Creek restoration nears completion in Belmont

“A core aspect of this project was that when failure like this occurs, it tracks that sediment and erosion downstream and clogs storm drain infrastructure,” Daniel Matthews, assistant engineer in the Department of Public Works, said during a recent Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. “Belmont has been spared the worst of it throughout the years, but particularly our neighbors in the city of San Carlos and … San Mateo were receiving some downstream flooding that could be partly attributable to the erosion happening in the park here.”

The city began tree work at Twin Pines Park in January and completed it in April, removing about 50 nonnative trees, especially blue gum eucalyptus, and adding about 30 large tree sections. In addition to tree removal, the city has also repaved trails and implemented log structures to slow water flow, as well as riffles that will create pools that retain water to prevent further flooding.

“The [log structures] will slow down and detain water in the actual park, and the other cool feature they will have as time develops is that they’ll prove to be an important habitat space for plants, insects and even small animals within the creek,” Matthews said.

The project received grant funding and as such, had to adhere to a strict construction schedule. A ribbon-cutting event will be Dec. 3.