D2: Revitalize Riparian, Upland and Wetland Habitat*

Status

Active

Location

Countywide

Schedule

Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($9.0 million)

This project allows Valley Water to revitalize habitat for rare, threatened or endangered species or vegetation types, and create a more contiguous corridor for wildlife, including pollinators. Funding helps to restore degraded habitat by removing invasive plants and/or revegetating with native species. Funding is prioritized for projects that include community partnerships or provide education for nearby landowners and other stakeholder groups on the control of harmful species.

The project will also create an Early Detection and Rapid Response Program to identify and treat small infestations of new weeds before they become established.

Increasing the quality and quantity of native habitat areas and improving the connections between them are important adaptive strategies to support native species as climate conditions change. It increases access to new areas for migration and more room for hiding, hunting, breeding and rearing as needs evolve and increase.

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

See Environmental & Community Benefits section for complete description of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

KPI #1: (Revitalize acres)

Since the inception of the renewed Safe Clean Water Project D2 in FY22, through FY25, Valley Water and its partners have revitalized 7.81 acres.

Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency (Habitat Agency) – The Habitat Agency continues its work removing invasive vegetation to enhance special status species habitat at several reserve properties with high-priority invasive plant problems. Work covered by this partnership began in FY23 and includes removal of up to 14 acres of barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) at the Baird and Davidson Reserves, which encompass rare and sensitive serpentine plant communities, removal of up to nine (9) acres of artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) from (Coyote Ridge East Preserve), which is home to extant populations of the federally threatened species California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and California red-legged frog (Rana aurora), and other work including artichoke thistle projects at Máyyan 'Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve, Richmond Ranch Reserve, and Castle and Cooke Reserve, barbed goatgrass projects at Tilton and Lakeside Reserves, and expansion of Grassroots Ecology’s restoration project at the Alviso bufferlands (San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility)Depending on the location and target species, work is expected to take three to five years to complete. So far, the Habitat Agency has completed its work on 5.8 acres of barbed goatgrass at the Baird and Davidson Reserves. Work continues on other projects.
California State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) [since 2018] – Controlling invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in partnership with the Conservancy and Invasive Spartina Project. Click for a map of invasive Spartina coverage. In FY25, the Conservancy treated 9.3 acres of invasive Spartina within a matrix of over 8,700 acres of tidal marsh and ecotone habitats in Valley Water’s service area. All acreage in FY25 were retreatment, ensuring that this aggressive invader and ecosystem engineer does not regain a foothold in sensitive bayland habitats, imperiling endangered species such as the Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus). This partnership is scheduled to continue through 2026.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) –New projects under the partnership with Midpen that began in the 2012 Safe Clean Water Program were initiated in FY23, including projects to control multiple high-priority invasive species in reserves across Santa Clara County. These include projects at Sierra Azul, Fremont Older, and Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve.
- In FY26 Q1 (July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025), reports came in for FY25 work. This includes completion of some revitalization areas at Sierra Azul Preserve (Twin Creeks and Cherry Hill projects) and Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve. This acreage will be reported in the next annual SCW report.
- In FY24, Midpen began treating yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and upright veldt grass (Ehrharta erecta) at Fremont Older Preserve.
- Midpen’s revitalization effort at Bear Creek Redwoods includes removing invasive vegetation, such as teasel (Dipsacus spp.), yellow starthistle, French broom (Genista monspessulana), and stinkwort, and installing wetland and upland container plants and native seeds at service-learning events with Grassroots and other Midpen volunteer events, including “Land Stewards” volunteer events and Advanced Resource Management Stewards projects. The total proposed project area is 17.8 acres. The work has been initiated on 8.6 acres and is anticipated to continue through FY28.

KPI #2: (Early Detection and Rapid Response Program Development)

Valley Water developed a draft target list of EDRR species in 2019, revised it in 2024, and will continue to refine it during the EDRR manual development process.
Valley Water hired a consultant in 2022 to assist in the development of the EDRR Program, as part of a comprehensive Integrated Invasive Plant Management Program. Program manual development, including the EDRR component, has begun, and the CEQA process will be initiated in FY26. The EDRR program manual is expected to be completed in FY26, on the same timeline as the IIPMP manual.

KPI #3: (Early Detection and Rapid Response Implementation)

In FY25, Valley Water identified and documented 82 populations of target emergent invasive species. When combined with the 221 populations identified in FY23-FY24, this results in 303 documented under the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program (since FY22). Once the EDRR program is operational, all identified populations, including those identified and documented before the start of the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program in July 2021, will undergo a prioritization process, based upon the results of which a subset will be selected for treatment.

