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Stream Maintenance Program

About This Project

As part of its Stream Maintenance Program (SMP), the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) plans to perform work along creeks across Santa Clara County this summer. Under the SMP, work occurs annually to improve the environment, reduce the risk of flooding and keep our communities safe. For decades, our crews have been trekking into streams to remove sediment build-up, manage vegetation, clear trash and debris, and stabilize banks that have eroded during high water flows. Work to reduce fire danger continues to be important, especially given the county’s extreme drought conditions and the ongoing challenges of climate change. The SMP ensures streams with completed flood protection projects continue to function as designed to protect homes and businesses.

Valley Water owns and manages about 294 miles of streams. Each year, portions of these streams are inspected and prioritized for maintenance projects. 

  • Under the "News and Updates" tab below, you'll find information on this year's projects.
  • Under the "Reports and Document" tab below, you'll find various notices, factsheets and documents related to SMP. 
  • Under the "Environmental and Community Benefits" and "History and Backgrounds" tabs below, you'll find more background about the program. 

For more information about the program or projects, you can also contact Jose Villarreal at 408-630-2879 or [email protected]. 

Datapoints
Schedule
Mid-June to Mid-October
Work Days
Mon-Fri (Some Sat. work may be necessary)
Work Hours
Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (work before 8 a.m. limited to prep activities)
Location
Countywide
Funding
Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program (Partial)
News and UpdatesNews and Updates
Reports and DocumentsReports and Documents
Environmental and Community BenefitsEnvironmental and Community Benefits
History and BackgroundHistory and Background
News & Updates

2023 Projects*

The completed projects listed here were part of the 2023 season’s proposed work. Other work, including minor maintenance, riparian planting, invasive plant removal, and other vegetation management projects, occur year-round. A copy of this year's general program notice, which includes a map of the work locations, is available to download. The proposed 2023 project sites are listed to the right. Notices from previous years and other important creekside information are available in the "Reports and Documents" tab.

What to expect 

Work on SMP projects typically occurs Monday through Friday, but Saturday work may be necessary to complete some projects. Work hours are set by local city ordinances, starting between 7 a.m. and generally ending by 5 p.m. Our crews strive to be courteous to all neighbors. Any work occurring before 8 a.m. will be limited to preparation activities with minimal noise impact.

Potential Types of Stream Maintenance Program Work

Bank protection
High and sustained water flows can cause extensive damage to creek banks, eroding existing flood protection improvements and natural elements. Repairing creek banks also helps protect neighboring homes and property from damage.

Sediment removal

Sediment and debris washed downstream can restrict water flow in some areas. During a heavy storm, these restricted flow areas could cause water to back up, which can increase the risk of flooding. Crews remove sediment to allow stormwater to flow through the creeks as designed. To the extent possible, Valley Water reuses sediment for environmental purposes and to reduce disposal costs.

Vegetation management
Valley Water crews manage over 3,000 acres of instream and upland vegetation annually. Selective removal of instream vegetation maintains flow conveyance in streams and riparian corridors. Managing upland vegetation restores maintenance access and maintains fire code compliance, given the county’s cyclical dry conditions and the ongoing challenges of climate change. Valley Water’s vegetation management work is crucial in helping to reduce fire risk.  

Mitigation
Valley Water implements mitigation projects to offset impacts associated with some of the bank protection, sediment removal, and vegetation management work. Mitigation projects can include:

  • Riparian planting: Enhances and establishes habitat for birds, amphibians, fish, and other terrestrial and aquatic species living in creek corridors to compensate for the unavoidable riparian impacts created by sediment removal, bank protection, and vegetation management activities. Invasive and non-native annuals and grasses that compete with native plants are removed. Vegetation that meets the habitat needs of the project site with the highest likelihood of surviving and thriving is planted. Valley Water monitors and maintains riparian planting areas for five to seven years to ensure projects are successful.
  • Invasive plant management: Plant species such as Algerian ivy, Cape ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tree of heaven, and giant reed, are removed because they present a significant threat to the ecosystem. These plants spread aggressively and can negatively alter wildlife patterns, soil stability, and water quality. Invasive plants can increase the risk of flooding and fire danger, undermine structural assets, and obstruct access to roads, levees, and trails.
  • Instream habitat improvement: Work is done to address the impacts of removing sediment and large woody debris from certain streams. This can include adding rocks and logs or root wads to the creek to create a higher-quality habitat for fish and other species.
  • Compensatory mitigation: This is the restoration, establishment, enhancement, or preservation of natural resources to replace resources impacted by maintenance activities. In addition to the above work types, compensatory mitigation may include the restoration of existing floodplains and bank rehabilitation by remediating unauthorized excavations, concrete removal, and sediment removal to promote wetland habitat.

