Palo Alto Golf Course Wide Flood Channel Design


Palo Alto citizens originally proposed a wide flood channel design on the Golf Course with a gradual slope the levee upwards on the south side, so that its crest is some distance south of the current location. They said "This will create a more interesting landscape for the golf course, without detracting from the playability of the fairways." The current SCVWD design is much narrower and has been an issue delaying construction permits.

 From: "San Francisquito Creek Flood Control Long-term Options…" Prepared by Prof. Stephen Monismith, Tom Rindfleisch, Steve Bisset, Art Kraemer, Stan Smith, and Xenia Hammer:

"We keep the left (north) levee in its current location, except that it is lowered or shortened in the final stretch toward the bay.  Some height is added as required closer to 101 to ensure capacity to the 100-year level.
We keep the right (south) levee in the same location from 101 to where it meets the golf course, adding a little height as required.
But then instead of the current steep levee, we gradually slope the levee upwards on the south side, so that its crest is some distance south of the current location.  This will create a more interesting landscape for the golf course, without detracting from the playability of the fairways.
We keep the tidal levees in place against extreme high tides.
The creek flow and tidal wash stays within its current bed most of the time, even with moderately heavy rainfall. 
For very high flows that would overbank today’s channel, the creek widens just enough to accommodate the flow."

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