Project is currently in-progress.
Picture showing pond 1A at the water district’s Dr. Robert Gross Groundwater Recharge Ponds
The Penitencia Ponds are located near the intersection of Penitencia Creek Road and Noble Avenue in the City of San José. The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages the Dr. Robert Gross Groundwater Recharge Ponds (Penitencia Creek Percolation Ponds) for groundwater recharge and to supply water to other recharge ponds downstream of the Penitencia Ponds and along Upper Penitencia Creek. Imported water from the Sacramento River Delta is the primary source of water for these ponds. Water is circulated through the series of ponds and is released from Penitencia Ponds to Upper Penitencia Creek through Pond 1A.
The current discharge pipe from Pond 1A does not have a screen to prevent exotic fish species in Pond 1A from entering the pipeline and Upper Penitencia Creek. The introduction of exotic fish species into the creek can lead to ecological degradation of the watershed for native species through competition, predation, habitat interference, disease transfer, and hybridization.
Map showing location for the fish screen
A fact sheet for this project is available HERE for viewing or download.
The April 8, 2010, Planning Study Report for this project is available for review here:
Dr. Robert W. Gross Groundwater Recharge Pond 1A Fish Screen Project Planning Study report.
The Engineer's Report for this project is available here: Final Engineer's Report
The California Environmental Quality Act - Categorical Exemption is available here.
Schedule: Begin construction in October 2011.
For more information on this project, please contact Senior Project Manager, Ngoc Nguyen at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2632 or by email at: nnguyen@valleywater.org.