Board affirms Calaveras Dam EIR and adopts settlement with East Bay Regional Park District

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to affirm the Planning Commission's certification of the final environmental impact report for the Calaveras Dam replacement project and approved a settlement with the East Bay Regional Park District addressing the project's impacts on regional parkland.

The vote came after an appeal filed by the East Bay Regional Park District, which leases roughly half of the 8,000-acre Sunol Regional Wilderness from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The park district's counsel, Ted Radosevich, told the board the district had negotiated an agreement with SFPUC to address public-use and long-term operational impacts and filed the appeal to preserve its rights under CEQA while the settlement was finalized.

The Planning Department recommended upholding the EIR, saying the document met the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and provided an adequate analysis of potential impacts. Dan Wade, the SFPUC project manager for Calaveras Dam replacement, urged the board to affirm the certification. The Northern California Carpenters Regional Council also voiced support for the project, citing benefits for water-supply reliability and local jobs.

After the hearing, the board took action to affirm the Planning Commission certification (item 27), and adopted related resolutions and findings including the settlement resolution (item 17) and the CEQA findings and mitigation monitoring program (item 18). The roll call shows eight ayes and no recorded no votes or abstentions.

Why it matters: The Calaveras Dam replacement is part of the city's Water System Improvement Program and involves work in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. The board's affirmation of the EIR and adoption of the settlement clear key procedural and compliance steps for the project to proceed while addressing EBRPD's concerns about park access and long-term impacts.

Key details: - Appellant: East Bay Regional Park District (general counsel Ted Radosevich). The district operates Sonol (Sunol) Regional Wilderness and said tens of thousands of people use the park annually. - Project sponsor: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (project manager Dan Wade). - Planning department position: recommended upholding EIR as adequate under CEQA. - Public supporters: Northern California Carpenters Regional Council (spokesperson Mike Lozo) spoke in favor of the project. - Vote: Motion to affirm certification passed by roll call (8 ayes, 0 no, 0 abstain).

Next steps: The project proceeds with the EIR certification and the implemented settlement terms between SFPUC and EBRPD; project permitting and construction scheduling will follow the processes described in the EIR and connected agreements.

Quotes "We are here primarily today to support the settlement agreement," Ted Radosevich, general counsel for the East Bay Regional Park District, told the board, noting the district had negotiated terms with the SFPUC to address park impacts.

"The Planning Department believes that the EIR complies with the requirements of CEQA and provides an adequate, accurate, and objective analysis of the potential impacts of the project," Planning Department staff said in recommending the board uphold the Planning Commission's certification.

Ending The board's action resolves an outstanding appeal and puts in place an agreement intended to reduce recreational and environmental impacts on regional parkland while allowing the Calaveras Dam replacement project to move forward under the EIR's CEQA framework.