Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project

Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project Final Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No. 2023110513)

WHAT: Notice of public meeting to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report

WHEN: March 11, 2025, 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: HQ. Bldg. Boardroom, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San José, CA 95118-3686 (In-Person) or https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84454515597 (Zoom Meeting).

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), as the lead agency for the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project (Project), has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate environmental impacts of the Project (State Clearinghouse No. 2023110513).

On March 11, 2025, the Board certified the Final EIR and approved the Project. The EIR and Notice of Determination are available for download at the following links below:

The Project will construct and maintain a series of flood risk reduction improvements to reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas along approximately 9 miles of Coyote Creek in the City of San José (City), Santa Clara County, California. The improvements would be implemented along Reaches 4 through 8 of Coyote Creek from the Montague Expressway to Tully Road in the City.

Flood risk reduction improvements identified for the project primarily consist of floodwalls, passive barriers, and berms that would be constructed along and adjacent to Coyote Creek. The project also includes the construction of headwalls and wingwalls along the Charcot Avenue Bridge crossing and reinforcement of the bridge structure, and installation of flap gates within the City’s stormwater conveyance system to prevent backflows during flooding events. The project meets the following specific objectives:

Reduce the risk of flooding to homes, schools, businesses, and transportation infrastructure along Coyote Creek between Montague Expressway and Tully Road from a flood event equivalent to the February 21, 2017, flood (approximately a 20-year flood event);
Complete the project before the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project Stage 2 Diversion is in operation (estimated in 2028);
Design the project to prevent increases in erosion and degradation of Coyote Creek;
Maintain access and minimize impacts to existing and planned recreation facilities; and,
Minimize the need for future operations and maintenance activities.

The Final EIR identified significant environmental impacts for the following resource topics: air quality; biological resources; cultural resources; geology, soils, and seismicity; hazards and hazardous materials; vibration; transportation and traffic; tribal cultural resources; and utilities and service systems. Many of these impacts were determined to be less than significant after implementing mitigation measures. However, significant impacts would remain significant and unavoidable for noise.

In addition to the digital copies available for download (see above), the Final EIR is available for in-person review at the Valley Water main campus located at: 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118. 

For additional information, please contact Andrew Martin at (408) 630-2160 or via email at: [email protected].