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Supervisors reverse Planning Commission EIR certification for Alameda Creek project, add independent review of groundwater/surface model
Summary
The Board reversed the Planning Commission’s certification of the final EIR for the SFPUC’s proposed Alameda Creek Recapture Project and directed an independent third‑party review of the groundwater/surface water model to examine fisheries impacts under CEQA.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Sept. 19 to reverse the Planning Commission’s certification of the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s proposed Alameda Creek Recapture Project and directed additional environmental analysis. The board amended the motion to require that the Planning Department enlist an independent third‑party review of the groundwater and surface water model to determine whether the current model accurately analyzes fisheries issues as required by CEQA, and to present the results to the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Work Group.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who brought the motion, urged the parties — Planning Department, SFPUC and the Alameda County Water District (ACWD) — to collaborate on the review, and said recirculation of the EIR would be necessary given the board’s September 5 deliberations. He added that the board retains appellate discretion under Administrative Code Chapter 31 to review future work.
The board’s decision follows an appeal by ACWD and prior public hearings. In adopting the findings, supervisors asked that Planning work with stakeholders in developing the scope and selection of the independent reviewer.
Why it matters: The Alameda Creek Recapture Project involves water operations with potential impacts to steelhead and other fisheries. The board’s reversal and the added independent technical review emphasize the centrality of CEQA compliance and of robust hydrological and fisheries modeling in projects that affect regional water resources and sensitive species.
Details and next steps - Motion as amended: Reverse Planning Commission certification of the final EIR and require Planning to enlist an independent third‑party review of the groundwater/surface water model to determine if the model adequately and accurately analyzes fisheries issues as required by CEQA, and present the results to the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Work Group. The board adopted the amendment and the motion unanimously.
- Supervisor Peskin asked parties to work collaboratively; if the third‑party review or further analysis proves inadequate, the board noted appeals remain possible under the Administrative Code.
What happens now: The Planning Department and SFPUC will conduct additional analysis and the EIR will be recirculated, incorporating the independent review. Stakeholders, including ACWD, the fisheries work group and environmental parties, were urged to engage in the scope and selection of the reviewer.
