HomeMy WebLinkAbout0458.095,
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BEOUEST
City of Palo Alto
City Manager's Report
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HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MA.1IIAGER DEPARTMENT: P.bli. Works
October 16, 1995
Stan. Report OD Sanra Oaro V.ney Water District Creek
M.lntea.nce
This is an informational report on the status oflhe Santa Clara Vaney Water District's creek
maintenan<:. activities in Palo Alto.
POWCY [MpWCUIONS
This report 00.:. II« contain auy cbanges 10 existing City policies.
EXECJ!TIYE SUMMARY
Throughout Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) is responsible
for maintenance of those creeks and flood control cb"''.nels for whlcb they bave property
ownersbip or easement rights In Palo Alto, the District maintains portions of Adobe, Barron.,
Matadero, and San Francisquito Creeks. Typical main"'i1= activities in<:!ude debris removal
erosion control, structure maintenance and vegetation management. District staff stTI'"OS 10
conduct • maintenance program tllJ!I balances flood control objectives "itl, environmental
protection.
During last winter's severe storm seOSO<', staff obser-,·ed that the sigr'ifican! accumulation of
sediment and debris in local creeks hindered the effectiveness of the City's storm drainage
system. The se<funent build-up, particularly in the vicinity of the Ba)"soo.e Freeway, restricted
streamflow and caused the creeks 10 run at • bighcr leveL 1be high creek levels in turn (a.;sed
back -ups in the portions of the stornt drain system that flow directly 10 the creeks by gravity.
TIle sediment olso partially blocked several piperme ootfalls into the creeks, restricting the flow
of stoml runoff In order 10 correct this situation, staff met with District personnel in April 199 5
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\0 request the removal of excess sediment from Adobe, 8ar:'or~ Matadero, and San Frandsquilo
Creeks.
Fer several mootlls, District staffbas be"n attempting 10 ob!ain regul.tOC)· agency opprovals 10
rem<>Ve the sediment from the creeks.. It bas been particularly difficult 10 gain permit approval
from tb. US Army Corps of Engineer.;. Last weel<, the District recei ... d ootification that
removal of sediment from coocrcte-fined sections of creek is exempt frcrn the Corps' permitting
process. This exemptiro will alIcw Ibe District \0 proceed ",itb sediment removal from Adobe,
Barroo, and Matadero Cm:ks. The ",Of\ 00 San f rancisquito Creek cannot take place at this
time since it is a natural stream, and, !berder<, requires a Corps' permit. District staff will
continue 10 pur.;ue • permit fur the remo,'a1 of excess sediment from San Francisquito Cm:k.
Final pernUt approval is expected in mid-I9%.
The District is scheduled 10 begin rem<wing sediment from Adobe, Barron. and Matadero
Creeb next week (see attacbed map). The wO<\ is expected 10 take approximately two weeks
10 complete. This maintenance activity will require the use ofheavy equipment such as loaders
and dump trucks within the creek channels. The sed'ImellI will be loaded into 1rucks and hauled
10 Ibe City Landfill. Staff will cooramate with Disttict personnel as required 10 facili1Jl1e the
work and minimize its impacts. Staff ,,111 return 10 Council with another status report wben
mere information is avaIlable regarding the swpe and timingofsedimenl removal from San
Francisquilo Creek.
FlSC.H IMPACT
The creek mairttenance work descn1>ed in this report will be funded by the District.
ENVIRONMENTAl, Assr,SSMENT
The District is the lead agency for environmental ,,,,lew of these creek mainlenance .cth ities
for purposes of the Califurnia Emironmental Quality Act (CEQA). District staff regard this
wOf\ as maintena.'lCe of existing facilities and have detennined it \0 be categorically exempt in
accordance w;'.h Section 15}()1 of the CE,QA gulde!ines. In addition, the District has obtained
all the regulatory agency approvals required 10 conduct the creek maintenance work descn'bed
in this report.
AITACUMENTS
I -Map of Creek Maintenance Sites
PREPARED BY: Geo<ge Bagdon. Assistant Director of Public Works
Pq.,oll
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PfFAAThfr:NT HEAD REVIEW: ~11i/,.J
GLENN S. ROBERTS
Director of P-dbli<: W nru
co; K4y Whitlock, Santa Clata Valley WoterDls!rlct
Jose 0<1lz. ~ta CIani Vallq 'If{ oter Dis1ri<1
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Boonk Packer, Palo Verde Ndghbo<!lood As$OC.atWa
Ma~ MoAvicl<, West allYsh<lre Res!deil1S Association
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MATADERO CREEK:
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