Myths about proposed quarry expansion
in Sunol

1. The new quarry will add a large amount of new water storage.

San Francisco already collects much of the water from the region. The Calaveras and San Antonio Reservoirs in Sunol have a capacity of 147 thousand acre feet (taf), more than twice that of the Crystal Springs and San Andreas Reservoirs on the peninsula. Making the existing quarries wider and deeper would add about an additional 40 taf, while the new quarry would add 16 taf. In addition, the 40 taf that could be made available from the existing quarries would be delayed by decades because mining of these quarries would be abandoned until the new quarry was mined out.

2. This is a 'not in my backyard' issue.

For close to 40 years, San Francisco has mined Sunol's backyard. Even without the new quarry, the area will be quarried by many years to come. San Francisco now wants to mine Sunol's front yard.

3. Agriculture is not a realistic alternative.

The proposed quarry site has always been extremely rich farmland, with some of the best soils in the state. Over the years, it has been used for a wide variety of crops. Only in the last few years, since the quarry plans were proposed, has its production been reduced.

A vineyard and organic farming proposal was rejected by the SFPUC without any study of its viability.

4. The groundwater in the region would not be affected.

The Alameda Watershed Plan Environmental Impact Report notes that the existing quarries have had a large effect on the groundwater flows and on the aquifer below the region. If an aquifer simply disappears because is has been dug out, is it considered 'damaged'?

5. The new quarry will not increase truck traffic in the area because a conveyer belt will be used to transport rock.

Actually, this is true. Bulldozers and other heavy equipment will be used to strip mine and transport 11 million pounds of material to the belt every day, but no trucks will be used.

6. Many years from now, Sunol's children will be grateful for the quarry and the resulting lake.

To maintain water quality, the resulting pit pond will be a sterile body of water, surrounded by a high security fence. It is hard to imagine Sunol's children ever being thankful for it. Note also that the current reservoirs, lovely as they may look from a distance, are not accessible to the public.

7. The wildlife in the region will not be affected.

The valley floor is a major corridor for wildlife between the Sunol/Ohlone Wilderness Area to the south and the Sunol Ridge/Pleasanton Ridge/Palomares Canyon areas to the north. Forcing the endangered species in the area into isolated pockets greatly reduces their chances of survival. It would also reduce the chances of returning Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout and other fish to their traditional spawning grounds.

8. The new quarry will be hidden by berms.

The quarry pit will be plainly visible from Sunol Regional Wilderness and Pleasanton Ridge parklands, as well as Sunol homes on high ground. The pit will also be seen from I-680, an Officially Designated Scenic Highway.

The berm will hide the newly restored Sunol Water Temple (the symbol on all PUC vehicles) from most locations on Poloma Way (Highway 84) and I-680.

Views of the surrounding hills from the Water Temple will be blocked.