Route 152--Pacheco Pass Road travels from Santa Clara County line to the junction of Interstate 5. In addition to traversing rich agricultural farmlands, a considerable distance of the route provides drivers with views of the extensive San Luis Reservoir.
Long ago when the Ausaymus Indians inhabited the region, they carved a path from the coast to the San Joaquin Valley. Their trade route eventually became the route of missionaries, then military forces, and then gold miners. As the route became increasingly popular, the fertile soil was cultivated thus becoming the prevailing Central Valley. Today, Pacheco Pass is one of the most popular routes for those traveling from Silicon Valley into Central Valley.
This historic route leads through San Luis Reservoir, a storage reservoir for the federal Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project. It stores runoff water from the Delta that would otherwise flow into the ocean. The water arrives through the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal and is pumped from the O'Neil Forebay into the main reservoir during the winter and spring. The Los Banos Creek Reservoir was built to prevent storm runoff from flooding the canals. A visitor center at the Romero Overlook provides full information on the reservoirs and water projects through audiovisual and printed materials. Telescopes are also available for viewing the area.
