Save Lake Chabot Road

When I first heard that EBMUD is planing to fill in the old quarry on Lake Chabot Road with soil excavated during pipeline maintenance, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Not, that is, until I realized they plan to run 60 to 100 dump trucks a day along Lake Chabot Road for 40 to 80 years.

That’s right. If anybody now alive is here to see it, the site and adjacent hillside will eventually be seeded and planted with native plants. Maybe our grandchildren will be able to hike and ride horses up there.

An EBMUD FAQ on their web site evades all important questions by saying they “will be investigated”. An initial study, published last January, indicates that there may be “substantial adverse effects” for nearly every concern and notes that an Environmental Impact Report is required.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report originally due to be published this month has been put on hold. When it is released, there will be a 45-day period for public comments. This will present a good opportunity to get in touch with the San Leandro City Council, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council.

Lake Chabot Road is currently closed because of land slides and erosion that have undermined the road bed. Even after being rebuilt, it’s doubtful that it would it be able to support the constant dump truck traffic.

There is much more to say about this than space will allow, but if you have the patience, you can wade through the EBMUD website (https://www.ebmud.com/about-us/construction-and-maintenance/construction-my-neighborhood/quarry-site-restoration-project).

To learn more and join some neighbors who want to keep Lake Chabot Road open, see our web site (savelakechabotroad.com) and, if you agree with us, sign our petition.

–Gary Sloane, San Leandro