Daniel Matthews, assistant engineer in the City of Belmont Public Works Department, gave a status update Wednesday on the Belmont Creek Restoration Project, saying the effort "aims to reduce downstream flooding and enhance the beauty of Twin Pines Park by restoring Belmont Creek using natural and sustainable methods." Matthews presented before the Parks and Recreation Commission and answered questions from residents and commissioners.

The project team removed nonnative blue gum eucalyptus trees and reconstructed the creek channel this year, Matthews said. Contractors placed log structures and "constructed riffles" to slow and detain storm flows, created pools to increase detention capacity, and regraded banks to more stable two‑to‑one slopes. Trails near the creek have been repaved, and the contractor used logs salvaged from the tree removal as in‑channel habitat and bank structure.

Matthews described erosion and large creek‑bank failures as motivating factors for the project, and said those failures contributed sediment that impaired water quality downstream near the Harbor Industrial Area and parts of San Carlos. He said removing unstable trees, reshaping the channel and placing riffles and pools will give water more places to sit and should meaningfully reduce sediment transport in storm events.

The presentation included progress photos and a schedule for remaining work. Matthews said hydroseeding and erosion control fabrics are installed now and the split‑rail fence installation would begin the following day. More than 1,000 plants and 32 trees are planned for replanting; Matthews said native species such as live oak and alder will replace many of the removed eucalyptus.

On funding and monitoring, Matthews said the project "received a million dollars in grant funding from the state's Urban Streams and Restoration grant" and that monitoring requirements include a survival target for planted vegetation. "I think about 80% of plants that we place need to survive through a year," he said, adding the city will maintain close monitoring and maintenance for about five years to ensure the project performs as intended.

Matthews also told the commission an inadvertent archaeological discovery briefly paused work late in construction. He said the city coordinated with regulatory stakeholders and the contractor was able to resume on schedule to meet required permits, including water board and Army Corps conditions.

During more than an hour of public and commissioner questions, Matthews described plans for water‑quality testing downstream, access points for visitors, protections for newly planted areas and concerns about deer browsing. He said the new channel was built to increase capacity and that early rainfall and the recent opening of the Waterdog Lake gate produced flows that "speak to its added capacity," with clearer water and no observed bank failures to date.

Matthews invited the public to a ribbon cutting on Dec. 3 at 11:15 a.m. and said the park will remain under heightened maintenance to meet the grant and monitoring obligations. Commissioners praised the restored access, noted opportunities for school field trips and community outreach, and asked staff to track winter performance and plant survival.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the project remains in a monitoring and maintenance phase rather than a finished turnkey condition: the design intentionally allows some channel dynamics, and city staff will track control points, plant survival and water‑quality metrics in the coming years.