Valley Water recently reached a milestone in its work to rebuild Anderson Dam so it can protect public safety and serve as Santa Clara County’s largest drinking water reservoir. On Sept. 1, 2023, Valley Water released the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which identifies environmental impacts associated with Valley Water’s plan to rebuild Anderson Dam to modern-day seismic safety standards.
The Draft EIR is now available on Valley Water’s website for public comment and review through Nov. 1, 2023.
Valley Water is holding a public meeting in Morgan Hill to provide information and allow the community to share thoughts and concerns.
Date: Oct. 4, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center
Hiram Morgan Hill Room, 17000 Monterey Hwy, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Zoom link: https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/87331718480
Webinar ID: 873 3171 8480, Call in #: (669) 900-9128, ID: 87331718480#
The Draft EIR is also available for in-person review during normal business hours at:
- Valley Water, 5750 Almaden Expressway, San José, CA 95118
- City Clerk of the City of Morgan Hill, 17575 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- City of Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Written comments on the Draft EIR should be submitted electronically or by mail by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Written comments can be emailed to ADSRPcomments@valleywater.org or mailed to:
Tiffany Chao, Senior Environmental Planner
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway, San José, CA 95118.
Additionally, Valley Water is formally starting the federal permitting process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by releasing the Draft Petition for Surrender of Exemption for a 90-day review period.
While Valley Water holds an exemption from licensing to operate the hydropower plant at Anderson Dam, that facility will be decommissioned as part of the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project. The Draft Petition explains Valley Water’s plan and reasoning for surrendering the existing permit to operate the hydroelectric plant. The document also includes additional biological and environmental reports to support FERC’s permitting process. Community members are invited to review the Draft Petition and supporting documents, which can be accessed on Valley Water’s webpage, where instructions on how to provide public comments is included. The public has until Dec. 28, 2023, to provide their input on the Draft Petition.
As for the construction of the Anderson Dam Tunnel, Valley Water continues making steady progress in its effort to construct a new, larger outlet tunnel next to the dam. Through Sept. 26, 2023, contractors excavated more than 800 feet of the 1,736-foot-long tunnel, which will provide greater control over reservoir water levels.