Op-ed: Valley Water makes progress on reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek

We are pleased to share that Valley Water is making great progress on two projects aimed at reducing flood risk along Coyote Creek in San Jose.

For the past several weeks, our agency has been installing flood walls along various sections of the creek. This is a key step in our efforts to help protect homes, schools, businesses, highways and transportation networks in historically flood-prone areas.

Because of Valley Water’s work happening at Anderson Dam in Morgan Hill, our agency split the Coyote Creek flood protection efforts into two separate and independent projects. But together they will help protect against creek flows like the February 2017 flood, which was approximately equivalent to a 20-year event.

The first phase, the Coyote Creek Flood Management Measures Project, is located along a nine-mile stretch between Old Oakland Road and Highway 280. Valley Water is building seven flood walls along three different stretches of creek in commercial and residential areas, including:

• San Jose Municipal Golf Course to Mabury Road
• Mabury Road to Highway 101
• Santa Clara Street to the south end of William Street Park

Valley Water has built more than 3,500 feet of flood walls through January, with another 5,000 feet expected to be completed this year.

These flood walls must be completed before Valley Water completes construction of a new, larger outlet tunnel at Anderson Dam. The flood walls will allow Coyote Creek to safely carry increased flows when water is released from the tunnel during storms or emergencies.

To minimize effects on neighboring properties, our agency is using a leading technology that produces less noise and vibration during construction. This specialized equipment is being used to install long pieces of steel pile flood walls into the ground. These steel piles interlock to create flood walls of varying lengths and heights.

We thank our neighbors who have been patient and supportive during construction.

Our agency continues designing the second phase of the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project, part of the voter-approved Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. For this project, Valley Water will install flood walls, self-raising flood barriers and raised banks along Coyote Creek between Montague Expressway and Tully Road. We anticipate beginning construction on this project in 2025.

Last December, our agency held a public meeting to gain the community’s feedback to develop a draft environmental impact report for the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project. Thanks to everyone who attended that meeting. We want the project to reflect the community’s values and needs.

As board members, we share a commitment to completing these projects and supporting the public health and safety of our communities.

To learn more about these projects, visit valleywater.org/project-updates/creek-river-projects/E1-coyote-creek-flood-protection.

Tony Estremera, Barbara Keegan and Richard P. Santos are members of the Valley Water board of directors. For further information, contact them at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].