The Moraga Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD) currently includes Bellavista (formerly Rancho Laguna II), Hetfield Estates, and Palos Colorados developments in Moraga, California. The Bellavista development at is located along Rheem Boulevard south of Fay Hill Road, the planned Hetfield Estates development located at the southern end of Hetfield Place, and the planned Palos Colorados development is located west of St. Mary’s Road, east of Moraga Road, and north of Rheem Boulevard.
The Moraga GHAD was formed in 2015 to serve residents within the three above mentioned developments for geologic hazard abatement services. The Board of Directors for the Moraga GHAD are the members of the Moraga Town Council. The Moraga GHAD Board of Directors accepted Plan of Control responsibilities within the Bellavista development in February 2021. The GHAD has not accepted transfer of Plan of Control responsibilities for the Hetfield Estates and Palos Colorados developments at this time.
The Moraga GHAD is responsible for prevention, mitigation, abatement, and control of geologic hazards within the GHAD boundaries including mitigating or abating landslides and erosion hazards that could directly affect properties within the GHAD boundaries. In addition, the Moraga GHAD has significant responsibilities for managing water quality facilities. The Moraga GHAD owns the majority of the open space surrounding the Bellavista development. As a land owner, the GHAD assumes responsibility for annual vegetation management for fire suppression.
Site improvements for which the Moraga GHAD provides monitoring and maintenance are listed in each Plan of Control for each development, the guidance documents for the Moraga GHAD. At this time, the Moraga GHAD is responsible for Plan of Control activities within the Bellavista development listed below:
- Slopes
- Reconstructed and unaltered creek channels
- Water quality/detention basin
- Debris benches
- Emergency vehicle access (EVA) and maintenance roads
- Concrete-lined drainage ditches
- Storm drain system improvements
- Developer constructed retaining walls
- Subdrains and subdrain outlets
- Selected Wetland Mitigation Program (WMP) and Open Space Management Plan (OSMP) activities within the deed restricted parcels
The Moraga GHAD is financed through the collection of supplemental tax assessments from homeowners within the GHAD. Revenue is typically split between an ongoing operations/maintenance and the accumulation of a reserve for less frequent major repair items. The 2015 Engineer’s Report for the Bellavista development serves as the basis for the annual operating budget for the Bellavista development. Each year, an annual assessment and budget is considered and adopted by the Moraga GHAD Board of Directors. Once Plan of Control responsibilities for the Hetfield Estates and Palos Colorados developments are transferred to the GHAD, the Engineer’s Report for each development will serve as a basis for the annual operating budget for the each development and be incorporated into the annual budget for the Moraga GHAD.