BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Agreement with the City of Morgan Hill for Maintenance and Operation of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project and West Little Llagas Creek, Project No. 26174051 (Morgan Hill), (District 1).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute the Agreement with the City of Morgan Hill for Maintenance and Operation for the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project and West Little Llagas Creek.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is undertaking the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project (Project) in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the City of Morgan Hill (City) to provide 1% flood protection to approximately 1,100 homes and 500 businesses along West Little Llagas Creek, East Little Llagas Creek, and Llagas Creek. The Project is approximately 13.9 miles long and encompasses the City of Morgan Hill, City of Gilroy, and various unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County (County), including San Martin. A Project Map is attached (Attachment 3).
The City and Valley Water have prepared the attached Maintenance and Operation Agreement (Agreement) regarding the long-term maintenance and operation of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project. The Agreement addresses each Agencies’ maintenance and operation responsibilities for Flood Protection features, Recreation features, and Joint Flood Protection and Recreation features (Attachment 1).
On August 28, 2018, the Valley Water Board of Directors approved the Joint Use Agreement (#A4201M) between the City and Valley Water. This Joint Use Agreement is included and referenced as Exhibit A to the proposed Agreement. This Agreement regarding the long-term maintenance and operation responsibilities is consistent with and aligns with the previously approved Joint Use Agreement. All terms and conditions of the Joint Use Agreement will remain in full effect and will not be modified with the approval of this proposed Agreement regarding the long- term maintenance and operation of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project.
Project Background
The Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project was originally administered by the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). In 1999, the Corps was authorized by Congress to take the Project over from NRCS and construct the remaining portion of the Project. However, due to lack of federal funding, the USACE’s progress on the Project stalled. To get the Project back on schedule, the USACE approved Valley Water’s request to take over as the Project’s lead to administer the planning (preparation of the environmental documents) and design phases.
On September 22, 2009, the Board approved a cost-sharing agreement with the City of Morgan Hill (City) to prepare the environmental document and the design plans and specifications for the Project. This Board action set the course for Valley Water to take on Project tasks normally performed by the USACE, so as to advance the Project work. The City agreed to reimburse Valley Water up to $3 million of the total anticipated cost of these work efforts. On April 7, 2014, Valley Water received final payment in full from the City of Morgan Hill.
An Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) was prepared in 1982 that analyzed the original Llagas Creek Flood Watershed Project developed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s SCS in the late 1960s. Since the approval of the 1982 EIS/EIR, numerous changes have occurred within the Project limits, including increased urbanization and riparian habitat, changes in runoff conditions, the federal listing of steelhead, and state/federal listings of California Tiger Salamander as threatened species, and have resulted in refinements to the original Project design.
Modifications to original Project elements include:
1. Widening (generally by constructing against one bank) and deepening the channel in all reaches;
2. Construction of a geomorphically stable channel form that includes a sinuous low-flow channel, with geomorphic benches at bankfull elevation where the channel is widened;
3. Permanent maintenance access roads along the top of both banks;
4. Aquatic habitat enhancements;
5. Grade control structures;
6. Modifications to culverts and bridges;
7. Construction of a tunnel beneath Nob Hill through downtown City of Morgan Hill to bypass high flows from a portion of existing West Little Llagas Creek through the City’s downtown that can remain natural (as-is), thus preserving the existing vegetation and habitat;
8. New 1.25-mile-long diversion channel (Reach 7a).
Certification of the Final EIR and Adoption of the Findings and MMRP
The Draft EIR was completed, a Notice of Completion was filed with the California Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the Draft EIR was released for public review on January 6, 2014. A public meeting to receive comments on the Project was held on January 15, 2014, within the 45-day public review period. Resource agencies requested additional time for review and comment, which Valley Water staff granted. Ten letters with comments were received from the public and agencies in addition to oral comments received at the public meeting. Formal responses to each comment were incorporated into the Final EIR.
On June 10, 2014, Valley Water’s Board certified the Final EIR and approved the recommended Tunnel Alternative as the Project.
Certification of the Final EIS
USACE San Francisco Regulatory Division released the Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Public Review and 45-day comment period on December 31, 2015. The Public Review comment period ended on February 16, 2016. On November 30, 2018, USACE issued the Project’s Final EIS. Public Review closed on January 11, 2019. On March 26, 2019, USACE signed the Record of Decision.
Next Steps
Phase 1 (Reach 4, Reach 7a diversion, and the on-site mitigation - Lake Silveira) is scheduled to begin construction by Fall 2019. It is anticipated that staff will request Board adoption of the Phase 1 final plans and specifications and authorizing the advertisement of the Project for obtaining construction bids in May 2019. Award of the Phase 1 construction contract is anticipated for consideration by the Board at their July 9, 2019 hearing.
Phase 2 construction (all remaining reaches) is anticipated to be advertised once funding for this phase of the Project has been approved by the Board. Phase 2 final construction documents and permanent acquisition of the remaining 9 parcels required for construction are anticipated for completion by August 2019.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact as the approval of the Agreement simply defines the roles and responsibilities regarding long-term operation and maintenance for the Project.
CEQA:
On June 10, 2014, the Board certified the Environmental Impact Report for the Upper Llagas Creek Project and adopted Resolution No. 14-67. The Notice of Determination is attached (Attachment 2).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Agreement
Attachment 2: Notice of Determination
Attachment 3: Map
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Chris Hakes, 408-630-3796