Stream Maintenance Program Project
Notice of Draft Environmental Impact Report availability

Project Location: The project area covers streams, water delivery canals, and adjacent properties in Santa Clara County that the Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) owns or holds an easement for access and maintenance. Routine maintenance activities are projected to occur in or along approximately 240 miles of streams and 29 miles of canals.

Description of Nature, Purpose, and Benefits of Project:

The District is the public agency responsible for flood protection and stream stewardship projects countywide. The proposed SMP allows the District to continue preserving the existing level of flood protection of streams and water delivery function of canals in the county. For flood protection, all creeks in Santa Clara County with a watershed greater than 320 acres are in the District’s jurisdiction.

Major routine maintenance activities to maintain the conveyance capacity of county streams and canals include: removal of sediment, removal of vegetation growth, and repair of erosion sites within and along streams and canals. Other minor routine maintenance activities include maintenance of vegetation sites, fence repair, trash removal, and removal of downed trees or other blockages from streams. Routine maintenance activities under the SMP will preserve the flood protection for approximately 86,765 parcels (approximately 31,645 acres) in Santa Clara County including:

• 77, 262 residential parcels (11,900 acres)
• 2,733 high-density residential parcels (1,612 acres)
• 432 public parcels (674 acres)
• 2,624 commercial parcels (3,206 acres)
• 1,796 industrial parcels (6,158 acres)
• 358 agricultural parcels (4,574 acres)
• 1,560 vacant and open space parcels (3,521 acres)

Potentially Significant Impacts: After implementation of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and compensatory mitigation measures, the localized fragmentation of wildlife habitat, with loss of habitat area, quality, and connectivity remains significant and unavoidable. Resuming herbicide use in the Pajaro River Basin (South Santa Clara County) has the potential for either a reduction or change in type of vegetation in the Pajaro River Basin. Installation of hardscape designs for bank protection has the potential for reducing riparian vegetation and fragmenting wildlife habitat.

Addresses Where Copies of Draft EIR are Available: Copies of the Draft EIR and Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) Report are available for inspection and review at:

• Santa Clara Valley Water District, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose
• Saratoga Community Library, 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 180 West San Carlos Street, San Jose
• Santa Clara City Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
• Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Road, San Jose
• Milpitas Community Library, 40 N. Milpitas Boulevard, Milpitas
• Alviso Public Library, 5050 North First Street, Alviso
• Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale
• Almaden Branch Library, 6455 Camden Avenue, San Jose
• Cupertino Public Library, 10400 Torre Avenue, Cupertino
• Morgan Hill Public Library, 17575 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill
• Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View
• Gilroy Public Library, 7387 Rosanna Street, Gilroy
• Los Altos Community Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos
• Los Gatos Public Library, 110 E. Main Street, Los Gatos
• Palo Alto Public Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto
• Campbell Public Library, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell
• Santa Clara County Library, 1095 N. 7th Street, San Jose

Public Review Period: The Draft EIR and SMP report are available for public comment from March 29, 2001 to May 14, 2001. Written comments on the DEIR and SMP Report must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2001, to: Santa Clara Valley Water District, Attention Ms. Cindy Roessler, 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118. Phone: (408) 265-2607, extension 2765. E-mail: CindRoes@scvwd.dst.ca.us.

Contact Person: To obtain additional information related to the Draft EIR and SMP Report, interested persons are invited to contact: Ms. Cindy Roessler, Project Manager, Santa Clara Valley Water District, 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, Phone: (408) 265-2607, extension 2765, E-mail: CindRoes@scvwd.dst.ca.us.

Comments received in response to the Draft EIR and SMP Report, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposed project and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d). Any person may request the District to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOLA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under FOLA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances such as to protect trade secrets. The District will inform the requester of the its decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the District will return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without the name and address.

Stanley M. Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Santa Clara Valley Water District