This project allows Valley Water to revitalize habitat for rare, threatened or endangered species or vegetation types, and create a more contiguous corridor for wildlife, including pollinators. Funding helps to restore degraded habitat by removing invasive plants and/or revegetating with native species. Funding is prioritized for projects that include community partnerships or provide education for nearby landowners and other stakeholder groups on the control of harmful species.
The project will also create an Early Detection and Rapid Response Program to identify and treat small infestations of new weeds before they become established.
Increasing the quality and quantity of native habitat areas and improving the connections between them are important adaptive strategies to support native species as climate conditions change. It increases access to new areas for migration and more room for hiding, hunting, breeding and rearing as needs evolve and increase.
Related information
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CA Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) - scroll down to the middle of Cal-IPC’s home page for science-based tools and information to help make the best choices for CA.
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Calflora - an abundance of information on California plants.
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SFEI’s historical ecology studies for Santa Clara County - shows past and present habitats, and environmental conditions important for habitat revitalization.
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Sycamore Alluvial Woodland Planting Guide (Loma Prieta RCD, SFEI, and HT Harvey 2018).
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Sycamore Alluvial Woodland: Habitat mapping and regeneration study (Beagle et al., 2017 SFEI).
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Re-Oaking - CA oaks and other native trees (SFEI).
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Resilient Silicon Valley - improving ecosystem health (SFEI).
- Urban Ecological Planning Guide for Santa Clara Valley by SFEI (2019).
- Santa Clara County Wildlife Corridors Working Group recommendations to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on the Monterey Road corridor in Coyote Valley
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NBC Bay Area OpenRoad with Doug McDonnell Coyote Valley Wildlife Corridor.
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Calscape by CNPS - native butterflies & moths by location, including host plants.
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What Grows Here by Calflora
Methods to control invasive plants
- Cal-IPC Invasive Plant Management references including Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands (Bossard et al. 2000).
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Practical Guidebook for the Identification and Control of Invasive Aquatic and Wetland Plants (SFEI)
Water mold alerts
Phytophthora species are pathogenic water molds affecting our native plants. For more information, go to Why the concern (2015), CNPS and below.
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CalPhytos Phytophthoras in native plants.
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Sudden oak death – California Oak Mortality Task Force
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Phytophthora pathogens threaten rare habitats and conservation plantings (Frankel et al. 2020).
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Valley Water hosted symposiums:
Record, Track and Monitor Weeds
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Calflora’s Weed Manager (WM) is a system which enables organizations engaged in land management to track weed infestations and treatments over time.
Native Plant Gardens
- Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program
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California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and its Santa Clara Valley Chapter.
Updated February 2021
FY22-36 Key Performance Indicators for the Safe, Clean Water Program
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Revitalize at least 21 acres over a 15-year period through native plant revegetation and/or removal of invasive exotic species.
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Develop an Early Detection and Rapid Response Program Manual.
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Identify and treat at least 100 occurrences of emergent invasive species over a 15-year period, as identified through the Early Detection and Rapid Response Program.
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Develop at least eight (8) information sheets for Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species.
Benefits
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Increases viability of native plant species by reducing competition from non-native, invasive species
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Improves habitat by installing tidal, riparian, and upland plant species or allowing native vegetation to passively regenerate after treatment/removal of invasive species
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Improves ecological function of existing riparian, wetland and potentially upland habitats to support more diverse wildlife species
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Improves patchy wildlife corridors by increasing connectivity with nearby habitat areas
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Increases community awareness about the damaging impact that non-native, invasive plants have on local ecosystems
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Helps to prevent new invasive species from becoming established
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Early Detection Invasive Species Information Sheets will guide staff and public on identification and treatment options, raise public awareness, and help prevent the spread of new noxious weeds
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 Other 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.