Trying to limit widespread pollution and violent threats to their employees, board members of Silicon Valley’s largest water agency [on Nov. 26] approved a new ordinance to ban camping along 295 miles of creeks in San Jose and other parts of Santa Clara County. … The water district, based in San Jose, is a government agency that provides flood control and drinking water to 2 million county residents. Under the new ordinance, the district will set up “water protection zones” along all 295 miles of waterways where it owns property or easements or has maintenance obligations. Those areas include the Guadalupe River, Coyote Creek, Los Gatos Creek and others. In those areas, it will be illegal to build encampments, shoot fireworks, possess firearms or ammunition, or create other disturbances, like cutting trees or playing loud music.