Every year, Valley Water performs work in creeks across Santa Clara County to ensure that flood protection projects continue to provide their designed levels of protection and keep our communities safe. This critical work includes managing vegetation to reduce the intensity and harmful impacts of fires, particularly important when conditions are dry.
Valley Water primarily performs this work as part of our Stream Maintenance Program between June 15 and October 15. Sometimes, Valley Water may request and receive work extensions beyond October 15 to complete projects. Other work, including minor maintenance and vegetation management projects, can occur year-round.
Valley Water owns and manages about 295 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, especially critical 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.
To learn more about this year’s Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program, visit valleywater.org/project-updates/stream-maintenance-program
Here are pictures of two of Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program projects in 2023.
Before: Sediment accumulation compromising design flow conveyance capacity of Berryessa Creek downstream of Piedmont Road in San Jose. 
After: Sediment removed from Berryessa Creek downstream of Piedmont Road in San Jose; stream can flow as designed. 
Before: Streambed and bank erosion on earthen and concrete segments of Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino. 
Construction: Boulders being placed by Valley Water crews to address erosion on Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino. 
After: Streambed and banks stabilized on Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino.
It’s great to see Valley Water taking proactive measures for flood protection through their annual maintenance work. Effective flood management is crucial for community safety and environmental health. For those interested in optimizing resource planning and operational efficiency, consider exploring ERP solutions provided by ImpactFirst. Their expertise could enhance project management and streamline processes for initiatives like these.
Keep up the good work, Valley Water!
I’d like to say Thank you to the crew that provides help with maintaining our creeks in a much much safe and clean environment.
”Thank you so much”
Blanca G.Luna
Penintencia Creek
Why is this article avoiding to address the biggest question? Which is, What is Valley Water doing to remove the unhoused encampments along critical waterways. Data shows that the majority if not the biggest contributor to fires along these waterways are the illegal unhoused encampments. The cleanliness and safety of these waterways are part of Valley Water’s charter, and yet these unhoused encampments use these waterways as their biological toilets. Why isn’t Valley Water doing anything to address this issue? Or at least inform the community about what they’re doing about it.
Hello Sergio. The Valley Water Board of Directors is considering a proposed ordinance to reduce encampments, prevent re-encampments and prohibit related activities along creeks, waterways, water supply facilities and other lands where Valley Water holds land rights. You can learn more about our efforts to address encampments of unsheltered people here. https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/good-neighbor-program-valley-water-addressing-encampments-unsheltered-people
good job on preventing fires and floods with some removal, but I strongly advise phasing out herbicides. There is lots of wonderful wild life along the creeks where I walk and live. I’m not a big fan of herbicides near our water ways and where people walk and animals live. Autoimmune disease and cancer is a real thing.