Community

A writer gains inspiration from the strangest of places for their work. When local romance novelist Heatherly Bell woke up from a dream with a storyline that fit nicely for her next piece, she quickly wrote it down.

Santa Clara Valley Water District Chair of the Board of Directors John Varela released the letter below to the public in response to continued rains that have caused Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill to fill beyond the storage limit set by the state Division of Safety of Dams. The reservoir was at about 87 percent of its total capacity as of Feb. 9.Varela's letter reads: Dear Neighbors,Since Anderson Dam was built in 1950, the reservoir has reached its capacity in ten separate years, most recently in 2006. When Anderson Reservoir is full, it produces quite a visual spectacle as water flows down the spillway, yet it also can result in flood risks along Coyote Creek.Given the discovery of seismic vulnerabilities, Santa Clara Valley Water District has operated the dam under a storage restriction since 2009. Anderson Dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the California Division of Safety of Dams and, because we operate a small hydroelectric facility at the dam, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also regulates the dam. Currently, these regulatory agencies have set a reservoir elevation restriction equivalent to 68 percent of capacity, or 61,810 acre-feet of water.Agencies set these storage elevation restrictions understanding that reservoirs cannot physically be kept below a restricted level at all times; for example, they understand that storms produce rainfall runoff into reservoirs that will temporarily increase the amount of water in them. These agencies have not requested the water district do anything beyond releasing water from the dam's existing outlet as quickly as possible, to help bring water levels back down.Anderson's outlet has been 100% open since Jan. 9, releasing water into Coyote Creek at a rate of more than 400 cubic feet per second. But, with the many wet storms that have occurred one after another, the rate of flow into the reservoir has at times exceeded the rate of water we are releasing from the outlet. As a result, the water level in the reservoir has risen, and with more storms in the forecast, we project that the reservoir could be full in the next few days.The water district will continue to release water from the dam's outlet until the water level falls below the restricted level. Depending on the amount of rainfall inflow from future storms, this could take 4 to 9 weeks.There is a concern if a massive earthquake of 7.25 on the Richter Scale (larger than the Loma Prieta earthquake we had in 1989) were to occur within two kilometers of the dam while the reservoir is full. This would be an earthquake of a magnitude larger than any that has ever been recorded on the nearby Calaveras Fault. While earthquakes cannot be predicted with any precision, the chance of such an earthquake occurring in the next few weeks is very remote.Should people be worried? Keep in mind that this is the same dam that has performed well in numerous earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, since it was built in 1950.What would happen if a massive quake did occur? There's a chance that the dam could be damaged, but the chance of immediate dam failure is exceedingly remote. It is possible that we would have several days or weeks to reduce the water level with emergency pumps before any further damage could compromise the integrity of the dam.This situation reminds us of the importance of completing the project to rehabilitate Anderson Dam. Due to the existing seismic safety restriction on Anderson, it is likely that we will need to release more than 30,000 acre-feet of water to the Bay this year that could have otherwise been stored for future use-that's enough water to supply 60,000 households for an entire year. Our project team and expert consultants are working diligently to complete the design of this major project so that the reservoir can be fully utilized as soon as possible. Currently, we anticipate beginning construction in 2020 and completing by 2024.For any questions surrounding seismic matters or the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project, please feel free to call Hemang Desai at 408-630-3017 or Katherine Oven at 408-630-3126.For any questions surrounding Anderson's water storage, flows, or releases, please feel free to call Aaron Baker directly at 408-630-2135 or Garth Hall at 408-630-2350.Sincerely,John L. VarelaChair/Board of Directors

The Santa Clara Valley Water District and the City of Morgan Hill will host a “What’s Graywater?” workshop Feb. 11 to help residents learn about the water-saving potential of common types of graywater systems.Information will include costs, codes and regulations associated with graywater systems, plant-friendly soaps and products, irrigation hardware requirements and how to qualify for a $200 “Graywater Laundry to Landscape” rebate program.To receive specific assistance with project ideas during the workshop, attendees are encouraged to bring a simple drawing of project plans, photos of your home laundry area and exterior wall nearest your clothes washer and a photo of any landscape area to be irrigated with graywater. These materials are not required to attend the workshop.The workshop will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at Johnson Garden Nursery, 520 Tennant Ave., Suite C.Fore more information, call (408) 630-2684, or (408) 779-7171.

