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Tuolumne River advocates criticize SFPUC federal engagement; staff says career scientists drove recommendations
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Summary
Tuolumne River Trust told the SFPUC the agency’s staff and irrigation-district partners lobbied the Trump administration to rescind science-based recommendations; SFPUC deputy general manager Michael Carlin disputed that characterization and said the exchanges were with career federal staff connected to FERC relicensing work.
Conservation groups raised concerns at the Oct. 23 SFPUC meeting that staff engagements with federal agencies influenced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind recommendations for the Tuolumne River.
Peter Drechmeier of the Tuolumne River Trust said staff and irrigation districts lobbied senior federal staff and suggested the Service rescinded recommendations "based on the best available science" after political pressure, a move he said was "not the way San Francisco operates" and that the commission should investigate (SEG 615-666).
Deputy General Manager Michael Carlin responded that SFPUC has worked with multiple federal administrations and primarily with career staff on relicensing for Don Pedro since 2002; he called the characterization that changes were driven from the White House "a little bit different than what has been characterized here" and said the refined recommendations came from career staff (SEG 676-706).
Ellen Levine, deputy manager for water (acting assistant GM for water), reported staff follow-ups with NGOs on peer review of models used in the state board proposal and said staff will schedule a deeper dive meeting on alternative supplies and peer review when Steve Ritchie returns (SEG 1091-1127). Deputy GM Carlin added that staff will testify before Supervisor Peskin's committee on the 40% unimpaired flow resolution and continue coordination with Sacramento (SEG 1153-1160).
Speakers asked the commission to review communications and the agency's role in federal conversations; staff reported planned follow-up meetings and agreed to engage with NGOs on model review and supply alternatives without breaching confidentiality agreements tied to voluntary settlement discussions (SEG 1091-1160).
