South Bay Growth

This project supports the Design and Environmental Review for an Emergent Wetland to improve water quality and reduce overland fertilizer and waste inflows into Lake Cunningham. This project is restoring the historic landscape from the late 1800’s when the area was called Laguna Socayre (alternatively Laguna Seca). The project addresses three goals, 1) improve water quality through natural filtering processes, 2) offer visual amenity for existing walking trails along lake, and 3) advance the Department’s Strategic Goal of “Nature” through restoration of habitat.

The Authority contributed $400,000 to help the City of San Jose transform a neglected utility corridor into a recreational parkway with a meandering trail and landscaping that includes many native plants. Interpretive signage describes bio-retention swales that are part of the project and tell the story of Gary Albertson, a highway safety activist. The parkway is named in his memory.

The Authority contributed funds to the Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition for their Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition's Coyote Creek Homeless Stream Stewards Trash Free Coyote Creek project where they worked in collaboration with Friends of Coyote Creek Watershed and other volunteer groups and public agencies to achieve a trash free creek within the 10 mile stretch between Yerba Buena Road in South San Jose and Tasman Drive in North San Jose. Project coordinators worked with the homeless who reside along the creek by having them participate in the program. Over 100,000 pounds of trash was gathered in bags, removed from the creek, and hauled to a suitable sanitary landfill.