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2012 E2: Emergency Response Planning*

About This Project

This project allows Valley Water to work with local municipalities to clearly identify roles and responsibilities for floodplain management and flood emergency management and increase awareness of the Valley Water's flood response procedures. The project supports countywide emergency response and preparedness activities, develops communication procedures and disseminates web-based flood forecasting information developed under Project C2, Emergency Response Upgrades. Collaborators also develop formal, site-specific flood response procedures or action plans (flood-fighting strategies), and coordinate outreach throughout the county so that the public receives uniform flood warning messages.

This project is comprised of 2 sub-projects that support the Valley Water's ongoing emergency response planning. Refer to Appendix B in the 5-Year Implementation Plan for project descriptions. These sub-projects are:

  • E2.1 Coordination with Local Municipalities on Flood Communication

  • E2.2 Flood-Fighting Action Plans

 

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

Emergency Response Planning
Datapoints
Status
On Target
Location
Countywide
Schedule
Start FY 2014 / Finish FY 2028
Funding
Safe, Clean Water Fund ($3.9 million)
News and UpdatesNews and Updates
Reports and DocumentsReports and Documents
Environmental and Community BenefitsEnvironmental and Community Benefits
History and BackgroundHistory and Background
News & Updates

Key Performance Indicators for the Safe, Clean Water Program

KPI #1: Coordinate with agencies to incorporate Valley Water-endorsed flood emergency procedures into their Emergency Operations Center plans.

E2.1: Coordination with Local Municipalities on Flood Communication 

  • Valley Water staff attended (virtually) the February San Francisquito Creek Managers meeting. The topic of winter preparedness and Valley Water’s emergency action response processes were touched on. This effort will continue periodically to ensure communication of Valley Water’s flood planning and response practices to all the Joint Powers Authority agencies.

  • In Q3 of FY21, Valley Water completed its annual collaboration with the City of San Jose to update the Joint Emergency Action Plan. Valley Water staff from vegetation management, engineering maintenance support, emergency management and others collaborated with City staff to complete this project.  The updated plan was signed off by the City general manager and Valley Water’s CEO

  • The annual Winter Preparedness symposium was held virtually last October 2020. Due to the format, the time was truncated to accommodate attendees. However, external agencies like National Weather Service and Santa Clara County and internal business units (e.g. Water Supply, Office of Emergency Services) presented to the multiple agencies in virtual attendance. This effort annually kicks-off the winter collaboration between Valley Water and external agencies with an effort to maximize effective communication and a goal of protecting our communities not only as a matter of organizational mission, but also as an employee commitment to protecting all our communities.

KPI #2: Complete 5 flood-fighting action plans (1 per major watershed).

E2.2: Flood-Fighting Action Plans 

  • San Tomas Aquino Creek (West Valley Watershed) 
    The development of the San Tomas Aquino flood response plan was completed in Q2 of FY21, and is incorporated into the West Valley Watershed Emergency Action Plan in the appendix, the latter document was also developed simultaneously with the creek procedure.  External stakeholder input was incorporated as appropriate to ensure engagement with respective jurisdictions. The development process included two cycles of stakeholder reviews in Q4 FY20 and final executive approval and completion in Q2 FY21.
  • West Little Llagas Creek Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Uvas Creek EAP (Uvas/Llagas Watershed)
    The updates for both of these EAPs have been completed and both have been posted to Valley Water's website https://www.valleywater.org/flooding-safety/flood-emergency-action-plans

  • San Francisquito Creek EAP (Lower Peninsula watershed) 
    The update for this plan is complete and approved. This plan has been posted to Valley Water's website https://www.valleywater.org/flooding-safety/flood-emergency-action-plans

Updated April 2021

For more information:

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Reports & Documents

No current documents. 

Environmental & Community Benefits

Key Performance Indicators for the Safe, Clean Water Program

  1. Coordinate with agencies to incorporate Valley Water-endorsed flood emergency procedures into their Emergency Operations Center plans. 

  2. Complete 5 flood-fighting action plans (1 per major watershed). 

Benefits

  • Reduces flood damage

  • Provides effective coordinated response to storm-related emergencies

  • Improves community awareness about flood risks

Geographic Area of Benefit

Countywide 

     

    History & Background

    About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

    In November 2012 the voters of Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure B, the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, as a countywide special parcel tax for 15 years with a sunset date of June 30, 2028. This Program replaced the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, which voters approved in November 2000.

    The Safe, Clean Water Program was developed with input from more than 16,000 residents and stakeholders and was created to match the community’s needs and values. The voters of Santa Clara County identified five priorities:

    Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply

    Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways

    Priority C: Protect our Water Supply from Earthquakes and Natural Disasters

    Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space

    Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools and Highways

    Other: Six projects from the Clean, Safe, Creeks Plan have been carried forward into the Safe, Clean Water Program.  

    Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these Program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.

    To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the Program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board.

    In addition, the Program requires three independent audits, the first of which was conducted in FY 2017.

    View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.