Valley Water is dedicated to keeping residents and businesses safe through its flood protection programs. The Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project will provide 100-year flood protection to approximately 1,820 homes, schools and businesses in Milpitas.
When complete, the Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project will provide new floodwalls, improved levees, and widened creek channels to accommodate high flows. This is in addition to enhanced and enlarged tidal and freshwater wetlands and riparian habitat.
The Lower Calera Creek Flood Protection Project is considered part of the larger collection of flood protection improvements under the Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project.
Phase 2 is mostly completed with some remediation work to be completed summer 2019. Construction on the Lower Calera Creek segment of the project will also begin this summer and will continue through October 2019.
A 2019 pre-construction notice will be posted and sent prior to construction this summer.
Click here to view the pre-construction notice from 2018.
For more information:
- Contact Public Information Representative Albert Le at (408) 630-2860 or by email at [email protected].
- Use “Access Valley Water” to submit questions, complains or compliments directly from your computer to a water district staff person who can help you. Click on the "Projects or work going on in my neighborhood" tab and select "Berryessa Creek (Lower) flood protection project - Lower Penitencia Creek to Calaveras Blvd."
- Sign up to receive project updates via email.
- Lower Berryessa Creek 2018 Pre-construction notice
- Lower Berryessa Creek Project FAQ (Updated August 2018)
- Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
- Addendum (July 2018) Redesign of Reaches A and B of the Lower Calera Creek Element
- Lower Berryessa Creek Fact Sheet
- Calera Creek Fact Sheet
- Tularcitos Creek Fact Sheet
The Santa Clara Valley Water District's Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project, when completed, will protect 2,447 parcels in Milpitas from the threat of a 100-year flood event, which has a 1-in-100 chance of occurring in any given year. The Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project includes both the Upper Berryessa Creek portion and the Lower Berryessa Creek portion.
The Lower Berryessa Creek portion of the project, which includes Calera and Tularcitos creeks, will protect 1,823 properties in Milpitas, between Milpitas High School and E. Calaveras Boulevard (north to south) and the Union Pacific Railroad to Highway 680 (east to west).
The Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project extends approximately 1.7 miles through the city of Milpitas, from its confluence with Lower Penitencia Creek, south to Calaveras Boulevard. The project also includes about 2.1 miles of Calera and Tularcitos creeks. These two smaller creeks are tributaries to Berryessa Creek and must also be modified to prevent water from overflowing their banks. When complete, this project will protect vast portions of the City of Milpitas from flood events.
Phase 1 (yellow area on the map)
This phase stretches from the confluence at Lower Penitencia Creek (approximately 400 feet south of Milmont Drive Bridge) to Abel Street. The flood protection improvements for this phase include earthen levees on the east side of the creek and artificial floodwalls on the west side of the creek, as well as an enhanced tidal and freshwater wetlands area. Construction of Phase 1 was completed in December 2016. Plant establishment work will continue through December 2021.
Typical cross section of Phase 1 channel improvements (facing east)
Phase 2 (orange area on the map)
This phase stretches from Abel Street to Calaveras Boulevard. The flood protection improvements for this phase include earthen levees on the north side of the creek and artificial floodwalls on the south side of the creek, as well as enhancing riparian habitat. Construction of Phase 2 began in 2016. Some remediation work remains for Lower Berryessa Creek and will be completed summer 2019. Construction on the Lower Calera Creek portion of the project will begin summer 2019 and will continue through to October 2019.
Typical cross section of Phase 2 channel improvements (facing south)
Phase 3 (red area on the map)
Upper Calera Creek and Tularcitos Creek will be completed as part of phase 3. This phase is still in the design and planning process.
For more information:
- Contact Public Information Representative Albert Le at (408) 630-2860 or by email at [email protected].
- Use “Access Valley Water” to submit questions, complains or compliments directly from your computer to a water district staff person who can help you. Click on the "Projects or work going on in my neighborhood" tab and select "Berryessa Creek (lower) flood protection project - Lower Penitencia Creek to Calaveras Blvd."
- Sign up to receive project updates via email.
