Two rainstorms in two years that flooded downtown and caused a
sewer line to overflow could have been prevented.
Two storms in two years highlight need for flood protection
Two rainstorms in two years that flooded downtown and caused a sewer line to overflow could have been prevented. The most recent storm dumped nearly 7 inches of rain in Morgan Hill, flooded downtown and sent 40,000 gallons of raw sewage onto the Ludewig Ranch Pumpkin Patch, forcing it to close during two of its busiest weekends. This wasn’t the first time the Ludewig Ranch overflowed with sewer. It also happened during the January 2008 storm that also flooded downtown. The problem arose after the city finished a project that increased sewer capacity in Morgan Hill.
Incomplete project responsible for flooding, sewage spill
Known as the Upper Little Llagas Creek Flood Control Project, the flooding solution extends about 13.6 miles from Buena Vista Avenue in San Martin upstream to Wright Avenue and would provide protection to the city’s urban corridor. The estimated figure for the project is more than $100 million. Work on the lower Llagas Creek portion, which opened the creek from the Pajaro River up to Buena Vista Avenue to Gilroy, was pushed after our neighboring city had major flooding in the early ’90s. The work, unfortunately, was stopped when federal money ran out.
Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft said about 20 percent of Morgan Hill’s 110 miles of roadways were flooded Oct. 13, over the tops of many, many sewer manholes. About 80 percent of the flooded roadways would have stayed dry had Llagas Creek already been finished, Ashcraft said.
Now is the time to put a shovel in the ground and finish the job
Now is the time for city leaders to encourage state and federal legislators to push for money to complete it. While the Santa Clara Valley Water District will pay almost $10 million for the project and the city has agreed to pay up to $3 million for consulting, the federal government has approved just $287,000 last year and $242,000 this year for preliminary work. Congressman Mike Honda (D-San Jose) said it’s up to the Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for carrying out the project, to keep the ball rolling.
“I will continue to advocate for the completion of this project,” Honda said to reporter Natalie Everett.
Sarah Hersh, spokeswoman for Jerry McNerney, said “the congressman is going to be reaching out to the army corps” to get the money allocated so the project can continue.
Let’s allocate money – if this isn’t ripe for stimulus money, what is? – for flood protection now and not regret damage to downtown later. It’s time to get a shovel in the ground.
