Flood protection project
Upper Penitencia Creek

Project goal:
To provide protection to 4,300 homes, schools, and businesses located in the project’s floodplain area.

Check here for:

• Description of the project

• Upper Penitencia bypass project fact sheet (PDF 285K)

• Army Corps Upper Penitencia fact sheet (PDF 364K)

• Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection Project - Progress Report (PDF 1.9 MB) 7/06

• Map of the project
  

• Public meetings, notices, opportunities for public input

• Reports, documents and environmental review

• Timeline for the project

• Photos

• History of the project

Project contact:
For more information about this project, contact: Marc Klemencic, Manager, Coyote Watershed, Santa Clara Valley Water District, at (408) 265-2600, ext. 2084.

Description of the project
Upper Penitencia Creek is a major tributary of Coyote Creek, and drains portions of San Jose and unincorporated eastern Santa Clara County land.

Proposed flood protection measures include a bypass channel and flood-proofing homes.

The district has constructed fish ladders and screens at two locations (shown on map) where creek water is diverted to groundwater recharge ponds providing passage to the upper
watershed for endangered steelhead trout.

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Project timeline

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Flooding history
With the capacity to carry less than a 10-year event, Upper Penitencia Creek has a history of reoccurring floods. Recent floods occurred in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1995, and
February 1998. In April 1982, flood damages exceeded $1 million. In January 1995, a commercial nursery, a condominium complex, and a business park were damaged by floodwaters. The same area flooded again in February 1998.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) 1995 reconnaissance report, 4,300 buildings are located in the flood-prone area including portions of the cities of San Jose and
Milpitas. In the event of a 1 percent or 100-year flood, almost half of the buildings would have water entering the first floor and damages would exceed $121 million.

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