D3: Sediment Reuse to Support Restoration Projects

Sediment Reused Build along Maintenance Road at Pond A8

Status

Active

Location

Countywide

Schedule

Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($4.1 million)

This project reuses local sediment removed through Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program, capital projects and other local sources to create and restore tidal marsh, riparian or wetland habitats. Sediment may be reused to support the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration project or other environmental enhancement and restoration projects. Valley Water removes sediment from streams to maintain their capacity to carry floodwaters. To secure environmentally appropriate reuse sites, partnership agreements may be required. This project also funds site improvements necessary to facilitate sediment delivery to the reuse sites.

Beneficial reuse of sediment has become a key component in tidal marsh, riparian or wetland restoration around the bay and throughout the county. As sea levels rise, natural sedimentation and vegetation rates cannot keep up and tidal zones are in danger of being submerged, erasing environmental gains from restoration work. By delivering clean sediment from local creeks that would have naturally flowed into the San Francisco or Monterey Bays, this project accelerates natural marsh-building processes and helps to keep up with sea-level rise. Activities necessary for sediment reuse may include testing, transport, cover material, and site improvements required for access.

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

Upon completing beneficial reuse efforts with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project at Pond A8, Valley Water explored and identified the Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project (Pond A4 Project) along the southern shoreline in Sunnyvale as a new location for sediment reuse. The Pond A4 Project, a Valley Water multi-benefit project that the Valley Water Board of Directors approved in April 2023, is designed to create shallow water habitat for shorebirds and promote flood resilience by beneficially reusing material harvested from local creeks to construct a habitat bench along the southern perimeter of Pond A4. This constructed habitat bench will also provide a great foundation for a potential upland transition zone if and when Pond A4 is restored to tidal action. The site is expected to be ready to receive sediment in FY27.

For more information on the Pond A4 Project, visit https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/pond-a4-resilient-habitat-restoration-project.

In the past, because of the higher standards required to meet criteria under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), Valley Water was unable to find enough soil that met the foundation criteria, and even less for cover, thus limiting Valley Water’s ability to deposit the soil at Pond A8. SBSPRP, USFWS, and Valley Water are working with the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board to modify the criteria for reuse material. As part of that effort, Valley Water continued to test the sediment removed to ensure consistent sediment quality data was available. In FY26, Valley Water’s consultant initiated an analysis of wind-wave erosion potential for the habitat bench to be constructed at Pond A4. This work is intended to support recommendations for a reduced thickness of wetland surface material placement at Pond A4. Because Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) sediment rarely meets the criteria for cover material, reducing the required cover thickness could increase the beneficial reuse of SMP sediment that qualifies as foundation material. Under the Pond A4 project-specific QAPP, the current requirement is to place three (3) feet of wetland surface material over any wetland foundation-quality material.

The wind-wave erosion analysis, along with a review of relevant scientific literature, is expected to be completed in FY27. Based on the findings, Valley Water hopes to support a reduction in the required cover thickness from three (3) feet to approximately two (2) feet.

August 2026

For more information:

Samantha Greene, (408) 630-2275

For more information on the Pond A4 Project, visit https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/pond-a4-resilient-habitat-restoration-project.

August 2026

For more information:

Samantha Greene, (408) 630-2275

No current documents.

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

All annual reports, annual IMC audit reports and independent audits

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicators for the Safe, Clean Water Program

Reuse sediment meeting applicable screening criteria at available Valley Water or partnership project sites to support restoration.
Provide up to $4 million per 15-year period to support activities necessary for sediment reuse.

Benefits

Accelerates progress of important tidal wetland restoration projects, including tidal marsh, wetland, and riparian habitat
Reduces disposal costs for sediment that has been removed from local channels
Reduces disposal of clean fill into local landfills
Addresses climate change impacts by accelerating the natural marsh-building process and helping keep up with the sea-level rise

Geographic Area of Benefit

Countywide

About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

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.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

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. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

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.