With MTBE no longer in gas, pollution danger eliminated
Despite concerns raised by environmentalists and local residents, starting Monday, personal water craft will return to Anderson Reservoir and will be expanded on Calero.
The decision was announced Wednesday by the Santa Clara County Valley Water District and the County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Exact numbers will vary by the size of the lake. Mike DiMarco, a spokesman for the SCCVWD, said a one craft per six surface acres of water will be enforced for safety reasons. If the water levels are below capacity, the number of launches will decrease.
The parks and recreation department will restrict the number of launches based on parking availability, DiMarco said.
There will be no restrictions at Coyote Reservoir, east of San Martin, because that lake is not directly connected to a water treatment plant as are Anderson and Calero reservoirs, DiMarco said.
Jet ski enthusiasts welcomed the news and expressed their appreciation of the water district’s decision to lift the ban.
“I’m thrilled,” said PWC rider Bret Hembree from San Jose. “It has been a long five-year wait.”
Hembree was a vocal supporter of lifting the ban during the meetings held by the county. While he planned to head out to the water the day the ban was lifted, Hembree said he would wait a little while to let things cool down.
He said the water district did the right thing and thanked the water district for allowing the community to give their input.
“It’s cool that they went through the process to listen to the public and the community and came up with a terribly fair decision,” Hembree said.
Jackie Guevara, a resident of Holiday Lakes Estates that neighbors the lake, was thrilled when she heard she could ride her Sea Doo again.
“I am just so excited,” Guevara declared. “The last time we were on the lake was in April (of 1998) for a big party for my son. We didn’t know then that would be the last time.”
Guevara said her Sea Doo was just sitting on her property and will need to be repaired, but she said she will do that as soon as possible and get back on the lake. Guevara said she will be out of town Monday but she will try to get back quickly so she can take advantage of the opportunity she hasn’t had since 1998.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Guevara said. “I have much more respect for the water district.”
PWC were banned from Anderson in 1998 after it was found that cancer-causing gasoline additive MTBE was contaminating the water supply.
The SCCVWD held three community meetings in May, June and July where residents voiced their opinions. Concerns from the meetings mainly involved noise and water pollution.
Some residents of Holiday Lakes Estates said during the meetings the increased noise would be disruptive.
The county will enforce an 82-decibel limit by using sound meters and the ears of experienced park rangers. No other specific action will be taken to address the noise issue, said Matt Anderson, park ranger supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department.
Anderson said most PWCs made in the past five years fall well below the sound restrictions, unless they have been modified.
DiMarco did say, however, when Anderson opens up, rangers will make a noticeable appearance to strictly enforce the sound restrictions.
The strongest opposition to lifting the ban came from the Bluewater Network, a San Francisco-based environmentalist group. The Network sent more than 600 letters asking the water district not to lift the ban.
Sean Smith, public lands director for the Bluewater Network, received the news of the county’s decision with regret.
“I think the county has made a tragic mistake,” Smith said. “Sadly, the public and the environment will pay the price. We presented the county with evidence that these watercrafts are dumping pollutants in the water, and they know it. I don’t know where or how they are looking at that evidence, but it’s there.”
Smith cited public safety as the primary threat posed by personal watercraft. While other state and national lakes are continuing to prohibit personal watercraft due to safety concerns, Santa Clara County is regressing in their regulations, Smith said.
Weekday launches will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Weekend launches require reservations through parks and recreation which can be reached at 355-2201 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or at www.parkhere.org
Staff Writer Katie Niekerk contributed to this report.
