Routine Channel Maintenance

Routine Channel Maintenance

Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7) owns and maintains approximately 37 miles of engineered, modified, and natural channels throughout the Livermore-Amador Valley. The channels also play an integral role in local groundwater management and water supply. Zone 7's maintenance program includes routine maintenance of, and repairs to, the flood protection facilities. Such activities are directed toward preventing minor problems from becoming major flooding problems, minimizing unnecessary damage to private property through proactive planning, preserving and maximizing flood carrying capacity of existing creeks and channels, and post-storm rehabilitation of damaged flood protection facilities. Work occurs on Zone 7 channels and facilities as shown on the attached map. Some activities are district-wide, like mowing. Other activities occur on as as-needed basis typically as a result of past winter storms, like site-specific bank repairs. In a typical year, Zone 7 conducts routine channel maintenance work including the following: • Vegetation maintenance work including district-wide mowing of tall weeds and grasses along most channels for fire fuels management, and district-wide pruning/removing of hazardous vegetation like fallen trees as well as to maintain access for emergency vehicle. • Debris and sediment removal, including spot removal of small amounts of sediment or debris from existing structures like bridge piers to maintain the integrity of the infrastructure. (approx. 50 sites) • Structure maintenance and repair including site-specific work at stormdrain outfalls to ensure water flowing from city stormdrains can reach the flood control channels. (approx. 10 sites) • Bank repair work, which is typically identified only after storm events. (approx. 10 sites) Zone 7's mission is to deliver safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable water and flood protection services. Zone 7's strategic planning priorities include a stated goal to "Provide Eastern Alameda County with an effective system of flood protection" which is further described to "Continue the stream maintenance program to maintain the effectiveness of flood protection facilities". Most of the cost of routine repair and maintenance is funded by property taxes (enabling legislation in the District Act). For federally declared storm disasters, Zone 7 may also apply for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Specific budgeting for work is done and approved by the Board on a continuous bi-annual basis.

Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton

Alameda

Countywide

Alameda