BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Adopt a Resolution Adopting the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Approve the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project, Project No. 10394001 (Palo Alto) (District 7). (Previously Listed as Item 6.2)
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Consider the environmental effects of the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project (Project) as discussed in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration;
B. Adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE FINAL MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE PALO ALTO FLOOD BASIN TIDE GATE STRUCTURE REPLACEMENT PROJECT; and
C. Approve the Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
Background and Project Description
The levees forming the Palo Alto Flood Basin (Flood Basin) were built by the City of Palo Alto (City) in the 1940s and the associated tide gate structure (Structure) was constructed in 1957 by the former Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (now Santa Clara Valley Water District, also known as Valley Water), Santa Clara County and the City. The Structure is located along the Bay shoreline in the City, east of the Palo Alto Municipal Airport and Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. The floodwaters stored in the Flood Basin are released to the Bay through eight cells with 16 tide gates (which includes one motorized sluice gate) that comprise the overall tide gate structure. The purpose of the tide gates is to regulate flows through the Flood Basin such that when the water surface elevation in the basin is higher than the tidal elevation of the Bay, the tidal flap gates are pushed open by water pressure and discharge water from the Flood Basin to the Bay. When the water surface elevation in the Flood Basin is lower than the Bay, the flap gates are held shut by water pressure from the Bay, to prevent full tidal inundation.
The Structure has b...
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