Creek restoration

As part of its Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, the Santa Clara Valley Water District will create or restore an estimated 100 acres of tidal and/or riparian habitat over the 15 years of the plan.

Partnering with the cities, the county, community and environmental groups and other agencies, the water district will identify and complete projects to preserve and restore creekside vegetation, remove barriers to fish migration and restore and protect habitat for fish and wildlife, especially endangered species.

Before and after creek restoration
Below are some photos that illustrate the problems seen in many creeks that a restoration project aims to solve.

The photograph below shows a creek before restoration. The water district looks at the shape and water flow of a creek. What's wrong with it? The banks are eroding as the creek cuts into them. Also, a natural creek should be more complex--with deep pools, sand bars and varied rates of flow. This channel is wide and shallow, so when water levels are low, the water won't be deep enough for fish.

A creek with eroding banks before restoration

After this creek is restored, it will look more like the one below:

A healthy, natural creek

This creek is much more complex, showing the results of natural processes. Gravel bars have developed. In drier periods, all the water will flow in the deep, narrow channel on the right.

A straight channel in need of restoration

A creek with a straight channel like this one is unfriendly to fish. It lacks shade and cover. The in-stream habitat lacks complexity. Think of a fish aquarium with nothing on the bottom but gravel.

A natural, shady creek

This creek, on the other hand has a more complex instream habitat. Trees and brush overhanging the creek provide shade. The creek flow varies, with deep pools as well as riffles in the stream.