KPI #4: (Information sheets)

Information sheets will be developed for high-priority early detection species in the county. An information sheet template and the first species sheet (for creeping water primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala) were created in FY24. The additional information sheet development timeline is expected to coincide with the EDRR manual, which is currently underway and anticipated to continue into FY26.

Additional activities:

Valley Water is a founding and active member of the Santa Clara County Wildlife Corridors Working Group with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Caltrans, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Santa Clara County Parks, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency (VHA), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Open Space Authority (OSA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), De Anza College and others.
Valley Water is an active member of the Santa Clara Weed Management Area (SCWMA) working group with Santa Clara County Parks, California State Parks, County of Santa Clara Division of Agriculture, Caltrans and other area partners. In FY25, the SCWMA is working on updating its Memorandum of Agreement and strategic plan, in order to be eligible for state project funding through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Management Account.

October 2025

For more information:

Laura Garrison, (408) 630-3026

See Environmental & Community Benefits section for complete description of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

KPI #1: (Revitalize acres)

Since the inception of the renewed Safe Clean Water Project D2 in FY22, through FY25, Valley Water and its partners have revitalized 7.81 acres.

Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency (Habitat Agency) – The Habitat Agency continues its work removing invasive vegetation to enhance special status species habitat at several reserve properties with high-priority invasive plant problems. Work covered by this partnership began in FY23 and includes removal of up to 14 acres of barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) at the Baird and Davidson Reserves, which encompass rare and sensitive serpentine plant communities, removal of up to nine (9) acres of artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) from (Coyote Ridge East Preserve), which is home to extant populations of the federally threatened species California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and California red-legged frog (Rana aurora), and other work including artichoke thistle projects at Máyyan 'Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve, Richmond Ranch Reserve, and Castle and Cooke Reserve, barbed goatgrass projects at Tilton and Lakeside Reserves, and expansion of Grassroots Ecology’s restoration project at the Alviso bufferlands (San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility)Depending on the location and target species, work is expected to take three to five years to complete. So far, the Habitat Agency has completed its work on 5.8 acres of barbed goatgrass at the Baird and Davidson Reserves. Work continues on other projects.
California State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) [since 2018] – Controlling invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in partnership with the Conservancy and Invasive Spartina Project. Click for a map of invasive Spartina coverage. In FY25, the Conservancy treated 9.3 acres of invasive Spartina within a matrix of over 8,700 acres of tidal marsh and ecotone habitats in Valley Water’s service area. All acreage in FY25 were retreatment, ensuring that this aggressive invader and ecosystem engineer does not regain a foothold in sensitive bayland habitats, imperiling endangered species such as the Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus). This partnership is scheduled to continue through 2026.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) –New projects under the partnership with Midpen that began in the 2012 Safe Clean Water Program were initiated in FY23, including projects to control multiple high-priority invasive species in reserves across Santa Clara County. These include projects at Sierra Azul, Fremont Older, and Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve.
- In FY26 Q1 (July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025), reports came in for FY25 work. This includes completion of some revitalization areas at Sierra Azul Preserve (Twin Creeks and Cherry Hill projects) and Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve. This acreage will be reported in the next annual SCW report.
- In FY24, Midpen began treating yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and upright veldt grass (Ehrharta erecta) at Fremont Older Preserve.
- Midpen’s revitalization effort at Bear Creek Redwoods includes removing invasive vegetation, such as teasel (Dipsacus spp.), yellow starthistle, French broom (Genista monspessulana), and stinkwort, and installing wetland and upland container plants and native seeds at service-learning events with Grassroots and other Midpen volunteer events, including “Land Stewards” volunteer events and Advanced Resource Management Stewards projects. The total proposed project area is 17.8 acres. The work has been initiated on 8.6 acres and is anticipated to continue through FY28.

KPI #2: (Early Detection and Rapid Response Program Development)

Valley Water developed a draft target list of EDRR species in 2019, revised it in 2024, and will continue to refine it during the EDRR manual development process.
Valley Water hired a consultant in 2022 to assist in the development of the EDRR Program, as part of a comprehensive Integrated Invasive Plant Management Program. Program manual development, including the EDRR component, has begun, and the CEQA process will be initiated in FY26. The EDRR program manual is expected to be completed in FY26, on the same timeline as the IIPMP manual.

KPI #3: (Early Detection and Rapid Response Implementation)

In FY25, Valley Water identified and documented 82 populations of target emergent invasive species. When combined with the 221 populations identified in FY23-FY24, this results in 303 documented under the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program (since FY22). Once the EDRR program is operational, all identified populations, including those identified and documented before the start of the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program in July 2021, will undergo a prioritization process, based upon the results of which a subset will be selected for treatment.

