Restoration efforts at Adobe Creek, from to , got a boost when the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) recently announced $3.4 million in grants it makes to local organizations for projects related to water quality.
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 funds from SCVWD.
, which has a restoration project at Redwood Grove, received $46,365 for one phase of the project, which will remove thick invasive vegetation, control bank erosion and even allow a living art installation with willow branches.
Artist Daniel McCormick will weave willow branches into a living sculpture on the bank as part of the 's upcoming exhibit on the history of water.
The Stevens Creek and Permanente Creek Watershed Council received $49,833 for volunteer monitoring, 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," Grimes said.
Vision New America, with a grant of $49,963, proposes making a pollution prevention video, involving ethnic youth leaders, and will host 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
$ 285,000 Environmental VolunteersCompletion of the Bay Trail
$ 58,681
City of Milpitas
Alviso Adobe Renovation $ 70,000City of San Jose
Three Creeks Trail, Trestle and Interim Improvements
$ 450,000City of Saratoga
Village Creek Trail, Phase 1
$ 27,000
Town of Los Gatos
Creekside Sports Park Pedestrian Bridge
$ 300,000 Trails and Open Space Total $1,190,681Environmental Enhancement Implementation Grants
City of CupertinoStevens Creek Corridor Park & Restoration Project, Phase 2
$ 565,000West Valley College
Vasona Creek Native Vegetation Enhancement Project
$ 180,000Acterra
Adobe Creek Restoration, Redwood Grove to Shoup Park
$ 46,365West Valley College
Tennis Court Wetland Enhancement Project
$ 109,000
City of Santa Clara
Ulistac Natural Area Environmental Enhancement $ 106,976Santa 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
$ 259,787Trout Unlimited
Little Arthur Creek Streamflow Stewardship Implementation Project$ 220,500
West Valley College
Vasona Creek Enhancement Project, Bridge #3 Replacement and Channel Stabilization
$ 200,000
Environmental Enhancements Total
$1,762,630
Watershed Stewardship Grants
Stevens & Permanente Creeks Watershed Council Volunteer Monitoring and Outreach Program$ 49,833
Acterra
San Francisquito Watershed Project
$ 50,000
Coastal Habitat Educational and Environmental Restoration (CHEER)
Native Plant and Tree Education and Restoration$ 40,800
Save the Bay
Save the Bay Tidal Marsh Ecotone Stewardship Project$ 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
Vasona Creek in West Valley College Stormwater Pollution Reduction Plan $ 43,000Heart of the Valley, Services for Seniors, Inc.
Pharma/HHW Countywide Pollution Prevention Manual
$ 25,000Friends of Los Alamitos Watershed (FOLAW)
Los Alamitos Stewardship Grant$ 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
City of Saratoga Village Creek Trail Planning $ 39,000VIVA (Valley Initiative for Values in Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Foundation)
Saratoga Creek Trail on SCVWD Walnut Avenue Land $ 40,000West Valley College
Vasona Creek in West Valley College, Vasona Creek Trail Plan
$ 37,000Watershed Stewardship Grants Total
$482,796Total: $3,436,107
