Zone 7 to update Pleasanton’s possible uses of ‘Chain of Lakes’ at meeting today

The Zone 7 board’s Water Resources Committee will get an update on the agency’s evaluation of potential feasible uses of various lakes in Pleasanton’s future Chain of Lakes region at a public meeting this afternoon.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at Zone 7 headquarters, 100 North Canyons Parkway, Livermore.

The main topic of the meeting will be the future Chain of Lakes, which is a series of sand-and-gravel mining pits being turned over to Zone 7 as quarrying operations cease over time.

Overall uses of the 10 lakes for water management purposes, including groundwater recharge, surface-water conveyance, flood protection through stormwater detention and some recreational uses, have long been identified.

But Zone 7 has stepped up efforts to develop and communicate a more formal lake use plan, starting with Cope Lake and Lakes H and I because the city of Pleasanton is currently developing the East Pleasanton Specific Plan, which covers an area that consists largely of these three lakes and, if implemented, will change access and uses of immediately adjacent property.

In June, Zone 7’s Board of Directors was presented with a preliminary evaluation of these first three lakes, using criteria that considered potential uses of special concern to the task force’s planning effort while ensuring that Zone 7 water management requirements are protected. This information was also presented at a Pleasanton-Zone 7 liaison committee meeting on Aug. 1.

Preliminary recommendations that were presented include:

Cope Lake to be used for flood/stormwater detention.

Lake I to be used for groundwater recharge and education/passive recreation (i.e. bird watching and trails).

A habitat preservation corridor along the eastern sides of Cope Lake and Lake H.

Potential trail alignments remained under discussion. Recreational facilities would be operated and maintained by other agencies.

At Tuesday’s Water Resources Committee meeting, staff will provide an update on the evaluation of potential uses of all lakes in the future Chain of Lakes, including remaining potential uses of Lakes H, I and Cope.

Lake I and Cope Lake are currently owned and managed by Zone 7, while Lake H is scheduled to be turned over to Zone 7 at the end of 2014.

During the periodic review of the surface mining permits, representatives of Alameda County and quarrying company CEMEX informed Zone 7 staff that quarrying of Lakes A and B could continue through 2058.

Staff inquired about the other lakes being mined by Vulcan Materials and was given a similar date for the completion of those lakes.

The additional time may have multiple causes from the slow-down in development and construction to the recycling of materials which is currently occurring on site.

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