Averting Destructing of Habitat, Cultural Sites by Geotechnical Investigations for Pacheco Dam Project

Environmental groups and a tribe successfully challenged the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s refusal to conduct an environmental review for its extensive “investigatory” work in connection with the construction of a new $3 billion dam. Located upstream of the existing Pacheco Dam, the new dam would flood 1,500 acres of sensitive plant and wildlife habitat and destroy cultural sites over 3,000 years old. The water district’s geotechnical investigations would involve drilling hundreds of geotechnical borings, many of which require helicopters to deliver necessary equipment, and digging dozens of test pits in sensitive areas like wetlands. The court agreed with the petitioners that this intensive project required environmental review.