San José, CA — Today, Valley Water and its federal and state partners marked the completion of Reaches 1 through 3 levees of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Phase I Project—a major milestone in the region’s effort to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure from coastal flooding and sea-level rise.
The milestone marks the construction of two miles of engineered coastal flood protection levee north of State Route 237, between Alviso Marina County Park and Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. The Phase I Project is designed to shield the Alviso neighborhood and parts of North San José. Additionally, this initial phase lays the groundwork for restoring 3,000 acres of tidal wetlands, a vital ecological buffer and habitat for endangered species.
This effort is a collaboration between Valley Water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California State Coastal Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Full coastal flood protection benefits will come to fruition once all the flood risk management components have been constructed from Alviso Slough to Coyote Creek, estimated to be completed in 2035.
“This levee is more than infrastructure, it’s a promise to future generations that we are building a safer, more resilient shoreline,” said Valley Water Board Chair Tony Estremera. “This achievement reflects the power of partnership and the dedication of countless individuals who made this vision a reality.”
Director Richard Santos, who represents the project area and grew up in Alviso, added: "I remember the floods in the 1960s, 80s, and as recently as 1995. It wasn't just the water, but the damage and fear they brought. This project is more than infrastructure; it's an important step toward peace of mind for our community."
The San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project is built on a federal, state and local partnership and is a model of climate resilience and equity.
“I am proud to see the completion of 1–3 levees of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Phase I Project. This vital project will help restore four miles of levee and approximately 3,000 acres of wetlands and protect shoreline communities, like historically underserved Alviso, and critical infrastructure from coastal flooding due to sea-level rise,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17).
“As extreme weather and climate change-related emergencies increase in frequency, our communities need protections in place now more than ever,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18). “Flood protection projects, like this one, shield coastal infrastructure and safeguard economic progress along our shoreline. I am glad to see these life-saving protections for San José residents completed.”
Future phases of the project will continue to extend flood protection and wetland restoration along the South Bay shoreline, reinforcing the region’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
Click HERE for the livestreamed event. For more information, visit valleywater.org/shoreline.
Photo caption, pictured left to right: Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer, California State Coastal Conservancy; Domingo Candelas, Councilmember, City of San José; Patrick Ahrens, Assemblymember, District 26, California State Assembly; Chris Barr, Acting Complex Manager, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Lt. Col. Virginia Brickner, Commander and Engineer, San Francisco District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Richard P. Santos, Vice Chair, District 3, Valley Water Board of Directors; Melanie Richardson, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Valley Water; Lisa M. Gillmor, Mayor, City of Santa Clara; Otto Lee, Board President, County of Santa Clara.
****Project Funding Information****
The current project total cost is $545 million to implement coastal flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and recreational project elements. The project has received $124 million under the USACE 2018 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Bill. California State Coastal Conservancy’s (Conservancy) and Valley Water’s total local cost share of the project is $309 million. Valley Water’s local cost share is $207 million, and the Conservancy’s local cost share is $102 million. Valley Water has secured $15 million from the 2012 Safe, Clean Water Program, $61 million from the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority’s Measure AA program, and $7.7 million from the Conservancy to support Reaches 1-3 levee construction and approximately $7.4 million to support the future Reaches 4-5 levee construction.
The remaining share of Valley Water funds will be from the Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund and Senate Bill 881 which will allow Valley Water to be eligible for reimbursement from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) State Subventions Program. To date, the Department of Water Resources has allocated $21.6 million in funding. Future federal appropriations of $17 million will be required for restoration monitoring.
****Additional quotes****
Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy
“Today we celebrate not just three years of construction, but many years of planning, design, fundraising, and collaboration. The completion of Reaches 1-3 marks a huge step towards the completion of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, one of the foremost nature-based flood protection projects in the state. The Coastal Conservancy is proud of the 20 years of federal, state, and local cooperation that have brought this project from feasibility study to the climate-resilient, long-term flood defense we see today.”
Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority
“The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority was created to fund projects exactly like this; a project that will help protect the community of Alviso and critical infrastructure in the South Bay from flooding, enhance public access, and create climate-resilient habitat for wildlife. We thank Bay Area voters who supported Measure AA by 70% in 2016 so that local funding could be leveraged to complete projects that will safeguard the future of our Bay.”
Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, City of Santa Clara
“By safeguarding the Regional Wastewater Facility, the Shoreline Project helps ensure essential services for Santa Clara and the entire region for decades to come.”
Councilmember Domingo Candelas, City of San José
“As Chair of the Treatment Plant Advisory Committee, I know that protecting our city’s infrastructure isn’t always front-page news—but that’s exactly how it should be. When levees hold, when flooding doesn’t happen, when residents can go about their day without worry, that’s the mark of success. This project is about more than concrete and engineering; it’s about reliably protecting lives, homes, and vital infrastructure from the impacts of climate change. I’m proud to support these kinds of forward-thinking investments that strengthen our community’s resilience for generations to come.”