Almaden Lake Improvement Project a Voter-Approved Stream Stewardship Creek and Lake Separation Project Almaden Lake History and Existing Conditions

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Almaden Lake Improvement Project A voter-approved stream stewardship creek and lake separation project Almaden Lake History and Existing Conditions

Almaden Lake is a 32-acre man-made water body and former gravel quarry in the Guadalupe Watershed. After operations ceased, heavy storms washed away the levee separating Alamitos Creek from the quarry, creating Almaden Lake and with it, several environmental challenges: Fish habitat and migration Water quality Almaden Lake ImprovementThe Guadalupe Watershed, Project which includes Alamitos Creek, The lake suffers from elevated bacteria levels and seasonal Almaden Lake Improvementsupports federally threatenedProject Central California Coast algae blooms. These are caused by a series of factors steelhead and other native fish. Steelhead use freshwater including waste from birds such as seagulls and geese, A Voter-Approved Stream Stewardship Creek/Lake Separationcreeks andProject rivers for spawning and the ocean for adult poor water circulation, varying temperatures, and storm A Voter-Approved Stream Stewardship Creek/Lake Separationgrowth. Project When adult steelhead return to the creeks and water inputs. AlmadenAlmaden LakeLake ImprovementImprovementrivers to spawn, they Project mustProject pass through Almaden Lake to reach their upstream spawning habitats in Alamitos and Because Almaden Lake is downstream from the historic Calero creeks. Juvenile steelhead then pass through the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, mercury-laden sediment AA Voter-Approved Voter-Approved Stream Stream Stewardship Stewardship Creek/Lake Creek/Lake Separation Separationlake Projectwhen Project migrating down the Guadalupe River to the has accumulated in the lake. During warm summers, San Francisco Bay. The co-mingling of Almaden Lake with lake conditions promote the conversion of mercury to Alamitos Creek disrupts migration. Fish risk getting lost in methylmercury, the most toxic form of mercury. While not AtheA lakeViewView rather ofthan of projectmigrating project upstream from from or Winfielddownstream Winfield and Boulevard. Boulevard.a drinking water issue, mercury can accumulate in fish in GetGet project project updates updates must avoid being preyed by non-native fish such as Bass. amounts harmful to humans and wildlife that eat them. Varying water temperatures can also impact cold-water fish 1. 1. Visit Visit https://delivr.com/2rrtr https://delivr.com/2rrtr NN since higher temperatures can decrease oxygen supply, disrupt metabolism and increase toxin susceptibility. 2. 2. Request Request project project information information using using A AViewView of of project project from from Winfield Winfield Boulevard. Boulevard. GetGetAccess Accessproject project Valley Valley Water updates Water updates valleywater.org/avwapp/valleywater.org/avwapp/ A View of project from Winfield Boulevard. 1. 1.Visit Visit https://delivr.com/2rrtr https://delivr.com/2rrtr NN 3. 3. Sign Sign up up to toreceive receive 2. 2.Request Request project project information information using using projectproject updates updates via via NewNew levee/maintenance levee/maintenance road road AccessAccess Valley Valley Water Water Win eldWin eld Boulevard Boulevard emailemail using using the the ProposedProposed island island valleywater.org/avwapp/valleywater.org/avwapp/ AA QRQR code code or orthe the link link ExistingExisting lake lake ReconfiguredReconfigured Almaden Almaden Lake Lake 3. 3.Signon onSign the up the projectupto project receiveto receive website. website. projectproject updates updates via via NewNew levee/maintenance levee/maintenance road road 4. 4. For For more more information, information, Win eldWin eld Boulevard Boulevard emailemail using using the the ProposedProposed island island contactcontact project project manager, manager, QRQR code code or theor thelink link AA JamesJames Ujah Ujah at at ExistingExisting lake lake ReconfiguredReconfigured Almaden Almaden Lake Lake on onthe theproject project website. website. (408)(408) 630-3014 630-3014 BeforeBefore AfterAfter 4. 4.For For more more information, information, Recon guredRecon gured Almaden Almaden Lake Lake contactcontact project project manager, manager, (17(17 Acres) Acres) FundedFundedJamesJames by Ujahby Safe,Ujah Safe, at at Clean Clean Water Water and(408)(408) Natural 630-3014 630-3014 Flood Protection Before After and Natural Flood Protection B B ViewView of of project project from from Almaden Almaden Expressway. Expressway. Project - Priority D: The eight Recon guredProposedRecon guredProposed island island Almaden Almaden Lake Lake BeforeBefore AfterAfter Project - Priority D: The eight ExistingExisting island island B View of project from Almaden Expressway. projectsprojects under under Priority Priority D Drestore restore and and (17(17 Acres) Acres) FundedprotectprotectFunded vital byvital bywildlife Safe, wildlife Safe, Cleanhabitat habitatClean Waterand andWater expandedexpanded andprovideand Natural Natural opportunities Flood Flood Protection for Protection increased B BViewView of of project project from from Almaden Almaden Expressway. 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Not to scale. Vegetation may vary by location. ThisThis rendering rendering depicts depicts a atypical typical summer summer flow flow in inthe the creek. creek. NewNew pedestrian/bike pedestrian/bike underpass underpass Not to scale. Vegetation may vary by location. underunder Coleman Coleman Road Road is isnot not shown shown

