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.
CEQA Successes
- Reversing Approval of Insecticide Use in California That Could Cause Bee Colonies to Collapse
- Rare Wildlife Habitat, Old Growth, Headwaters Protected from Church of the Woods Development Above Lake Arrowhead
- Mitigating Wildlife and Climate Impacts of Large Mixed-Use Development in Remote, Fire-Prone Area of San Diego County
- Ensuring Protection of Coho Salmon in Lagunitas Creek
- Averting Destructing of Habitat, Cultural Sites by Geotechnical Investigations for Pacheco Dam Project
- Protecting Lake Tahoe’s Water Quality from Discharges of Dangerous Herbicides
- “Forcing a Large Industrial Park to Confront an Inadequate Water Supply”
- Ensuring Protection of Water Quality in the Eel River from Large Infrastructure
- Requiring a Water Supply for a Large Housing Development in Contra Costa County
- Establishing and Improving San Dieguito River Park