BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Adopt a Resolution Adopting the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Approve the Guadalupe Riverbank Stabilization Project: Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road, Under the Watersheds Asset Rehabilitation Program, Project No. 62084001 (San Jose, Districts 2 and 4).
End
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Consider the environmental effects of the Guadalupe Riverbank Stabilization Project: Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road as discussed in the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration;
B. Adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE FINAL INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE GUADALUPE RIVERBANK STABILIZATION PROJECT: MALONE ROAD AND BLOSSOM HILL ROAD; and
C. Approve the Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
Background and Project Description
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is responsible for maintenance of portions of the Guadalupe River, which flows approximately 14 miles from the Santa Cruz Mountains through downtown San José to the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. The river's watershed encompasses approximately 170 square miles. Maintenance of the river is necessary to support creek functions such as providing critical flood protection, water supply, and natural creek habitat for the region.
During periodic inspections performed by Watersheds Operation & Maintenance staff, deficiencies were observed along Guadalupe River at the Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road crossings in the City of San José. These deficiencies include toe erosion, concrete slope erosion, and damaged gabion wall structures. A repair project was identified as a high priority project to be completed under the Watersheds Asset Rehabilitation Program (WARP). Valley Water is proposing the Guadalupe Riverbank Stabilization Project: Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road (Project) to address the damage at the two locations.
The Project will repair the existing broken concrete slope embankment and damaged gabion wall structure. The repairs will span approximately 340 linear feet combined along the length of the channel.
Specific Project objectives include:
• Address ongoing erosion of the concrete slope embankment and wall structures at the Malone Road Project site as well as the failed gabion baskets at the Blossom Hill Road Project site;
• Restore the structural integrity of the embankment;
• Prevent potential damage to adjacent properties;
• Reduce the need for on-going maintenance; and
• Continue to provide adequate flood protection.
Environmental Review
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Valley Water, acting as the lead agency for the Project, prepared a Final Initial Study (IS) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), which is included as Attachment 1 for the Board’s consideration prior to approving the Project. The Draft IS/MND was circulated for public review from June 26, 2025, to July 28, 2025. Upon request, an extension was provided to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) through August 11, 2025. Valley Water received comments from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, CDFW, and Caltrans. There were no other comments received from the public.
Valley Water staff considered the comments and included responses to the comments in Appendix C of the Final IS/MND and made edits as appropriate in the Final IS/MND to incorporate the responses to comments. The information added to the Final IS/MND merely clarifies, amplifies, or makes insignificant modifications to the Draft IS/MND, and thus no recirculation of the IS/MND is required pursuant to Section 15073.5 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Summary of Environmental Impacts
As discussed in the Final IS/MND, the Project as proposed would result in less than significant impact or no impact in all resource areas except air quality, biological resources, paleontological resources, and noise. The latter resource sections would all have less than significant impacts with the incorporation of mitigation to the Project.
Potentially significant impacts from air quality described in the MND include construction-related emissions. Mitigation Measures MM-AQ-1 (Additional BAAD Dust Control Measures) and MM-AQ-2 (Construction Exhaust Emissions Reduction Measures) would reduce potential impacts to a less than significant level by requiring additional dust control measures and construction exhaust emission reduction measures, including the use of Tier 4 Final equipment.
Potentially significant impacts on biological resources described in the MND include the permanent loss of riparian habitat and removal of riparian trees. Mitigation Measure MM BIO-1 (Riparian Tree and Habitat Compensation and Restoration) would reduce impacts on riparian habitat and trees to a less than significant level by requiring Valley Water to coordinate with the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to compensate for riparian tree removal and habitat impacts through the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan’s in-lieu fee program, or alternatively, develop a detailed mitigation and monitoring plan with revegetation or replanting of trees on Valley Water fee title properties.
Potentially significant impacts to paleontological resources are addressed through MM GEO-1 (Worker Awareness Training for Paleontological Resources) and MM GEO-2 (Stop Work, Evaluation, and Treatment in the Event of a Paleontological Find), which would reduce potential impacts to a less than significant level by requiring in-person worker awareness training and a protocol for stopping work when encountering potential paleontological resources.
Potentially significant impacts from noise described in the Final IS/MND are limited to temporary increase in noise levels from construction, specifically from generators that may be used during nighttime hours at the Malone Road Project site. Mitigation Measure MM-NOI-1 (Generator Noise Attenuation) would reduce this potential impact to a less than significant level by requiring installation of four-sided noise barriers/sound blankets around the generators if used during nighttime hours (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
The mitigation measures required by the Project are included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) (Appendix D of the Final IS/MND).
Next Steps
If the Board approves the recommendations, staff will continue to complete the Project design and obtain environmental permits necessary for Project implementation. The Board will be requested to adopt the plans and specifications and authorize advertisement for bids for construction in a future Board meeting. The typical Project Delivery Process Chart is provided as Attachment 3 for reference.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with the recommended action for the Guadalupe Riverbank Stabilization Project: Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road. The recommended action is unlikely to or will not result in disproportionate impacts on any specific community(ies) relative to the general population.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Guadalupe Riverbank Stabilization Project: Malone Road and Blossom Hill Road Project as part of the Watershed Asset Rehabilitation Program (WARP), Project No. 62084001, is included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-30 Five-Year Plan and in the FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. The estimated construction cost of the Project is approximately $5 million and does not increase the overall Total Project Cost reflected in the CIP FY 2026-30 Five-Year Plan. The Project is funded by the Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund (Fund 12).
CEQA:
Valley Water is acting as the lead agency under CEQA for the Project. The Final IS/MND has been prepared and is included for Board consideration and adoption before Project approval.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Final IS/MND
Attachment 2: Resolution
Attachment 3: Project Delivery Process Chart
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Bhavani Yerrapotu, 408-630-2735