KPI #4: (Information sheets)

Information sheets will be developed for high-priority early detection species in the county. An information sheet template and the first species sheet (for creeping water primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala) were created in FY24. The additional information sheet development timeline is expected to coincide with the EDRR manual, which is currently underway and anticipated to continue into FY26.

Additional activities:

Valley Water is a founding and active member of the Santa Clara County Wildlife Corridors Working Group with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Caltrans, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Santa Clara County Parks, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency (VHA), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Open Space Authority (OSA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), De Anza College and others.
Valley Water is an active member of the Santa Clara Weed Management Area (SCWMA) working group with Santa Clara County Parks, California State Parks, County of Santa Clara Division of Agriculture, Caltrans and other area partners. In FY25, the SCWMA is working on updating its Memorandum of Agreement and strategic plan, in order to be eligible for state project funding through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Management Account.

October 2025

For more information:

Laura Garrison, (408) 630-3026

Web sites and online tools

CA Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) - scroll down to the middle of Cal-IPC’s home page for science-based tools and information
Calflora - an abundance of information on California plants;
Calfora’s What Grows Here
SFEI’s historical ecology - shows past and present habitats, and environmental conditions important for habitat revitalization
Sycamore Alluvial Woodland Planting Guide (Loma Prieta RCD, SFEI, and HT Harvey 2018)
Sycamore Alluvial Woodland: Habitat mapping and regeneration study (Beagle et al., 2017 SFEI)
Re-Oaking - CA oaks and other native trees (SFEI)
Resilient Silicon Valley - improving ecosystem health (SFEI)
Urban Ecological Planning Guide for Santa Clara Valley by SFEI (2019)
San Francisco Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Project (2016)
Santa Clara County Wildlife Corridors Working Group recommendations to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on the Monterey Road corridor in Coyote Valley
NBC Bay Area Open Road with Doug McDonnell Coyote Valley Wildlife Corridor
PG&E Plant the right tree in the right place
Calscape by CNPS - native butterflies & moths by location, including host plants
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS Database
USDA Forest Service invasive species
National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC)
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Encycloweedia noxious weeds
Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California (UC IPM)
State Water Resources Control Board posts slide presentations on the problem of invasive species, including plants
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board – Invasive non-native species to avoid in wetland projects in the San Francisco Bay Region (2006)
Cal-IPC Invasive Plant Management references including EDRR and Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands (Bossard et al. 2000)
Jump out video (KSBY News)

Methods to control invasive plants

Water mold alerts

Phytophthora species are pathogenic water molds affecting our native plants. For more information, go to Why the concern (2015), CNPS and below.

CalPhytos Phytophthoras in native plants
- Restoration guidance (PDF)
- Guidelines to Minimize Phytophthora in Pathogens in Restoration Nurseries (PDF)
Sudden oak death – California Oak Mortality Task Force
Phytophthora pathogens threaten rare habitats and conservation plantings (Frankel et al. 2020)
Valley Water hosted symposiums:
- February 12, 2015
- Phytophthora species in restoration nurseries, plantings, and wildlands II; May 18, 2017

Record, Track and Monitor Weeds

Calflora’s Weed Manager (WM) enables organizations engaged in land management to track weed infestations and treatments over time.

Native Plant Gardens

Santa Clara County Native Habitat Plant Palettes

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicators for the Safe, Clean Water Program

Revitalize at least 21 acres over a 15-year period through native plant revegetation and/or removal of invasive exotic species.
Develop an Early Detection and Rapid Response Program Manual.
Identify and treat at least 100 occurrences of emergent invasive species over a 15-year period, as identified through the Early Detection and Rapid Response Program.
Develop at least eight (8) information sheets for Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species.

Benefits

Increases viability of native plant species by reducing competition from non-native, invasive species
Improves habitat by installing tidal, riparian, and upland plant species or allowing native vegetation to passively regenerate after treatment/removal of invasive species
Improves ecological function of existing riparian, wetland and potentially upland habitats to support more diverse wildlife species
Improves patchy wildlife corridors by increasing connectivity with nearby habitat areas
Increases community awareness about the damaging impact that non-native, invasive plants have on local ecosystems
Helps to prevent new invasive species from becoming established
Early Detection Invasive Species Information Sheets will guide staff and public on identification and treatment options, raise public awareness, and help prevent the spread of new noxious weeds

Geographic Area of Benefit

Countywide

About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.

To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.