Sonoma County Water Agency crews are clearing cattails and sediment from around Corona Creek in Petaluma, an area with high flood potential during heavy rains.
The maintenance work, which is visible from Highway 101, is part of the Water Agency's stream maintenance program designed to improve floodwater capacity and adjacent habitat.
The work is taking place between Southpoint Boulevard near the Department of Motor Vehicles to Corona Creek near the Youngstown Senior Mobile Home Park along Highway 101.
The work will be conducted over the next two weeks using a long-reach excavator to load cattails and sediment into trucks for disposal.
The Water Agency recently received long-term permits from federal and state regulatory agencies to conduct routine flood control maintenance in the channels where it has maintenance authority. It is the first year the agency is operating in the Petaluma area under the permits, which streamline the process for conducting the sensitive work, agency spokeswoman Ann DuBay said.
The agency recently excavated the Adobe Creek sediment basin and is also working on Washington Creek.
Crews have also conducted vegetation maintenance work on portions of Adobe, Corona, East Washington, Washington, McDowell, Lichau, Lynch and Thompson Creeks.
The Water Agency owns or has easements to maintain 75 miles of engineered flood control channels near Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma and Sonoma. The agency also maintains water capacity in 150 miles of modified or natural channels.
For information about the Water Agency's Stream Maintenance Program, go to www.sonomacountywater.org/stream-maintenance-program.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: