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EBMUD Pardee Reservoir expansion faces lawsuit

Posted by: Maven on November 21, 2009 at 8:39 am

pardee damFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Opponents of an East Bay water utility’s effort to enlarge a key reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills threw a legal roadblock into the project’s way Thursday, suing the agency to overturn a preliminary environmental impact report on the expansion.

The Foothill Conservancy, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Friends of the River filed a lawsuit in Amador County Superior Court seeking to pre-empt the expansion of Pardee Reservoir on the Mokelumne River and safeguard a scenic section of the waterway popular among boaters and picnickers.

Last month at a marathon meeting that drew scores of angry public comments, the East Bay Municipal Utility District approved the environmental report but threw out the largest expansion option. However, the remaining scenarios would still destroy a historic bridge, American Indian cultural sites, a well-known whitewater run and fishing spots, critics say.

“It’s such a direct impact on our community,” said Foothill Conservancy Executive Director Chris Wright. “It’s critical to make sure they don’t plan on flooding any more of the Mokelumne.” … “

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

From Stockton’s Record:

“An EBMUD spokesman said Thursday that he had not seen the complaint and could not comment.

The district has said any plan to raise Pardee must have benefits for Mokelumne River users.

The conservancy, which was joined in the lawsuit by Friends of the River and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, claims state law requires a more in-depth review of the impact of building a new dam even though the district says it’s unsure whether that will be necessary.

“They had different portfolios they were considering, and they eliminated many options,” Wright said. “They’ve already made a decision, and they didn’t do the right environmental analysis to make that decision.” … “

Read more from Stockton’s Record by clicking here.

Photo of Pardee Dam & Reservoir by flickr photographer Randy Bayne (Creative Commons).

November 21, 2009 · Filed Under Bay Area

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