Flood study nears approval Flood study nears approval (October 12, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Seven years after El Nino storms pushed San Francisquito Creek over its banks into neighborhoods of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, local authorities are close to a final agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a $7 million planning study aimed at managing floods and restoring the ecosystem for the creek and its 45-square-mile watershed.

The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) met with three city councils October 5 in East Palo Alto to hear and ask questions about the "Feasibility Cost-Share Agreement" that they hope to sign on November 17.

The agreement would launch the second phase of a multi-year project that addresses flood control and ecosystem restoration in the watershed.

The planning phase would take four to five years and cost between $6.3 million and $7.1 million, according to Cynthia D'Agosta, executive director of the JPA.

The cost would be shared equally between the Corps of Engineers and the local governments affected by the creek that make up the JPA. These are Menlo Park, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, the San Mateo County Flood Control District, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Stanford University and the San Francisquito Watershed Council are associate members.

The San Mateo and Santa Clara county members have each offered to pay $1.5 million toward the feasibility study, for a local contribution of $3 million. With the federal government matching that $3 million, the other members of the JPA would be responsible for covering half of costs over $6 million.

But flooding by the creek is only part of the hazards faced by the three cities. Many homes along the Bayfront are protected by levees and face flooding from extra high tides in the Bay -- especially if the sea level rises. Even though some levees were raised about two years ago, there is still a risk of flooding

Engineers for the three cities reported that more than 5,000 homes are at risk from flooding, either by the creek or the Bay.

JPA members will also be deciding whether to include a study of protections from tidal flooding. The cost is estimated at $822,000.

Discussion at the October 5 meeting reflected mixed feelings. There was hope that the flood-control program will go forward and be funded; frustration at the seemingly endless timeline; and urgency about short-term measures to protect people and their homes from the floods that may come before the federal project is completed in 30 or 40 years..
What next?

Over the next two months, the three participating cities will be deciding individually whether to endorse the feasibility study -- and whether to include the tidal flooding.

Several people asked whether federal funds would be available in the light of other federal priorities, including New Orleans.

JPA Chairman Greg Zlotnik of the Santa Clara Valley Water District was cautiously optimistic. This has been an authorized federal project since 2002, and has strong support from the local congressional delegation, he said. The Corps of Engineers views it as a model project because it has broad local involvement and financial participation.

"We are an exemplary project for the corps," he said. "It comes down the strength of the project and local backing. There's no guarantee."

Mr. Zlotnik recommended including the tidal flooding because that would fill a gap in the current major project to restore the salt ponds ringing South San Francisco Bay. And that project is the Corps of Engineers' third national priority after the Everglades and Louisiana, he said.

When the feasibility study is completed, the local agencies will have to go back to Congress to get authorization for later phases of design and then construction, Mr. Zlotnik said.

He estimated the final project could take years and cost $100 million. "We said we'd like to do it in 20," he said.
What about near-term?

"What's going to happen in the here and now?" asked Menlo Park Mayor Mickie Winkler.

Ms. Winkler suggested measures that could be done to help residents if the flood comes before the project is finished -- for example, raising homes or floor levels. "Flood walls are fairly easy to install," she said.

Mr. Zlotnik warned that work done in the creek had to be carefully planned so that an action at one location doesn't affect a neighbor up or down stream. "You take out the bridge, you move the problem," he said.

Ms. D'Agosta noted that installing improvements could also affect the cost-benefit analysis the Corps of Engineers uses to justify its projects. About 40 years ago, she said, "A study of a diversion channel was killed because (they) had installed flood walls."

A couple of East Palo Alto residents felt personally threatened by the delays in protecting homes that are below sea level and depend on levees to keep them from drowning.

One man said he felt like he was in Louisiana. "We know we're going to be flooded in the gardens in East Palo Alto this year," he said. "Unfortunately that's the way it is. Poor people go to hell."

Another woman said, "If we don't take no action, we'll all be drownded."

For information, call the JPA at 330-6765, or go to cityofpaloalto.org/jpa.

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