~ Utilities ~

3.1.4-1 INTRODUCTION
This section addresses potential impacts on utilities generated by the implementation of the proposed Brooktrails Township Specific Plan. This section addresses water supply, wastewater, electrical, and communication services, as well as the anticipated demands of a build-out of up to 4,000 equivalent residential dwelling units would place upon their service capacity. The build-out scenario of 4,000 units also contains the approximately 1,350 existing dwelling units in the Township. The Brooktrails Township provides water and wastewater collection services. Communications and electricity services are provided by outside sources.

3.1.4-2 SETTING

Water Supply
The existing water supply in the Brooktrails Township is provided by the Township's Lake Emily and Lake Ada Rose reservoirs. The combined capacity of the reservoirs is approximately 400 acre-feet (one acre foot equals 325,851 gallons). Water is distributed to all Township residents. The Township also operates a water treatment plant with the capacity to treat 1.2 million gallons of water per day. The existing water supply capacity is estimated to be able to serve a maximum of about 2,000 residential dwelling units. Water mains are located under the existing streets in the Township.

The water supply infrastructure, as identified in the Brooktrails Township Specific Pan, is planned for expansion with a new dam and reservoir capable of storing about 1,600 acre feet of water. The water infrastructure expansion includes water treatment commensurate with the level of demand. A new raw water main will connect the new reservoir with the existing raw water main at Lake Emily. The existing Brooktrails water treatment plant is planned for expansion at its current site to accommodate the anticipated community growth to 4,000 residential units.

The typical single-family residence in Brooktrails (or its equivalent) is estimated to consume an average of about 220 gallons of water per day. This relatively low water usage is attributed to the fact that Brooktrails residences do not have the extent of managed exterior landscaping typically found in other suburban subdivisions, and thus require less water for landscape maintenance. In addition, many Brooktrails residents have installed various types of water saving devices in their homes.

Wastewater
Wastewater collection is provided to most Brooktrails residents by the Township. At present, there about 660 unsewered lots in Brooktrails, most located at areas of higher elevation. About 616 of these lots are unimproved and the approximate 44 improved lots are on septic systems.

Wastewater collected within Brooktrails Township is treated at the City of Willits Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Township has a contractual agreement with the City of Willits to use up to 37.5 percent of the treatment plant's capacity and pays a portion of the annual operating cost of the plant. The Township is also responsible for providing hookups and maintenance of the system within Brooktrails. The Township is presently using a portion of its wastewater treatment allocation at the Willits treatment plant. It is estimated that the Township could allow for the development of about 900 additional units before reaching the limit of its allotment at the Willits Wastewater treatment plant. The City of Willits is currently planning to expand their wastewater facility to meet excess capacity criteria of the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) requirements. According to the Willits General Plan Revision,Vision 2020, the treatment facility will have sufficient capacity to accommodate both Brooktrails and Willits planned growth.

Sewer line capacity for the connection between Brooktrails Township and the City of Willits is presently limited at about 2,000 residential units. Development beyond 2,000 units would require the expansion of sewer line capacity for this link.

No additional internal sewer lines are included for the few areas of the Township that presently lack sewer service, including the undeveloped lots on Ridge, Iris, Blue Lake and Alcott. These are local to individual benefit areas, which could be constructed and funded through assessments specific to these areas at such time as when the appropriate petitions are submitted.

Electricity
PG&E is the electrical service provider to the Brooktrails Township. Electrical distribution and service lines extend throughout the Township. Although PG&E electrical capacity is sufficient to serve Brooktrails to full buildout of 4,000 residential units, upgrades to existing conductors and electrical substations serving the Township would be required from time to time as the community grows.

Natural gas service is presently not available in Brooktrails because no natural gas lines exist in the Township. Brooktrails residents use either propane, heating oil, electricity or wood fuels for heating. Installation of natural gas service in Brooktrails is not presently being contemplated.

Communications
Pacific Bell is the primary telephone service provider in Brooktrails Township. Brooktrails is linked to a Pacific Bell telephone switch in Willits that adequately accommodates existing service needs. To service development to full buildout, Pacific Bell would reinforce its cable facilities between the Willets switching station and Brooktrails. Pacific Bell has instituted a monitoring system, which allows them to install equipment in anticipation of growth, to provide for timely service for new hookups and to prevent long delays in service should significant growth occur in a short period of time. There are presently areas of Brooktrails that have limitations on data transmission which will need to be addressed by Pacific Bell as the Township increases in population.

Century Cable provides cable TV services to some areas of Brooktrails. The expense of covering the 65-mile length of roads in the area limits the availability of cable services. Many residents in Brooktrails use satellite dishes instead of cable services.

