Law allows agency to manage impacts and implement long term solutions

By Staff Reports

Valley Water’s Board of Directors adopted an ordinance Nov. 26 to address the  environmental, health, and safety impacts of encampments along waterways, water supply facilities, and other lands where Valley Water holds land rights.

The Water Resources Protection Zones Ordinance establishes new regulations prohibiting camping and  encampment-related activities on Valley Water lands. The ordinance will enable Valley Water to manage  encampment impacts better while working with local agencies and private partners to implement long term solutions to address unsheltered homelessness within Santa Clara County.

“The intention of this ordinance is not to result in the criminalization of unsheltered people living along  our waterways,” Valley Water Board Chair Nai Hsueh said. “Our agency’s mission is to provide Silicon  Valley safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. By advancing this ordinance, we  aim to enhance our capacity to achieve these goals while fostering collaboration with government  entities and private partners to create sustainable housing alternatives for unsheltered individuals.  Together, we can make significant strides in addressing homelessness and environmental concerns in  our community.”

The primary goals are:

  • Protect water resources, endangered species, riparian habitat of creeks and waterways, and other ecological resources
  • Protect Valley Water investments in flood protection and environmental mitigation projects
  • Support and improve the safety of Valley Water’s field operations staff

The ordinance prohibits camping within Water Resources Protection Zones, encompassing all lands  where Valley Water owns property in fee title, has an easement, or has maintenance obligations. Valley  Water owns and manages 333 miles of the more than 800 miles of creeks and rivers in Santa Clara  County.

The ordinance includes a provision for an implementation plan that provides a framework and timeline  for implementing the ordinance. The plan focuses on reducing and  eliminating the most serious environmental, health, and safety impacts encampments have on the  environment, unsheltered individuals, Valley Water employees and the broader community.

Valley Water will conduct widespread education and outreach to the community, including unsheltered  individuals residing in encampments, advocates and social services providers who support unsheltered  people, and local and law enforcement agencies. The ordinance goes into effect Dec. 26, 2024; enforcement will begin Jan. 2, 2025