Stream Maintenance Program Renewal

Since 2002, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has administered the Stream Maintenance Program (SMP or Program) to guide, manage, and conduct routine maintenance of streams, improved channels, and related flood protection facilities such that these facilities can continue to provide adequate flow conveyance capacity and function properly. Routine maintenance is necessary to reduce flood risks, ensure structural integrity of Valley Water facilities, enhance ecologic function, and ensure public safety. The general Program Area includes Santa Clara County below the 1,000-foot-contour in both the Santa Clara Valley basin and Pajaro River Watershed. However, Valley Water maintains a much smaller subset of channels and streams within the overall Program Area. Maintenance activities are generally limited to locations where Valley Water has land rights, approximately 333 miles of creeks and channels. The EIR for the original SMP and associated Manual was certified in 2002. In 2011, Valley Water updated the Program and Manual (referred to as "SMP-2") to reflect the 2014 through 2023 planning period and various refinements to the Program. A subsequent EIR (SEIR) was prepared for this update and was certified in 2012. Valley Water has updated the Program Manual again to reflect modifications to maintenance techniques and activities, Program work limits, best management practices, mitigation strategies, and other refinements since the last program update. The current planning process also includes updating the SMP's environmental compliance documentation and renewing the Program's permits. The current update is referred to as the "Program Renewal" or "SMP-3" throughout the Notice of Completion. The Program Renewal is intended to cover the 10-year planning period between 2027 and 2036. The Program Renewal involves six categories of work activities: vegetation management, sediment removal, bank stabilization, management of animal conflicts, downed tree management, and minor maintenance. A full description of the activities are described in the attached Subsequent DEIR in Chapter 2, "Project Description."