Palo Alto is about to get a first-of-a-kind solution to a major problem. A horizontal levee is being built in the Palo Alto Baylands to restore habitat and improve the quality of the water flowing into the Bay – all meant to address the climate crisis. Save The Bay volunteers spent Wednesday planting native species in a patch of dirt in the Palo Alto Baylands. These volunteers say they recognize this project could be a game changer for the environment. The City of Palo Alto has constructed an underground horizontal levee here. “This is an innovative way to improve water quality to the bay to protect our infrastructure and create a habitat for species in this area,” said Caitlin Sweeney, director of San Francisco Estuary Partnership. Once the project is completed next year, treated wastewater from the nearby Regional Water Quality Control Plant will be piped underground to irrigate the plants. Biological activity from the roots of the plants will then provide an additional filter before that wastewater flows to the bay. “A system like this is proven to remove contaminants in the water like phosphorus and nitrogen,” said Samantha Engelage, Palo Alto Sr. Engineer. Instead of large boulders like the ones in a traditional levee, the horizontal levee is underground, allowing natural habitat to flourish and possibly helping boost the population of the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse and other native species. The levee is also designed to adapt to sea level rise by providing a transitional slope that will support the buildup of sediment. “Once larger levees are completed similar to this project. It will also help address sea level rise,” Engelage said. Volunteer Christine Walravens supports the nature-based solution and says she looks forward to this area becoming a grassy-marsh meadow again. “By restoring this to nature were able to absorb the water and also keep our bay cleaner,” Walravens said. The $7 million project is expected to be completed in spring of next year. ...read more read less