Draft Environmental Impact Report - East Bay Municipal Utility District

Estates Reservoir Replacement Draft Environmental Impact ReportProject Descriptionmore stringent water quality regulations. The roof system is supported by concretecolumns and timber framing. Architectural elements were incorporated into the roof builtin the 1960s including terraces, two large water fountains and one planter box. Watersupply to the fountains was turned off in June 2008 in response to EBMUD's May 2008Board Resolution declaring a water shortage emergency and adopting the 2008 to 2009Drought Water Management Program.Estates Reservoir is one of more than 20 EBMUD open cut reservoirs, most of whichfall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the State Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD).EBMUD regularly inspects these facilities in coordination with DSOD staff to monitor,and if necessary, correct issues that could potentially impact the integrity of the reservoirembankments. Identified maintenance repairs are given a high priority.Dingee Reservoir, also shown in Figure S-1, was originally constructed in 1894 and wasmodified twice, once for the construction of a new roof and lining (1931), and again forthe construction a new curb which now parallels Estates Drive (1939). The dam iscomposed of fill, and cut into existing bed-rock material, but is not under the jurisdictionof DSOD. No other major improvements have been performed since 1939. DingeeReservoir is located about a tenth of a mile from Estates Reservoir on Bullard Drive.Dam Safety ProgramEBMUD owns and manages 31 dams as part of its water system. EBMUD's reservoirdams were built from the late 1800s to the late 1960s. EBMUD engineers inspect eachdam monthly. The larger dams under jurisdiction of the DSOD are also inspectedannually by the State of California. EBMUD periodically conducts an extensive seismicstudy of its dams.EBMUD is in the process of evaluating each of these reservoirs and replacing them withtanks as appropriate. Resizing is needed to meet water quality requirements and to moreefficiently manage the EBMUD water distribution system. In addition, tanks can bebuilt to remain serviceable after an earthquake with greater reliability with reducedmaintenance costs, and provide better water quality. As a result of the reservoir resizingprogram, the number of dams owned and managed by EBMUD will decrease in futureyears.Estates Reservoir is one of the facilities being replaced through this program, for thereasons cited above.2.2.2 Project Purpose and ObjectivesDingee Pressure Zone improvements are being addressed as part of a broader OaklandHills Pressure Zone Improvements Study aimed at improving water quality and systemreliability by removing excess/inefficient storage and rehabilitating or replacing agingfacilities. Principal storage in the Dingee Pressure Zone is currently contained in Dingeesb09_001.doc 2-5 7/22/2009