SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK: Residents push for creek flood study

Palo Alto flood victims left a public meeting with the water district without an answer to their biggest question about flood control along San Francisquito Creek.

"When is the study going to begin? What's it going to take for work to begin?" asked DeSoto Drive resident Evan Economos.

Water district board member Greg Zlotnick said nothing will happen quickly. "It could take 10 years before a spade of dirt is turned," he said. The other bad news, Zlotnick said, is a flood control project would cost more than $70 million.

Officials from the district and the city addressed nearly 200 residents Tuesday night at Cubberley Community Center.

Residents also heard from Pat Showalter, coordinator for the Coordinated Resources Management and Planning process for the creek, which just released a report on creek flood control.

Showalter explained that solutions for creek flood control are not simple because of the delicate ecosystem. She was met with loud boos from the audience as she explained that some endangered species live in the creek.

--Elizabeth Lorenz

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