Zone 2

Area: 40,390 acres
Natural Creeks: 55 miles
Earth Channels: 4 miles
Concrete Channels: 11 miles
Underground Pipes: 49 miles
Improved Creeks: 2 miles

Location: Hayward
Anticipated Completion: 2027/2028

The District is currently advancing the design and permitting efforts to repair a severely eroding levee embankment and service road, while also restoring and enhancing aquatic habitat along Sulphur Creek in Hayward. The project will focus on repairing and restoring the existing southern bank of Sulphur Creek, extending from San Francisco Bay to approximately 2,800 feet upstream. Key components include stabilizing areas of slope failure along the south levee, rehabilitating the compacted aggregate access road along the levee crest to maintain vehicle access, and restoring adjacent disturbed wetlands and habitat.

The ponded area south of the project, known as Frank’s Dump West (FDW), is owned by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD). This area provides important nesting habitat for the federally threatened western snowy plover, particularly when water levels are low enough to expose breeding islands.

If the south levee of Sulphur Creek were to fail, daily tidal waters could migrate further inland to nearby developed areas, increasing flood risk. In addition, regular tidal inundation during the dry season would flood snowy plover habitat, eliminating this high-value nesting and breeding area.

Upon construction completion, the project will also restore trail functionality, which is maintained and operated by the East Bay Regional Park District.

Location: Hayward
Anticipated Completion: 2027

Portions of San Lorenzo Creek run through residential backyards, and the District constructed a retaining wall to stabilize the slope and planted native vegetation, including willow, live oak, and California buckeye, to help strengthen the creek banks. However, the severe winter storms of 2022/2023 undermined portions of previous work and caused trees to fall into the channel, resulting in additional creek bank damage and reducing the creek’s flood control capacity. Completed restoration efforts to date include vegetation replanting, invasive plant removal, and the addition of natural rock features to improve flow and protect downstream areas. Final repairs are pending final permits.

Location: San Francisco Bay to Don Castro Reservoir (upstream)
Anticipated Completion: Pending funding availability

To further reduce flood risk on San Lorenzo Creek, the District is considering a multiphase program to upgrade levees and floodwalls and enhance water storage upstream at Don Castro Reservoir.  The completion of these improvements would increase stability, expand capacity, reduce flooding risks, and minimize environmental impacts. Completing all planned improvements along San Lorenzo Creek would require approximately $136.5 million. Learn more about priority projects in Zone 2.

Because the proposed benefit assessment increase was not approved by voters in June 2025, the identified improvements will need to be deferred. The District will continue to prioritize its limited Zone revenue toward urgent and critical repairs as needed.

Location: San Leandro
Year Completed: 2022 - 2024

In October 2021, residents on Swenson Street saw the collapse of an aging concrete canal wall into the channel behind their homes. District maintenance crews promptly stabilized the site. District engineers then completed the design, prepared construction documents, obtained required environmental permits, advertised the project for bids, awarded a construction contract, and reconstructed a new wall, all within a few months.

When another section of wall failed during the New Year’s Eve storm in 2022, the District reused the same design to expedite repairs and replace additional deteriorated sections. During this time, the District also conducted an assessment of concrete channel between Fargo Avenue and I-880 Freeway. Based on this assessment, temporary steel struts were installed above the tops of the existing vertical channel walls, spanning the channel width, to reduce the risk of further collapse.

Location: Downstream of Inverness Street to I-880 (upstream)
Anticipated Completion: Pending funding availability

To address long-term flood risk and to remove FEMA 100-year floodplain designation in the area, the District identified a broader improvement plan that combines new floodwalls along the channel, culvert upgrades at key crossings on Inverness, Juniper, and Wicks Streets, and tide gate improvements. Altogether, the six proposed phases would require an estimated $67.2 million in total funding. Learn more about priority projects in Zone 2. 

Because the proposed benefit assessment increase was not approved by voters in June 2025, the identified improvements will need to be deferred. The District will continue to prioritize its limited Zone revenue toward urgent and critical repairs as needed.

Location: Downstream of Union Pacific Railroad Crossing
Anticipated Completion: 2027

The Estudillo Canal Reconstruction Project will rebuild the aging tide gate structure. A portion of the south levee will be modified to allow high stormwater flows during major storm events. Stormwater will be diverted into adjacent City of San Leandro ponds for temporary storage until that water can flow back into the canal. The completion of this District project, along with a City-lead project at Neptune Drive, will enable the submission of a Letter of Map Revision to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remove the community from a recently mapped 100-year floodplain.

For more information on the Estudillo Canal tide gate project status, visit the Alameda County Public Works website.