Project History and Description  The Sheffield Reservoir Water Quality Project involves demolishing the existing open-air reservoir and earth-filled dam, and replacing them with two 6.5 million gallon buried reservoirs and re-grading the site and creating a landscaped natural open space. In order to provide drinking water storage while the new tanks are being constructed, two 1.5 million gallon temporary steel tanks will be constructed in the southeast portion of the site. The total project is expected to cost in excess of $20 million.
The project is necessary because drinking water stored in the open-air reservoir is exposed to dust, wind blown contaminants, birds, animals, and anything thrown into it. Adding sufficient chlorine to meet water quality standards forms potentially harmful byproducts. Open-air drinking water reservoirs no longer meet federal and state health standards. Approval of the project by the Planning Commission culminated five years of study by the City of Santa Barbara. The City engaged highly regarded experts to analyze solutions to the water quality problems caused by the open reservoir. A two-year, exhaustive engineering analysis was carried out, along with fire vulnerability studies, seismic studies, water quality studies, and a comprehensive environmental impact report. A full environmental review of the project with all the alternatives was conducted. Environmental impacts were identified and ways to mitigate these impacts were developed and incorporated into the project where appropriate. Intensive public participation was encouraged throughout the process, and a wide range of options was considered. Dozens of issues were studied and weighed by City boards and commissions and at various public meetings. The outreach program included media coverage, presentations to community groups, tours of Sheffield Reservoir, focus group meetings, newsletters to neighbors, and other forms of community communication and participation. Once the construction is completed, a Friends of Sheffield Open Space group will be formed to advise the Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments with regard to operational issues such as hours of operation and activities within the open space park. Temporary water storage tanks, each holding 1.5 million gallons of water, have been installed above grade to allow uninterrupted water service while the larger construction project is carried out. The temporary tanks will later be disassembled and removed.  The historic filtration plant on the site was built in 1936 but is no longer serviceable and has not been used since 1987. The City Council considered the demolition or retention of the building on July 30, 2002. The Council decided to retain the building based on its historical significance.
The two reinforced concrete reservoirs will be located in the upper portion of the site, buried and covered by three to five feet of earth. The soil in the existing dam will be redistributed on-site to provide a rolling terrain that is similar to the site's original contours, and to discourage active sports. Water storage capacity will be reduced from the current 20 million gallons to 13 million gallons, which has been determined to be sufficient for current and future operations, including peak demand, emergency storage, fire fighting needs and future demands. A split-rail fence will be placed along the three sides of the property bordering public roads. A split rail fence will also be used on the north side of the site to create a buffer between the public open space and the private properties. In addition, a fence will be built along the property lines of directly adjacent neighbors. The fence will include lockable gates into the open space. Once completed, the open space will remain closed to the public until the native plantings have become established.  A full historical recordation of the site will be prepared to compensate for the loss of historic features by the removal of the existing earth-fill dam and the open-air reservoir. The recordation will include large format photography, scaled architectural drawings, and the placement of interpretative displays at the site to explain its history to the public. Some of the historic features have been incorporated into the plan, including the low wall along the north and south edges of the reservoir. A historic interpretive display will also be provided.
A natural park setting using native plants will be created on the 23-acre site. Rolling terrain and pathways will create opportunities for walking and other passive forms of recreation. The City's Parks and Recreation Department will manage the open space. A park ranger and Water Resources staff will visit the site at least once daily. There will be no restrooms, picnic tables, benches, organized sports or other intensive activities. Lighting will be limited to emergency situations. A small single-story structure of about 900 square feet will be built on the site, near the existing pump station. The building will house chlorinating and control facilities for the reservoir. The quantity of chemicals used and stored on the site will be significantly less than are currently present. The Police Department's Canine Training Facility that was on the site for many years has been temporarily removed to facilitate construction of the Water Quality Project. The canine training facility will be reinstated in approximately the same location upon completion of the Water Quality Project, in approximately the same size and intensity of use as was pre-existing. A fenced area will be provided to assure that open-space users do not enter the training facility, El Cielito Pump Station or new Control Building area. Top of Page |