SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSB. LAND USEthe proposed Management Plan would not directly result in any significant land use impactsrelated to public access and use areas. However, increased public use of the Watershed wouldhave the potential to affect water quality, natural resources, air quality, fire hazard, and culturalresources. These issues are further described in Sections III.D, Hydrology and Water Quality,III.E, Natural Resources, III.F, Air Quality, III.G, Fire Management, and III.H, CulturalResources.Access to ReservoirsFishing is presently not allowed on any of the Watershed’s reservoirs due to water qualityconcerns. To protect water quality, this policy would continue under the proposed Plan (PolicyWA1), with two exceptions. Under the Management Plan, fishing may be allowed on a sectionof Alameda Creek between the Sunol Regional Wilderness and Sunol Valley (Policy WA1) andin one of the future water storage reservoirs in the Sunol Valley (Policy WA40). In addition,recreational uses such as public access, fishing, and boating may be allowed at some time in thefuture on one of the reclaimed mining pits (Policies WA38 through WA40 and Actions sun5 andsun6). Fishing may be allowed depending on whether a self-sustaining wild trout populationreestablishes itself in Alameda Creek, and whether the California Fish and Game Commissionadopts regulations allowing a catch-and-release fishery in these water bodies. These activitieswould occur in areas of low vulnerability and limited natural resources, and body-contactrecreation with potable water supplies would not be permitted (Policies WA37 and WA39).Compatibility of recreational uses at one of the water storage reservoirs near establishedresidential and commercial uses in the Town of Sunol would depend on the proximity of thefuture recreational uses to existing urban uses and would require project-level environmentalreview.Golf CoursesUnder the Management Plan, new golf courses would not be allowed. The existing Sunol ValleyGolf Course would continue to operate and could be expanded in zones of low vulnerabilityand/or sensitivity. Should expansion of the Sunol Valley Golf Course be proposed at some timein the future (Policy WA18.1), project-level environmental review would be required. Inaddition, under the Management Plan, golf course management would be subject to morestringent monitoring requirements and other guidelines to protect water quality (Actions was2and haz1).GrazingAlthough grazing and associated animal waste have the potential to degrade water quality,grazing serves as an effective fire management tool if properly managed. Under the ManagementPlan, grazing would be allowed to continue, but at a reduced level and under controlledconditions (Actions gra1 through gra10). Under the Alameda Watershed Grazing ResourcesManagement Element, grazing is managed on an Animal Unit Month basis. Implementation ofthe Management Plan would reduce historic grazing levels by more thanNOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.B-11 ESA / 930385January 2001