Save Our Sunol (SOS) has been concerned over the "lose-win" alternatives proposed for the San Francisco Water Department (SFWD) land next to the Water Temple, north of I-680. Many have assumed that we will either have a quarry or a housing development. The SFWD has prepared six alternatives, A through F, for the Sunol Valley. None of these has included any housing development. However, all of them (except Alternative B) have included quarrying by Mission Valley Rock Co. on the 200 acres of prime agricultural land next to the Water Temple.

What Is Alternative S?

Alternative S was developed as a "win-win" compromise, and is the only plan prepared by members of the Sunol community. SOS recently submitted it for incorporation into the SFWD Watershed Management Plan.

Alternative S does not ban further quarrying, nor does it represent the other extreme of the maximum possible quarrying. In fact, it represents a good deal more quarrying than many of us would ideally prefer. However, given that there will be more quarrying in the Sunol Valley, this plan at least maintains the existing buffer area around the Water Temple, as far as Interstate 680. This will give lasting protection not only for visitors to the restored Water Temple, but also students and staff at the Sunol Glen School as well as Sunol residents.

In addition, this plan proposes the reasonable restriction that no additional quarrying be allowed until all responsible public agencies are satisfied that existing quarries have been exhausted and the areas have been adequately reclaimed and restored.

On October 8th, 1996 the SFPUC (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission), which oversees the SFWD, publicly stated its intention to restore and maintain not only the Sunol Water Temple but also its surrounding area. Alternative S is the only plan that is consistent with this resolution.
 

What Does Alternative S Contain?

There is an interpretive visitors’ center to educate schoolgroups and the general public about the Water Temple. Opposite the visitors’ center is an archaeological area that contains a significant and mostly undisturbed prehistoric Native American village. Beyond the archaeological area there is a picnic area for families and groups, incorporating a playfield.

Other activities for the area north of I-680 focus on public and private farming due to the excellent quality of the land. Public farming would be conducted by affinity groups on a non-profit basis with an emphasis on helping urban, disabled and inner-city youth and the homeless. San Francisco-based affinity groups such as Ruth Brinker’s Fresh Start Farms and Project Open Hand would use part of this area to grow food for charitable causes.

Others, such as Sibella Kraus’ Sustainable Agricultural Education Center would use other parts of this area for demonstration organic farming and outdoor learning experiences in conjunction with the San Francisco Department of Education. Private farming would include intensive organic farming, such as that currently practiced by Martin Bournhonesque, as well as the existing vineyards that are a unique feature of the whole Livermore Valley area.

In Alternative S, the historic entry along Paloma Way and down Temple Road to the Water Temple is preserved and restored. The current SFWD facility is left intact and a visitor parking area of 100 spaces is located beyond it, just before the visitors’ center at the end of Temple Road. Next to the center and to the right of the Water Temple, an event site provides a convenient and scenic location for weddings and outdoor events. In order to preserve the rural setting and avoid intense traffic volume or disturbance to residents and other visitors, "theme park" type attractions are not envisioned for the event site. Neither are other obtrusive events, such as rock concerts or large conventions.

Commercial sites would be located close to I-680: a small farmers’ market at the Paloma Way north I-680 exit, with its own parking, would complement the farming activities; a gas station/grocery store would be located at the Calaveras Road south I-680 exit.

Existing riparian (creekside) wildlife areas along Alameda Creek and Arroyo de la Laguna would be retained north of I-680. A multi-use (hiking, bike and horse) trail, operated by the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD), is planned alongside all creeks with a trailhead next to the Water Temple. This trail would proceed north and west to join up with the current EBRPD multi-use trail being built along Alameda Creek down Niles Canyon. In the southerly direction, the trail would pass under I-680 and eventually end up becoming a self-guided nature loop trail at the Welch Creek Road entrance to the Sunol Regional Wilderness.
An overnight nature study area would appeal to visiting youth and is located in a quiet area near the public demonstration organic farm with access only via the multi-use trail. After working on the farm, youth could camp overnight in this fee-based area.

South of I-680, the plan retains the existing San Antonio and Alameda Creeks. Alternative S proposes to locate the facilities of most intensive use south of I-680 and closest to I-680. Therefore, the first pit south of I-680 is planned for future water recreation activities involving swimming. South of San Antonio Creek, this plan proposes a long pit to be used for future water recreation activities involving non-motorized boating and fishing. Access to this area would be a 200  space parking lot south of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct Pump station. A boat launch, boat rental and concessionaire would be located here as well as a pleasant picnic area adjacent to Alameda Creek.

