Searsville Watershed Restoration Project

Welcome!

Stanford University is proposing to implement the Searsville Watershed Restoration Project to restore and enhance this watershed.

About the Project

The Searsville Watershed Restoration Project involves:

Reestablishing natural free-flowing creeks and sediment transport processes
Establishing fish passage through a tunnel to be constructed through the base of the Searsville Dam
Restoring streams and riparian habitats immediately upstream of the dam
Flushing a substantial amount of sediment currently trapped behind the dam
Replacing the surface water diversion and storage capacity through modifications to the downstream San Francisquito Creek Pump Station and Felt Reservoir

This will transform the area of the current Searsville Reservoir into a confluence valley, complete with freeflowing streams and a natural riparian forest. This project will also allow for sediment to be transported to the bay where it will help restore natural functions and fortify the shoreline.

Current Project Status

Updated May 10, 2023

Stanford formally started the state (California Environmental Quality Act) and federal (National Environmental Policy Act) environmental review processes for the Searsville Watershed Restoration Project in February 2023. The environmental application review process is being conducted by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

DWR and USACE are currently drafting their joint environmental impact report/ environmental impact study document, which is expected to be published in Fall 2023. Once the draft is published, there will be a public review period and an opportunity to provide comments on the draft document later this year.