SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSA. EXISTING PLANS AND POLICIESAir Quality SubtopicPolicyPolicy 268: The County shall strive to meet federal and state air quality standards for local airpollutants of concern. In the event that standards are exceeded, the County shall requireappropriate mitigation measures on new development.Water Quality SubtopicPolicyPolicy 282: The County shall protect surface and groundwater resources by:! preserving areas with prime percolation capabilities and minimizing placement of potentialsources of pollution in such areas;! minimizing sedimentation and erosion through control of grading, quarrying, cutting oftrees, removal of vegetation, placement of roads and bridges, use of off-road vehicles, andanimal-related disturbance of the soil;! not allowing the development of septic systems, automobile dismantlers, waste disposalfacilities, industries utilizing toxic chemicals, and other potentially polluting substances increekside, reservoir, or high groundwater table areas when polluting substances couldcome in contact with flood waters, permanently or seasonally high groundwaters, flowingstream or creek waters, or reservoir waters; and! avoiding establishment of excessive concentrations of septic systems over large land areas.Soil and Slope Stability SubtopicPoliciesPolicy 283: The County shall encourage Zone 7, cities, and agricultural groundwater users tolimit the withdrawal of groundwater in order to minimize the potential for land subsidence.Policy 284: The County shall not permit development within any area outside the Urban GrowthBoundary exceeding 25 percent slopes to minimize hazards associated with slope stability.Seismic and Geologic Hazards SubtopicThe Calaveras Fault Zone passes through the Alameda Watershed, specifically through SunolValley and Calaveras Reservoir, which places part of the Watershed within the Special StudiesZone as determined by the Alquist-Priolo Act.DefinitionSpecial Studies Zone – The purpose of the Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zones Act is to prohibitthe location of most structures for human occupancy across the traces of active faults and tomitigate the hazard of fault ruptures. Cities and counties affected by the zones must regulatecertain development projects within the zones. The permitting agencies must withholddevelopment permits for sites within the zones until geologic investigations demonstrate that theNOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.A-10 ESA / 930385January 2001