The San Francisco County Board of Supervisors convened on July 4, 2025, to discuss an emergency declaration related to significant storm damage affecting the Hetch Hetchy Water and Power roads. The meeting featured presentations from Margaret Henifer, the Hetch Hetchy Water Division Manager, and Jeremy Spitz, who outlined the extent of the damage and the proposed recovery efforts.

The discussion highlighted that the severe weather, including atmospheric rivers in January and March 2023, led to unprecedented precipitation levels, resulting in saturated soils and extensive road damage. The Hetch Hetchy Water and Power Project, which supplies water to the region, has been severely impacted, particularly in the areas surrounding Cherry Lake and Hetch Hetchy Reservoirs.

The emergency declaration seeks approval for a $20 million budget to facilitate repairs. This includes an $11.5 million contract awarded to Sierra Mountain Construction for immediate road repairs, with an additional $8.5 million earmarked for further rehabilitation efforts. The total estimated cost for repairs is projected to reach $20 million, with funding sourced from the Hetch Hetchy enterprise's capital projects budget.

Henifer noted that the storm damage has been submitted to FEMA for financial recovery, with expectations of receiving between 60% to 75% reimbursement. The timeline for completing the repairs aims for public access to be restored by mid-August 2023, with all work expected to be finalized before the next water year begins in October.

Supervisors expressed support for the emergency measures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to critical water infrastructure while also addressing the need to reprioritize other capital projects due to the financial implications of the repairs. The board unanimously approved the resolution to move forward with the emergency declaration and the associated funding.