\u201cI think it\u2019s important that we keep in mind that when our residents, our shared constituents look into the waterways and see a fallen tree or a blockage \u2026 they shouldn\u2019t have to think about the jurisdictional boundaries between our agencies,\u201d San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said during the meeting. \u201cThey just see a problem, and they want a solution, and they expect us to deliver it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The region is bracing for strong winter storms as a powerful El Ni\u00f1o system<\/a> \u2014 a phenomenon in which warm water gathers in the Pacific Ocean \u2014 continues to gather strength. El Ni\u00f1o destabilizes weather patterns across the globe, and often, though not always, leads to heavy winter rainfalls in California.<\/p>\n \u201cOur agencies\u00a0both have a responsibility to maintain our own properties, just as a good neighbor has a responsibility to manage gutters and rain sprouts at their homes to avoid overflow onto their neighbors\u2019 yards,\u201d Valley Water Board Chair Tony Estremera said during the meeting. \u201cWe can all do our part to maintain healthy waterways and strengthen community resilience during the coming El Ni\u00f1o winter and in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Complicating flood preparations<\/a> in San Jose, the city\u2019s waterways and surrounding land is divided up along a patchwork of ownership and jurisdictional boundaries, with some owned by the city government, some by Valley Water and some by private owners.<\/p>\n Seeking to draw attention to the challenge, a group of residents who live along Coyote Creek, an area that saw extensive flooding in 2017<\/a>, have circulated a petition warning of \u201cmajor wood blockages\u201d that have built up in the creek between William Street and Interstate 280. The residents are calling on local government officials to move quicker to address such risks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis complexity in ownership and responsibility leads to disagreements regarding responsibility and causes delays to implementing critical creek maintenance \/ flood protection work,\u201d the petition letter<\/a>, which has gathered 241 signatures, said.<\/p>\n Many residents have also complained that when they have tried to address flood risks, they\u2019ve had to navigate a labyrinth of bureaucratic barriers and permitting requirements. Valley Water officials said they provide permitting consultations through a hotline.<\/p>\n Over the course of the meeting, officials laid out a variety steps that have been taken to prepare for the flood risks<\/a> posed by El Ni\u00f1o. For example, Valley Water is boosting public outreach to property owners, informing them of their responsibilities as well as available public support, such as the five sites<\/a> in Santa Clara County that will offer free sandbags beginning in November.<\/p>\n The 2017 Coyote Creek flood occurred after heavy rainfall caused the Anderson Dam<\/a> in South San Jose to overflow. Since then, Valley Water has been working on an earthquake retrofit project at the dam to help release more water from the area during storms or emergencies. The dam has been drained down to 3% capacity<\/a>.<\/p>\n The agency is also working to construct stronger flood prevention infrastructure<\/a> along Coyote Creek, including the introduction of flood walls along much of the waterway.<\/p>\n
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