Laguna Seca Freshwater Wetland Project

The goal of the Laguna Seca Freshwater Wetland Project is to restore freshwater wetland habitat at the site of historic wetlands in the north Coyote Valley area. This area, known locally as Laguna Seca, has been drained and farmed since at least the early part of the last century. The wetland project site is located within the footprint of the proposed Coyote Valley Research Park (CVRP) stormwater detention basins. The wetland project would modify the proposed detention basins in order to provide either more or preferred wetland habitat, but the basins, when constructed, would continue to operate as flood detention facilities.

Laguna Seca is an area of both historic and current shallow groundwater and seasonal wetlands.  Upon construction of the project, the seasonally fluctuating groundwater will be at or near the ground surface during the wetter and cooler months of the year (winter through spring or early summer).  This type of hydrology is suitable to support wetland habitat, which requires saturated or flooded soils for a sufficient time during the year to support plants specifically adapted to the wet conditions.

Project contact:
For more information about this project, contact Senior Project Manager Ngoc Nguyen at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2632.

Check here for:

• Project background
• Project objectives
• Project timeline
• Site map
• View four conceptual alternatives:
  (1) Wetland plain
  (2) Wetland plan with high areas
  (3) Wetland plain, high areas and open water
  (4) Historical condition

Project background

The planned CVRP stormwater detention basins are approximately 3,200 feet north of the intersection of Santa Teresa Boulevard and Bailey Avenue in San Jose. The basins are a part of the flood protection facilities proposed for the CVRP Project. The proposed CVRP development on approximately 689 acres includes a 6.6-million square foot office/research campus, approximately 45 acres of new and existing channels, and the approximately 165-acre detention basins. The Water District Laguna Seca wetland project would excavate and restore wetland habitat within approximately 74 acres of the 165- acre area in advance of the construction of the detention basins for flood protection purposes.

The wetland project would help the District meet the regulatory requirements to compensate for impacts to freshwater wetlands resulting from stream maintenance activities. Stream maintenance activities, such as vegetation management and sediment removal, are important in preserving flood protection for Santa Clara Valley residents.

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Project objectives

• Provide 74 acres of wetland to continue toward meeting regulatory requirements for implementation of the stream maintenance program so that the District can continue to maintain flood protection for Santa Clara Valley residents .

• Meet the Board’s Policies in providing a healthy and safe environment and enhanced quality of life.

• Meet the Board’s Policies in protection of groundwater basins from contamination and the threat of contamination.

• Identify additional environmental enhancements for Board consideration.

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Project timeline

• July 2008: Hold a community meeting to receive public input on proposed wetland project.
  
  
• February 2009 – March 2009: public review of Engineer’s Report and Environmental Planning Document.
  
  
• July 2009: Adoption of the Environmental Planning Document and approval of Engineer’s Report.

• February 2010: Complete engineering plans and specifications for construction of the proposed wetland.

• February 2010 – April 2010: Advertising and awarding the construction contract.

• July 2010: Begin wetland construction.

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