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The Santa Clara Valley Water District is moving forward with plans to build a new Pacheco Pass reservoir in Santa Clara County, which the district describes as a “game-changer” to ease the impact of future droughts in the Bay Area.If $485 million in state funds are approved this month, supporters they could raise the rest of the $969 million project budget from federal grants and increased water rates to build the largest reservoir constructed in the Bay Area in the past 20 years.The water district board on June 26 approved a memorandum of understanding between the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Pacheco Pass Water District and San Benito County Water District and approved an option to buy land with the Pacheco Pass Water District for the massive dam and reservoir project, which has been in the planning stages for a decade.The board last year submitted an application to the California Water Commission for funding of the project under Proposition 1, and final hearings before the commission were held in late June. The commission’s decision on state funding is expected by the end of July.While the Prop. 1 application is being evaluated by the water commission, the water district said it may seek federal legislative authorization for construction funding from Federal Water Infrastructure Improvements.“The Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project is a modern solution to the age-old challenges of providing a sustainable water supply for our expanding population and businesses,” district staff said in a report. “This project will reduce the frequency and severity of water shortages, provide flood protection for disadvantaged communities, as well as protect and grow the native steelhead population.”The proposed state funding would come from Prop. 1, which was approved by nearly three-quarters of San Benito and Santa Clara county voters in 2014. The funding would come from the $2.7 billion Water Storage Investment Program, part of California’s Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, a $7.5 billion bond passed by voters.The project would establish a new dam and expanded reservoir on the North Fork of Pacheco Creek that could hold 141,000 acre-feet of water, a substantial increase from the 6,000-acre-foot capacity of the existing reservoir. Constructed in 1939 and used for groundwater recharge, the reservoir is located about 13 miles southwest of San Luis Reservoir, off Highway 152.The district describes project’s potential benefits as “vast,” including the following:Increase suitable habitat in Pacheco Creek for the federally threatened South Central California Coast steelheadDevelop water supplies for the environmental needs of wildlife refuges to support habitat management in the delta watershedReduce flood risks for communities along Pacheco Creek and the Pajaro River as it flows through WatsonvilleImprove water quality, reducing taste and odor problems that result from seasonal algae blooms in San Luis Reservoir and cause Santa Clara Valley Water District operators to curtail deliveries from this sourceProvide an emergency water supply to Santa Clara and San Benito countiesIncrease reliability of imported water supplies to Santa Clara and San Benito countiesProvide additional water for groundwater recharge, benefiting agricultural water users downstream of the new damIncrease operational flexibility of water supplies at San Luis Reservoir and throughout Santa Clara CountyImprove opportunities for water transfers through San Luis ReservoirDistrict board member Gary Kremen, who chairs the water district’s Pacheco Reservoir Exploratory Ad Hoc Committee, said, “It is not often that we encounter an opportunity to build something that will have such profound benefits for the environment, flood control and water supply. There are few suitable spots in California for new water storage, and fewer still that substantially help threatened fish species. We’re fortunate to have one of those spots in our backyard.”The expanded reservoir would be filled with storm runoff from the surrounding watershed, and would also be used to store water imported through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.The project would include a new earthen dam and spillway. Other features are new pipelines, tunnels and a pump station to connect the new reservoir to the Pacheco Conduit, an existing pipeline near Highway 152 that conveys water from San Luis Reservoir to Santa Clara and San Benito counties.Key project partners include the Pacheco Pass and San Benito County water districts and eight wildlife refuges in the San Joaquin River Hydrologic Region. Support letters from 46 California state legislators, organizations, resource conservation districts, water agencies and individuals were included in the application.Jerry J. Smith, Ph.D., a fisheries biologist with experience studying Pacheco Creek since 1972 wrote the district, “The additional storage in the enlarged reservoir would potentially allow for increased releases from the reservoir into Pacheco Creek for rearing, including expanding releases to drought years when the existing reservoir would have insufficient storage to provide adequate releases for rearing steelhead.”Josué García, CEO of the Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, wrote, “This investment in our future will create both short- and long-term jobs as well as increase local control of the water supply. Together, these changes will create consistent economic growth for the entire Silicon Valley.”The land is currently owned by the Pacheco Pass Water District, which manages the  Pacheco Reservoir.The Santa Clara Valley Water District agreed to pay the Pacheco Pass Water District $200,000 for the land under a 15-year option. The Santa Clara district would then construct the new $969 million reservoir near the existing reservoir north of Highway 152.The Santa Clara Valley Water District is a government agency based in San Jose that provides water and flood protection to 1.9 million people from Palo Alto to Gilroy.The existing reservoir was built on the North Fork of Pacheco Creek in 1939 behind a 100-foot earthen dam now badly in need of costly repairs.The water district has yet to identify where the other $484 million needed to build the new reservoir would come from.For more information, visit https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/dam-reservoir-projects/pacheco-reservoir-expansion-project-proposed.