*While Valley Water made every effort to undertake these proposed projects, work may not have been conducted for multiple reasons, including delays in receipt of regulatory agencies’ approvals, wildlife considerations, unforeseen site conditions, and unavailability of resources, among other circumstances. Projects not initiated this year may be considered for completion in future years.

Below are images of before and after projects from the 2023 season of work. 

 

Before: Sediment removal on Berryessa Creek downstream of Piedmont Road in San Jose.
After: Sediment removal on Berryessa Creek downstream of Piedmont Road in San Jose.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Before: Bed and bank protection project on Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino.

 

 

 

 

 





 

Construction: Bed and bank protection project on Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino.
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After: Bed and bank protection project on Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino.

#

Location Project Site** Project Type(s) Current Status
1 Campbell Los Gatos Creek upstream of San Tomas Expwy. Bank Repair Completed
2 Cupertino Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Dr.
Bank Repair Completed
3 Cupertino Stevens Creek downstream of McClellan Rd. Mitigation  
4 Gilroy Lions Creek downstream of Santa Teresa Blvd. Bank Repair Completed
5 Gilroy West Branch Llagas Creek downstream of Murray Ave. Bank Repair  
6 Gilroy Llagas Creek downstream of Buena Vista Ave. Bank Repair  
7 Gilroy Jones Creek downstream of Hwy. 152 Sediment Removal Completed
8 Gilroy Uvas-Carnadero Creek downstream of Luchessa Ave. Mitigation  
9 Los Gatos Ross Creek downstream of Camino del Cerro Bank Repair  
10 Los Gatos Ross Creek downstream of Topping Wy. Sediment Removal Completed
11 Milpitas Calera Creek upstream of Escuela Pkwy. Sediment Removal Completed
12 Milpitas Tularcitos Creek downstream of I-680 Sediment Removal Completed
13 Milpitas Los Coches Creek downstream of Dempsey Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
14 Milpitas Piedmont Creek upstream of Vista Wy. Bank Repair  
15 Milpitas Piedmont Creek upstream of Vista Wy. Mitigation  
16 Morgan Hill Tennant Creek upstream of Hill Rd. Bank Repair Completed
17 Mountain View Permanente Creek upstream of Hwy. 101 Sediment Removal  
18 Mountain View
Stevens Creek downstream of La Avenida

Bank Repair

Completed

19 Mountain View Stevens Creek downstream of La Avenida Sediment Removal Completed
20 Palo Alto San Francisquito Creek downstream of University Ave. Bank Repair

Completed

21 Palo Alto Barron Creek upstream of Adobe Creek confluence Bank Repair  
22 San Jose Guadalupe River at Trimble Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
23 San Jose Guadalupe River upstream of San Carlos St. Bank Repair  
24 San Jose Guadalupe River upstream of Malone Rd. Bank Repair  
25 San Jose Guadalupe River at Blossom Hill Rd. Bank repair  
26 San Jose Canoas Creek downstream of Nightingale Dr. Bank Repair Completed
27 San Jose Canoas Creek upstream of Hillsdale Ave. (Site 1) Bank Repair Completed
28 San Jose Canoas Creek upstream of Hillsdale Ave. (Site 2) Bank Repair Completed
29 San Jose Canoas Creek downstream of Albion Dr. Bank Repair  
30 San Jose Canoas Creek (multiple locations) Sediment Removal Completed
31 San Jose

Ross Creek at Cherry Ave., Jarvis Ave., Meridian Ave.

Sediment Removal Completed
32 San Jose Coyote Creek downstream of Tasman Dr. Bank Repair Completed
33 San Jose Berryessa Creek, Cropley Ave. to Morrill Ave. Sediment Removal Completed
34 San Jose Berryessa Creek downstream of Messina Dr. Sediment Removal Completed
35 San Jose Berryessa Creek downstream of Piedmont Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
36 San Jose Sierra Creek upstream of Knights Bridge Rd. Bank Repair Completed
37 San Jose Upper Penitencia Creek downstream of Jackson Ave. Sediment Removal  
38 San Jose Lower Silver Creek upstream of Tully Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
39 San Jose Thompson Creek downstream of Quimby Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
40 San Jose Thompson Creek downstream of Aborn Rd. Bank Repair  
41 San Jose Coyote Creek downstream of Silicon Valley Blvd. Mitigation  
42 Santa Clara Calabazas Creek downstream of Hwy. 237 Bank Repair  
43 Santa Clara San Tomas Aquino Creek downstream of Agnew Rd. Sediment Removal Completed
44 Santa Clara Saratoga Creek upstream of Pruneridge Ave. Bank Repair  
45 Santa Clara Saratoga Creek upstream of Pruneridge Ave. Mitigation  
46 Santa Clara Guadalupe River downstream of Montague Expwy. Bank Repair Completed
47 Santa Clara Guadalupe River downstream of Montague Expwy. Vegetation Management  
48 Saratoga Calabazas Creek downstream of Comer Dr. Sediment Removal Completed
49 Sunnyvale Sunnyvale East Channel, from Guadalupe Slough confluence to upstream of Hwy. 237 Vegetation Management  
50 Sunnyvale/
Santa Clara
Calabazas Creek downstream of Hwy. 101 Sediment Removal Completed

