Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order Compliance Project (FOCP) – Live Oak Restoration Reach Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026040701
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order Compliance Project (FOCP) – Live Oak Restoration Reach Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/15/2026
Document Description
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is proposing the LORRP as part of the mitigation strategy for impacts resulting from the implementation of FOCP. The purpose of the LORRP is to enhance the spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) along Coyote Creek. The LORRP would enhance 2.59 acres of steelhead spawning and rearing habitat along an approximately 2,600-foot section of Coyote Creek that extends from the Coyote Discharge Line (CDL) outlet on the South Channel downstream along the Live Oak Area of Anderson Lake County Park. The project would consist of the placement of spawning gravels, large woody debris (LWD), large boulders, and vegetated gravel bars within three sub-reaches (Upper, Middle, and Downstream) of Coyote Creek adjacent to and downstream of the Live Oak Picnic Area. The LORRP is divided into three unique sub-reaches including the Downstream Sub-reach, the Middle Sub-reach, and the Upstream Sub-reach. The project includes two distinct restoration approaches that vary by sub-reach: (Type A) spawning gravel placement with LWD; and (Type B) streambed reset with LWD, which combines placement of coarse substrates, spawning gravel placement, vegetated gravel bars, boulders, and LWD structures to increase the distribution and quality of steelhead rearing and spawning habitat. Both the Upstream Sub-reach and Downstream Sub-reach include Type A improvements while the Middle Sub-reach includes Type B improvements. Project construction activities would include site preparation, clearing and grubbing, creek dewatering, in-channel excavation and grading for LWD installation, and gravel and boulder placement. Dewatering activities would be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the dewatering activities would consist of isolating and dewatering the Downstream Sub-reach using cofferdams, diversion pumps, and submersible pumps. All flows would be diverted down an existing secondary channel to the north to bypass flows around the Downstream Sub-reach work area. Once the construction of the Downstream Sub-reach is completed, the downstream cofferdam would be removed and the creek would be rewatered. The second phase of the dewatering activities would include isolating and dewatering the Upstream Sub-reach, Middle Sub-reach, and existing secondary channel. This dewatering phase would be conducted using a cofferdam, pumps, and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline. Fish and aquatic vegetation would be cleared from within the reaches prior to dewatering activities, and fish screens would be installed upstream of the work limits. Once in-channel construction is complete, the temporary dewatering systems would be deconstructed and removed from the creek. All disturbed soil areas would be planted with native plant mix using hydroseed application. The project site would include two staging areas. The primary staging area would be located at the Live Oak Park parking area and the secondary staging area would be at the upstream point of diversion at the Upstream Subreach. Construction access would be accessed via Cochrane Road and Malaguerra Avenue and through Live Oak Park. Construction equipment that would be used to construct the project would include dump trucks, excavators, loaders, skid steers, and pumps. Construction activities are anticipated to be completed within a construction season, which is expected to begin in June 2026 and end in December 2026. Work within the creek channel is expected to occur during the dry season, from June 15, 2026 to October 15, 2026.
Contact Information
Name
Tiffany Chao
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Job Title
Senior Water Resources Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Morgan Hill
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Cross Streets
Downstream of Anderson Reservoir along Coyote Creek in Morgan Hill
Parcel #
72834019, 72834020, 72824021, 72835001, 72835022, and 72835031.
State Highways
State Highway 101
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The FOCP qualified for a Statutory Exemption for specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency under Pub. Res. Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines §15269(c). CEQA (Pub. Res. Code § 21060.3) defines an “emergency” as a sudden, unexpected occurrence, involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services. A dam failure leading to catastrophic flooding would be a “sudden unexpected occurrence” were it to occur. FERC’s dam safety order reflects a regulatory determination that seismic risks associated with Anderson Dam and the existing outlet constitute an emergency situation that requires immediate action by Valley Water. Immediate action to prevent flood damage is required because, as recognized by FERC and confirmed by Valley Water studies, the magnitude of the risk of catastrophic dam failure to downstream life is extreme.
Each of the FOCP components is necessary for an integrated emergency response to the FERC Order, both to mitigate the potential for a catastrophic dam failure, and to avoid and minimize environmental, flood management, groundwater recharge, and water supply impacts of such emergency response actions. The LORRP is part of the mitigation strategy for FOCP impacts and helps implement the FOCP Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. Because the LORRP is required to help complete FOCP implementation, it is subject to the same statutory emergency exemption as the original FOCP.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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