San Jose leaders zero in on flood risks amid strong El Niño

As a strong El Niño season heightens flood risks throughout California, some in San Jose are raising the alarm that shaky coordination between South Bay government agencies could hamstring emergency preparation efforts. During a Tuesday joint meeting between the Valley Water board of directors and San Jose City Council, a chorus of officials and residents warned that fuzzy jurisdictional boundaries often make it unclear who is responsible for dealing with floods risks when they arise along San Jose s 140 miles of waterways. The tangled lines of authority have generated frustration from residents who fear such confusion will lead to delays in flood mitigation work — such as clearing debris like garbage or fallen trees — that could prove catastrophic should El Niño trigger heavy rains this winter, as weather forecasting suggests is likely. “I think it s important that we keep in mind that when our residents, our shared constituents look into the waterways and see a fallen tree or a block