Valley Water’s mission is to provide Silicon Valley with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy. To help achieve this mission, we are committed to protecting water quality and the environment from harmful activities. In recent years, there has been an increase in encampments along creeks, waterways and lands owned or managed by our agency. These encampments can lead to significant amounts of trash and harmful pollutants, which diminish water quality, block stream flows and fish passage and harm wildlife habitats. … For these reasons, my fellow board members and I adopted an ordinance on Nov. 26, which establishes rules that prohibit camping and related activities on Valley Water land. The Water Resources Protection Ordinance will help us better manage the impacts of encampments and protect our field employees, who are essential for maintaining flood protection and water supply infrastructure.
—Written by Richard Santos, vice chair of the Valley Water board of directors.