SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSI. AESTHETICSdamage to fencing and large amounts of roadside litter detract from the scenic character of viewsat these locations.North of the reservoir, Calaveras Road is located in a relatively narrow valley (Alameda Creek)that widens to form the Sunol Valley at the confluence of Alameda Creek, San Antonio Creek,and Arroyo de la Laguna. The valley floor is agricultural in character, with a variety ofnurseries, vineyards, and dry land farming. Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant is screenedfrom view by trees and landform between Calaveras Road and the site. A transmission line islocated relatively high on the ridge to the west and is not a dominant element of views.As Calaveras Road enters the Sunol Valley, the most visible land uses are the nurseries locatedwest of the road. Sand and gravel mining operations are also visible but are not as noticeable asthe many acres of boxed specimen trees. Views of the Sunol Valley from Calaveras Roadinclude the multiple transmission lines within the Hetch Hetchy right-of-way. Calaveras Roadcrosses under these lines south of Scott’s Corner. The lines are highly visible as they cross theflat landscape of the Sunol Valley and traverse the east-facing slopes of the Fremont Hills nearMission Pass.Vallecitos RoadVallecitos Road ranges in width from two to four lanes. Only a short portion of the road betweenI-680 and the Vallecitos Valley is located within Alameda Watershed lands. Views from theroad in this area include grass-covered slopes and large stands of oak trees. Further east, viewsof the north-facing slopes that surround San Antonio Reservoir are possible. These grasscoveredhills are visible at a distance of approximately 1.25 miles. Small, rustic agriculturalbuildings and residences are located at various points along the road. The General ElectricVallecitos Nuclear Center, located just north of Vallecitos Road, is the predominant man-madefeature within this area. Other notable built features visible from this road include electrictransmission line parallel to the road approximately 1.25 miles to the south. These transmissionlines are located outside SFPUC lands.Geary RoadGeary Road is an Alameda County scenic route that connects Calaveras Road to Sunol RegionalWilderness. Geary Road is located east of Calaveras Road and closely follows the course ofAlameda Creek. Views from the road are enclosed by both the surrounding canyon and theriparian vegetation and oak woodlands along Alameda Creek.Mill Creek RoadMill Creek Road begins at Highway 238 and parallels Mission Creek up to Mission Peak. Onlythe terminus of the road, as it nears Mission Peak, affords a view of the Alameda Watershed.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.I-3 ESA / 930385January 2001