Information on trail impacts is available here.

**For Santa Clara County creeks that flow toward Monterey Bay (i.e., creeks in the Pajaro Watershed, including Uvas Creek and Llagas Creeks, and their tributaries), in general, the terms, “upstream of” and “downstream of” can be further understood as “north of” and “south of”, respectively. For Santa Clara County creeks that flow toward San Francisco Bay (i.e., creeks not in the Pajaro Watershed), in general, the terms, “upstream of” and “downstream of” can be further understood as “south of” and “north of”, respectively. Learn more about watersheds here.

 

    Reports & Documents
    Current Project Notices
    Reports & Documents
    Factsheets
    Misc. Links 
    Previous Project Notices

     

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    Los Gatos Creek - Before vegetation removal
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    Los Gatos Creek - During vegetation removal
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    Los Gatos Creek - After vegetation removal

     

    Environmental & Community Benefits

    Valley Water's Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) ensures flood protection projects continue to function as designed to protect homes and businesses along water district streams.

    Thanks to various flood protection projects completed by Valley Water, some homes and businesses have been removed from FEMA-designated flood zones, and in addition to flood risk reduction activities, save residents countywide over $2 million in flood insurance premiums each year. Once those flood protection projects are completed, Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program ensures those projects continue to function as designed to protect homes and businesses along water streams.

    • There are more than 800 miles of creeks in Santa Clara County. Valley Water owns 275 miles of streams in the county, but only a portion of these have been modified with flood protection projects. Those are the streams that are maintained by Valley Water.

    Valley Water crews regularly inspect stream and bank conditions. Toward the end of the rain season, staff finalize the proposed work plan for the upcoming Stream Maintenance Program work season.

    From June to October, after securing state and federal regulatory agencies’ approval of the work plan, our crews trek into streams to remove sediment, manage vegetation, clear trash and debris, and stabilize banks that have been eroded. While the heavy work takes place in the summer, stream maintenance is a year-round effort.

    During heavy storms, unruly vegetation and sediment washed down from areas upstream can restrict the flow of water and in some areas, cause a back-up, increasing the risk of flooding. Valley Water monitors known “hot spots” for vegetation and debris buildups and where needed and safe to do so, take action to remove these blockages and reduce the threat of localized flooding.

    Stream maintenance work also includes an integrated vegetation management program which provides many benefits. Removal of in-stream vegetation ensures flow conveyance. Upland vegetation management is performed to meet fire code compliance and maintenance access. Native planting and invasive plant removal projects improve the ecological habitat of the riparian ecosystem.

    If you observe a problem in any creek in our service area, you can report it on our "Access Valley Water" online customer request and information system. This is the best way to alert our field crews of downed branches, eroding banks, trash, graffiti or overgrown vegetation.

    Keep debris and trash out of our streams: If you see trash polluting a creek, pond or reservoir, call 1(888) 510-5151.

     

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    Before erosion repair
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    After erosion repair

     

    History & Background

      YOUR INVESTMENT AT WORK

        In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program that was approved in 2012. The renewed program identifies the following six key community priorities, established with tens of thousands of residents and stakeholders:

        Priority D provides funding for Valley Water to conduct mitigation site maintenance on native plant revegetation projects in creeks where we have jurisdiction to complete work. Priority F provides funding for Valley Water to conduct vegetation management and sediment removal projects for flow conveyance in creeks where we have jurisdiction or approval to complete work. The funding for this work is critical as it helps to enhance and establish habitat for wildlife and reduce flood risks to our communities. Thank you for
        your investment.

        Details on the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program can be found at safecleanwater.org. The renewed Safe, Clean Water program will become effective starting on July 1, 2021.

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        Before and after sediment removal on Berryessa Creek