Early capital expenditure plan includes funding for flood
control projects along Llagas Creek
SAN JOSE
A $2.3-million capacity restoration project for the lower portion of Llagas Creek and $13.6-million for flood control to the upper part of the creek will be funded if the county water district board of directors goes along with staff recommendations.
In May, the Santa Clara Valley Water District board requested the Flood Protection Capital Program be prepared by the district staff, and specifically address “financial challenges” for funding flood control projects, according to a memo included with the staff report presented Wednesday.
District staff recommended several methods to address funding issues: reallocating funds left over from completed projects under the Clean, Safe Creeks Natural Flood Protection program, reducing the number and scope of projects, and accelerating projects “when feasible … to reduce the impacts of construction cost escalation,” according to the report.
Revenues for the program are generated through a voter-approved property tax.
The water district is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct the upper Llagas Creek project. If approved as recommended by staff, the capital plan would allocate $9.6 million in fiscal year 2008 for the project and $4.1 million in fiscal year 2009.
“I don’t anticipate any changes,” said board member and Gilroy resident Sig Sanchez. “All we’re doing is getting the updates, I don’t think the priorities are going to change.”
Ram Singh, a San Jose State water resources management professor who challenged board member Rosemary Kamei for her seat last year, said the allocations weren’t enough.
“South County is getting shortchanged by the Santa Clara Valley Water District,” he said. “The area developed quite a bit … They should include input from South County people. There’s a lot of growth and homes that need to be protected.”
Sanchez said the board would vote on the capital plan “probably sometime in January.”
