Bracken Brae and Forest Springs Consolidation Project
Bracken Brae and Forest Springs Consolidation Project
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD, or District) looks to consolidate two small mutual water companies, Forest Springs, and Bracken Brae, with SLVWD to provide a safe and reliable water supply to the approximately 440 customers served by these two systems. Forest Springs Mutual Water Company provides service to 128 residential connections (population 385). Bracken Brae Mutual Water Company provides service to 24 residential connections (population 54). Both mutual water companies were severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and ongoing drought. The funding request would allow for replacement of two undersized storage tanks that currently serve only Forest Springs.
In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire devastated both water systems, including distribution lines, storage tanks, and water treatment infrastructure. After the fire damage Forest Springs and Bracken Brae mutual water companies independently contacted SLVWD seeking consolidation. The small unincorporated communities of Forest Springs and Bracken Brae lie within the District’s sphere of influence. SLVWD has ample water supply capacity to provide safe and reliable potable water to both communities.
In 2022 the California Department of Water Resources awarded SLVWD with a Small Community Drought Relief Program grant of $3.2 million. The grant included funds to upgrade/install a total of 8,960 +/- lineal feet of water main and to install a new pumping station. However, the grant did not include funding for the tank replacement, which is imperative to the consolidation of these two communities. This project would allow for Forest Springs and Bracken Brae to complete consolidation into SLVWD permanently, providing a safe and reliable water supply for these two communities whose current access to water is temporary, uncertain, and highly unreliable.
The purpose of the Bracken Brae and Forest Springs Consolidation Project (proposed project) is to consolidate and incorporate two small mutual water companies, Bracken Brae and Forest Springs, into the SLVWD system. The proposed project includes the following actions: installation of 8,960 linear feet of 10- and 12-inch diameter water main in the existing SLVWD right-of-way (ROW); installation of a new pump station in located within an easement on APN 08203118, located at the corner of Ridge Drive and Big Basin Highway; demolishing the two existing 17,500-gallon existing concrete block Forest Springs water storage tanks (37,000 gallons total capacity) and four 10,000-gallon (40,000 gallons total capacity) Bracken Brae temporary water storage tanks; and installation of one or two water storage tanks (total 120,000-gallon capacity) at the existing Forest Springs water storage tank site.
The District understands that planned pump station located at the intersection of Big Basin Way (CA-236) and Ridge Drive in Boulder Creek creates concerns for our neighbors. We will be including a variety of measures to limit the impact of the pump station, including:
- The pump station building will be constructed of concrete, either concrete masonry units (CMU) or cast in place concrete (CIP). Either CMU or CIP will significantly attenuate equipment noise.
- The pump station roof will be insulated in order to further control equipment noise.
- All venting of the structure will be through the use of louvers specially designed to control noise.
- All equipment, including the emergency standby generator, will be placed inside the structure.
- The pumps do not run continuously, but rather as needed based on tank water levels. District staff anticipate not more than four hours per day, although this will vary depending on water usage.
- The generator will only run during power outages; it will, in addition to being located inside the pump station structure, be equipped with a muffler and spark arrestor.
For general questions please contact customer service at customerservice@slvwd.com or call 831-338-2153. If you have technical questions, please use the email address below.
Documents
30-Day Document Review April 28, 2023 - May 29, 2023
- DRAFT Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND)
- DRAFT Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
- FINAL Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND)
- FINAL Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
Questions? Please contact: Consolidation@slvwd.com