With Los Vaqueros expansion canceled, water options remain slim
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Mar. 7, 2025) — Last month’s devastating fires in Los Angeles brought attention to the need for California to build needed water storage facilities throughout the state.
Case in point is the proposed expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, which was halted in November after the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) withdrew from the plans.
The CCWD board explained: “Beyond the significant cost increase, there were several other significant factors that led to this project – including decreased benefits for partners, increased benefit uncertainty and insufficient guarantees of backup water supplies for CCWD customers while the reservoir is demolished and reconstructed.”
Decades long expansion effort
The reservoir was originally financed by a $450 million bond CCWD issued in the 1990s. The reservoir stores water pumped from the Sacramento River when non-salty run-off conditions prevail.
Further expansion took place in 2012 funded by CCWD customers. Even most hard-core environmentalists were pleased with the outcome.
Then, federal, state and regional local water agencies hoped to nearly double the capacity of Los Vaqueros with second expansion to provide benefits for regional partners. In today’s regulatory climate, it took nearly a decade from 2013 to put together a coalition of interested parties.
The project’s eight Joint Powers Authority (JPA) members included the nearby East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and the Alameda County Water District.
Red tape, permits, environmental impact reports, engineering seismic studies and additional construction expenses ensued.
According to the agenda docket dated Nov. 6, 2024, the board directed General Manager Rachel Murphy “to coordinate and work with CCWD, JPA member agencies and JPA staff to begin JPA dissolution and JPA agreement termination efforts.”
Looking ahead to Sites Reservoir
In a Jan. 30 exclusive interview with the Pioneer, U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) expressed disappointment with the expansion being shelved.
“It is a shame, because the project was an excellent regional resource,” DeSaulnier said. “I have offered (U.S. Reps.) Josh Harder, Eric Swalwell and other groups my assistance, but the federal government has no jurisdiction.”
DeSaulnier, a former Concord mayor and Contra Costa County supervisor, has been a strong proponent of increasing water storage. He was a co-sponsor of SB-1, which was intended to spur plans to provide this needed resource for Southern California.
DeSaulnier mentioned the Sites Reservoir Project, which is planned to store 1.5 billion acre-feet of Delta run-off in a land-locked locale some 65 miles southwest of Sacramento. If built, the reservoir would provide much-needed agricultural and residential use for dry areas of Southern California.
Despite many perceived environmental benefits, optimistic projections list the earliest Sites might be finished is 2033. By that time, California’s allocation of water from the Colorado River, presently stored at Hoover Dam, may be reduced.
Meanwhile, Los Vaqueros expansion remains off the table.
“While this project is not moving forward, CCWD maintains strong working relationships with regional agencies to continue exploring future opportunities for collaboration,” the CCWD board stated.
Rich Eber
Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. His diverse topics covered go from politics to gourmet food. He can be reached at richeber9@gmail.com