The extreme south end of the valley would be reclaimed and restored as a riparian wildlife area with trails and a self-guided nature loop trail and access to the Sunol
Regional Wilderness via Welch Creek Road.

No RV camping is proposed in this plan because SFWD has stated that this would be an incompatible activity.

The SFWD watershed land was a federal grant under the Riker Act; this legislation involves the doctrine of public trust. Therefore, this plan proposes that the
SFWD watershed land in the Sunol Valley should be administered and managed as a public trust, in a similar manner to the Presidio in San Francisco.

Also consistent with this plan, a conservation easement is proposed to be placed over the entire area to preserve it as a natural area for passive recreation and to
protect it from development, further quarrying or other disturbance or other urban activity, in perpetuity.
 

Water Storage

This plan provides an additional 47,100 acre.feet of useable emergency water storage.

This storage is 90% of the storage projected in alternative D.

This storage is 75% of the storage provided in extreme alternative F.

These figures would be increased if the two large south-most pits (labeled D5 and D6 in alternative D) can be combined into one water storage area as proposed in
this plan.

The figures in this plan for water storage are taken from the San Francisco Watershed Management Plans, Alternatives A through F as drawn up by EDAW, Inc.
(no date); no responsibility for the accuracy of these figures is assumed by SOS.
 

Revenues

This plan provides $45.9M total mining revenue and $.45M in annual lease revenues.

This revenue is 87% of the mining revenue provided in alternative D.

This revenue is 68% of the mining revenue provided in extreme alternative F.

Mining costs include $3.3M in utility relocation and potentially $32M in capital improvements. Sediment removal costs range from $6.8M to $22.5M. Annual
SFWD staff cost is $.13M

The figures in this plan for revenues are taken from the San Francisco Watershed Management Plans, Alternatives A through F as drawn up by EDAW, Inc. (no
date); no responsibility for the accuracy of these figures is assumed by SOS.

Additional sustainable revenues from leased organic farm land and market and event/ parking / recreation fees as well as revenue offset from SF City Dept funds for
homeless and education.

All facilities including recreational facilities and docents, will be developed at no additional cost to SFWD rate payers or Alameda County rate payers. Facilities will
be funded from quarrying revenues and other sustainable revenues.
 

Phasing

Mining of all pits estimated to be completed in about 40 years, based on current mining rates of 2.2M tons/year.

This plan proposes the reasonable restriction that no additional quarrying should be allowed until all responsible public agencies are satisfied that existing quarries
have been exhausted and the areas have been adequately reclaimed.
 

Comparison of Alternatives

Compared to all the other alternatives (A-F), alternative S provides:
 

• a comparable level of risk to the quality of the water supply;
• increased water storage capacity over alternative A, but lower from 10% to 25% less water storage than alternatives B-F at essentially no cost to SFWD;
• the highest sustainable revenue generation from other source than mining through the extensive use of the area north of I680 for agriculture;
• increased mining revenue generation compared to alternative A, but lower from 13% - 32% less mining revenue than alternatives B-F;
• the lowest impact on the community of Sunol, comparable with the initial prefered alternative B;
• the most environmentally sensitive option with no disturbance north of I680, retaining of all existing creeks and wildlife areas and the conservation easement over the entire area;
• the most socially conscious alternative with the greatest potential benefits to the youth and homeless of San Francisco;
• the best balance of high impact and low impact recreational uses;
• a comparable ability to delay mining of the Apperson Ridge;
• the greatest amount of recreation activity, due to the largest boating pit and a large swimming pit, as well as the most extensive trail system and a family/group picnic
• area and playfield together with other activities proposed in other alternatives; and
• the greatest opportunity for the preservation of cultural resources with the maintenance of the original integrity of the design of the Water Temple.

Protecting Sunol’s Future

This plan proposes that the SFWD watershed land in the Sunol Valley be administered and managed as a public trust, in a similar manner to the Presidio in San Francisco. Also consistent with this plan, a conservation easement is proposed for the entire area to protect it from development, further quarrying or other disturbance, in perpetuity.

 

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