Prep Work takes the bite out of Storm Season

Although it can change from year to year depending on whether there is an el nino or la nina pattern, the winter and spring months always bring some amount of rain to Danville. In this most recent season, the rain has been heavy throughout the East Bay.

In order to stay ahead of the heavy rainfall and the problems it can cause, Danville’s Maintenance Services Department hits the streets in the fall to make sure that drainage paths are clear and storm drains unobstructed before the skies open up.

As a result, Danville is one of the communities in the East Bay that doesn’t see the heavy flooding that comes with the inches and inches of rain that comes down during the wet season.

Maintenance Services Manager Jed Johnson said that in preparation for the storms the Town cleans and monitors over five miles of creeks and ditches in Town, as well as cleaning out between 500-800 of the estimated 4,694 storm drains in Town.

In addition, each year the Town provides sand and bags for residents to help with maintaining their own properties and helping to keep waters  within their drainage areas.  Each fall a huge pile of sand is kept at the Town Service Center, 1000 Sherburne Hills Road. When the rain begins to fall, residents can come out and self-fill bags to take back to their homes. 

Johnson said the program has been a good one in the Town and between their proactive approach and the availability of the sand bags, flooding has been for the most part a non-issue in Town.

During the major storm system that hit the area March 23-27, Danville received 2.57 inches of rain. In that period there were only a few cases of minor flooding reported, and two trees fell.  One tree blocked a Town right of way and was cleared away by staff, while the second was on county property and was handled by the county’s maintenance department. 

Johnson said the Town takes a very proactive approach to storm season. When rain is in the forecast, Maintenance staff patrols drainage areas that have historically had problems and monitors the flow of water through those areas.  Any obstructions or problems are dealt with swiftly before the water level can be affected. 

As the season begins winding down through April, Maintenance staff members will continue to be vigilant of drainage areas, making sure that everything is clear for those last late-season storms.

For more information on Town Maintenance Services, contact Maintenance Services Manager Jed Johnson at (925) 314-3450 or jjohnson@danville.ca.gov.