Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead ABOUT THIS VOLUME This is Volume One of the Watershed Management Plan, “Watershed Characteristics Report,” a product of the Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative. It is the first volume of a planned four comprising the Watershed Management Plan for the Santa Clara Basin. It condenses a larger and much more detailed report, which is referenced throughout this volume as “Volume One Unabridged.” Chapter numbers and major sections in this report correspond to those in the unabridged version. Those who need or want the much greater detail found in Volume One Unabridged should contact the Project Coordinator for the Watershed Management Initiative at the address below. We would like to hear from our readers The Watershed Management Initiative values community participation and welcomes your feedback for consideration in future publications. If you would like to comment on this document, or are interested in playing a part in managing our watershed, send in the response card at the back of this report or contact: Project Coordinator for the Watershed Management Initiative c/o City of San Jose 4245 Zanker Road San Jose, CA 95134, 408-945-3024 Visit our Web site: www.scbwmi.org i Watershed Management Plan Volume One Watershed Characteristics Report Prepared by the Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative May 2000 ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................1 1.1 Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative ................................1 Purpose.......................................................................................................................... 1 Goals of the Watershed Management Initiative ............................................................ 2 1.2 Location and Characteristics of the Santa Clara Basin.............................3 General Characteristics.................................................................................................. 3 Watersheds .................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2 Report Preparation Process....................................................................8 Chapter 3 Cultural Setting of the Santa Clara Basin ............................................11 3.1 Summary of Santa Clara Basin Cultural History.......................................11 Native Americans........................................................................................................ 11 Spanish and Mexican Periods ..................................................................................... 12 California Gold Rush Era............................................................................................ 12 The Twentieth Century................................................................................................ 13 Silicon Valley.............................................................................................................. 13 3.2 Demographic and Cultural Inventory.........................................................14 Existing Community Characteristics........................................................................... 14 Projected Community Characteristics......................................................................... 17 Chapter 4 Land Use in the Santa Clara Basin.......................................................19 4.1 Effects of Land Use on Watersheds ..........................................................19 Overview: Spatial Pattern Matters .............................................................................. 19 Effects of Urbanization on Santa Clara Basin Watersheds ......................................... 20 Opportunities to Change Land Use and Development Patterns .................................. 22 Methods for Reducing Impacts from Developed Sites................................................ 23 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 24 iii Table of Contents 4.2 Patterns of Land Use...................................................................................24 Existing Land Use ....................................................................................................... 24 Projected Growth by Watersheds ................................................................................ 31 4.3 Analysis of Land Use, Other Special Features in Riparian Corridors ....31 Methods....................................................................................................................... 36 Results .........................................................................................................................36 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 5 Organizational Setting...........................................................................37 5.1 Environmental Organizations.....................................................................37 5.2 Environmental Education Resources........................................................39 5.3 San Francisco Bay Estuary-Wide Organizations......................................40 5.4 Universities and Colleges...........................................................................41 5.5 Business and Industry Trade Organizations ............................................41 5.6 Community Organizations and Foundations ............................................42 5.7 Water Sport and Recreation Groups .........................................................43 5.8 Agricultural Organizations .........................................................................44 5.9 Government Agencies ................................................................................44 5.10 Media ............................................................................................................45 Chapter 6 Regulatory Setting .................................................................................59 6.1 Regulation of Water Quality .......................................................................48 Federal Laws and Regulations..................................................................................... 49 California Laws to Protect Water Quality................................................................... 52 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 53 Beneficial Uses............................................................................................................ 53 6.2 Regulation of Drinking Water Quality........................................................56 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 56 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 57 6.3 Regulation of Water Rights ........................................................................58 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 58 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 58 iv Table of Contents 6.4 Regulation of Wetlands and Riparian Zones ............................................59 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 59 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 60 6.5 Regulation of Endangered Species ...........................................................60 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 60 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 62 6.6 Regulation of Fisheries...............................................................................63 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 63 6.7 Regulation of Land Use ..............................................................................63 California Environmental Quality Act ........................................................................ 74 Basin-Wide Planning (General Plans)......................................................................... 63 Local Planning Policies............................................................................................... 64 6.8 Regulation of Transportation .....................................................................64 Laws and Regulations ................................................................................................. 64 Implementing Agencies............................................................................................... 65 6.9 Regulation of Vector Control (Mosquito Abatement) ...............................65 6.10 Regulation of Pesticides.............................................................................65 Federal Regulation of Pesticides ................................................................................