Stevens Creek Corridor and Trail Among $3.4 Million Awarded In Water Grants

The Stevens Creek Corridor Park and Trail got a boost when the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) recently announced $3.4 million in grants it makes to local organizations for water quality-related projects.

Restoration of the Stevens Creek corridor received $565,000, and construction of the final segment of Stevens Creek Trail received $285,000.

Restoration efforts include such projects as restoring the final 1,400-feet of stream on city-owned parkland; removal of invasive plants, concrete and channel lining; improvement on wetland, riparian and woodland habitat; and installation of native species trees, shrubs and other plants.

The Stevens Creek Trail project includes improvements such as extension of the trail from Blackberry Farm to Stevens Creek Boulevard, new bicycle lanes and bus stops on Stevens Creek Boulevard, installation of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge across Stevens Creek to connect the Stocklmeir property to Blackberry Farm, additional trail access and parking at Blackberry Farm Golf Course, trail amenities and removal of invasive plants with replacement of native species.

The program that supports volunteers monitoring the health of Stevens Creek and Permanente Creek, and an interactive watershed mapping project covering north county, will also get $49,833 from SCVWD, and the Committee for Green Foothills received $40,000 to create free, Web-based interactive maps illustrating local watersheds for the public.

The money was awarded for 26 projects across the county, some multiple grants for large, multifaceted water-related programs involving the Stevens Creek corridor or Vasona Creek.

In all, 21 organizations and municipalities—some not traditional environmental organizations—were chosen to undertake projects that enhance the environment, protect and restore watersheds, and develop new trails. The program is a small part of the monies from the Measure B parcel tax, passed by voters in 2000.

The SCVWD board authorized the grant awards at its June 28 board meeting, following an extensive screening. Proposals for all three programs were scored and ranked by review teams consisting of internal and external reviewers. Based on the rankings, district staff presented funding recommendations to the board of directors.

The district’s Environmental Advisory Committee, consisting of 15 volunteers, reviewed the panel’s recommendations and made its own recommendations to the board of directors.

Some, like , which has projects at San Francisquito Creek and Redwood Grove or , which has projects in north and south county, are recognized in the conservation community. But others, such as Vision New America, an organization to promote civic participation among minorities, and Heart of the Valley, which helps seniors live independently, are new to the water district.

"We're pretty pleased with the results of the outreach," said Marty Grimes, spokesman for the water district.

Vision New America, with a grant of $49,963, proposes making a pollution prevention video, involving ethnic youth leaders, and will hold an educational event for a dozen schools throughout Santa Clara Valley. Heart of the Valley also received a $25,000 grant for educational work, in preventing pollution through medications.

The program was promoted through mail, email, Web postings, printed fliers and presentations at advisory committees and workshops. SCVWD reached out directly to 140 potential grantees, plus an additional 387 schools within Santa Clara County.

The grant program is a small part of the 2000 Measure B voter-approved bond, known as Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan.

Below is a full list of the grant awards, made in different categories:

Trail and Open Space Grants

City of Cupertino

Stevens Creek Corridor Park & Restoration Project, Phase 2

Completion of the Bay Trail 

 $         58,681 

City of Milpitas

City of San Jose 

Three Creeks Trail, Trestle and Interim Improvements

City of Saratoga 

Village Creek Trail, Phase 1 

 $         27,000 

Town of Los Gatos 

Creekside Sports Park Pedestrian Bridge

Environmental Enhancement Implementation Grants

Stevens Creek Corridor Park & Restoration Project, Phase 2 

West Valley College 

Vasona Creek Native Vegetation Enhancement Project 

Acterra 

Adobe Creek Restoration, Redwood Grove to Shoup Park

West Valley College 

Tennis Court Wetland Enhancement Project 

 $       109,000 

City of Santa Clara 

Santa Clara Valley Water District 

Invasive Spartina Monitoring & Control in South Bay Marshes and Creeks 

 $         75,000

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

Vegetation Management in South Bay Salt Pond’s Alviso Unit

Trout Unlimited 

 $       220,500 

West Valley College

Vasona Creek Enhancement Project, Bridge #3 Replacement and Channel Stabilization 

 $       200,000

Environmental Enhancements Total

$1,762,630 

 Watershed Stewardship Grants

  $         49,833 

Acterra 

San Francisquito Watershed Project 

 $          50,000 

Coastal Habitat Educational and Environmental Restoration (CHEER) 

 $          40,800 

Save the Bay 

 $          25,000 

Vision New America, Inc. 

Water Pollution Prevention Education for Ethnic Minority Youth and Communities

 $          49,963 

Committee for Green Foothills 

MAPS for Clean Safe Creeks, Making Maps Available for Stream Stewardship and Pollution Prevention in the Northern Santa Clara County 

 $          40,000 

West Valley College 

Heart of the Valley, Services for Seniors, Inc. 

Pharma/HHW Countywide Pollution Prevention Manual

Friends of Los Alamitos Watershed (FOLAW) 

$         20,699 

Committee for Green Foothills 

MAPS for Clean Safe Creeks, Making Maps Available for Stream Stewardship and Pollution Prevention in the Southern Santa Clara County 

 $          22,500 

VIVA (Valley Initiative for Values in Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Foundation) 

West Valley College 

Vasona Creek in West Valley College, Vasona Creek Trail Plan 

Watershed Stewardship Grants Total 

Total: $3,436,107