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Hillside runoff and spillover from Anderson Reservoir have caused Coyote Creek’s waters to rise up to U.S. 101 just north of Morgan Hill the afternoon of Feb. 21.
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Both northbound lanes of the freeway were under water as of about 11 a.m., and closed to all traffic at Cochrane Road, according to authorities. The closure resulted in lengthy and prolonged traffic congestion as far south as Gilroy, according to numerous social media observers.
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The “Coyote Canal” along the east side of U.S. 101, which normally contains stormwater below the freeway grade, failed due to the high volumes of water pouring in, according to Morgan Hill Communications Manager Maureen Tobin.
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Much of the water flowing over the channel’s banks is coming from the Anderson Reservoir spillway, Tobin added. The reservoir rose to the spillway level Saturday, Feb. 18, and has been flowing heavily into Coyote Creek since then.
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Neighborhoods in north Morgan Hill, just downstream from the spillway, were affected by the overflowing creek starting early in the morning Feb. 21. Malaguerra Avenue was closed at the James Ranch juvenile detention center and the Anderson County Park Coyote Creek trailhead due to the floodwaters.
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The canal adjacent to U.S. 101 is owned and operated by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
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Water from evening and morning rains Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, running off the hills into Coyote Creek, has also contributed to the failing of the channel on the east side of U.S. 101, Tobin added.
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In other areas affecting Morgan Hill traffic, Santa Teresa Boulevard was closed at Bailey Avenue as of about 11:30 a.m. Feb. 21, according to a social media post by Tobin. Monterey Road remained open, but was “significantly impacted by rerouted traffic.”
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City of San Jose officials began warning residents in the south of that city when the Coyote canal’s waters reached the freeway.
“Due to expected flooding along Coyote Creek today, the City of San Jose is advising residents in the low-lying areas along the creek to prepare for potential voluntary evacuations,” reads a Facebook post on the City of San Jose – City Gov’t page. For more information on the impact to San Jose neighborhoods along Coyote Creek, visit sanjoseca.gov.
Check back here for updates.