ThisThis rendering rendering depicts depicts a typicala typical summer summer flow flow in thein the creek. creek. NewNew pedestrian/bike pedestrian/bike underpass underpass NotNot to scale.to scale. Vegetation Vegetation may may vary vary by bylocation. location. underunder Coleman Coleman Road Road is not is not shown shown Almaden Lake Improvement Project

A Voter-Approved Stream Stewardship Creek/Lake Separation Project

A View of project from Winfield Boulevard. Get project updates N 1. Visit https://delivr.com/2rrtr 2. Request project information using Access Valley Water valleywater.org/avwapp/ 3. Sign up to receive project updates via Win eld Boulevard New levee/maintenance road Proposed island email using the A QR code or the link Existing lake Reconfigured Almaden Lake on the project website. 4. For more information, contact project manager, James Ujah at (408) 630-3014 Recon gured Almaden Lake Before After (17 Acres) Funded by Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection B Proposed island View of project from Almaden Expressway. Project - Priority D: The eight Existing island projects under Priority D restore and protect vital wildlife habitat and expanded provide opportunities for increased access to trails and open space. The Almaden Lake Improvement Project is one of two creek/lake separation projects being planned ainttenan and designed under Priority D. vee/mai ance road Existing lake Existing island lle Existing island New levee/maintenance road ew Restored Alamitos Creek N ek s Cre New park area

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Almaden Expressway B

Not to scale. Vegetation may vary by location.

This rendering depicts a typical summer flow in the creek. New pedestrian/bike underpass Not to scale. Vegetation may vary by location. under Coleman Road is not shown Almaden Lake Improvement Project Valley Water is committed to protecting the environment • Reduce methylmercury production in the lake through efforts such as the Almaden Lake Improvement Project. The work will separate Alamitos Creek from • Improve access to steelhead spawning Almaden Lake, provide a new flow-through water source and rearing habitat within the Upper Guadalupe for the lake, cap the mercury-laden sediments at the lake’s Watershed bottom and restore the connection between Alamitos Creek • Boost natural creek functions such as sediment and Guadalupe River from Coleman Road to the southern transport and habitat linkages for native species end of Almaden Lake. The project will: • Improve water quality downstream in • Minimize impacts to recreational features of Guadalupe River Almaden Lake Park

Planning phase Design phase

2012 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Summer 2019: Public meeting to present 2020: Summer 2023: draft Environmental Impact Permits and final Construction ends Report (EIR) project design

Fall 2019: Summer 2021: Final EIR presented to board Construction begins of directors for certification

Project objectives Environmental benefits

1. Separate Alamitos Creek from Almaden Lake. • Protects andromous fish (steelhead) 2. Remove warming effect of the lake’s water released • Reduces methylmercury production downstream into the Guadalupe River. • Improves water quality 3. Reduce potential for fish* to get lost in the lake rather than migrating upstream or downstream. • Restores and enhances habitat 4. Separate non-native fish habitat from Alamitos Creek. • Increases trails and open space 5. Reduce production of methylmercury and mercury concentration in fish within Almaden Lake to meet applicable water quality objectives. 6. Minimize impacts to existing recreational features.

*Fish born in fresh water that spend their adult life in the sea and return to fresh water to spawn. Project cost The voter approved Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Get project updates Protection Project funds the Almaden Lake Improvement Project. The work is one of eight projects under the 1. Request project information using Access Valley measure’s Priority D, which focuses on restoring and Water valleywater.org/acwapp protecting vital wildlife habitat and providing opportunities for increased access to trails and open space. The project 2. Sign up to receive project updates via email using is one of two planned creek and lake separation projects the QR code or the link on the project website. under Priority D4. The project budget is approximately https://delivr.com/27kcs $4.2 million for planning and design and approximately 3. For more information, contact Project Manager $25 million for construction. Roxanne Grillo at 408-630-3078 or [email protected]. About Valley Water Valley Water, with a history dating back to 1929, manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County’s 2 million residents. Valley Water effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, and a state- of-the-art water quality laboratory. We operate nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds. We provide wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver drinking water to homes and businesses. Valley Water is the flood control agency for Santa Clara County, annually preparing creeks for winter rains through levee maintenance, sediment removal, bank repair and vegetation management. We have invested more than $1 billion in flood protection efforts to protect nearly 100,000 parcels with many more projects planned.

For more information, contact Tony Mercado at (408) 630-2342 or by email at [email protected]. Or use our Access Valley Water customer request and information system at https://delivr.com/2yukx to find out the latest information on Valley Water projects or to submit questions, complaints or compliments directly to a Valley Water staff person.

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