By Tim Seyfert

Several Los Altos Hills residents sighed with relief last week when city council did away with the Santa Clara County Water District’s controversial plan to restore Adobe Creek.

The decision came during a lengthy April 3 public hearing that drew more than 50 residents to town hall. After council voted 4-to-1 to reject the project, approving cheers and overwhelming applause erupted from the audience.

The initial controversy centered around proposed work targeted at a quarter-mile stretch of creek near Fremont Road and Edith Avenue. Since 1991, the water district had been pushing for a plan to modify the channel, widen the creek and replace a bridge, but the district first needed council approval for two easements on the areas.

Opponents of the proposal, which called for the removal of nearly 140 trees, felt the district’s plan didn’t solve the flooding and only harmed the environment.

“We’re creating more hazards than we’re solving,” said Mitchell Swanson, an outside conservation planner who spoke on behalf of the contesting residents. “There are other ways of going about this.”

Yet, the district and many creekside residents argued that the project adequately addressed the flooding concerns and would fix the eroding creek banks.

When water district engineer Karen Uyeda assured council that the trees would be replaced with smaller one-gallon pots, the audience responded with laughter.

“Suppose you plant one of these trees and a deer comes along and eats it,” Councilman Breene Kerr said.

Despite the chuckles, Uyeda continued, claiming that smaller trees are more adaptable to new environments.

Many residents in what the water district calls the Reach 5 section acknowledged the plan was flawed, but those in favor said that a flawed plan was better than no plan at all.

“None of us are happy with the position we’re in,” said resident Terese Blockus. “Many of us along the creek are in support of this because it’s better than nothing.”

But resident D.J. Rogez, who stood to lose most of his back yard if the proposal was implemented, said the district wasn’t thinking of the Los Altos Hills residents when the project was designed.

“(The water district) has too much money, too much power and no accountability at all,” Rogez said. “There are so many unanswered questions. This plan sucks!”

After more than four hours, the council ultimately — to a lesser extent — agreed with Rogez, saying the plan needed reworking.

“I think this project has been a disaster and it’s time to go back to the drawing board,” Councilman Dean Warshawsky said.

“I’d be for something more in scope and more modest,” Councilman Mike O’Malley added. “I’d be more comfortable with a redesigned project.”

Mayor Bob Fenwick, the only councilmember in favor of the district’s proposal, reminded audience members that there were currently no other planned alternatives for restoring Adobe Creek.

“Like it or not, they’re the experts. They’re our water district. We just shut down the only plan we have right now,” he said.

That advice seemed fine with a large chunk of the town hall audience, who congratulated D.J. Rogez after the council agreed to suspend the project.

“This was a community issue,” Rogez said. “The community has spoken.”