Preparing for the Storm

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 team of scientists, planners, and managers is establishing integrated science and tools to improve water quality, habitat, and flood benefits along Arroyo de la Laguna and Arroyo Mocho. The grant leverages flood-related funding to implement high-priority, multi-benefit projects. These and other projects informed by this work will re-establish floodplain and riparian habitat including rare Sycamore Alluvial Woodland habitat, reduce flood risks, advance regional green stormwater infrastructure planning, and encourage the regular beneficial reuse of coarse sediment derived from flood control channels, and resolve water quality and sediment erosion hotspots. Supporting the establishment of a proactive, process-based approach to address the dual challenges of climate change and urbanization, Preparing for the Storm provides a regional model for enhancing hydrological and ecosystem resilience.

Preparing for the Storm is an exciting partnership between Zone 7 Water Agency, the San Francisco Estuary Institute, H.T. Harvey & Associates, and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, with valuable contributions from the City of Dublin, City of Pleasanton, City of Livermore, and Castlewood Country Club. The project was funded by the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund, EPA Region IX.

Project Components

Urban Greening In this task, SFEI and Zone 7 are informing regional green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) planning, with input from the cities of Dublin and Pleasanton, two of the three major cities in Livermore Valley and the majority of impervious surface present. As with other municipalities in the Bay Area, Livermore Valley cities are required by the MRP to address stormwater-related water quantity and quality issues through GSI implementation. Achieving these goals can also serve stream management goals for flood protection, adequate water supply, and healthy habitats.

Preparing for the Storm aims to enhance coordination and communication between cities and Zone 7. Through GIS analysis and modeling, involving the use of the GreenPlan-IT Toolkit, the project will prioritize locations for GSI implementation and quantify peak flow and PCB load reductions. Ultimately, the urban greening analysis developed by the Preparing for the Storm partnership will help to enhance stream and watershed resilience, reduce peak flows, and improve water quality.

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Historic and current regional management of watersheds and channels for water supply and flood control across the San Francisco Bay Area has cut off much of the coarse sediment that was historically delivered to the Bay. Future projections indicate that sediment supply will not meet the demand from extant and restored tidal marshes to keep up with sea level rise.

As part of the Preparing for the Storm grant, SFEI, the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, and Zone 7 Water Agency have led an effort to support the development of a successful regional coarse sediment reuse strategy. Development of such a strategy requires understanding of logistical and regulatory hurdles and identification of key strategies for breaking down barriers. One potential solution for meeting the sediment demand along the Bay margin is to utilize coarse sediment that is removed from flood control channels by public agencies. To-date, very little of this sediment that is removed is beneficially reused for restoration along the Bay shoreline. The current economic and regulatory framework around sediment removal presents many challenges, barriers and lack of incentives for agencies to reuse their sediment.

This work represents a step forward towards beneficially reusing coarse flood control channel sediment by outlining reuse challenges, and identifying incentives for participation and potential solutions. It involves four primary components: 1) virtual workshop convened to engage a large and diverse set of stakeholders from the region to gain knowledge and feedback from their experience in removing, transporting, reusing, and permitting coarse sediment, 2) production of a strategy memo, “Towards a Coarse Sediment Strategy for the Bay Area”, and 3) support of the SediMatch Program (see factsheet here), including an update and expansion of the SediMatch webtool to better address coarse sediment.

Breaking down challenges and barriers to coarse sediment reuse will require cooperation and involvement from the entire community of stakeholders, as well as the utilization of a range of strategies.

View and download the report.

Meeting human and ecological needs within San Francisco Bay’s watersheds is increasingly challenged by flooding, water quality degradation, and habitat loss, exacerbated by intensified urbanization and climate change. Addressing these challenges requires implementing multi-benefit strategies through new partnerships and increased coordination across the region’s diverse landscapes. Actions to improve water quality and enhance habitat for biodiversity in our highly developed and managed landscapes can help the region as a whole to build resilience to withstand current pressures and future change.

As part of the Preparing for the Storm grant, the analysis and technical report, “Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality Enhancement Opportunities at Castlewood Country Club,” presents a synthesis of water quality and habitat improvement opportunities for a golf course of Castlewood Country Club (“Castlewood”). These opportunities at Castlewood stand to contribute to improved resilience within the region. Castlewood borders the Arroyo de la Laguna, the major creek and riparian corridor draining Livermore Valley, which is experiencing substantial changes to its channel morphology (incision and widening, leading to bank erosion and bank failures). Likely further development upstream and climate change amplify the importance of enhancing conditions at Castlewood.

In recent years, Castlewood has worked on sustainability measures and there is interest in continuing these efforts and achieving recognition as environmental stewards. The identified opportunities from this effort are intended to support informed management decisions that will improve the ability of Castlewood’s Valley Course to protect water quality and enhance habitat for native wildlife.

View and download the report

Sycamore alluvial woodland (SAW) is a rare and important habitat type, not only for riparian species, but because of the unique stream conditions it requires and supports, which also limits restoration opportunities. It is recognized to be as relatively resilient to climate change because of its tolerance for extreme drought and flood. The Valley’s streams historically supported wide braided channels characterized by sycamore trees, and open spaces and parks represent rare opportunities to recover SAW.

As part of Preparing for the Storm, this effort will build an understanding of the SAW population in the Valley, draw on other SAW studies in the region, and identify SAW restoration strategies. Part of this calculus includes understanding sediment and hydrological requirements of SAW including analysis of soils, hydrology, and geomorphology. This information will assist Zone 7, park districts and other landowners (such as local vineyards) by providing guidance for SAW restoration and mitigation activities.

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Poster for Contra Costa Watershed Symposium, December 2019

Using the science understanding and tools developed in other tasks, Zone 7 will work with other streamside property owners (e.g., Livermore Area Regional Park District) to create sustainable aquatic and riparian habitat improvements.

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The project team will conduct participatory outreach in collaboration with the Living Arroyos watershed stewardship program, involving volunteers in the implementation projects. Project results will be presented to key stakeholder audiences through local and regional workshops, seminars, and conferences (e.g., Contra Costa Watershed Forum).