In August of 2023, Ohlone College was approached by the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (ACFCD) to partner on a new flood control project to repair and upgrade the existing channel that abuts land owned by the college.
The nearly two-year project entitled, “The Naturalization of Line D (New Ohlone Creek),” transformed a flood control channel originally constructed in 1958 into a natural, more environmentally sustainable floodplain system.
“Sustainability is not a side project at Ohlone College—it’s a core principle that guides our decisions,” said Charles S. Sasaki, president and superintendent of the Ohlone Community College District. “We are committed to being a helpful community partner to the Tri-Cities and eager to help address this need for our Newark community.”
Over the nearly 70-year life of the previous flood channel, repeated bank failures exacerbated existing flood control challenges and, if left unaddressed, threatened to impact local communities and infrastructure.
Instead of addressing repairs on an ad hoc basis following flood season, as had been previous practice, the Naturalization of Line D (New Ohlone Creek) project envisioned a more sustainable way of addressing flood control.
By reimagining the flood control channel as a meandering creek traversing a broad floodplain, ACFCD expanded the trapezoidal channel cross section along the creek in the form of a floodplain terrace to allow for much improved water containment within its rounded channel banks, an innovative replacement for the straight-line overflow channel originally constructed in the 1950s.
Additionally, ACFCD worked to remove 16,550 cubic yards of pesticide-contaminated soils in coordination with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
The project prioritizes climate adaptation, providing additional flood safety protection to the Tri-City area by channeling flood runoff and expanding the water bank (the riparian corridor). The new terraced system with low-flow channels capable of retaining rainfall runoff offers increased defensive flood space for the surrounding floodplain. This native riverbank corridor provides approximately seven acres of protected wetlands, floodplain terraces and upland wildlife habitats.
While the New Ohlone Creek project area is not currently open to the public, Ohlone College has negotiated the possibility for environmental education opportunities and hands-on environmental restoration projects for students, in partnership with ACFCD.
Ohlone College
