Draft Environmental Impact Report - East Bay Municipal Utility District

Estates Reservoir Replacement Draft Environmental Impact ReportCultural Resourcesparcel. Ms. Arrigoni recorded the historic structures on the parcel (referred to as the‘Estates Reservoir site’ and consisting of the concrete-lined basin, earthen dam, theMontclair Pumping Plant, the valve and meter pit, the stilling basin and culvert, therubble retaining wall, and the pathways). Garavaglia Architecture, Inc., recorded the roofstructure designed by Robert Royston.ResultsThe records search revealed that two cultural resource studies have been undertaken thatinclude the Project area (Chavez, 1985; Mayfield, 1978). However, both studies areregional overviews and did not include field reconnaissance. One additional study, thatdid involve an archaeological survey, has been conducted within one-quarter-mile of theProject area (Chavez and Hupman, 2000).There are no previously recorded archaeological sites within the record search area.Three historic buildings have been recorded within one-quarter-mile of the Project area,although none are located within the Project area (Oakland Cultural Heritage, 1994a,1994b, 1994c). An additional seven historic buildings located within one-quarter-mile ofthe Project area are listed in the Office of Historic Preservation Historic PropertiesDirectory, but none are within the Project area (Office of Historic Preservation # 106064,106105. 106106, 106267, 092992, 106298, 106397).In 1986, the Estates Reservoir roof structure designed by Robert Royston was rated “*C3Potential Designated Historic Property, Post 1945,” in the Oakland Cultural HeritageReconnaissance Survey. The asterisk indicates that the property was less than 45 yearsold at the time of rating with a contingency rating of “C”. The “C” indicates that theproperty is of “Secondary Importance,” as a superior or visually important example, andthe “3” indicates that the property is not within a historic district.Circa 2007, the Estates Reservoir fountains, planter and surface planes were nominatedfor designation as a City of Oakland historic landmark (Parish 2007). The CulturalLandscape Foundation supported this designation, and stated that, in early 2008, they had“recognized the Estates Drive Reservoir as a nationally significant historic designedlandscape in the Foundation’s Landslide feature.” The Cultural Landscape Foundationstated that they thought that Royston’s design may be eligible for the National Register ofHistoric Places (Birnbaum 2008).On January 14, 2008, the Estates Reservoir fountains, planters and covers werepreliminarily determined by the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, City ofOakland, to be eligible for City of Oakland historic landmark designation, and theproperty was given a preliminary evaluation rating of “B,” denoting “Major Importance”(Pavlinec 2008). Later in 2008, the Estates Reservoir roof structure was included in theCultural Landscape Foundation’s Landslide list, which is “a yearly designation ofsignificant landscapes at risk of being lost” (The Cultural Landscape Foundation 2008).However, the Cultural Landscape Foundation’s website states that the reservoir design issb09_001.doc 3-5.9 7/22/2009