NEWS RELEASE

Date: April 19, 2002

Environmental work for Guadalupe River flood project wins statewide accolade

PALM SPRINGS - A study by the Santa Clara Valley Water District to provide flood protection on the upper reaches of the Guadalupe River in San José will be honored Saturday by the California Association of Environmental Professionals.

The study, consisting of an environmental impact report and engineer's report, is receiving recognition for "outstanding environmental analysis document, large jurisdiction" during the Association of Environmental Professionals' annual conference today in Palm Springs.

The study is for proposed construction of a flood-protection project between Interstate 280 and Blossom Hill Road, east of Almaden Expressway, in San José. When the project is completed more than a decade from now, it will protect an estimated 7,500 homes and Highway 87 from major floods.
The AEP award recognizes the environmental analysis on several criteria, including "clarity of organization, clarity of writing, economy of language, completeness and originality."

The $154 million upper Guadalupe River project - which could begin construction in a year or two - features bypass channels to safely carry floodwaters without damaging environmentally sensitive areas of the creek. Portions of the creek that were realigned by past roadway construction projects will be reconfigured to restore the environmental integrity of the river. In addition, the project will remove barriers to fish migration and barren areas alongside the river will be planted with native vegetation commonly found along waterways.

The bypass channels also would reduce the frequency of bank erosion along the river, which improves water quality.

In advance of construction, the district three years ago built a fish ladder on the Guadalupe River in Almaden Valley and removed concrete obstacles to fish migration in the river at Hillsdale Avenue and near the confluence of Ross Creek. The efforts allow steelhead trout and Chinook salmon to migrate from San Francisco Bay to the lower reaches of the Santa Cruz mountains to spawn, lay their eggs and rear their young.

The upper Guadalupe River project, when completed, will provide improved access for fish to more than 12 miles of spawning habitat.

The upper river project complements the Guadalupe River Park and Flood Protection project through downtown San José. Construction on the downtown project is expected to be completed in 2005.

Santa Clara Valley Water District is Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water manager and coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents, while serving as steward of the county's more than 700 miles of streams.