The Work We Do

Rain flowing downhill collects in flood control channels and natural creeks, which traverse low-lying communities to the San Francisco Bay. Once rainwater reaches low-lying shoreline and residential areas, the Flood Control District’s 22 pump stations help “lift” the water so that it is discharged into the Bay. The work of pump stations is especially important in periods of high tide, when Bay water levels are higher than the level of flood control channels.
Most of the District pump stations were built by individual cities and then turned over to the District for operation and maintenance. Due to each city’s variations in specifications and design, each pump station varies in design and size. Keeping pump stations in good working order requires time, expertise, and carefully planned preventive maintenance.

All District pump stations are monitored using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). SCADA systems save time and money by alerting District staff to malfunctions quickly and efficiently. District staff also use SCADA to review long-term equipment use and efficiency data to improve overall station performance. Trend data can be used for improved engineering when replacing or rehabilitating District pump stations.

The District’s Maintenance and Operations field crews regularly inspect and clear obstructions from more than 330 miles of creeks within the District’s jurisdiction. Each year, thousands of cubic yards of debris, from shopping carts to mattresses, furniture, and other trash, are removed from waterways. Cleaning out the creeks is time-consuming and expensive.

Some vegetation that poses a fire hazard and/or obstructs stormwater flow must also be removed. Typically, removal is done by hand, through natural biological means (such as by goat grazing), or by the application of herbicides.
The public can help lower the cost of removing trash and its resulting damage to natural waterways by remembering the motto “Only rain in the drain.” The less litter we have in our communities the healthier and safer our waterways will be.

For more information on the importance of keeping natural waterways clean, visit our Pollution Prevention page or the following websites:

• Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program

Any technology that employs plants and other natural materials and processes is referred to as bioengineering. The Flood Control District uses bioengineering to reinforce and stabilize creek banks so that waterways remain open and silt deposits are minimized downstream.
Using native plants and natural materials such as tree stumps and rock can lower construction costs. Maintenance costs, however, are usually higher because living materials require trimming and other care.
Some specific bioengineering techniques that the District uses are:

• Live crib wall – Logs placed in an interlocking pattern and planted with cuttings.
• Rootwads – Logs, with their root ball still attached, installed into a creek bank.
• Tree revetment – Trees anchored along a bank for reinforcement.
• Soil lifts – Layers of coconut fiber wrapped in soil and anchored on the creek bank.

Overall, natural materials are the favored choice. They blend into creekside environments and are likely to thrive once work is completed because they are already acclimated to local soil conditions.