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    Image
    Box culvert in West Little Llagas Creek
    A look at a completed flood wall as part of the Coyote Creek Flood Management Measures Project.
    January 23, 2026
    Valley Water’s annual Capital Improvement Program: Projects to reduce flood risk 

    Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series highlighting some of the projects included in the Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Preliminary Five-Year Plan.

    Read More
    Image
    Valley Water completes erosion repair project along Saratoga Creek in fall 2025
    January 21, 2026
    Providing flood protection through ongoing stream maintenance projects

    Each summer, under the Stream Maintenance Program (SMP), Valley Water takes important steps to protect neighborhoods from flooding. Over time, sediment can accumulate in creeks, reducing their capacity to carry stormwater. During heavy rains, this can lead to an increased risk of flooding for nearby homes, roads and businesses.

    Read More
    Image
    Mockups Design
    January 7, 2026
    Discover how Valley Water is building climate resilience; read the latest biennial report

    Valley Water’s mission is to provide safe, clean water, protect against flooding, and care for local streams. Climate change is affecting this mission. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, more severe droughts, a declining Sierra Nevada snowpack and rising sea levels all impact water reliability, infrastructure, and ecosystem health throughout Santa Clara County.

    Read More
  • About Valley Water
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Home

Main navigation

    • FAQ
    • Permits and District Business
    • Valley Water Websites
  • For Residents
    Highlights
    Access Valley Water
    Easily send requests, reports or feedback directly to helpful district staff.
    Rebates & Surveys
    Programs and rebates helping you save water and money.
    Water Conservation
    Learn the best ways to save water indoors and outdoors.
    Current Water Charges
    Valley Water is funded by property taxes, well owners, agricultural water customers and water retailers like San Jose Water Company
    Emergency & Planning
    Flood Emergency Action Plans
    Drought Information
    Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
    Get Flood Ready
    Preparation for Extended Power Outages
    Alert System Real Time Data*
    Levee Safety
    Save Water & Money
    Rebates & Surveys
    Watersavings.org
    Current Water Charges
    Water Savings Videos
    Indoor Conservation
    Outdoor Conservation
    Projects & Plans
    Projects In Your Neighbourhood
    Creek & River Projects
    Dam & Reservoir Projects
    Grants and Environmental Protection
    Infrastructure Improvement Projects
    Climate Change Action Plan
    Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Programs
    Studies and Reports
    Hydraulic Model Data (HEC)
    Stream Maintenance Program
  • Your Water
    Highlights
    Access Valley Water
    Easily send requests, reports or feedback directly to helpful district staff.
    Current Water Charges
    Valley Water is funded by property taxes, well owners, agricultural water customers and water retailers like San Jose Water Company
    Rebates & Surveys
    Programs and rebates helping you save water and money.
    Water Conservation
    Learn the best ways to save water indoors and outdoors.
    Water Sources
    Groundwater
    Imported Water
    Local Dams and Reservoirs
    Recycled and Purified Water
    Where your water comes from
    Information & Resources
    GIS Data
    Glossary of Water Terms
    District Library
    Popular Documents and Data
    Local Dams and Reservoirs
    Water Planning
    Water Supply Master Plan
    Water Supply Planning
    Water Treatment
    Water Treatment Plants
    Water Quality
  • Learning Center
    Highlights
    Access Valley Water
    Easily send requests, reports or feedback directly to helpful district staff.
    Rebates & Surveys
    Programs and rebates helping you save water and money.
    Water Conservation
    Learn the best ways to save water indoors and outdoors.
    Current Water Charges
    Valley Water is funded by property taxes, well owners, agricultural water customers and water retailers like San Jose Water Company
    Learning & Exploration
    Next Gen Career Pathways Program
    Water Education programs and Events
    Water 101 Academy
    Public Tours
    Local Dams and Reservoirs
    Volunteer Engagement
    Volunteer and Engage
    Valley Water Youth
    Commission
    Adopt a Creek
    Grants & Partnerships
    Public Art
    Environmental Science & Conservation
    Healthy Creeks and Ecosystems
    Watersheds of Santa Clara Valley
    The Water Treatment Process
    Aerial Drone Pilot Program
  • News & Events
    Highlights
    District News
    Learn more about the latest headlines and announcements from around the district
    Events
    Find district events happening on variety of topics
    Valley Water News Blog
    Catch up on all the latest list of articles and blog posts
    Videos
    Stay up to date with the latest videos from the district
    Public Records
    Public Records feature many commonly requested documents and data sets.
    Recent News
    Image
    Box culvert in West Little Llagas Creek
    A look at a completed flood wall as part of the Coyote Creek Flood Management Measures Project.
    January 23, 2026
    Valley Water’s annual Capital Improvement Program: Projects to reduce flood risk 

    Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series highlighting some of the projects included in the Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Preliminary Five-Year Plan.

