E4: Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection*

Status

Active

Phase

Design to resume in FY 2030

Location

San José

Schedule

Start FY 2019 / Finish TBD

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($12.6 million)

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.

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

See Environmental & Community Benefits section for complete description of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

There has been no federal funding for this project. Therefore, Valley Water has focused on the local-funding-only project (KPI #2). Valley Water is currently conducting additional planning to explore targeted risk-reduction measures and evaluate phased project implementation.

In FY23, Valley Water finalized the revised the Planning Study Report (PSR). 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.

Project Modification (2023)

On January 24, 2023, the Valley Water Board of Directors approved modifying the project funding to remove the project’s construction-related planned allocations, thus impacting the construction of the project. The funding reduction became effective on July 1, 2023 (FY24). The modification was necessitated by construction cost escalations across the Safe, Clean Water Program, which impacted the program’s financial health. The project’s construction-related dollars were released to the Safe, Clean Water Program’s Operating and Capital Reserves. While funding for design and permitting is secured, Valley Water will reassess construction funding availability annually through the Capital Improvement Program’s financial planning process.

Project Re-Evaluation

On January 13, 2026, the Valley Water Board of Directors directed staff to move forward with the preliminary FY2027 CIP, which includes additional planning for targeted risk-reduction measures for flooding hotspots, accelerated design activities, and review of phased implementation. The Planning Phase is now scheduled for completion in 2027.

April 2026

For more information:

Erin Baker, Project Manager, (408) 630-2608
Jose Villarreal, Public Information Representative, (408) 630-2879
Sign up to receive project updates via email.
Use "Access Valley Water" to submit questions, complaints, or compliments.

See Environmental & Community Benefits section for complete description of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Project Modification (2023)

Project Re-Evaluation

April 2026

For more information:

Erin Baker, Project Manager, (408) 630-2608
Jose Villarreal, Public Information Representative, (408) 630-2879
Sign up to receive project updates via email.
Use "Access Valley Water" to submit questions, complaints, or compliments.

March 2024 Project Shell

Planning Study Report (PSR) and Supporting Appendices

Inundation Maps

Upper Penitencia inundation map (100 year)

SFEI Vision Report

Resilient Landscape Vision for Upper Penitencia Creek

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:

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program

Preferred project with federal and local funding: Construct a flood protection project to provide 1% (100-year) flood protection to 8,000 parcels.
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

Preferred project provides up to 1% flood protection to approximately 8,000 homes, schools and businesses
Local-funding-only project provides 1% flood protection to 1,250 parcels, including the new Berryessa BART station
Restores/enhances ecological and riparian habitat
Reduces sedimentation and maintenance requirements
Improves water quality in Upper Penitencia and Coyote creeks
Provides opportunities for recreation improvements consistent with the City of San José and Santa Clara County Park master plans
Addresses climate change as the project is designed to increase flow capacity, thereby reducing flood risks from storm events projected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Furthermore, the project accounts for 2 feet of sea level rise

Geographic Area of Benefit

San José

Flooding History

With the capacity to carry less than a 10-year event, Upper Penitencia Creek has had a history of flooding since Valley Water began preparing flood reports in 1967. Damaging flood events occurred in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1995, and 1998- impacting many homes, businesses, and surface streets. In 2017, the creek caused minor flooding when it overflowed its banks near Independence High School in San José. In 2023, stormwater from Penitencia Creek overflowed its creek banks and flooded the San Jose Flea Market and Penitencia Creek County Park, leaving debris and mud.

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.

Project Background

The Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection Project was a part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, approved by voters in 2012. The project had two key performance indicators (KPIs), with the preferred project using both federal and local funding to construct a flood protection project to provide 1% flood protection to 5,000 homes, businesses, and public buildings. The local-funding-only project required acquiring all necessary rights-of-way and constructing a 1% flood protection project from Coyote Creek confluence to King Road.

However, in 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that they could not support a multi-objective project that would align with the interests of the community, resource agencies, and Valley Water. As a result, the Valley Water Board directed staff to lead the planning focused on a multi-purpose project that would provide long-term benefits for flood protection, fish and wildlife, riparian vegetation, water supply, and recreation.

In the absence of federal funding, in December 2019, Valley Water decided to proceed with the design and construction of just the lower reaches of the project, from Coyote Creek up to Capitol Avenue. Under the 2012 Program, Valley Water finalized the Feasible Alternatives and Staff Recommended Project Report and completed the draft Planning Study Report.

Voters Approve the Renewed Safe, Clean Water Program

In November 2020, voters approved the renewed Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, replacing the 2012 Program. The project has continued in the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program.

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.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.