Valley Water is committed to ensuring the safety of local waterways while protecting wildlife. As part of our Stream Maintenance Program, we manage more than 333 miles of streams in Santa Clara County. One of our main goals during maintenance, especially when we prune or remove trees, is to limit disruption to nesting birds.
Our Commitment to Bird Protection
Bird nesting season typically occurs from January to August. Many bird species build nests in trees, shrubs, and other vegetation along waterways during this time. These nests are protected by federal and state laws, and Valley Water takes extensive measures to avoid disturbing them during our maintenance activities.
Before pruning or removing trees, our trained wildlife biologists check for active bird nests in the area. If we find any nests, we delay or adjust our maintenance work to avoid the area until the nesting cycle is complete. This approach helps protect local bird populations while allowing us to keep the waterways safe and functional.
Why We Manage Vegetation
Protecting nesting birds is important, but we also need to manage vegetation for flood safety. Overgrown plants can block water flow, especially in key areas like bridges, culverts and creek crossings. Thick vegetation on levee slopes can hide signs of burrowing animals and erosion. If we don’t manage the plants, their roots can weaken levee structures. Regularly managing vegetation keeps our levees accessible for inspections and repairs and helps reduce the risk of flooding.
How We Minimize Impact on Wildlife
Valley Water carefully schedules vegetation work outside of peak bird nesting season whenever possible. When maintenance during nesting season is unavoidable, we:
- Conduct thorough nest surveys before work begins.
- Establish buffer zones around active nests to prevent disturbance.
- Postpone work in areas with confirmed nests until nesting is complete.
- Use specialized techniques to minimize noise and disruption.
In addition to protecting wildlife, we restore areas impacted by maintenance. This includes replanting native vegetation to provide future habitat and using erosion control methods to stabilize soil.
Staying Informed
We are dedicated to being transparent and ensuring that the community stays informed about upcoming maintenance activities. You can learn more about our bird protection efforts and stay updated on tree maintenance schedules by visiting our website.
Valley Water focuses on protecting birds while also maintaining flood protection. This way, we help ensure a safe, sustainable future for Santa Clara County’s waterways and the wildlife that lives there.
