Bayfront Canal & Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Project

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Bayfront Canal & Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Project

Construction of the Bayfront Canal & Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Project concluded in January 2022, bringing over a decade’s worth of planning to a conclusion.

October 2013
June 2017
October 2017
October 2018
February 2021
March 2021
April 2021
Spring 2021
May 2021
June 2021
Summer 2021
Fall 2021
Winter 2022
Planning and Feasibility Assessment
In response to the repeated flooding experienced by this community, Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center commissioned a study by BKF Engineers of the Bayfront Canal to evaluate flood mitigation opportunities.
Bayfront Canal Hydrology and Hydraulic Evaluation

Continuing their work from 2013, BKF Engineers developed a hydrologic and hydraulic model of Bayfront Canal, establishing the groundwork for this Project’s design.

Memorandum of Understanding for Project Design

MOU between the Cities of Redwood City and Menlo Park, Town of Atherton, and County of San Mateo, establishing roles and responsibilities for the design phase of this Project.

Completion of Preliminary Design

Preliminary design created for culvert. This design would divert floodwaters into the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, helping both to protect local residents and businesses from flooding, and to restore the pond ecosystems.

Memorandum of Understanding for Project Construction

MOU between the OneShoreline, Cities of Redwood City and Menlo Park, Town of Atherton, and County of San Mateo, establishing roles and responsibilities for construction and long-term maintenance of this Project.

Completion of Final Design

Plans and Specifications are finalized, in preparation for advertisements for construction bids.

Project Environmental Regulatory Permits Issued

The suite of environmental regulatory permits have been issued, including from BCDC, CDFW, NMFS, RWQCB, USACE, and USFWS.

 

Construction Bid and Contract Award

Construction bid awarded to Granite Rock Company, and Construction Management contract awarded to CPM Associates.

Land Access Agreements Executed

Necessary land access agreements have been obtained from Caltrans, Cargill, City of Menlo Park, and USFWS.

Construction Begins

Construction begins on June 14, 2021, starting with the identification of existing utilities.

Construction Stage 1

The excavation and installation of box culverts is complete. See OneShoreline’s June community update presentation here.

Construction Stage 2

Stage 2 of construction is underway, and intake structure is nearing completion. See OneShoreline’s November community update presentation here.

Hydraulic Connection Complete

The hydraulic connection from Bayfront Canal to the USFWS’ managed ponds was completed in December 2021. Backfilling and final grading continues through January 2022.

The Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel watersheds drain a predominantly urban, low-elevation area in San Mateo County, collecting stormwater runoff from the municipalities of Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, and Woodside, and unincorporated San Mateo County. Just east of Highway 101 and north of Marsh Road, the Atherton Channel converges with the Bayfront Canal near the border between Redwood City and Menlo Park, and empties into San Francisco Bay through a tide control structure not far from Bedwell Bayfront Park. For the past several decades, high tides have kept flows in the Canal and Channel from draining to the Bay, when even minor rainfall events have resulted in the flooding of nearby mobile home parks and businesses; these properties have experienced flooding 40 times over the past 70 years – most recently in 2017.

In response to this proven threat, in October of 2017, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, and the County entered into an MOU that established shared funding responsibilities for the design, environmental documentation, and land access agreements of a project to reduce the frequency and impacts of flooding. When the District was established in January 2020 it assumed the lead role to complete this Project, with the above Cities and County as continued partners on the Project.

The Project consists of two parallel underground culverts that divert excess flow from Atherton Channel and Bayfront Canal into managed ponds within the Ravenswood Complex of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. The Project features will be within and along Bayfront Canal, Flood Slough, the entrance to Bedwell Bayfront Park, and the managed ponds owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The successful implementation of this Project will protect developed areas of Redwood City, Menlo Park, and unincorporated San Mateo County against frequent flood events, provide water quality and ecosystem benefits to the managed ponds, and complement existing and future flood protection efforts upstream along Atherton Channel.