3.1.4-3 IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Introduction
Assessments of significant impact are made for a given public utility when additional resources would be required to serve the proposed project at accepted service standards or when serving the project under current resources would reduce services to the existing public below accepted or current standards. Service standards include technical or engineering standards, standards required by law, or they may be embodied in a general plan or other land use tool. The relevant information in these regards is developed for each service addressed in this section.

Brooktrails Township Specific Plan Policies
Plan goals specifically related to the provision of water and wastewater treatment in the Plan area appear in the Community Facilities and Services Chapter of the Plan as GOAL FS-7.3-1. The Policy for implementing the Goal are central to the issue of utilities and are reiterated here to allow the reader easy reference to the actual language in the Plan.

UTILITIES GOAL FS-7.3-1: Support and maintain adequate water supply, sewage treatment and disposal, and storm drainage facilities to serve existing and future residents and businesses.

POLICY FS-7.3-1A: Provide adequate new water storage and upgrade existing treated water storage facilities consistent with growth in a fiscally responsible manner.

Standards of Significance
Township buildout would have a significant adverse impact on utilities if the proposed development and uses would:

• increase demand for potable water to the extent that expansion of water supply, treatment or distribution facilities is required beyond that which is planned for;
  
• require substantial expansion of wastewater treatment and distribution capacity beyond that planned by local jurisdictions;
  
• require the use of electrical and communication services beyond the capacities of the service providers.

Water Supply
The existing water supply and distribution system in Brooktrails Township has a capacity at about 2,000 residential units. The Brooktrails Township Specific Plan has anticipated the buildout of 4,000 residential units and has adopted Utilities Policy FS-7.3-1, to support and upgrade treated water facilities in the Township. Under this policy, the Township will develop a new 1,600 acre foot reservoir, an expansion of water treatment capabilities, and a new raw water main to connect the new reservoir to existing water facilities. Implementation of the new and upgraded facilities would accommodate growth to 4,000 units. In that the water needs of buildout to 4,000 units is anticipated and provided for in the Specific Plan, buildout would not adversely impact water supply and distribution systems.

Wastewater
Although the present capacity of the City of Willits wastewater treatment facility is limited, the City is planning to upgrade the facility to accommodate larger capacities. The Township would re- negotiate their agreement with the City of Willits for treatment capacity allocations sufficient to accommodate the planned development. Appendix 11.200 of the Willits General Plan Revision, Vision 2020, states that the expanded facility will have sufficient capacity to accommodate both Brooktrails and Willits Growth, and consequently wastewater treatment capabilities would not be impacted. Development beyond 2,000 units in Brooktrails: however, will require the replacement or paralleling of the existing trunk sewer main line between the Township and the City of Willits. This expansion of sewer capacity is anticipated and provided for under Utilities Goal FS-7.3-1 of the Brooktrails Township Specific Plan, and therefore no adverse impact to sewer systems would occur as a result of the planned development.

Electricity

Impact 3.1.4-1
Upgrades to existing PG&E conductors and electrical substations serving Brooktrails Township would be required from time to time to accommodate the community's electrical needs as it grows. This would be an insignificant impact. (I)

Electrical capacity is sufficient to provide for Brooktrails needs at buildout; however, PG&E would need to upgrade their delivery facilities in order to convey electricity to the Township. This would be an insignificant impact in that such upgrades are a normal part of PG&E business operations to provide and maintain service to its customers.

Mitigation Measure 3.1.4-1
Where possible, allow for off-grid energy systems. (I)

Communications

Impact 3.1.4-2
Pacific Bell would need to reinforce its cable facilities between their Willits switching station and the Township to accommodate full buildout. This would be an insignificant impact. (I)

In order to provide adequate telephone service to the additional customers in Brooktrails, additional cables would have to be installed to provide the necessary capacity. This upgrading would be an insignificant impact because it would be a normal part of Pacific Bell business operations to maintain sufficient service capacity to their customers. What impact that there might be would be further offset by the Pacific Bell monitoring system, which would allow for the anticipation of such service and equipment reinforcements to be provided for in a timely manner.

Because of installation cost factors, cable TV services are presently only available in some areas of Brooktrails. The buildout is not expected to change the pattern of cable TV availability in the Township. No significant impacts to cable TV services are expected as a result of the buildout.

Mitigation Measure 3.1.4-2
Allow for new technologies such as satellite delivery systems and improved accommodation for digital communication. (I)

Sources
Brooktrails Township Specific Plan, Administrative Draft. Brooktrails Township Community Services District and Mendocino County. March 1996.

Brooktrails Township Draft Statement of Goals and Objectives. Brooktrails Township Community Services District. March 1991.

Willits General Plan Revision, Vision 2020. Adopted August 12, 1992.