The Santa Clara Valley Water District invites the public to a community meeting Thursday night to learn about, and comment on, potential project elements of the Upper Llagas Creek flood protection project.
To develop project elements, the water district has worked with many stakeholders, including the City of Morgan Hill, community members and resource and government agencies throughout the design process.
Comments received at the meeting, formally known as scoping meetings, are part of a required process to define environmental issues and alternatives to be studied in an environmental review of the project.
The meeting is Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill.
The district provides this description of the project: As part of the water district’s 15-year Clean, “Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan” approved by the voters in November 2000, the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project, located in San Martin and the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, will provide flood protection to communities along the East Little Llagas Creek, West Little Llagas Creek and Llagas Creek in San Martin and Morgan Hill.
In other water district news, the government agency that provides wholesale water to homes, business and cities around Santa Clara County is asking voters now to approve Measure B, which extends a parcel tax that will raise $548 million over the next 15 years. Called the “Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program” (the same project that will provide funds for the Upper Llagas Creek flood protection), the passing of this would continue the tax through 2028 (rather than expiring in 2016) and translates into about $56 a year for average homes according to past reports.
The project design is being updated to protect homes, businesses and acres of agricultural land to preserve and enhance the creek’s habitat, fish and wildlife.
It extends approximately 12.5 miles from Buena Vista Avenue upstream to just beyond Wright Avenue. The project will provide 100-year level of flood protection in the urban areas of Morgan Hill, as well as an approximate 10-year level of flood protection and no induced flooding in the agricultural areas of Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
The project will provide flood protection for 1,100 homes, 500 businesses and over 1,300 acres of agricultural land in southern Santa Clara County.
For more information about this project, contact Stephen Ferranti, Engineering Unit Manager, Santa Clara Valley Water District at (408) 630-2677.
Locals can also use “Access Valley Water” to submit questions, complaints or compliments directly from your computer to a water district staff who can help you.
