Coyote Canal Emergency Drainage Restoration Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026100667
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
Coyote Canal Emergency Drainage Restoration Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/19/2026
Document Description
The Project would recontour an earthen mound currently preventing flow from Coyote Creek Branch A from entering a Highway 101 culvert (canal station 310+00) using a small excavator, repair a 50-foot-long section of earthen levee where it failed in 2017 (canal station 293+60) with 100 to 150 CY of clean levee fill, and clear an estimated 300 CY of sediment from a 480-foot-long, 8-foot-wide, 5-foot-tall concrete box culvert that conveys the canal beneath Highway 101 (canal stations 288+05 to 283+25) using a remote-controlled tracked machine and, if needed, a hydrovac tank truck. Valley Water Standard BMPs have been incorporated into the Project and would prevent sedimentation and degradation of water quality in downgradient waterbodies. The Project is scheduled for October/November 2026 and would take approximately 2 weeks to complete.
Contact Information
Name
Kelly White
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Job Title
Associate Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Morgan Hill, San Jose
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
east of Hwy 101 btwn Cochrane Rd and Coyote Creek Golf Club Dr
Zip
95013
Parcel #
N/A
State Highways
U.S. 101
Railways
Union Pacific Railroad
Airports
N/A
Schools
Sobrato High School, Live Oak High School
Waterways
Coyote Creek, Coyote Canal, Coyote Creek Branch A
Township
9S
Range
3E
Base
Mt Diabl
Other Location Info
Traveling northbound on U.S. 101 from Morgan Hill, the Project is on the east side of U.S. 101 between Exit 367 Cochrane Rd and Exit 371 Coyote Cr Golf Club Dr
Other Information
Downstream coordinates: 37.178020, -121.679706, Upstream coordinates: 37.173706, -121.672851
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Statutory Exemption: Emergency Projects, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15269(b) and (c)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is necessary to prevent flooding of the northbound Highway 101 travel lanes during the upcoming El Nino winter weather season. The Project involves emergency repairs to publicly owned canals to maintain stormwater conveyance and protect public health, safety, and welfare.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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