Every year, Valley Water performs work in creeks across Santa Clara County to ensure that flood protection projects continue to provide their designed protection. This critical work is part of our Stream Maintenance Program, which also manages vegetation to reduce the intensity and harmful impacts of fires during the extreme drought conditions in Santa Clara County.
Valley Water owns and manages about 275 miles of streams. Each year, portions of these streams are inspected and prioritized for maintenance projects. Our work generally falls under one of four categories:
- Bank protection: High and sustained water flows can cause extensive damage to creek banks, eroding existing flood protection improvements and natural elements. Repairing creek banks also helps protect neighboring homes and property from damage
- Sediment removal: Sediment and debris washed downstream can restrict the flow of water in some areas. During a heavy storm, these areas of restricted flow could cause water to back up, increasing the risk of flooding. Crews remove sediment to allow stormwater to flow through the creeks as designed.
- Vegetation management: Valley Water manages over 3,000 acres of vegetation in Santa Clara County. Valley Water selectively removes instream vegetation to maintain flows in streams and riparian corridors. We manage vegetation near streams for maintenance access and fire code compliance given the county’s drought conditions and ongoing challenges of climate change. Invasive plant species are also removed to improve ecological health.
- Riparian planting: This practice enhances and establishes habitat for birds, amphibians, fish and other terrestrial and aquatic species living in creek corridors. Our riparian planting program compensates for the unavoidable riparian impacts created by sediment removal, bank stabilization, and vegetation management activities.
Valley Water primarily performs this work between June 15 and Oct. 15. In some instances, Valley Water may request and receive work extensions beyond Oct. 15 to complete projects. Other work, including minor maintenance and vegetation management projects, can occur year-round.
Here is an overview of Stream Maintenance Project work happening in 2021.
Sediment removal on San Tomas Aquino Creek upstream of Walsh Avenue in Santa Clara
Bank protection along Saratoga Creek upstream of Pruneridge Avenue in Santa Clara
Bank protection on Canoas Creek upstream of Capitol Expressway in San Jose
Valley Water addressed erosion along Canoas Creek upstream of Capitol Expressway in San Jose by placing rock along the bottom of the bank and compacting earthen material along the rest of the bank. The site will be hydroseeded with native grasses to reduce erosion before the winter season. 
Valley Water addressed erosion along Canoas Creek upstream of Capitol Expressway in San Jose by placing rock along the bottom of the bank and compacting earthen material along the rest of the bank. The site will be hydroseeded with native grasses to reduce erosion before the winter season. 
Valley Water addressed erosion along Canoas Creek upstream of Capitol Expressway in San Jose by placing rock along the bottom of the bank and compacting earthen material along the rest of the bank. The site will be hydroseeded with native grasses to reduce erosion before the winter season.
Bank protection on Golf Creek upstream of Redmond Avenue in San Jose
Addressing erosion along Golf Creek upstream of Redmond Avenue in San Jose by placing rock on the bank and re-establishing the top-of-bank maintenance road. 
Addressing erosion along Golf Creek upstream of Redmond Avenue in San Jose by placing rock on the bank and re-establishing the top-of-bank maintenance road. 
Addressing erosion along Golf Creek upstream of Redmond Avenue in San Jose by placing rock on the bank and re-establishing the top-of-bank maintenance road.
Bank protection on Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas
Valley Water addressing erosion along Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas. Here, crews placed rocks on the channel bottom and banks. 
Valley Water addressing erosion along Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas. Here, crews placed rocks on the channel bottom and banks. 
Valley Water addressing erosion along Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of Great Mall Parkway in Milpitas. Here, crews placed rocks on the channel bottom and banks.
Bank protection on Thompson Creek at Quimby Creek confluence in San Jose
Valley Water addressed erosion along Thompson Creek at the Quimby Creek confluence in San Jose, including placing rock and rootwads (tree trunks with roots attached). 
Valley Water addressed erosion along Thompson Creek at the Quimby Creek confluence in San Jose, including placing rock and rootwads (tree trunks with roots attached). 
Valley Water addressed erosion along Thompson Creek at the Quimby Creek confluence in San Jose, including placing rock and rootwads (tree trunks with roots attached).
Valley Water News 
PLEASE REMOVE THE WEEDS FROM THE LOS ALAMITOS CREEK TRAIL!!
This gets worse EVERY year! Talk about invasive-foxtails and other nasty stuff, not good for humans or dogs.
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Hello,
Thank you for the comment. Please note that Valley Water does maintain adjacent to the trails. The City of San Jose maintains that area for weeds, public use and safety. You can contact park.concerns@sanjoseca.gov or 408 793 5510.
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