Upper Llagas Creek - Santa Clara Valley Water District

Clean, Safe Creeks
Natural Flood
Protection
No matter where
you are, you’re in a
watershed.
A watershed is the
area of land that
drains a common
waterway. In Santa
Uvas/Llagas
Clara County, our creeks
Watersheds
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.
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 97,000 properties from
flood-prone areas, but another 69,000
still remain vulnerable to flooding.
Drains to
Alameda County
Lower
Peninsula
Watersheds
West
Valley
Watersheds
Guadalupe
Watershed
Coyote
Watershed
Clean, Safe Water
in Creeks and Bays
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.
This project is in the Uvas-Llagas Watershed, a
104-square-mile region which is distinguished by its
agricultural lands and natural areas.
Healthy Creek and
Bay Ecosystems
On the cover:
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5
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For more information, contact
Stephen Ferranti at (408) 630-2677.
Also, visit our website at
www.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 the project or to
submit questions, complaints or compliments
directly to a district staff person.
© 2013 Santa Clara Valley Water District 042013 EM
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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.
5750 Almaden Expwy
San Jose, CA 95118
www.valleywater.org
Trails, Parks
and Open Space
The water district works with cities and the
county to provide open space and recreational
opportunities. More than 30 miles of new
creekside trails have been constructed in the
past five years and an additional 40 miles
are planned.
flood protection project
Contact us
1. Street flooding at Llagas Creek along
Monterey Road in Morgan Hill, winter
2009
2. Crews remove sediment on West Little
Llagas Creek
3. Dragonfly (Odonata)
4. California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
5. Over 20 native plants were planted for the
Pajaro Basin Freshwater Wetland Project
6. New Morgan Hill Wildlife Trail near
Monterey Road and Tennant Avenue
Upper Llagas Creek
The Upper Llagas Creek flood protection project is
funded by the countywide Clean, Safe Creeks and
Natural Flood Protection parcel tax passed by voters in
November 2000. The 15-year plan makes it possible
to protect homes, businesses and government land
from flooding while improving the health of creek
and bay ecosystems, and creating trails and parks for
recreational enjoyment.
You’re in a watershed
inside:
Your Clean, Safe
Creeks vote at work
Upper Llagas Creek
flood protection project
Protecting people and properties
Project background
Each winter, hundreds of households and businesses in Morgan Hill are susceptible to flooding from Llagas Creek
during a major storm. The creek has experienced flooding during major storm events in 1955, 1958, 1962,
1963, 1969, 1982, 1986, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
The Water Resources Development Act of 1999
authorized the Corps of Engineers to complete the
Upper Llagas Creek flood protection project. The
Corps is the lead federal agency responsible for the
planning, design and construction of the project.
The water district is the local sponsor responsible for
the acquisition of the lands required for the project.
per Llagas Creek
The Santa Clara Valley Water District is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the city of
Morgan Hill to design a flood-protection project along approximately 13 miles of East Llagas Creek, West Little
Llagas Creek and Llagas Creeks, from Buena Vista Avenue to Llagas Road, in San Martin and Morgan Hill. The
project will also protect agricultural land and preserve and enhance the creek habitat for fish and wildlife.
ct map
project map
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The Upper Llagas Creek project, when completed, will provide an increased level of flood protection; 100-year for Reaches 7
and 8, 10-year for Reach 14 and no induced flooding due to uptream creek modifications in Reaches 4, 5 and 6.
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14 15
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design
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West Little Llagas Creek at Monterey Road and 4th Street.
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Project benefits
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The water district, in partnership with the city of
Morgan Hill, has decided to complete the design
and environmental documents to keep the project
on schedule.
• Provide flood protection for residents of
Morgan Hill and San Martin
• Preserve the creek’s natural habitat
• Minimize impacts on migratory fish
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Llagas Creek at the confluence of reaches 4, 5, and 14. An
objective of the flood protection project is to preserve, and
where possible, restore the existing stream functions and values.
Total cost of the project is approximately $132
million from the water district, Corps, and the State
of California.
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The Upper Llagas Creek
watershed encompasses the
area of Llagas Creek north
of Buena Vista Avenue as
well as its tributaries, the
West Little Llagas and East
Little Llagas creeks.
Morgan Hill
a
Tenn
an
Morgan Hill
Community Center
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Galvan Park
Morgan Hill City Hall
and Civic Center
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San Mar tin Creek
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Britton
School
Reach 8
Chesbro
Reservoir
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El Toro
Elementary
School
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To date, progress on the project has been slow,
primarily due to challenges in obtaining federal
funding. The Corps has generally received only
about a quarter or less of the funds requested in
any one year.
Periodic community
meetings and
project updates
The water district is in the design phase of the project.
construction
Looking ahead
The Upper Llagas Creek flood protection
project offers a tremendous opportunity
to improve flood protection and enhance
the environment. The water district will
continue to update the community on
the design and is looking forward to
working with the community to provide
critical flood protection needs for
Morgan Hill and San Martin.