the Corps are currently
in the planning phase of the project. The Corps
is evaluating existing creek conditions and will
develop alternatives that meet the project’s
objectives. These alternatives may include one or
a combination of the following:
Flooding on King Road, March 1982.
• Modifications to floodplains
• Levees and floodwalls
• Channel excavation
• Open and closed bypass channels
• Small-scale floodproofing
• Raise or remove some structures
Looking ahead
The Upper Penitencia Creek project offers a
tremendous opportunity to reduce flood risk,
create recreational opportunities and enhance
the environment. The water district will continue
to work with the community and city to provide
critical flood risk management for San Jose.
Flooding at Berryessa Industrial Park, January 1983.
The 1% annual chance exceedance
a.k.a. 1% flood or 100-year flood
The 1-percent annual chance exceedance measures
the statistical chance of major flooding in any
given year. The standard and the flood insurance
rate maps which are based on it are designed
for the National Flood Insurance Program to rate
properties and to provide information on areas most
likely to experience a major flood. This designated
area is carefully considered in planning flood risk
management projects, issuing building permits and
developing environmental regulations.
Flooding at San Jose Flea Market, January 1983.