City of Palo Alto (ID # 3663)

City Council Staff Report

Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 4/1/2013

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Council Priority: Emergency Preparedness

Summary Title: Resolution Authorizing Grant Application for a Flood Warning System

Title: Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the California Department of Water Resources for an Enhanced Regional Flood Warning System for the San Francisquito Creek Watershed

From: City Manager

Lead Department: Public Works

Recommendation and Draft Motion

Draft Motion: I move that the Council approve the attached resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California Department of Water Resources for an enhanced regional flood warning system for the San Francisquito Creek watershed.

Background

San Francisquito Creek poses the largest flooding threat to residents and businesses in Palo Alto. The City monitors a network of rainfall and stream flow gauges in the San Francisquito Creek watershed during winter storms in an effort to identify potential flood events and provide advance warning to the public. Some of the gauges are maintained by the City, while others are the responsibility of other agencies. Information from these gauges is posted to the City’s Creek Monitor web page to inform the public of current conditions and is used by emergency managers to assess the likelihood of stream flooding.

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On December 23, 2012, a large storm dropped 2.75 inches of rainfall on the saturated upper slopes of the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The combination of the intense rainfall and the saturated ground conditions resulted in a peak flow of 5,400 cubic feet per second in the creek, the third highest recorded stream flow rate since 1930 (Attachment B). The high flows caused stream overbanking at multiple locations into East Palo Alto and onto Highway 101 and near-overtopping at the Pope/Chaucer Street bridge. During post-event internal and inter-agency reviews of the storm emergency response, it was noted that the ability to effectively predict creek flooding is significantly hindered by thescarcity of rainfall and stream flow data from the upper watershed. Currentproblems include the ability to remotely monitor only one real-time rain gauge in the watershed (in addition, the rainfall gauge is at the edge of the watershed, in a sub-watershed that contributes only 14% of the flow to San Francisquito Creek) and a stream flow gauge that transmits data only once every 15 minutes. There was general agreement that a more robust, coordinated network of rainfall and stream gauges would improve flood prediction capabilities.

Discussion

Staff at the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has identified a grant program sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources that could provide financial resources to help improve the rain and stream flow instrumentation in the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The grant program, funded with monies from State Proposition 84, is designed to assist local agencies with implementation of flood emergency planning, preparedness, and response activities. One of the activities specifically listed as being eligible for grant funding is the “collecting and exchanging of flood information (static as well as real-time information) and integrating information into a common operational picture”. JPA staff have agreed to prepare a grant application and manage the coordinated effort to implement an enhanced regional flood warning system for the San Francisquito Creek watershed. The JPA would coordinate with staff from other JPA member agencies, including the City of Palo Alto, during the development of the system in order to ensure maximum functionality and accessibility of the data for emergency response agencies throughout the watershed. If the grant application is approved, the funds will be used to 1) purchase and install new rainfall and stream flow gauges at strategic locations in the upper watershed; and

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2) pay for a consultant to assist with the selection of and installation of rainfall/stream flow monitoring equipment, integration of existing and new equipment into a unified monitoring system, and design of a robust communications system that will optimize the availability of the rainfall and stream flow data to emergency responders and the general public. The attached map shows the potential new monitoring points along with the existing rainfall and stream gauge locations (Attachment C).

Although the JPA will take a lead role in developing the grant application and managing the implementation of the enhanced flood warning system, they have asked the City to serve as the official applicant because the grant program requires that the applicant be a public agency with primary responsibility for flood emergency response. Approval of the attached resolution will authorize the City Manager to sign and submit the grant application prepared by the JPA. If the grant is approved, the City would be expected to provide upfront project funding, with subsequent reimbursement from the State. The grant program does not require the commitment of any local matching funds. Public Works staff will work cooperatively with JPA staff and other JPA member agency staff to implement the enhanced flood warning system if the grant is awarded.

Timeline

The grant application will be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources prior to the grant program’s deadline of April 5, 2013. The JPA will endeavor to have the enhanced flood warning system in place prior to the 2013-14 winter storm season.

