Catalyzed by the extensive damages caused by the Winter 2016-2017 storms and the opportunity to align flood response with major habitat improvement, Preparing for the Storm is an innovative public-private partnership to improve watershed health and resilience in the Alameda Creek watershed.
The project leverages a diverse portfolio of flood-related funding to implement high-priority, multi-benefit projects. Preparing for the Storm will re-establish floodplain and riparian habitat along over 2 miles of steelhead streams, restore 10 acres of rare Sycamore Alluvial Woodland habitat, reduce flood peaks and increase recharge through a floodable park and vineyard, advance stormwater plans for a 50-square-mile urbanized valley, establish a regime of regular reuse of an estimated 50,000 cubic yards/year of coarse sediment, and resolve an array of previously-identified water quality and sediment erosion hotspots.
To achieve these ambitious outcomes, our team of expert scientists, engineers, implementing agencies, and large streamside private landowners will apply an integrated strategy to reduce excessive stream flows, erosion, sedimentation, and water quality impacts. Demonstrating a proactive, process-based approach to the large storm events anticipated to be more frequent in coming years, Preparing for the Storm provides a regional model for enhancing hydrological and ecosystem resilience.
The project findings have been synthesized into this online “toolbox.” The toolbox includes a description of this project, scientific guidance on planning for climate resiliency, implementation project case studies, and outreach information as part of an effort to get the word out about this project.
Preparing for the Storm was funded by the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund, EPA Region IX.
The project team will conduct participatory outreach in collaboration with the Living Arroyos watershed stewardship program, involving volunteers in the implementation projects, and through regular interactions with the ADLL Collaborative and Bay Area Flood Protection Agencies Association (BAFPAA).