Community Solutions Chief Development Officer Lisa DeSilva was selected as Leadership Morgan Hill’s 2017 recipient of its prestigious Leadership Excellence Award during a Jan. 26 banquet at Guglielmo Winery.  The presentation of the award will take place at a July 22 evening outdoor celebration/fundraiser also at Guglielmo Winery, according to Mayor Steve Tate, an alumni of LMH. The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the vision and leadership that advance the spirit of community and charity; it reflects courage and insight; and the award inspires others to lead in a similar manner.DeSilva’s labor is spent on her passion—supporting and improving the lives of the clients of Community Solutions, an “outstanding” human services agency that serves southern Santa Clara County as well as San Benito County, Tate said in a press release.DeSilva, who grew up in Ossining, New York, graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) in Geneseo with a degree in sociology and a minor in Women’s Studies.After graduation, DeSilva moved to Morgan Hill and helped start the South County Rape Crisis Service. The group approached another community service organization known then as the Bridge Counseling Center, and convinced them to adopt the Rape Crisis Service. Through the Bridge Center, they were able to secure funding from the state which in turn enabled them to hire DeSilva, who held various program coordination and management roles. That was almost 35 years ago, and the Bridge Counseling Center became Community Solutions in 1996. The nonprofit has since branched out to its many current social service offerings.DeSilva has held a list of positions in the organization through the years, settling into her Chief Development Officer role in 1999 where she is now a fixture coordinating community relations and fundraising for the organization.DeSilva also served terms on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Board and the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She was an early graduate (1999) of Leadership Morgan Hill and has stayed involved ever since, annually presenting a Health and Human Services program that always wins rave reviews. In 2000, DeSilva joined the Rotary Club and after a stint on the board, joined the Membership Committee and assumed the role of “We Care” where she keeps the Club aware of all the joys as well as the tough times of current and past club members, making sure appropriate cards are sent and organizing support for events when appropriate.   “Community leaders, supporters of LMH and the many friends and relatives of the honoree will attend this community celebration honoring Lisa and benefiting the local nonprofit LMH educational organization,” Tate said.A panel of community leaders that includes all former Leadership Excellence Award recipients forms annually to select each year’s LEAD honoree. In addition to honoring DeSilva, the gala event raises funds that benefit the nonprofit LMH educational organization, now in its 22nd year of building community leadership.More information on the July 22 event and about LMH is available at leadershipmorganhill.org.

More than two inches of rainfall has dropped on Morgan Hill in the last 12 hours, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s gauge on Edmundson Avenue.

PG&E’s plan to build a new electricity substation and two new transmission lines in South County has been put on hold due to a state authority’s decision to “reassess” the proposed project, according to a spokeswoman for the utility company.Opposition to the project, known as South County Power Connect, has mounted in recent town hall meetings throughout South County.But last week, the California Independent System Operator decided to re-evaluate projects throughout the state that have been “previously approved,” including South County Power Connect, said Nicole Liebelt of PG&E.PG&E officials do not know how long the CAISO’s re-evaluation of the projects will take, so the utility company will be “postponing updates on our ongoing studies, originally planned for early this year, until the CAISO has finished its evaluation,” Liebelt added.South County Power Connect has drawn criticism and activism from South County residents, businesses and public officials in recent weeks due to the project’s proposed new electricity substation.During its public outreach process on the vast project, slated to improve the reliability of the region’s electrical grid, PG&E staff presented eight possible sites for the new substation. Five of these sites were identified in rural unincorporated areas, surrounded by wineries and quiet hillsides full of wildlife, according to the project’s opponents.Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman joined a list of residents, business owners and organizations when he stated his opposition to PG&E building a substation on any of the five rural sites. Also formally opposing the rural substation proposal are the Santa Clara Valley Wineries Association, Santa Clara County Farm Bureau and the Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Restoration organization.PG&E was slated to narrow down the proposal to a single preferred substation site and two alternatives this month. But that decision is delayed indefinitely with CAISO’s decision to re-evaluate the project.An existing substation on West Main Avenue just outside downtown Morgan Hill is one of the alternatives on the list of eight possible substation sites. Opponents of a rural location have said this site makes the most sense for a new substation.CAISO is an independent nonprofit that oversees the operation of the state’s electricity system.PG&E still has not gained approval for South County Power Connect from the California Public Utilities Commission, the state agency tasked with approving or denying such proposals.