Police on July 6 arrested two teenagers who were acting suspiciously, and later learned the suspects are responsible for a recent string of commercial burglaries, according to authorities.

Two women were arrested on suspicion of stabbing three men in downtown Morgan Hill early in the morning July 7, according to police.Morgan Hill Police officers responded to the area of Monterey Road and Third Street about 2:15am, after receiving a call reporting a stabbing, according to authorities. The responding officers found a male victim suffering from a stab wound to his lower abdomen.Police also located a male victim in the area of Monterey Road and Spring Avenue, with stab wounds to his arm and abdomen, police said. Yet a third victim was found a few minutes later with a stab wound to his back.Officers provided first aid to the victims until Emergency Medical Services arrived. All three victims were transported to area trauma hospitals, according to police.One of the responding officers also found two women who appeared to be hiding from police in the area of Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue, police said. Immediately after contacting the two suspects, officers found a bloody knife with one of the women.The two suspects were identified as Tori Sanchez, 22, of Freedom, and Alexandria Campos, 23, of Morgan Hill, police said. They were booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.MHPD Sgt. Troy Hoefling said the suspects and victims had been drinking alcoholic beverages at the M&H Tavern, located on Monterey Road about half a block north of Third Street. Shortly after they exited the bar is when an altercation among the parties began, ultimately ending in the multiple stabbing injuries.The three men survived the attacks and were admitted to area hospitals, according to police. One of the men was released shortly after treatment.Anyone with information about the incident can call MHPD Det. Woodrow at (669) 253-4895.

Morgan Hill Police arrested a teen who used a fake handgun to rob three people the night of July 3, according to authorities.About 11pm, a young man and woman—both age 18—told police they parked their vehicle along a Cochrane Road apartment complex when a male suspect approached them.The suspect, later identified as Jorge Mendoza, 19, of Morgan Hill, pressed a handgun to the female victim’s head and demanded money, police said. The male victim, the driver of the vehicle, gave Mendoza all the money in his wallet. Mendoza then fled the area on foot.That incident occurred outside Cochrane Village Apartments, 18555 Butterfield Boulevard.Then about 11:40pm July 3, another caller reported a suspect matching Mendoza’s description brandished a handgun at her in the area of Cochrane Road and Monterey Road. That victim last saw Mendoza flee into a nearby field, according to police.Officers arrived and searched the field and found Mendoza, who was identified by several witnesses as the offender in both incidents, police said. Police also found a replica firearm near him in the field.Mendoza was arrested and booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery and brandishing a replica firearm, police said.MHPD is asking the public for assistance in determining if other similar crimes have occurred in Morgan Hill. Any other similar incidents can be reported to Morgan Hill Police by calling (669) 253-4985, or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

