SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

VII. ALTERNATIVESSan Antonio Creek south of I-680, which is an important wildlife corridor. Based on publiccomment and input from the Watershed Planning Committee, Mission Valley Rock Company,and other interested parties, several additional alternatives were developed.Alternative D also emphasizes water storage, recreation, and revenue generation, but is moreprotective of natural resources in the area, as it includes a conservation easement. Alternative Eallows mining according to SMP-32 and includes much less water storage south of I-680 thanAlternative D. SMP-32 is the mining permit issued to the Mission Valley Rock Company byAlameda County for mining 200 acres north of I-680. Prior to issuance of SMP-32, the MissionValley Rock Company had a permit and lease for 69 acres under SMP-29. In order to mine thearea north of I-680 permitted under SMP-32, a lease from the SFPUC would be required.Under Alternative E, the proposed SMP-32 (north of I-680) mining pit edge is in proximity to theSunol Water Temple. Alternative F, proposed in response to this consideration, provides a quartermilesetback from the Sunol Water Temple to the mined areas, more landscape screening aroundthe mining pit, and a larger interpretive area. This setback would increase the mitigation for visualand cultural resource impacts from mining north of I-680, as was required in the Conditions ofApproval for SMP-32 EIR. South of I-680, Alternative F is the same as Alternative D relative tothe attempt to maximize water storage.All alternatives would require amendments of various existing surface mining permits. BothAlternative A and Alternative D propose mining areas consistent with that encompassed underSMP-29. Alternative C and Alternative F propose a mining area that is only slightly modifiedfrom that encompassed under SMP-32. Alternative E includes a mining area fully consistent withSMP-32, as it was originally proposed. Alternative B would also require expansion andamendment of existing permits and leases.On March 12, 1996, these six mining alternatives were presented to the SFPUC with the intent ofselecting a preferred alternative for the Sunol Valley to incorporate into the Management Plan.The alternatives were presented to the public on April 9, 1996 and a final decision was made onthe preferred alternative on May 14, 1996. The preferred alternative, discussed in Chapters II, III,and IV, includes portions of Alternatives E and F, and is subdivided into two options, preferredalternative Option 1 and Option2. These options are referred to as Action sun2a and Actionsun2b in the Management Plan. Alternatives A to F are analyzed below. During the publiccomment process, citizens from the town of Sunol introduced Alternative S, after the SFPUC hadselected the preferred alternative. The components of Alternative S are similar to Alternative B,proposing revenue-generating uses north of I-680 and 47,100 acre-feet of water storage (asopposed to 51,800 acre-feet under Alternative B). Therefore, Alternative S is discussed alongwith Alternative B, below. All mining alternatives and options are discussed in more detailbelow, with key features identified in Table VII-3.1.1 MINING ALTERNATIVE AAlternative A provides for the mining of existing permits and leases, with mining to occur bothnorth and south of I-680. Mining is expected to be completed by 2015. Recreational activitiesNOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan VII-19 ESA / 930385January 2001