Alameda Creek

A high-resolution Delft3D Flexible Mesh local grid, nested in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Community Model, was used to test seven channel designs for Alameda Creek and their effect on sediment deposition, tidal propagation and flood risk.

Partners: Deltares USA, Deltares Netherlands, Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

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Alameda Creek Sediment & Channel Redesign

A high-resolution Delft3D Flexible Mesh local grid was developed by nesting the model directly into the Bay-Delta Community Model, allowing consistent tidal forcing, regional water-level variability, and sediment exchange with the South Bay.
The analysis examined seven alternative channel configurations, including the original USACE trapezoidal design, the existing condition, the proposed design of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (ACFCD), and four additional alternatives with varying bed elevations and transition slopes. The model reproduced tidal behavior, discharges, and sediment dynamics along Alameda Creek, then simulated 2006–2019 morphodynamics to quantify erosion and deposition patterns. Results show that the proposed ACFCD design—a deeper, more efficient low-flow channel—reduces total deposition by ~12% compared to current conditions and greatly improves sediment conveyance between the fish passage and the Bay. Shallower alternatives exhibited higher deposition (5–85% more), and the study identified the railroad crossing as a key hydraulic control that strongly influences tidal propagation and sediment transport.
The work provides ACFCD with a robust, physics-based assessment of long-term sediment behavior, helping refine channel geometry to reduce maintenance dredging while maintaining flood protection and avoiding impacts on groundwater and Quarry Lakes.

Downloads

Report: Hydrodynamic & Morphodynamic Modeling of Alameda Creek’s Sediment Transport
Model files: Alameda Creek Delft3D Flexible Mesh local grid and input files derived from the Bay-Delta Community Model.

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The data and models are provided on the condition that neither Deltares USA, Alameda Flood Control District, California Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey nor the U.S. Government can be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the data. Any use of the data is at the user’s sole risk.