American Kestrel: Roberto Martinez
Please Send comments for Pacheco Dam Geotechnical Investigations
What is happening
Valley Water has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report for Design Level Geotechnical Investigations for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project (Draft EIR) for public review. Public comments on the Draft EIR are due by April 25th at 5 PM.
Why it matters
SCVBA has opposed the Pacheco Dam Project due to the tremendous harm that this project would inflict upon our birds, wildlife and landscapes. The proposed Geotechnical Investigations are a step in the wrong direction. Furthermore, the Draft EIR underestimates the project's environmental impacts, and overlooks major concerns.
Valley Water needs to hear from the public that the Draft EIR for this work towards the construction of the Pacheco Dam project fails to provide adequate mitigation and analysis of the proposed activities, and that this project should not be approved
What you can do
Send an email to tsexauer@valleywater.org at Valley Water by April 25, 2025. Below is a ‘Cut and Paste’ Sample Public Comment Letter you may use:
Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Design Level Geotechnical Investigations for the Pacheco Dam Project
Dear Mr. Sexauer:
These comments pertain to the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Design Level Geotechnical Investigations for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project (Draft EIR) that Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has released for public review. The geotechnical work for the Pacheco Dam would have adverse environmental effects that are not adequately addressed in the Draft EIR, as described below.
Disturbance to Wildlife: The geotechnical activities would take place in an area with multiple wildlife corridors, and involve noisy helicopters and heavy equipment, which would disrupt sensitive wildlife habitats. The Draft EIR concludes that the project impact on wildlife movement is insignificant without mitigation. (Draft EIR, p. 3-168.) Noise is an impact on and a deterrent to wildlife movement. The combined effect of vehicle traffic, human presence, and equipment operation may result in diversion of wildlife away from this movement corridor. Diverted wildlife may face greater incidences of mortality on the nearby State Route (SR) 152.
Disruption of Tribal Cultural Resources: In addition to wildlife impacts, the proposed investigations would potentially disturb cultural resources, some of which may be over 3,000 years old. This presents a grave concern for the local Native American tribes. Valley Water must engage in a complete and good faith discussion with tribes that attach cultural significance to tribal cultural resources in the project area.
Incomplete Environmental Review: While the Draft EIR was prepared for the geotechnical investigations, Valley Water has acknowledged that the 2021 Draft EIR for the entire Pacheco Dam Project needs to be revised and recirculated. The geotechnical work is a necessary and foreseeable element of the overall dam project, and should be analyzed together with the reservoir expansion project itself, to avoid improper piecemealing. (CEQA Guidelines, § 15376(a).)
For these reasons, I urge Valley Water not to certify the Draft EIR or move forward with the geotechnical investigations for this destructive dam project.
[Your Name and City of Residence]