Funding from this project helps the community acquire important habitat land to preserve local ecosystems. The project supports implementation of the Valley Habitat Plan, a multi-agency agreement that pools mitigation dollars to purchase large areas of habitat land for conservation.
Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program
KPI #1: Provide up to $8 million for the acquisition of property for the conservation of habitat lands.
- KPI #1 is complete. In July 2019, the Valley Water Board of Directors authorized the transfer $8,000,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to acquire, preserve, and manage a population of the endangered species Coyote ceanothus. The population is one of only three known populations of this perennial shrub. The acquisition of this habitat land also contributes to open space conservation goals in the Morgan Hill area.
Updated September 2019
Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program
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Provide up to $8 million for the acquisition of property for the conservation of habitat lands.
Benefits
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Fulfills a portion of Valley Water’s acre allocation to the Valley Habitat Plan
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Protects, enhances and restores natural resources in Santa Clara County
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Contributes to the recovery of special status species
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Coordinates regional mitigation projects to create larger, less fragmented conservation lands that are more beneficial for wildlife and the environment
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Provides for endangered species and wetlands mitigation for future water supply and flood protection projects
Geographic Area of Benefit
Countywide
About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program
In November 2012 the voters of Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure B, the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, as a countywide special parcel tax for 15 years with a sunset date of June 30, 2028. This Program replaced the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, which voters approved in November 2000.
The Safe, Clean Water Program was developed with input from more than 16,000 residents and stakeholders and was created to match the community’s needs and values. The voters of Santa Clara County identified five priorities:
Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply from Earthquakes and Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools and Highways
Other: Six projects from the Clean, Safe, Creeks Plan have been carried forward into the Safe, Clean Water Program.
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.
In addition, the Program requires three independent audits, the first of which was conducted in FY 2017.