Flood protection measures under Priority E include capital construction projects, studies of flood prone areas, maintenance of existing flood protection channels and improvements to emergency planning for flood response.
Flood protection capital projects are prioritized to protect the largest number of people, homes and businesses, as well as safeguard the highways, streets, public transportation and business centers that people depend on for their livelihoods. All the construction projects under Priority E are undertaken in partnership with the federal government, and will require federal funding in addition to local funding to complete the preferred scope. Should federal funding become scarce, a reduced scope would be implemented, as described in the individual project summaries.
Whenever possible, Valley Water also leverages funds from the state, local municipalities and other stakeholders.
Project E1: Vegetation Control and Sediment Removal for Flood Protection
Project E2: Emergency Response Planning
Project E3: Flood Risk Reduction Studies
Project E4: Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection (Coyote Creek to Dorel Drive - San José)
Project E7: San Francisco Bay Shoreline Protection (Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San José, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale)
Project E8: Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection (Highway 280 to Blossom Hill Road - San José)
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.