    Read More
    Image
    Valley Water completes erosion repair project along Saratoga Creek in fall 2025
    January 21, 2026
    Providing flood protection through ongoing stream maintenance projects

    Each summer, under the Stream Maintenance Program (SMP), Valley Water takes important steps to protect neighborhoods from flooding. Over time, sediment can accumulate in creeks, reducing their capacity to carry stormwater. During heavy rains, this can lead to an increased risk of flooding for nearby homes, roads and businesses.

    Read More
    Image
    Mockups Design
    January 7, 2026
    Discover how Valley Water is building climate resilience; read the latest biennial report

    Valley Water’s mission is to provide safe, clean water, protect against flooding, and care for local streams. Climate change is affecting this mission. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, more severe droughts, a declining Sierra Nevada snowpack and rising sea levels all impact water reliability, infrastructure, and ecosystem health throughout Santa Clara County.

    Read More
  • About Valley Water
    Highlights
    Mission, Vision and Values
    Learn about our core mission, vision for the future, and the values that guide us
    Board of Directors
    Meet the board members who provide leadership and oversight for the district
    Finance/Budget
    Access financial information, budgets, and fiscal reports for transparency
    Committees
    Explore our various committees and their roles in district governance
    Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
    Review meeting schedules, agendas, and official minutes from board meetings
    Leadership
    Board of Directors
    Board Meetings Agendas & Minutes
    Committees
    Redistricting
    Board Governance Policies
    Accountability
    Public Records
    Lobbyist Ordinance
    Grand Jury Reports
    Enterprise Systems
    Information & Resources
    Finance/Budget
    Capital Improvement Program
    Public Facilities Financing Corporation
    Community Engagement
    Renewed Safe, Clean Water & Natural Flood Protection: Independent Monitoring Committee
    Committees
    Community Partnering Sponsorship Program
  • Services and Support
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  • Almaden Lake Improvement Project
  • Canal Maintenance Program
  • Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection
  • Lower Berryessa Creek Flood Protection (Phase 3)*
  • Upper Berryessa Creek Flood Protection*
  • Calabazas Creek Bank Rehabilitation Project
  • Calabazas/San Tomas Aquino Creek-Marsh Connection Project
  • Coyote Creek Flood Protection*
  • Cunningham Flood Detention Certification
  • Ecological Data Collection and Analysis*
  • FAHCE: Fish and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort
    • FAHCE Final Program Environmental Impact Report
    • FAHCE-Related Board Committee Items
    • FAHCE: Adaptive Management Program
    • FAHCE: Fish Monitoring Program
    • FAHCE-Related Board Agenda Items
    • FAHCE: Certified Final EIR
  • Fish Habitat and Passage Improvement*
  • Flood Risk Assessment Studies*
  • Lower Guadalupe River Project
  • Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection*
  • Interagency Urban Runoff Program*
  • Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection*
  • Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project
  • Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection*
  • Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project
  • Restoration of Natural Creek Functions*
  • Permanente Creek Flood Protection*
  • San Francisco Bay Shoreline Protection*
  • San Francisquito Creek: Bay to Highway 101
  • San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection*
  • Saratoga Creek Hazard Tree Removal and Restoration Project
  • Sediment Reuse to Support Shoreline Restoration*
  • Sunnyvale East and Sunnyvale West Channels Flood Protection*
  • Vegetation Control and Sediment Removal for Capacity*
  • Vegetation Management for Access and Fire Safety*
  • Uvas Creek Levee Rehabilitation

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  3. Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project

Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project

Image
Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project Map
Status
On Target
Phase
Construction
Location
Milpitas, CA
Schedule
Completed Summer 2023
Funding
Valley Water's Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund and California Department of Water Resources Proposition 1E grant ($27 million)

