Valley Water is committed to reducing the risk of flooding to homes, businesses, and schools and improving the environment by working along creeks across Santa Clara County. This work includes removing sediment build-up, managing vegetation, clearing trash and debris, and stabilizing banks that have eroded during high water flows.
As part of this commitment, Valley Water completed bank repairs and rehabilitation work in the City of Cupertino along Calabazas Creek between Miller Avenue and Bollinger Road. Under the Calabazas Creek Bank Rehabilitation Project, Valley Water repaired and stabilized damaged creek bank sections along portions of Calabazas Creek to their as-built or natural condition.
Valley Water completes creek repairs
The work to repair and stabilize the banks of Calabazas Creek was completed in the fall of 2023. The contractor is returning to remove invasive vegetation and plant native plants along the creek from Bollinger Rd. to La Mar Dr. The contractor will also place large rocks at three different sections along the creek. The contractor will access the creek from Calle de Barcelona for the rock placement work. This work is expected to occur April 15 through October 15, 2024. Crews will be on-site from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A copy of the mailed work notice is available.
The contractor will access the creek from Bollinger Rd and temporarily close one lane for equipment and materials to enter and exit the site. One lane in each direction will remain open to traffic at all times. Please use caution and follow all traffic control measures in the area. Flaggers will be present to guide pedestrians and drivers safely.
The completed project achieved the following:
- Minimizes future bank failure and potential damage to nearby properties.
- Minimizes impacts on water quality and riparian habitat associated with continued bank erosion.
- Reduces the need for on-going maintenance.
- Maintains the existing level of flood protection.
The project area along Calabazas Creek features steep banks prone to erosion, making nearby properties vulnerable. In 2011, Valley Water completed construction on the Calabazas Creek Flood Protection Project along a 3.7-mile stretch of Calabazas Creek between Miller Avenue in Cupertino and Wardell Road in Saratoga.
April 2024
For more information:
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Ted Ibarra, Project Manager, (408) 630-2067
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Jose Villarreal, Neighborhood Liaison (408) 630-2879
General Information
Studies and Reports
- Final CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration (July 2021)
- Confirmed Project Plans
- Confirmed Specifications
- CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration Notice of Intent (September 2020)
- Draft CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration (September 2020)
- Draft CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration Appendices (September 2020)
Under the Calabazas Creek Bank Rehabilitation Project, Valley Water will repair and stabilize damaged creek bank sections along portions of Calabazas Creek to their as-built or natural condition. Specifically, the project would repair and stabilize eroding channel banks at ten locations along the creek through either the installation of rock riprap to reconstruct the bank or sheet pile walls. By doing this, this project will help:
- Minimize future bank failure and potential damage to nearby properties.
- Minimize impacts on water quality and riparian habitat associated with continued bank erosion.
- Reduce the need for on-going maintenance.
- Maintain the existing level of flood protection.
This portion of Calabazas Creek features steep banks and several areas with minimal distance between the top of the bank and residential fence lines, which makes it vulnerable to bank erosion issues. In 2011, Valley Water completed construction on the Calabazas Creek Flood Protection Project along a 3.7 mile stretch of Calabazas Creek between Miller Avenue in Cupertino and Wardell Road in Saratoga. As part of that work, Valley Water repaired bank erosion along several sections of the creek that are also located within the current bank rehabilitation project area.
During recent inspections, Valley Water observed erosion, signs of bank failure and surfaces lacking cover from vegetation. Many of these issues were a result of the winter storms that occurred in late 2016 and early 2017. This project will fix these identified issues and their surrounding areas, which may include sites that overlap with the erosion repair sections previously identified in 2011.
