Flood Control Zone 5
Zone 5 at a Glance
Communities served: Fremont and Hayward hills to the shoreline of San Francisco Bay, Newark, and the Decoto and Centerville portions of Fremont.
Area in acres: 45,440
Total miles of natural creek: 37
Total miles of earth channel: 35
Total miles of concrete channel: 7
Total miles of underground pipe: 49
Total miles of improved channel: 9
Creeks: Alameda Creek, Crandall Creek, Dry Creek, Sanjon de Los Alisos, Newark Slough, Plummer Creek, and Mowry Slough
Pump stations: J2, J3, and Quail Run
Educational Center: Tule Ponds
Zone 5 Hydrology
Watersheds stretch from the Fremont and Hayward hills to the shoreline of San Francisco Bay in Zone 5, one of the District’s largest zones. In the rainy season, stormwater travels down from the hills through the creeks, as well as through almost 50 miles of closed conduit and over 6 miles of concrete channel. Pump stations—J2, J3, and Quail Run—physically lift water to the Bay at high tide when the water level in the Bay is higher than that of the zone’s creeks and channels.
Zone 5 Major Projects
Line B Upgrades
A watershed study for Line B completed in 2003 yielded a list of projects to be implemented in coming years to expand the amount of stormwater that Line B conveys and decrease the need for nearby residents to purchase costly flood insurance.
As part of the District’s continuing work, the District improved a channel crossing at Cherry Street during fiscal year 2006 at the budgeted cost of $415,000. 
Future Line B upgrade projects include capacity improvements at Farwell Drive and at four locations between the Union Pacific Railroad and the I-880 freeway.
Eden Landing Wetlands
The District is working on restoration of large-scale wetlands that include the 5,500-acre Eden Landing Complex in Alameda County. Once restored, the wetlands will attract migratory birds and endangered species, as well as provide recreational opportunities for the public.
Restoration of the ponds will improve flood management for the region, especially for the Old Alameda Creek and the Alameda Creek flood channels.
After years of developing a long-term restoration plan, a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) will be released in fiscal year 2007. A pilot testing phase will include selected Eden Landing Ponds adjacent to Old Alameda Creek which will be restored to create approximately 730 acres of tidal salt marsh and channel habitat. Initial construction work has been planned for summer 2008.
Alameda Creek Fisheries
The District has been leading efforts to restore steelhead trout to Alameda Creek in collaboration with the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup, a consortium including the Alameda County Water District (ACWD) and other utilities. 
This saltwater fish swims upstream to spawn, but manmade flood barriers along the creek are impairing the journey. Construction on structures designed to divert fish from manmade barriers begins in summer 2007. Ultimately, the District wants to build fish ladders to help the steelhead move beyond barriers in the flood control channel.
For more information about the history of projects undertaken in Zone 5, please view the District’s Annual Reports.