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BACKGROUND Zone 7's service area comprises approximately 426 square miles in eastern Alameda County and includes the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin as well as surrounding lands in unincorporated Alameda County. Zone 7 provides flood protection within this service area, as well as providing wholesale water supplies to a current population of approximately 190,000. This population is expected to increase to approximately 250,000 by the year 2030. As this valley is transformed from rural to suburban land uses, the potential for storm water runoff to exacerbate the potential for localized flooding is expected to increase. Zone 7 maintains certain improved flood control channels and improves or supports the improvements of existing major drainage channels, as possible. Zone 7 currently owns and maintains approximately 39 miles of major drainage ways, flood control channels, streams and arroyos on the Valley floor. The Special Drainage Area (SDA 7-1) Program, which is funded by developer fees, is currently the sole source of revenue for Zone 7 to expand or improve the existing flood control system. The SMMP serves as an update to Zone 7's existing 1966 Flood Control Master Plan and identifies several additional objectives related to flood control facility improvements and stream management within its service area. Past updates to the 1966 Plan included the concept and cost estimates for concrete channeling existing arroyos or constructing new channels adjacent to the arroyos to provide the level of flood protection needed. However, there have been a number of changes to this past practice of flood control protection, including regulatory changes, environmental considerations and funding opportunities that impacted the way flood control agencies manage and improve flood control in streams and flood control channels. Zone 7 began development of the SMMP in September, 2002, in recognition of these changes, constraints and challenges. The purpose of the SMMP was to develop a master plan of alternatives to maximize flood protection and drainage protection. However, most of the projects identified within the SMMP also provide one or more resource area improvements related to regional flood protection storage, water supply/quality enhancements, erosion control/sediment removal, habitat and wetland creation, riparian corridor enhancement for bank stabilization, trails, recreation and public education. The SMMP was avalley-wide stakeholder driven program that included considerable representation, input and discussion/recommendations from most, if not all, valley land planning, parks, environmental and special district agencies and jurisdiction with the Valley that were, or would be, impacted by the flood control/drainage or other resource areas identified with the Plan. Page 2 of 3