Resource Impact

If the grant is approved, the City would be expected to provide upfront project funding, with subsequent reimbursement from the State. Staff would return to Council for authorization of the upfront funding following approval of the grant. Staff will contribute staff time towards the review and implementation of the planned improvements.

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Policy Implications

Submittal of a grant application for an enhanced regional flood warning system is consistent with Comprehensive Plan Policy N-55: “Minimize exposure to all hazards through emergency management planning”.

Environmental Review

Submittal of a grant application is not a project under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Attachments:

• A - Resolution (PDF)

• B - Historic San Francisquito Creek Stream Flow Rates (PDF)

• C - Map of Existing and Proposed Rainfall and Stream Flow Gages in San Francisquito Creek Watershed (PDF)

NOT YET APPROVED 

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Resolution No. ______ Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Authorizing a Grant 

Application to the State of California Department of Water Resources For an Enhanced Regional Flood Warning System for the San Francisquito 

Creek Watershed   

R E C I T A L S  

A.  The  City  of  Palo  Alto,  in  cooperation with  the  San  Francisquito  Creek Joint  Powers  Authority  (JPA)  and  it  member  agencies,  proposes  to  design  and implement  an  enhanced  flood  warning  system  for  the  San  Francisquito  Creek Watershed; and   

B.  The  City  of  Palo  Alto  intends  to  apply  for  grant  funding  from  the California Department of Water Resources for the project costs.    The Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:    SECTION 1:   That pursuant and subject to all of the terms and provisions of the California Proposition 84 “Water Quality, Safety and Supply, Flood Control, Natural Resource Protection, Park  Improvements” Bond  Law, and SB XX 1, application by  this Agency be made to the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a grant for the  Enhanced  Regional  Flood  Warning  System  for  the  San  Francisquito  Creek Watershed.    SECTION  2:  The  City  Manager  or  his  designee  is  hereby  authorized  and directed to prepare the necessary data, make investigations, sign, and file such  //  //  //  //  //  //  //  // 

NOT YET APPROVED 

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application with the California Department of Water Resources, and take such other actions as necessary or appropriate to obtain the grant funding.  INTRODUCED AND PASSED:      AYES:    NOES:  ABSENT:  ABSTENTIONS:  ATTEST:              __________________________    _____________________________ City Clerk            Mayor   APPROVED AS TO FORM:      APPROVED:  ___________________________    _____________________________ Senior Asst. City Attorney      City Manager              _____________________________             Director of Public Works               _____________________________             Director of Administrative                 Services

HISTORIC PEAK STREAMFLOW RATES

SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK AT USGS GAGE (LOCATED NEAR JUNIPERO SERRA BLVD)

1930 - 1941; 1950 - 2012

DATE PEAK FLOW RATE (CFS)

1. FEBRUARY 3, 1998 7200 2. DECEMBER 22, 1955 5560 3. DECEMBER 23, 2012 5400 4. JANUARY 4, 1982 5220 5. DECEMBER 31, 2005 4840 6. APRIL 2, 1958 4460 7. JANUARY 21, 1967 4000 8. FEBRUARY 13, 2000 3930 9. FEBRUARY 16, 1982 3760 10. DECEMBER 16, 2002 3660 11. NOVEMBER 18, 1950 3650 12. FEBRUARY 17, 1986 3480 13. JANUARY 26, 1983 3420 14. APRIL 1, 1974 3410 15. JANUARY 16, 1973 3390 16. JANUARY 24, 1983 3340 17. JANUARY 9, 1995 3320 18. JANUARY 13, 1980 3300 19. JANUARY 31, 1963 3270 20. JANUARY 2, 1997 3250 SOURCE: USGS WEBSITE

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R

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USGS flow gauge

Existing City of Palo Alto rain gauge

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Existing SFCJPA rain gauge

Stanford flow gauge

Stanford flow gauge

Proposed new rain gauges