The completed Lower Penitencia Creek Flood Improvements Project provides continued flood protection for residents and businesses along the one-mile project area from San Andreas Drive to the Coyote Creek confluence. The project was done in conjunction with improvements made to Upper Berryessa Creek, Lower Berryessa Creek, and Calera Creek to reduce flood risks. This project increased Lower Penitencia Creek’s capacity to safely carry stormwater away and protect surrounding homes and businesses from flooding. The completed project allows Valley Water to continue providing flood protection from a 100-year storm, a storm event with a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year.
(Download Project Fact Sheet)

To learn more about the completed project, click here to view the project shell with a map of the area and benefits.

Completed flood protection improvement on Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of California Circle.
Completed flood protection improvement on Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of California Circle.
Installed sheet piles, which serve as flood walls to protect the surrounding community from flooding, on the west bank of Lower Penitencia Creek.
Installed sheet piles, which serve as flood walls to protect the surrounding community from flooding, on the west bank of Lower Penitencia Creek.
Lower Penitencia Creek upstream of California Circle and Milmont Ave. The new trail sits on the west bank of the creek.
Lower Penitencia Creek upstream of California Circle and Milmont Ave. The new trail sits on the west bank of the creek.

For more information: 

  • Bill Sanchez, Project Manager, (408) 630-2974

  • Jose Villarreal, Neighborhood Liaison, (408) 630-2879

To learn more about the completed project, click here to view the project shell with a map of the area and benefits.

Completed flood protection improvement on Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of California Circle.
Completed flood protection improvement on Lower Penitencia Creek downstream of California Circle.
Installed sheet piles, which serve as flood walls to protect the surrounding community from flooding, on the west bank of Lower Penitencia Creek.
Installed sheet piles, which serve as flood walls to protect the surrounding community from flooding, on the west bank of Lower Penitencia Creek.
Lower Penitencia Creek upstream of California Circle and Milmont Ave. The new trail sits on the west bank of the creek.
Lower Penitencia Creek upstream of California Circle and Milmont Ave. The new trail sits on the west bank of the creek.

For more information: 

  • Bill Sanchez, Project Manager, (408) 630-2974

  • Jose Villarreal, Neighborhood Liaison, (408) 630-2879

Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project - Final Environmental Impact Report (November 2017)

  • Volume 1 of 3
     
  • Volume 2 of 3
     
  • Volume 3 of 3
     

Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project - PLANNING STUDY REPORT - May 2016
Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project - Staff Recommended Alternative Report - September 2015

Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project - Problem Definition and Refined Objectives Report - July 2013

Lower Berryessa Creek Program Final Environmental Impact Report - December 2011
 

Valley Water held public meetings to obtain input on the alternatives and EIR

Project alternatives presented to the community in 2014:

  • PowerPoint presentation [PDF]
  • Responses to questions raised at June 2014 community meeting [PDF]
  • Video recording of meeting

Community update and Draft Environmental Impact Report meeting from May 2017:

  • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Video recording of the meeting

Valley Water held an informational virtual meeting to provide neighbors an update on the project, its benefits, and what to expect during construction. Here are the meeting materials:
- Agenda 

- Presentation slides

- Meeting recording 

The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Lower Penitencia Creek Improvements Project, when completed, will increase the channel capacity to carry increased water flows from the Berryessa Creek Flood Protection Project.

Benefits

  • Maintain existing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accreditation along the east levee located between California Circle and Berryessa Creek
  • Minimize the need for seasonal removal of sediment and non-woody vegetation, which minimizes future maintenance costs
  • Enhances stream habitat
  • Creates additional wetlands

Geographic Area of Benefit

Milpitas, CA

Lower Penitencia Creek channel improvements were constructed in 1955, 1962, 1965, and in the early 1980's. The existing channel within the project's reach was improved at multiple locations in the 1980s. The channel improvements consisted of various modifications to the creek to increase capacity. In the reaches north of the confluence with Lower Berryessa Creek, the channel was widened and levees were raised .

This project will prevent flooding from the channel caused by future larger flows from Berryessa Creek.*

* Flooding in nearby areas caused by another creek will be addressed in a separate project.

Lower Penitencia Creek in Milpitas

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