Morgan Hill – The long awaited second phase of the fix that will prevent flooding in downtown Morgan Hill will be updated by its engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at a Sept. 22 Santa Clara Valley Water District board meeting.
Morgan Hill – The long awaited second phase of the fix that will prevent flooding in downtown Morgan Hill will be updated by its engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at a Sept. 22 Santa Clara Valley Water District board meeting.
The Llagas Creek watershed covers 104 square miles in Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill, with the Upper Llagas Creek flood prevention project dedicated to downtown Morgan Hill. The project, which has a 2013 deadline to begin construction, will provide flood protection between Buena Vista Road and Wright Avenue and protect 1,397 parcels from 100-year flooding, according to the district staff report.
The U.S. Army Corps is the lead sponsor of the $130-million project, and is responsible for most of the funding and construction. Frustrated by the lack of money available at the federal level, in 2009 the water district board of directors approved $10 million to complete property acquisitions and design, and start digging.
The city of Morgan Hill pooled money with the water district to dung the project;’s design including $5.6 million in a consultant design contract in May 2010.
Without federal backing, the water district continues its process of acquiring properties along the flood plain that must be cleared as to not impede the widening of the creek.
