REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Completion of Council Priority Project LRS 24-01 Examine the Permanent Closure of Access to the Interior Levees Surrounding Sunnyvale's Wastewater Treatment Ponds for Public Recreation (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
During the approval process for the Moffett Park Specific Plan, concerns were raised by local environmental advocates regarding potential impacts of increased public access to the interior levees surrounding the City's wastewater treatment ponds. These concerns were centered on the possible disturbance to local wildlife, particularly as development in the area could lead to greater community use of these levees. In response, a Councilmember formally requested a Study Issue (now referred to as Council Priority Projects) to examine the feasibility and implications of permanently closing public access to the interior levees on a year-round basis.
The project was approved as Study Issue LRS 24-01. The scope included evaluating operational needs, environmental considerations, alternative recreational access, and public education and engagement regarding the levees and adjacent recreation options. The City's permit with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) requires public access to the outer levees, but not the interior levees, which are primarily used for wastewater treatment operations and are not managed as public trails or habitat areas. The Study also included verification of land ownership, assessment of current access controls, and review of relevant regulatory requirements.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this Study was to examine the impact and effects of a year-round closure of the water treatment pond interior levees on recreational activities and public access needs. The City is required to provide public access to the outer levees as a condition of its permit with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). The interior levees are not required to be open to public access.
The S...
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