Preferred project: A federal-state-local partnership
This project continues a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), to plan, design and construct improvements along 4.2 miles of Upper Penitencia Creek from the confluence with Coyote Creek to Dorel Drive. Part of the project will protect the area around the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Berryessa station near King Road, which would otherwise be subject to flooding.
In addition to providing flood protection, this multi-objective project will provide ecological restoration and recreation benefits while preserving the water supply. The natural creek channel will be preserved while adjacent existing open space and parkland will remain as recreational areas, only rarely taking the role as a temporary floodplain so that floodwaters do not enter surrounding neighborhoods and commercial areas. Proposed construction measures may include modified floodplains, limited levees/ floodwalls, a bypass channel, and fish passage improvements.
Local-funding-only project
The original local-funding-only project was to acquire all necessary rights-of-way and construct a 1% (100-year event) flood protection project from Coyote Creek confluence to King Road, which would have protected 450 parcels. In December 2019, the Valley Water Board directed staff to use the available local funding to complete the design and construction of the locally funded project as well as build the reaches of the preferred project that can be constructed with the available funding. This approach extends the local-funding-only project from King Road to Capitol Avenue and provides 1% flood protection for an additional 800 parcels. As a result, the new local-funding-only project is to construct flood improvements along Upper Penitencia Creek from the confluence of Coyote Creek to Capitol Avenue to increase the 1% flood protection provided with local available dollars to 1,250 parcels, including the new Berryessa BART station.
Project Modification: January 2023
On January 24, 2023, the Valley Water Board held a formal public hearing and approved reallocating the construction-related planned expenditures for this project. The modification was necessitated due to construction cost escalations across the Safe, Clean Water Program impacting the program’s financial health. This will impact Valley Water’s ability to construct the project and deliver the KPIs. Valley Water will reassess the availability of funding on an annual basis as part of the Capital Improvement Program’s financial planning process.
Valley Water finalized the Planning Study Report (PSR) in May 2022 and with that, the project will enter the Design Phase. Typically, it takes approximately three years to complete the Design Phase. The Design Phase, funded by local-funding only, includes Phases I and II of the project from Coyote Creek to Capitol Avenue. Phase III, Capitol Avenue to Dorel Road, is part of the project with federal and local funding. The project has not been receiving federal funding.
The PSR discusses the current creek conditions, defines objectives, analyzes alternatives based on the project's alternative ranking methodology, describes public input, and identifies the staff-recommended alternative, including its operation and maintenance and potential mitigation requirements. During the Planning Phase, the staff-recommended alternative was developed in coordination with the City of San José, Santa Clara County, Eastside Union High School District, property owners, resource agencies, stakeholders, and the public. The PSR and additional project documents are available in the Reports & Documents section of this webpage.
August 2023
For more information:
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Jose Villarreal, Public Information Representative, (408) 630-2879
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Use "Access Valley Water" to submit questions, complaints or compliments.
Planning Study Report (PSR) and Supporting Appendices
- Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection Project Final PSR
- Appendix A: Landscape Vision Report
- Appendices B through I: Conceptual Alternatives
Inundation Maps
SFEI Vision Report
Public Meeting Materials
May 15, 2019:
Staff provided an update on the feasible alternatives which reflected the public input received at the October 2018 public meeting.
October 2, 2018:
FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program
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Preferred project with federal and local funding: Construct a flood protection project to provide 1% (100-year) flood protection to 8,000 parcels.
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With local funding only: Construct a 1% (100-year) flood protection project from Coyote Creek confluence to Capitol Avenue to provide 1% (100-year) flood protection to 1,250 parcels, including the new Berryessa BART station.
Benefits
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Preferred project provides up to 1% flood protection to approximately 8,000 homes, schools and businesses
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Local-funding-only project provides 1% flood protection to 1,250 parcels, including the new Berryessa BART station
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Restores/enhances ecological and riparian habitat
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Reduces sedimentation and maintenance requirements
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Improves water quality in Upper Penitencia and Coyote creeks
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Provides opportunities for recreation improvements consistent with the City of San José and Santa Clara County
Park master plans -
Addresses climate change
Geographic Area of Benefit
San José
Flooding History and Project Background
Upper Penitencia Creek is a major tributary of Coyote Creek, flowing westerly from Alum Rock Park through the residential neighborhoods of Berryessa and Alum Rock in San José. More than 5,000 homes, schools and businesses are located in this floodplain, including many high-tech and commercial industries supporting the greater Silicon Valley.
With the capacity to carry less than a 10-year event, Upper Penitencia Creek has spilled its banks at least nine times since Valley Water began preparing flood reports in 1967. Damaging flood events occurred in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1995, 1998, 2017, and 2023 impacting many homes, businesses and surface streets.
Potential damages from a 1% (or 100-year) flood event are estimated at $455 million (in 2004 dollars, according to a USACE economic analysis), with average annual damages estimated at $30.5 million for the full reach from the Coyote Creek confluence to Dorel Drive.
The preferred project would build on a 1981 tri-party agreement between Valley Water, the City of San José, and Santa Clara County to preserve open land and provide flood protection along the Upper Penitencia Creek corridor. As a result of the agreement, 78 acres have been permanently preserved as Penitencia Creek County Park and Penitencia Creek Trail. A 4-mile, intermittent trail follows Upper Penitencia Creek from 700-acre Alum Rock Regional Park to its confluence with Coyote Creek. In addition to much-needed flood protection, this project will help provide the opportunity for the City of San José and Santa Clara County to complete the long-planned trail and linear park.
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 Valley Water's 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.