Environmental groups approve plan to expand reservoir

  • 2017-08-25
Six environmental groups came together in a rare show of support for a plan to expand a Bay Area reservoir. Twelve water agencies have formed a coalition, and revealed they are planning to expand the Los Vaqueros Reservoir by raising the height of the dam that creates the lake by 55 feet. Increasing the dam's height would then increase the capacity of the reservoir to 275,000 acre-feet from 160,000 acre-feet. The total would then be enough to meet the yearly usage of 1.4 million San Francisco-area residents. The project would cost $914 million, but would serve as insurance against the drought for millions who live in the region.

The environmentalists were pleased with the plan because it provides water for wetlands in the Central Valley, as well as for the habits of geese, ducks, and other wildlife; it also saves water for use by people and on farms. The six groups wrote to explain their position to the California Water Commission, saying they considered the benefits of having water for the wildlife refuges, which have been left almost totally dry in years of drought, extremely significant. The coalition asked the commission to approve a request to use $434 million in bond money to increase the capacity of the reservoir.

Since this type of project affects many people, officials might like to have the opportunity present facts about it. They can do so by working with a newsletter printing company to create an informative letter for an area-wide Mailing.
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