Thursday August 15, 2024
The Independent —
Earthquake and drought risks to the Tri-Valley’s water supply may be mitigated in coming years by increased water storage at the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. The expansion project would also include obtaining access to a second source of San Francisco Bay Delta water through the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD).
On Aug. 7, the Zone 7 Water Agency Board of Directors, which manages the area’s water supply, discussed options for participating in the Los Vaqueros Expansion project ahead of agreement negotiations later this month. The board said more data was needed before deciding what form Zone 7’s participation would take.
“The bottom line is we’re missing the bottom line,” said Director Kathy Narum.
Los Vaqueros, located about seven miles north of Livermore’s Springtown neighborhood, can currently store about 160,000 acre-feet of water for Contra Costa customers. The $1.6 billion expansion project plans to raise the Los Vaqueros Dam and increase the reservoir’s capacity by an additional 115,000 acre-feet. A joint powers authority composed of Bay Area water utility and agency partners, which may include Zone 7, would share rights to the reservoir’s new capacity.