Opponents of a PG&E substation in rural Gilroy or Morgan Hill have picked up powerful allies in their fight against the big utility, including growers and wineries.Santa Clara County District 1 Supervisor Mike Wasserman said for the first time recently that he’s opposed to the five rural sites on PG&E’s list of eight possible locations in his district.And while the county has no jurisdiction over PG&E sites—that’s up to the California Public Utilities Commission—the utility is required to consult with the county, whose view the PUC can consider.PG&E says the substation and new transmission lines are needed to keep up with power demands in the region and that they continue to review all sites. The preferred site and two alternatives will be picked in February and will be announced publicly by the end of March, a spokesperson for the utility said.Residents near sites on Sycamore Avenue and Day Road, and three on Watsonville Road in South County have banded together to oppose the rural locations.They cite serious safety, well water quality and environmental concerns, including the potential impact on sensitive riparian habitat and at least one federally protected species—the steelhead trout.The county’s agricultural community appears unanimous in its opposition, too, along with a conservation group, Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Restoration, or CHEER.CHEER formed a legal defense fund, hired a lawyer to oppose PG&E and has raised thousands of dollars for the battle, which it says it will take to federal court if necessary.“I am recommending against these five sites for the numerous environmental reasons I stated previously,” Wasserman said in an emailed response to the Times.Opponents of the rural sites have argued that only three locations in the city of Morgan Hill, including existing PG&E facilities should be considered, but Wasserman said that “at this time” he is not recommending any other sites.“County staff conducted an initial screening and numerous analyses are ongoing, and for all we know, more information may come forward and more sites might ultimately be considered by PG&E.” Wasserman said.PG&E has a small substation in the city of Morgan Hill, on West Main Avenue just outside the downtown. This is one of the sites on PG&E’s list of options for a larger substation.Wasserman is half of a two-member committee of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors reviewing the substation matter.Called the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee, or HLUET, it recently received a staff report recommending that only the more urban Morgan Hill sites be considered. Staff recommended that the committee forward its recommendation to the full board for consideration.David Cortese, president of the board of supervisors, is the other HLUET committee member. He said the matter will go directly to the whole board, following cancellation of HLUET’s Jan. 19 meeting. The next full board meeting is Monday, Feb. 6.Reaction among PG&E critics to Wasserman’s position was swift and positive.“That is great news, I welcome his support [and] I am greatly encouraged by this,” said Nigel Peacock of Gilroy.Peacock is part of a residents’ steering committee convened at a Jan. 13 meeting at Kirigin Cellars winery of about 50 opponents of a substation at any of the five rural country sites.Kirigin owner Dhruv Khanna is another steering committee member.“I applaud supervisor Wasserman on his position,” Khanna said, adding, “PG&E should expand use of its existing [Morgan Hill] substation.”Use of the southern locations would be “the most destructive of the environment,” with the destruction more severe the farther south, he said.In the meantime, the board of directors of the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau has unanimously agreed that the substation should not be built anywhere near the region’s wine trail.And the county’s wineries have weighed in, registering their opposition in a Jan. 5 letter to PG&E and cc’d to Wasserman.Wasserman helped create the Santa Clara County Wine Trail, the South County loop that winds through the area and along each of the rural roads cited, including the bucolic and historic Redwood Retreat Road west of Gilroy.“We are very concerned, in particular about some of the sites along Watsonville Road,” said Wineries of Santa Clara Valley president Karen Seeker of Seeker Vineyards in San Martin. The group represents 27 wineries. “A substation would have big impact not only on our wineries but also the overall nature and beauty of that area.”

Five local wineries collected 20 awards in the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, which is hailed as the largest competition of American wines in the world.

Overnight rains turning into light showers with warm temperatures throughout the daytime hours will continue to be the weather pattern this evening and over the weekend, according to Steve Anderson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Applications are now available for the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Scholarship program, and there will be even more money for college-bound high school seniors to go around this year.