Dear Editor, On a recent visit to Morgan Hill, I read that
Anderson Dam is being evaluated more closely for its potential of
cracks in the earthen dam should there be another major earthquake.
We lived on Manzanita Drive at Anderson Lake for 22 years. I have
never been able to understand why the homes below Anderson Dam were
allowed to be built
Allowing homes at the bottom of Anderson is criminal
Dear Editor,
On a recent visit to Morgan Hill, I read that Anderson Dam is being evaluated more closely for its potential of cracks in the earthen dam should there be another major earthquake. We lived on Manzanita Drive at Anderson Lake for 22 years. I have never been able to understand why the homes below Anderson Dam were allowed to be built. Every citizen of Morgan Hill should read the book, “Cadillac Desert – the American West and its Disappearing Water,” by Marc Reisner, to learn how nearly every earthen dam in California has failed and has already resulted in several disasters in Southern California.
Another research reference should be the Aug. 17, 1959 Hebgen Lake Dam area earthquake near West Yellowstone. It created a tsunami that took cabins over the dam and redeposited them in the valley below – you can visit these cabins and the Earthquake Information Center today for a very educational trip for all ages.
This 7.5 earthquake threw boulders across a canyon, ripped clothes off people when the mountain fell, created a new lake, and demonstrated other forces of nature that haven’t been seen until the Japanese earthquake this year. Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County officials would do well to visit this earthquake information center near West Yellowstone’s gate – although it may be the equivalent of locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen.
I think it was a criminal act to allow homes to be built below Anderson Dam and, unfortunately, the guilty politicians who allowed it will never spend a day in prison even if the dam breaks and everyone below the dam perishes. Citizen apathy is also to blame, because no one protested enough to prevent it. It is even more amazing to me that people have paid huge prices for these homes below the dam of the largest reservoir in Santa Clara County. All of this should be a serious doctoral study in politics and human nature.
Gene Beley, Stockton
A chance to get to know south Santa Clara County even better
Dear Editor,
South Santa Clara County’s environment provides a breath of fresh air, but this inspiring setting is at risk. Protecting its creeks, oak woodlands, and working farms while supporting the revitalization of local downtowns is key to maintaining the quality of life of this region. Poorly managed growth will strain land that provides food, hillsides that filter our water, and open spaces that make our county special. Working together to ensure growth is strategically planned will protect our landscapes and our quality of life today, and the future.
Did you know open space is critical to maintaining our local water supply? South Santa Clara County is almost wholly dependent on groundwater for water supply needs, making open space vital to replenishing our aquifer via rainfall. Paving open space diminishes this natural cycle. Although water is pumped in from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to help replenish our aquifer, failure of the Delta’s fragile infrastructure would reduce or eliminate this source. It is incumbent upon us to safeguard our local water resources by protecting open space and working farms.
Did you know that South County has the most fertile soil in Santa Clara County? Our agricultural fields grow a myriad of fresh fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and nuts. Farmlands offer access to fresh local food, contribute to our local economy and serve as greenbelt buffers. Yet, our working farms are constantly at risk of being developed despite the ability to make room for new homes and jobs in our downtowns, close to transit.
Did you know that whether or not you live downtown, the manner in which it evolves directly affects you? A thriving downtown, with a variety of homes, businesses, cultural connections and public transportation access benefits the community. The pressure to develop farms and open spaces is eased when cities direct growth into downtown. City-centered growth is vital to protecting creeks, scenic views and trails. It also makes better use of existing infrastructure and saves on energy and transportation costs. People living downtown also creates a built-in population for local merchants.
Did you know that community engagement at the local level can make a big difference? Being proactive ensures our communities retain characteristics that drew us to them in the first place. Committee for Green Foothills’ and Greenbelt Alliance’s series on South Santa Clara County offers you the opportunity to be a part of moving the vision forward! Our Food of Life Agriculture Panel today at Lizarran Tapas Restaurant in Gilroy, our Quality of Life Urban Tour in Morgan Hill on Saturday and our Community Design Day on May 14 at the Granary in Morgan Hill are free involvement opportunities! For further information or to RSVP at www.greenbelt.org or www.greenfoothills.org.
Julie Hutcheson, Environmental Advocate, Committee for Green Foothills
Erin McDaniel, Open Space Campaign Coordinator, South Santa Clara County, Greenbelt Alliance
