Flood Protection On Tap For Gilroy, Morgan Hill

MORGAN HILL, CA — Even though it's hard to fathom the thought of winter and last year's wrath, the Santa Clara Valley Water district will channel its energy and funding into turning the tide on flooding over Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin lands.

Valley Water will host a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning in Morgan Hill for the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project, which was initiated over a half century ago when the Soil Conservation Service now known as the National Resources Conservation Service identified a worsening problem.

The $158 million project broken up into two phases is designed to protect 1,100 homes, 500 businesses and 1,300 acres of agriculture, one of the primary industries for southern Santa Clara County.

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, will join Valley Water directors and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the corner of La Jolla Drive and Via Navona to commemorate the Phase 1 construction.

This project is funded by the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection program in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the state of California. Valley Water has worked with the U.S. Congress to pursue federal funds to bring this project into full fruition. Phase 2 is currently slated to begin construction in 2020. The project details have been listed.

Valley Water manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's nearly 2 million residents. The district manages 10 dams and surface-water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and more than 275 miles of streams.