Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection Project

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to improve Upper Penitencia Creek to ensure flood protection from a 100-year flood event.  The project limits extend approximately 4.2 miles between the confluence with Coyote Creek and Dorel Drive.  Upper Penitencia Creek is a tributary to the Coyote Creek system, and its watershed is approximately 24 square miles in size.  The Santa Clara Valley Water District is working in partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to prepare a planning study (Feasibility Study) and an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR).  The project team is coordinating with the City of San Jose on future development projects and their Trails Master Plan; the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on the BART project; and resource agencies (National Marine Fisheries Service, Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Environmental Protection Agency).

Purpose: Approximately 5,000 homes and businesses in the cities of Milpitas and San Jose would be affected by a 100-year flood event with potential future flood damages estimated at $455 million. The goals and objectives of the project are as follows: 1) reduce flood damages to residential, commercial, and industrial areas, and provide protection from the 100-year flood event throughout the project area; 2) reduce maintenance requirements especially due to sedimentation; 3) avoid and minimize impacts to riparian and aquatic habitat; 4) identify opportunities to integrate recreation improvements consistent with the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County Parks Master Plan; 5) prepare a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) package and submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and 6) incorporate the District’s Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection (NFP) Program Objectives.

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