As Santa Clara County enters the rainy season, Valley Water is preparing for an El Niño that may bring heavy, prolonged rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding along streets, low-lying areas and local waterways. No seasonal outlook can predict exactly when, where or how intensely storms will arrive. But effective flood preparedness begins well before the first major rainfall. Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program is an important part of that work. Creeks carry stormwater from the hills through neighborhoods, parks, business districts and open spaces before reaching San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. During heavy rain, they must safely convey...