Zone 7 opens its doors Saturday for flood-safety day as Pleasanton works on its first storm drain master plan

Tri-Valley residents can pick up storm-prep tips and see how regional flood channels are managed Saturday, when Zone 7 Water Agency holds its annual Flood Safety Open House.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at the agency's headquarters, 100 North Canyons Parkway in Livermore, a block from Costco. Zone 7 says it will offer storm-preparation advice and household resources, activities for all ages, and information for teachers who want to book a free Water Academy classroom visit.

The agency is pitching this year's event around forecasts of a strong El Niño winter.

Most of the stormwater Pleasanton collects drains into larger creeks and channels that Zone 7 operates, according to the city's Storm Watch page. A smaller share flows through creeks and holding basins the city owns, and some drainageways belong to private owners or homeowners associations.

What the city is doing

Pleasanton's own system includes about 228 miles of storm drain pipe and four pump stations. Big storms in 2017 and 2023 flooded streets, knocked down trees and power and damaged parts of that system, the city says.

Since then it has been working through more than $16 million in repairs and drainage upgrades, at sites including Puri Court, Sycamore Creek and Augustin Bernal Park, where culverts are being replaced, along with storm-damaged outfalls and channels.

Pleasanton is also drafting what it calls its first comprehensive stormwater plan. It will catalog the drainage system, rate the condition of its parts, model how water moves through it and rank capital projects over 20 years.

Before the rains, crews are checking key drainage sites and using vacuum and jetting trucks to clean out storm drains and culverts, the city says.

Leaves are on homeowners

Between November and February, city crews collect leaves that fall from street trees the city owns, before the street sweepers come through. The city does not offer residential curbside leaf pickup and will not collect leaves from private property, including leaves that drop from city trees onto a yard.

Leaves and yard waste belong in green organics carts. Under city code, blowing or piling them into the street or gutter counts as littering, and properties that do it may get a notice of violation and can be cited and fined.

Free sand and sandbags remain available around the clock during the rainy season at the city's Operations Services yard, 3333 Busch Road; residents bring their own shovels. Blocked drains and local flooding can be reported through the city's MaintStar system.

Sources

zone7waterca.gov

cityofpleasantonca.gov