Stolen vehicleSomeone stole a black Ford Fusion from the area of East Dunne Avenue and San Simeon Drive. The theft was reported 8:51am June 19.A thief or thieves stole a tan Chevrolet Tahoe from a spot on Burnett Avenue. The crime was reported 8:30am June 23.A black Honda Accord was stolen from a spot on the 100 block of West Dunne Avenue. The crime was reported 9:15pm June 23.A black Mazda Protégé, previously reported stolen, was parked near the railroad tracks in the area of Larkspur Loop and Church Street “for months” before someone reported the vehicle to police. MHPD officers arrived and later released the vehicle to its registered owner. The vehicle was reported to police 3:17pm June 27.VandalismSomeone broke a vehicle’s side mirror at the Chevron gas station located at 851 Cochrane Road. The crime was reported 6:25pm June 13.Someone pried open a metal box containing more than a dozen mailboxes at an apartment complex on the 100 block of Wright Avenue, and stole the mail out of every mailbox. The crime was reported 9am June 21.Petty theftTwo female juveniles were arrested on suspicion of stealing cosmetic and hair accessories from Rite-Aid, 16000 Monterey Road. The crime was reported 3:16pm June 25.DisturbanceA man told police he was chased by a clown who was wielding a kitchen knife “the size of a forearm” in the area of Del Monte and Cosmo avenues. The man told police he had to run about five minutes to get away from the armed clown. Police responded but did not locate a clown in the area. The incident was reported 3:07am June 22.BurglarySomeone burglarized a home on Monticello Way and stole a mobile smartphone. The victim told police the suspect or suspects might have gained entry by using the spare key under the doormat. The victim noticed the spare key was missing after realizing the home was burglarized. The crime was reported 8:30am June 28.Auto burglaryA suspect or suspects smashed the window of a silver Mazda and stole a laptop computer and purse. The vehicle was parked on Burnett Avenue. The theft was reported 9:50am June 24.Someone smashed the window of a Ford Escape and stole a purse. The vehicle was parked in front of Coldwell Banker, 950 Tennant Station Way. The burglary was reported 12:01pm June 25.A thief or thieves stole tools out of a white Ford F350 parked in the area of Butterfield Boulevard and Central Avenue. The burglary was reported 7:43am June 29.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

A vehicle struck a woman crossing the street in downtown Morgan Hill the night of July 4, resulting in non-life threatening injuries to the pedestrian, according to police.About 9pm July 4, a 20-year-old San Jose woman abruptly attempted to cross Third Street, from the west side of Monterey Road, when she was struck by an SUV traveling southbound on Monterey, reads a press release from Morgan Hill Police. Police and fire officers responded to the scene. The woman was transported to San Jose Regional Hospital for treatment.The driver of the SUV, also a San Jose resident, remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities, police said. The driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Police closed the southbound lanes of Monterey Road from Second to Fourth Street while authorities investigated the incident and cleared the scene.The female pedestrian was released from the hospital and was able to go home later in the evening July 4, according to police.Anyone with additional information about this incident can call MHPD at (669) 253-4995 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District for several years has annually trained its faculty and staff on their responsibilities as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse. But officials are refusing to explain why employees failed to call police in 2014 when a student complained that Kevin Cole had touched and spoken to her inappropriately at Sobrato High School.

Most animals have a keen sense of hearing so the on going pop, boom and whizzing sounds of the Fourth of July celebration can bring on stress and anxiety causing a pet to panic and freak-out.

Eight customers of Home Depot in Morgan Hill were stricken ill by a mysterious odor in the air Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.Four of the patients were transported to the hospital for treatment of symptoms characterized by incessant coughing, according to CalFire Fire Prevention Specialist Pam Temmermand.Just before 3:30pm July 1, the fire department received a call from Home Depot, 860 E. Dunne Ave., reporting “some type of smell inside Home Depot that had made some people ill,” Temmermand said. The store was evacuated and the county’s hazardous materials investigators arrived to inspect inside.Authorities entered the store wearing hazmat suits, but were unable to find the source of the odor, Temmermand said. After thoroughly investigating, authorities cleared Home Depot to allow customers back inside.CalFire and other agencies cleared the area by 6pm, and no further response has been requested at Home Depot since the Sunday afternoon incident.“They never determined the source, or what the smell was,” Temmermand said.Temmermand said she did not know the current condition of the four customers transported to the hospital. The other four patients were treated for their symptoms at the scene outside Home Depot.Wildfire burns eight acresA vegetation fire in the area of Oak Glen Avenue and Willow Springs road burned about eight acres before firefighters extinguished the blaze Friday afternoon.Fire authorities responded to the fire just north of Chesbro Reservoir about 4:30pm June 29. No structures were burned in the wildfire and no injuries were reported, according to Temmermand.The cause of the fire is under investigation.