Rainy Season Q&A

El Niño is anticipated to persist through March 2024 according to the Climate Prediction Center, National Weather Service, and National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The City is gearing up for a wet winter and the following update answers three community questions on storm preparedness, plus offers resources on ways the community can be ready for the wet weather. 

What is the City Doing to Prepare?

After this past winters’ storms and through this summer, a multi-departmental staff team took several actions to prepare for this coming raining season including removal of debris from creeks in Palo Alto.   

An excavator is reserved to be stationed at the Pope/Chaucer bridge for the duration of the winter season to be used if removing debris is necessary during a high flow event. The City of East Palo Alto will also stage an excavator further downstream on University Avenue. A concrete pad and rolled curb was built along Pope/Chaucer Bridge to provide a better access for the tree removal equipment. Public Works is working to install a camera near the bridge to monitor water levels if the sensor is damaged during a large storm event.  

City Public Works Department also installed an additional catch basin on Dana Avenue/Alester Avenue and is evaluating additional actions to minimize flooding risk.  The storm drain system is being evaluated for capacity and connections, and locations for water surface elevation monitoring. The City Council is expected to award a storm drain construction contract that includes repairing collapsed pipes at Fielding Drive, Embarcadero Road, and Forest Avenue as well as improvements along East Meadow Drive and East Meadow Circle. Additional details about the improvements is available here.  

Sandbag stations are planned to be filled for the community to create sandbags as needed by November 15. Once supplies are secured, the stations will be open to the public at three locations. Watch this one-minute video from our partners at Valley Water on how to properly fill and pack a sandbag.  To learn how to protect your home from water using filled sandbags, watch this five-minute video from Valley Water.    

Why is Vegetation from San Francisquito Creek Not Being Removed? 

In advance of rainy seasons, multiple agencies, including the City of Palo Alto, walk the creeks to identify vegetation that needs to be addressed. This year the walk occurred over several days in August where issues were identified such as debris that could be problematic during the rainy season. Items identified are assigned to the agency with the maintenance responsibility. Along San Francisquito Creek that could be either Valley Water, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto or San Mateo County. Some tasks such as removal of man-made debris is done during a Coastal Clean-up Day. This year thanks to over 100 volunteers led by Grassroots Ecology, approximately 1,900 pounds of garbage was removed between El Camino Real and Middlefield Road.  

Many considerations go into maintaining the City’s natural environment San Francisquito Creek. Vegetation clearing from naturalized creeks, such as San Francisquito Creek, is limited by the practice to maintain a healthy habitat throughout the year. Trees are cut into 5 to 8-foot sections, small enough to float without causing blockages under bridges. While these pieces are in the creek they promote healthy environment to sensitive species that can migrate upstream from the bay or reside in the creek. Native tree trunks also provide the stability for native plant species to established in areas that might have eroded in previous years. In addition, removing some segments can be difficult and rigorous. Not all sections of San Francisquito Creek are easily accessible from a nearby road for example. Tree sections that require a crane or heavy equipment to remove from the creek are difficult to address. Often times there is no room for a long crane and outriggers required to maintain its balance to stage on a street to remove a cut up tree segment that will be carried by the next storm event or provides value to habitat.  Bushes and willows are not as concerning for creek integrity as they tend to bend with the direction of the water flow without obstructing the flow. This year some willow segments were trimmed due to excessive growth. 

Where Can I Find Details About How to Plan for the Upcoming Rainy Season? 

The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (SFC JPA) is hosting a community meeting to share updates, and storm preparedness resources for Winter 2023-24. This in person only meeting takes place on October 26, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Laurel School Upper Campus in the Atrium Room (275 Elliott Drive, Menlo Park). For details go here. 

The City of Palo Alto is hosting a Storm Preparedness Workshop on November 15 at 5:00 p.m. Save the date and more details will be shared here as they are finalized.