CALFED LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR EXPANSION STUDIES PUBLIC
WORKSHOP
Draft Workshop Summary
September 16, 2002, 6:30-8:30pm - Heald College Conference Center, Concord
Introduction
A CALFED public workshop was held for the CALFED Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Studies
(Studies) on September 16, 2002 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Concord, California.
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Charles Gardiner, Public Affairs Management, facilitated the meeting. Charles opened the meeting
with a review of the meeting objectives: 1) Project overview, 2) Review and discussion of the Draft
Project Concept Report, 3) Identify issues of concern not outlined in the report, 4) Answer questions
about the Studies.
Steve Roberts, California Department of Water Resources, presented a brief overview of the
CALFED Record of Decision (CALFED ROD) and the storage projects now being studied as part of
the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
Marguerite Naillon, Project Manager, gave an overview of the Studies. She reviewed the project
purpose and objectives as defined by the CCWD Board of Directors (CCWD Board) and the
CALFED ROD. Marguerite reviewed the results of the initial studies, as described in the Draft
Project Concept Report and the next steps in the evaluation.
Questions and Comments
The workshop provided the attendees with opportunities to discuss issues, concerns, and questions related
to the CALFED Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Studies and the presentations. Participants also
received questionnaire/comment sheets providing an opportunity to submit written comments. The
following summarizes the oral discussion and comments.
Project Planning and Implementation
 Will there be an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report completed for this
project?
Response: Yes, if an approval vote from CCWD customers is obtained to continue with the Studies.
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When would there be a vote?
Response: If the CCWD Board decides to move forward, the vote would be by voters in the CCWD
service area in November 2003.
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Are the other Bay Area water agencies engaging in technical studies objectively?
Response: The Santa Clara Valley Water District, the Alameda County Water District, and Zone 7
of Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District are actively meeting with the
Study Team to discuss the project and share technical information. East Bay Municipal Utility
District and San Francisco Public Utilities District are currently receiving information on the potential
expansion.
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Who is paying for the next report?
Response: The next report will be released early in 2003 and is entirely funded by the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation).
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What technical studies on fisheries and terrestrial species are being done for that report?
Response: The Study Team is completing terrestrial species inventories to evaluate potential impacts
to species in the watershed, as well as habitats and cultural resources. It is also evaluating impacts to
fish. The report will give the facts on the potential environmental impacts and mitigation concepts for
public review.
Delta and Delta Intake
 What will happen to the water level in the Delta with an expansion?
Response: The Study Team is conducting modeling of Delta impacts. The pumping levels that
could be permitted are so small there should not be an impact to the Delta water levels. Water levels
in the Delta are largely driven by tides and river flows.
Additional Information: The rates of diversion will not substantially affect water levels, but because
the timing will shift to periods of high flow any impacts will be beneficial.
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How do the State Water Project (SWP) pumps affect fish?
Response: There are several problems in the current operation of the SWP pumps at Clifton Court.
The fish screens are inefficient and the pumps cause changes in water flows that are detrimental to
fish. The resource agencies, DWR and Reclamation, are working together to reduce impacts to fish at
the pumps.
System Operations, Transfer Pipelines, and Facilities
 Are there any safeguards planned to ensure that an expanded Los Vaqueros does not become a water
yield project?
Response: Measure W, approved in 1988, defined the goals for the existing Los Vaqueros as water
quality and emergency supply. Yield was not part of the approved definition. Similar assurances and
permits would limit the uses of an expanded reservoir.
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Is expansion of the South Bay Aqueduct being considered? If it were expanded, how much water
would go to it?
Response: Enlargement of the South Bay Aqueduct is a separate project independent of a potential
Los Vaqueros expansion. DWR and the South Bay water agencies are currently considering an
expansion of the aqueduct from a maximum capacity of 330 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 450 cfs.
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If only 100,000 to 300,000 acre-feet per year would flow through the reservoir, why is there a need to
study a 500,000 acre-foot reservoir?
Response: There is a difference between the reservoir capacity and the amount delivered during the
year. A certain amount must be maintained in the reservoir at all times for emergency purposes and
saved for droughts. For example, the existing Los Vaqueros Reservoir has 100,000 acre-feet of
storage but only about 25,000 acre-feet moves in and out in a typical year.
Dam, Reservoir, and Watershed
 What will happen to water service and quality while the new dam is under construction?
Response: There are several options for providing water deliveries to CCWD during dam
construction. The Study Team is evaluating them.
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Seismic issues stopped the Auburn Dam. Could these issues impact the new dam?
Response: Studies were done for the original reservoir and the earthquake risk was negligible.
Interim studies were also done while the reservoir was being filled and the risk was still negligible.
The dam is monitored continuously for seismic safety. The Study Team will evaluate the safety of a
new dam and the California Division of Safety of Dams will oversee design and construction.
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Discovery Bay residents are concerned about dam safety.
Response: Dam safety is a top priority for CCWD. The dam must be able to withstand the most
powerful earthquake. The California Division of Safety of Dams would require a new dam to meet
these safety standards.
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What will happen to the bike trails? I heard there was a commitment to 55 miles of bike trails on the
original reservoir, but some of the trail system is only for hiking use.
Response: As was stated in the initial Proposition W ballot language, water quality and
environmental protection are the priorities for the reservoir and recreation must respect that.
Additional Information: Staff has researched the record and there is no reference to any
commitment to “55 miles of bicycle trails.” Los Vaqueros has 55 miles of trails, some of which are
multi-use and allow bicycles. The CCWD Principles (adopted by the CCWD Board) require that
existing recreational opportunities be replaced and enhanced. Therefore, all existing trails will either
remain or be replaced by something better.
Costs, Financing, and Institutional Agreements
 In Oakley, and the rest of the CCWD service area, we paid for a bond for the existing reservoir. What
would happen to that bond? When will the bond be paid off?
Response: The bonds will still be paid off. But, with an expansion, CCWD would expect a financial
benefit; one possibility is that the payments from partners would help pay those bonds, reducing the
payments by CCWD customers. The bonds will be substantially paid off in the early 2020’s and
totally paid off by 2030.
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Will CCWD customers pay for water that is going to San Francisco or other areas?
Response: Absolutely not. If water goes to other areas, the customers in those areas will pay for it.
As part of CALFED’s “beneficiaries pay” principle, any area that benefits from the reservoir
expansion would help pay both for the expansion and for work CCWD did previously that makes
expansion possible.
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What are the benefits for CCWD customers?
Response: Other participants would share costs and a larger reservoir could provide a more efficient
facility that would benefit CCWD customers both financially and through improved water quality and
drought reliability.
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What happens to the timeline if state and federal administrations change?
Response: CALFED’s timeline is set and agreed upon, but funding issues could cause a delay.
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The benefit to CCWD customers should be rate reductions.
Response: That is one possibility. The CCWD Principles ensure CCWD customers are protected
financially and get a fair reimbursement from partners.
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Other Comments
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Is CALFED considering a salt barrier (Reber Plan) to reduce salinity?
Response: CALFED considered salt barriers, but eliminated the idea early because of technical
problems and impacts on fish.
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