This project helps restore and maintain healthy fish populations, especially steelhead, by improving fish passage and habitat. Sites may include Alamitos Creek at Almaden Lake and County of Santa Clara-owned Ogier Ponds, where human-made creek alterations disrupt fish migration. Project D4, which includes coordinating and partnering with other external parties, incorporates studies of streams throughout the county to determine what and where habitat improvements will most benefit steelhead. These studies can be used by regional partners to implement complementary habitat enhancements.
The project also continues funding to place instream gravel, boulders, large wood, or other features to enhance fish habitat at appropriate locations. By adding natural stream features such as large wood, we can create habitat to provide refuge during fish migration, prolonged drought, or extreme rainfall events. Additionally, habitat restoration can improve ecosystem function and increase resiliency to climate change. By restoring natural functions, issues such as water quality may be less exacerbated and native species can continue to flourish and adapt.
See Environmental & Community Benefits section for complete description of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
KPI #1: (Planning and design for creek/lake separation)
- On May 11, 2021, the Board certified the Final Environmental Impact Report. Click here to read the report.
- The planning phase of the project was completed in 2019.
- Valley Water closed out the design phase in FY24.
KPI #2: (Partially construct creek/lake separation)
Ogier Ponds: Coyote Creek runs through Ogier Ponds, which are six large, abandoned mining pits. Currently, fish get lost and cannot find their way out of the ponds, leaving them vulnerable to non-native predatory fish and to the ponds’ rising temperatures that can impact fish growth and health. Since 2016, Valley Water and Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation have studied the potential of separating Ogier Ponds from Coyote Creek to improve fish passage. Based on that work, Valley Water decided to include the Ogier Ponds-Coyote Creek Separation Project as part of the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project (ADSRP) conservation measure.
-
A Master License Agreement (MLA) was completed in December 2024 to facilitate Valley Water’s access and planning study investigations on Santa Clara County Parks land.
-
Completed the conceptual alternatives and draft feasibility analysis in FY24.
-
Review of the Planning Study Report with the recommended alternative in FY25.
-
Design is expected to begin in FY26.
-
Construction will be coordinated with ADSRP completion (currently 2032).
KPI #3: (Fish passage improvements)
Moffett Fish Ladder: In FY23, Valley Water selected the Moffett fish ladder on Stevens Creek for fish passage improvement. A planning study report is being prepared to define problems with the existing structure, present options to improve the structure, receive input from stakeholders, and identify a staff-recommended alternative for design and construction.
This fish barrier is ranked seventh in Valley Water’s fish passage barrier prioritization report for Stevens Creek (Stevens Creek Fish Passage Remediation Prioritization: August 2021). Poor fish passage performance at this facility results from debris clogging in the ladder and poor attraction flows at the entrance. Key milestones include:
- Completed conceptual alternatives evaluation in FY25 Q2
- Feasible alternatives evaluation is underway
- Design is expected to begin by FY26 with construction expected by FY28
Singleton Road Fish Barrier: In October 2021, the City of San José, in partnership with Valley Water, completed construction of an interim bridge, replacing the previous Singleton Road low-water crossing over Coyote Creek. Valley Water provided $1.0 million in cost-share funding to the city for construction. Valley Water also provided the city with project design services and permitting assistance. The low-water crossing presented a critical barrier to fish passage and its removal has increased migratory fish access to about 17 miles of upstream Coyote Creek riparian corridor including access to the cold-water management zone. Valley Water will continue to monitor project performance through 2031.
KPI #4: (Steelhead stream study update)
In FY23, Valley Water began a fish passage barrier removal prioritization study on Guadalupe Creek, Alamitos Creek, and Arroyo Calero. An internal stakeholder meeting was held in March 2024 to develop prioritization criteria. Site reconnaissance for potential fish impediment sites occurred between May 2024 and December 2024. Currently, staff is completing site surveys and hydrological analysis to develop hydraulic models that will support the evaluation of potential barriers. Valley Water expects to complete this study by the end of FY26.
KPI #5: (Habitat enhancement projects)
Uvas Creek: In August 2022, Valley Water completed the construction of the large woody debris and gravel augmentation (LWDGA) project to improve the fish habitat along Uvas Creek in Gilroy. The project is designed to increase instream habitat diversity, shelter complexity, and the amount of instream shelter at three sites along Uvas Creek. The design of Site 1, located approximately 1,200 feet downstream of Santa Teresa Boulevard, consisted of an engineered log jam (ELJ) of rootwad logs on the right bank intended to create hydraulic complexity and increase shelter cover and complexity. The ELJs for Sites 2 and 3, located 1,500 feet and 600 feet upstream of Miller Avenue, included a bar apex jam at each site designed to cause channel bifurcation and increase habitat complexity.
April 2025
For more information:
Creek/Lake Separations
- Almaden Lake: Erin Baker, (408) 630-2608
- Ogier Ponds: Kevin Sibley, (408) 630-3141
Fish Passage Improvements
-
Kevin Sibley, (408) 630-3141
Fish Habitat Improvements/Steelhead Stream Study Update
- Judy Nam, (408) 630-2747
Key Performance Indicators (FY22-36)
-
Complete planning and design for one (1) creek/lake separation.
-
Partially fund the construction of one (1) creek/lake separation project in partnership with local agencies.
-
Use $8 million for fish passage improvements by June 30, 2028.
-
Update study of all major steelhead streams in the county to identify priority locations for fish migration barrier removal and installation of large woody debris and gravel as appropriate.
-
Complete five (5) habitat enhancement projects based on studies that identify high priority locations for large wood, boulders, gravel, and/or other habitat enhancement features.
Benefits
-
Improves habitat and passage for steelhead and other native fish within Santa Clara County watersheds
-
Contributes to required mitigation for environmental impacts of reservoir and recharge operations and countywide Stream Maintenance Program
-
Maintains investment in earlier habitat improvements
-
Improves fish passage and habitat conditions, strengthening the resiliency of native fish populations, including steelhead, against the impacts of climate change
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.