Save Mount Diablo and Partners Mobilize Patterson Residents to Voice Opposition
Early on Wednesday, August 19, Patterson residents took time off work and their busy schedules to tell the Del Puerto Water District Board that they do not want the proposed Del Puerto Reservoir project to move forward.
The water district board was set to decide on certification of the final environmental impact report and approval of the reservoir project that would drown five miles of beautiful Del Puerto Canyon with non-drinkable water.
The community has agreed: a project
- providing no recreational access to the area,
- having lasting destructive impacts to surrounding ranchlands and rare wildlife habitat, and
- posing massive safety risks with its construction on a fault line,
is of no interest to residents.
Sunset views of Del Puerto Canyon and Del Puerto Creek. The proposed Del Puerto reservoir project would flood this area of the canyon and much more. Photo: Xochi Vasquez
With a Week’s Notice, We Mobilized Residents
To make sure residents were aware of the Del Puerto Water District Board hearing, Save Mount Diablo worked with our partner, Save Del Puerto Canyon, to mobilize the community.
Within a weeklong timeframe, we organized a letter writing campaign that sent nearly 300 letters to the water district opposing the project.
On the day of the hearing, dozens of residents showed up to voice their opinions.
Patterson Residents Say No to the Reservoir Project
At the hearing, those against the project outnumbered those in favor of it 5:1. Many residents who showed up also provided powerful public comments stating their concern over the project’s impacts.
Residents who have lived in Patterson for decades described how a dam failure from an earthquake could flood Patterson and destroy their homes. The dam’s placement on the San Joaquin fault line makes this a very real possibility.
Community members discussed how their open space would be taken away and how wildlife would be impacted.
They also voiced concerns about water being sent far outside of Patterson for big agriculture, with little being used to help local farmers.
However, the most common frustration was that they felt like local leaders were not listening to them. “I’ve lived here 37 years,” one woman said as a Board member tried to tell her to finish her public comment, “I deserve a bit of time to speak on this.”
Save Mount Diablo staff also provided public comments to the water district’s board. Photo: Steven dePaschalis
The Fight Isn’t Over!
The Del Puerto Water District Board inevitably made the decision to certify the environmental impact report, ignoring the growing public opposition toward the project.
However, the fight to save Del Puerto Canyon is not over!
Save Mount Diablo and our partners will continue to work with residents of Patterson and the greater Stanislaus County community to make sure everyone’s voices are heard.
Other parts of the project also still need to go through public review and approval. It will be our priority to make sure residents are informed about how they can take action.
Sign up for our Diablo Range email list and follow Save Del Puerto Canyon on Facebook and Instagram.
Email me at sdepaschalis@savemountdiablo.org and join the fight.
Together, we will save Del Puerto Canyon!
Community members and advocates stand outside of the Del Puerto Water District building after the public hearing. Photo: Juan Pablo Galván Martínez
