October 2, 2024
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
Via email to:
Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@valleywater.org>
Tony Estremera <testremera@valleywater.org>
John Varela <jvarela@valleywater.org>
Barbara Keegan <bkeegan@valleywater.org>
Richard Santos <rsantos@valleywater.org>
Jim Beall <jbeall@valleywater.org>
Nai Hsueh <nhsueh@valleywater.org>
Rebecca Eisenberg <reisenberg@valleywater.org>
Valley Water Board Meeting, October 8, 2024
Re: Item 5.2, Receive an Informational Update on the Unique Requirements for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project, Including Resulting Unique Benefits.
This report ignores requests for information from Water Supply and Demand Management Committee (WSDMC) members at the August 26 meeting, and public input provided for that WSDMC meeting. The information provided in this staff report is materially the same as the WSDMC staff report. No additional information has been added.
WSDMC Members Requests from August 26 WSDMC Meeting Minutes
- Director Hsueh requested information be added relating to environmental mitigation measures.
- Vice Chairperson Keegan requested the following.
- More detail given relating to the processes regarding water rights and CVP contractual changes, including milestones and probable timeframes
- A description of the process for land acquisition/eminent domain
- The level of risk and potential timeframe relating to water contracts or water rights
- More information relating to the change petition to modify point of diversion for existing Pacheco Pass North Fork Dam to location of new dam
Please also consider the Sierra Club’s comments to the WSDMC (see attachments below).
In addition to our previous comments, we would like to suggest one more unique requirement, that is the need to obtain approval to implement actions not allowable under the terms of the Romero Ranch Conservation Easement. This will require significant compensatory mitigation to be approved by multiple parties.
Thank you for your consideration.
Katja Irvin, AICP
Conservation Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Molly Culton
Chapter Organizing Manager
Sierra Club California