Debate flares over Hetch Hetchy Debate flares over Hetch Hetchy (January 26, 2005)

** Draining Hetch Hetchy could derail the whole process of fixing the water system, PUC manager says.

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

The gloves are off in San Francisco's latest water war, pitting safety against beauty.

In one corner is the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which is trying to launch a $4-plus billion project to fix the aging system that provides some of the best water in the country to 2.4 million people in four Bay Area counties, before a disaster leaves them without water for up to 60 days -- or more.

In the other corner are advocates for tearing down O'Shaughnessy Dam as part of the project, and restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park to the idyllic state that John Muir celebrated 90 years ago.

"San Francisco, tear down that dam," demanded environmental writer Tim Holt in the January 16 San Francisco Chronicle. He promised some "great political theater."

Susan Leal, the new general manager of the SFPUC -- hired last summer to get the lagging project under way before something catastrophic happens -- counterattacked January 21.

"This (proposal) could derail the whole process," Ms. Leal told a meeting of the 28 suburban water agencies which depend on water from San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy system to serve customers in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties. She charged the article was biased and inaccurate.

This exchange escalated what has so far been a careful debate about whether abandoning the Hetch Hetchy reservoir could be included in the project to fix the system of reservoirs, pumps, pipes and tunnels that bring water 160 miles from the Sierra, across three earthquake faults, to homes and businesses in the Bay Area.

The environmental organization Environmental Defense came out with a study last September arguing that San Francisco could get along without the water in Hetch Hetchy by making adjustments in the rest of the system. "We have an amazing opportunity to return Yosemite's second crown jewel to the American people," said Tom Graff, regional director for Environmental Defense California.

Art Jensen, general manager of BAWSCA (Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency), asked for careful study and guarantees before accepting the proposal. He noted there is major political interest in the proposal to drain Hetch Hetchy, and the state Department of Water Resources is studying it. BAWSCA represents the 28 suburban water agencies that purchase two-thirds of San Francisco's water.

"We're interested in assuring a reliable supply of high-quality water to our customers at a fair price," Mr. Jensen said. "This is a matter of health, safety, and economic well-being of a region."
Decision February 8

Meanwhile, San Francisco has been slipping on the schedule and costs of upgrading the water-delivery system, a project launched in 2002 with passage of a $3.6 billion bond issue.

The project is supposed to be completed by 2015. Eight of nine important seismic projects are behind the 2002 schedule, Mr. Jensen said. "That's not good."

In her first 100 days, Ms. Leal has been striving to revive the original sense of urgency about fixing the water system. "It's been a forced march for the last 90 days," she said.

Her team has been reviewing the massive program and holding workshops to come up with a revised schedule, costs and the framework for the environmental impact report that needs to be prepared for the project.

The SFPUC will receive the revised timetable and cost estimates at its meeting on Tuesday, February 8, at 1:30 p.m., in San Francisco City Hall.

Ms. Leal objected to the change of tone by advocates of draining Hetch Hetchy, beyond being willing to study the proposal. "Now they're saying, 'Let's drain it.'"

Ms. Leal said she was preparing a resolution to present to the SFPUC, and called on the 26 representatives of BAWSCA to ask their cities and agencies to take a position. "If we need a formal study, it would derail the project," she said.

Stan Gage of the Los Trancos County Water District agreed. "This is getting serious," he said. "We need information on what it means to drink Central Valley water. Get us some information that we can communicate."
INFORMATION

For more information, go to sfwater.org and environmentaldefense.org.

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